2024 Mazda CX-70 SUV confirmed for Australia

Five-seat version of Mazda’s new flagship family SUV set to arrive Down Under before the end of the year.

Bruce Newton, carsales.com.au

Mazda has revealed the ‘Goldilocks’ variant of its new range-topping large SUV family.

The Japanese brand recently revealed the five-seat, two-row CX-70 that sits between the CX-60 and CX-90 models, and almost immediately confirmed it will arrive in Australian showrooms – potentially as soon as the end of 2024.

Using the same fundamental underpinnings and mechanical configuration, the CX-70 is the third member of the new-generation Mazda Large Product Group (MLP). But that didn’t make it an instant ‘yes’ for the local operation in deciding whether to offer it in Australia as Mazda has another SUV in the pipeline.

A fourth MLP variant, the Mazda CX-80, is also on its way but has yet to be unveiled. It’s a seven-seat version of the narrow-body CX-60.

The four new SUVs form the core of a ‘Mazda Premium’ strategy designed to push the brand upmarket, retain customers stepping out of more mainstream models such as CX-5 and generate more profit per vehicle sold.

The new CX ‘0’ models replace the previous CX-8 and flagship CX-9 seven-seat SUVs that have been killed off by Mazda.

As per the other CX ‘0’ models, the CX-70 only comes to Australia in all-wheel drive form when other markets also take rear-wheel drive versions of its new platform.

It will be powered by the new 3.3-litre turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel e-Skyactiv inline six-cylinder engines (with eight-speed automatic and 48V mild-hybrid system) already on offer with the CX-60 and CX-90 in Australia.

However, the plug-in hybrid four-cylinder powertrain is not part of the CX-70 launch line-up. The PHEV has been offered with the CX-60 since it debuted in July 2023 and is expected to be added to the CX-90 range late in 2024.

Mazda Australia has yet to finalise pricing and exact specifications for the CX-70, but it is expected to slot between the CX-60 – which is priced from between $60,400 (plus on-road costs) and $86,100 (plus ORCs) – and the range-topping CX-90, which starts at $74,900 (plus ORCs) and tops out at $100,935 (plus ORCs).

It has yet to reveal any technical details or measurements either, but it claims that occupant seat space for both the first and second row of seats are the same as CX-90. Wheelbase and tracks are also expected to be identical.

Because of its dedicated five-seat layout, the CX-70 will have additional luggage space in the boot under the floor where the third row of seats are located in the CX-90. It also debuts in a Mazda an electric remote fold-flat function for the rear seats.

Apart from a few minor detail changes in its design, such as dark rather than chrome trimmings, a revised front bumper and a different grille, the rakish silhouette appears to be identical to the CX-90.

Suggestions the CX-70 would adopt a swoopier coupe-style roofline than the CX-90 have not been borne out.

Inside, the CX-70 comes with exclusive Burgundy interior trim highlights, but otherwise appears similar to the basic themes of the CX-60 and CX-90.

Mazda says the CX-70 introduces a Mazda a new monitoring system that pulls the car up to a stop if the driver is judged not to be engaged in the driving process.

It has also confirmed a 2500kg braked towing capacity but has yet to clarify if that applies to both petrol and diesel variants. In both the CX-60 and CX-90 the diesel is limited to 2000kg (braked) while the petrol claims 2500kg.

The CX-60 has received a rather lacklustre welcome from the motoring press since it launched in Australia, with concerns expressed about its ride quality and the calibration of the PHEV drivetrains.

Despite that, it has gone close to matching Mazda’s initial sales forecasts of 500 sales per month. On sale from July to December last year, it averaged 463 sales.

Since it went on sale in August last year, the CX-90 averaged 120 sales per month, which fits in-line with Mazda’s 100-150 sales estimate.

The CX-8 averaged 450 sales per month in its last full year on sale in 2023, while the CX-9 averaged 391 sales per month.

^{Disclaimer: Images supplied by Mazda.}

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