This week I was sporting the 2025 Mazda CX70 GT PHEV and with it came the admiration of my mom friends. They were quick to comment on the colour of this classically built family mover, in a more unique rose gold.
Inside, I liked all the leather elements across the doors and dash, over the seats and arm rest. The simple all black cabin made things feel sleek with a modern appeal, coupled with the smell of a synthetic cowhide.
The wireless charger was finicky, I only once managed to get it to charge my phone. The rest of the time it just flashed on screen that the device was incompatible.
The seats were wide and firm with some of the most supportive lumbar I have felt on my lower back. It fully protruded, lifting my chest up and proud. A feature I appreciated, considering this week had me driving longer distances. This included a drive out to Abbotsford and Chilliwack, followed by a cruise up to Brittania Village a day after.
The narrow country roads of the Fraser Valley lined with deep ditches and the gravel stretches had us worried and feeling everything under the wheels. Then the winding roads of the Sea to Sky had us experiencing every turn with the tail end of the CX70 whipping out. This had me slowing down and extending our drive time.
Although the congestive traffic had me moaning and groaning, the spacious front cabin made the drive with my passenger at least a comfortable one. We each had our own climate control and electric seat adjustment, with the ability to cool our seats down quicker given the hotter days. Plus an extra wide armrest that allowed for both driver and passenger to lounge a little more.
However my grievance was with the way it handled. This was a tank: it seats eight or alternatively comes with plenty of cargo room when you drop down the third row. It constantly felt like I was hauling around a car-full either way.
The Mazda CX70 was sluggish on the acceleration, movement was heavy and lethargic. More effort was needed on my part: more strength on the turning, more power on the pedals. I was working just as hard as the SUV was, to get to where we were both going.
This was especially evident when the Mazda was idle. You could hear the work the engine was putting in, with a constant hum. Once I noticed it I could not unhear it. A wheezing that was ever-present from start up to coasting. I found myself hammering down just to get it to a 50km start. And in doing so I couldn’t help but look at the gauges as my gas dwindled. The electric charge ran out quick soon before.
Over 30km with electric battery and over 600km in gas, plus the ability to charge through regular braking. I was able to watch the kilometres grow during my daily drive to gym over Burnaby mountain. But the 2km I earned during the trip there were quickly recalled on the drive back. This was much like what I got at the slow to charge EV pumps. One hour got me 10km and that was not enough to get me one way through my daily commute, despite the trip only being 8km from home.
Although I still appreciated having the option and the ability to save what little I could. And liked that I had all three modern vehicle options merged into one with the 2025 Mazda CX70.
