Intro
Hi guys, and welcome back to Petrolhead Podcasts. The new Mazda CX-70 has been a controversial vehicle, as it is essentially a two-row version of the three-row CX-90 with identical vehicle dimensions and therefore it is perplexing to many why Mazda did not either modify the CX-90’s body structure or just call it a CX-90 5-seater. But looking beyond the controversy, is the CX-70 actually a good vehicle to buy, and does it live up to the premium aspirations that Mazda has been pursuing of late? Join me as I go through an in-depth comparison to give you the answer. Today, we will be comparing the flagship Mazda CX-70 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus, which has a starting MSRP of $57,405, to two other luxury-oriented two-row midsize SUVs around the 60K price point. Firstly, we have the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve, an award-winning new SUV full of technology which starts at $62,705. And secondly, we have a bestseller known for its comfort and reliability in the 2025 Lexus RX350 Luxury all-wheel drive, with a starting MSRP of $62,720.
Exterior Styling
Firstly, in terms of exterior styling, the Mazda CX-70 looks athletic and upmarket. Up front the slim headlights and daytime running lights that flow into the signature Mazda grill looks good, and the sportier bumper design compared to the CX-90 adds aggression to the vehicle. On the side the Mazda’s proportions are very good, with the classic long hood, cab-backward rear-wheel drive proportions and upright stance giving it an expensive feeling, although glasshouse looks rather plain. Round back the Mazda also looks upscale although not as unique as the Lincoln or Lexus, with the design of the taillights and fake vents looking rather weird. The Lincoln Nautilus has a great design as well. Up front the Lincoln’s full-width lightbar, wing-shaped headlights and grill look modern and attractive. On the side the proportions are not as attractive as the Mazda, with a more compact feel, although the floating roof look, the hidden door handles, and the shoulder line are attractive. Round back the Lincoln’s futuristic fullwidth taillights are attractive and the general design feels expensive. The Lexus has a good design too. Up front the signature Lexus L-shaped daytime running lights look great, and the newly toned down version of the spindle grille looks far more cohesive than earlier iterations of it. On the side the Lexus’s proportions are not the best, with a nose that feels too long, although the interesting glasshouse design and sloping roof are attractive. Round back the Lexus’s fullwidth taillights look great and very upmarket although otherwise it is a rather plain design. Overall for exterior styling the best of the three for me is the Lincoln, which has a styling and minimalist design, although the proportions are not the best. In second is the Mazda, which has the most attractive proportions, but some elements are generic and incohesive. In last is the Lexus, which has good individual elements but the worst proportions of the three cars.
2025 Mazda CX-70
2025 Lincoln Nautilus
2025 Lexus RX 350
Interiors
Moving on to the interiors and the Mazda has an upscale feeling interior. An abundance of stitched surfaces, metal accents and the standard nappa leather upholstery elevate the interior and the general design is also attractive. Material and build quality are both good, and on par with the Lexus, but cannot match the Lincoln, with more hard-touch plastics. The Mazda features a 12.3 inch central infotainment and a 12.3 inch digital gauge cluster. The screens are decent but the infotainment system feels basic compared to the Lincoln and is also not as sophisticated feeling as the Lexus’s system either. In terms of standard equipment the CX-70 is lavish, featuring heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, a 360 degree camera, a 12 speaker Bose premium audio system, a head-up display, three-zone climate control, a panoramic roof, and a power tailgate. In terms of practicality the Mazda is also excellent, with 41.7 inches of front row legroom, 39.4 inches of second row legroom, a shoulder room of 58.1 inches in the second row, and a maximum cargo capacity of 75.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Lincoln has the most impressive looking and futuristic-feeling cabin. The Nautilus has an expansive 48 inch edge to edge panoramic display that serves as the instrument cluster as well as housing several configurable widgets. This is supplemented by an 11.1 inch touchscreen for vehicle controls. Material and build quality in the Nautilus, despite still having some hard plastic finishes below the belt line like the other two cars, still feels the best of the three, with knurled metal, wood finishes and stitched surfaces creating an upmarket ambience. Despite only being the mid-trim in the Nautilus range, the Reserve model still has plenty of standard equipment, including heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, 360 degree cameras, a panoramic roof, a 14-speaker Revel sound system, dual-zone climate control, and a power tailgate. In terms of practicality, the Nautilus is impressive, with 43.5 inches of front row legroom, 43.1 inches of second-row legroom, both of which are class-leading, a shoulder room of 58 inches, and a maximum cargo capacity of 71.3 cubic feet behind the front seats. The Lexus has a decent cabin. The general design feels modern and minimalist. The Lexus has a large 14 inch infotainment screen that has software that is intuitive and fast, and is supplemented by a 12.3 inch infotainment display. Build quality is good but material quality is not as good as the Lincoln, with a lot of hard plastics below the belt line and less stitched surfaces. In terms of standard equipment the Lexus is good, with heated and ventilated seats for both the front and second rows, dual-zone climate control, heated steering wheel, a panoramic roof, a 12-speaker audio system, a head-up display, and a power tailgate. However, a 360-degree camera is optional. In terms of practicality the Lexus is not the best, with the least amount of front and rear legroom at 41.1 inches and 37.4 inches respectively, the smallest shoulder room of 56.5 inches in the second row, and a maximum cargo volume of only 46.2 cubic feet behind the front seats is also the smallest of the three cars. In terms of interiors the Lincoln is the best vehicle, with the most impressive technology and design, upmarket materials, good practicality and great levels of standard equipment. The Mazda takes second, with good standard equipment and a very practical cabin. However, the technology and material quality cannot match the Lincoln. In last is the Lexus, which has good technology and standard equipment, but material quality cannot match the Lincoln, and the practicality is by far the worst of the three cars.
The Lincoln’s interior is in a different league to the other cars in terms of technology
The Mazda has a premium-feeling interior
The Lexus’ interior looks modern but is let down by the worst practicality of the three
Drivetrains
In terms of drivetrains, the Mazda CX-70 has a 3.3 litre inline-6 cylinder turbocharged engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system that delivers a maximum output of 340 horsepower and 369 pound feet of torque. This is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission sending power through a rear-biased all-wheel drive system. The CX-70 rides on fixed steel suspension. The CX-70 accelerates from 0 to 60 MPH in around 6.3 seconds and achieves a combined economy rating of 25 MPG. The Lincoln Nautilus has a 2 litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that delivers a maximum output of 250 horsepower and 280 pound feet of torque. This is mated to an 8 speed automatic transmission sending power through a front-biased all-wheel drive system. The Nautilus rides on steel suspension with adaptive damping. The Nautilus accelerates from 0 to 60 MPH in around 7.3 seconds and achieves a combined economy rating of 24 MPG. The Lexus RX350 has a 2.4 litre turbocharged 4 cylinder engine that delivers a maximum output of 275 horsepower and 317 pound feet of torque. This is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission sending power through a front-biased all-wheel drive system. The RX rides on fixed steel suspension. The RX350 accelerates from 0 to 60 MPH in 7.2 seconds and achieves a combined economy rating of 24 MPG. Overall for drivetrains the best of the three is the Mazda, which is uniquely available with a 6-cylinder engine at this price point, has the best power and torque figures, and is the fastest to accelerate and returns the best economy figures. The Lexus and Lincoln both have turbocharged four cylinder engines providing roughly the same acceleration and economy figures but the Lincoln is slightly superior as it is the only vehicle of the three that comes with adaptive suspension as standard.
The Mazda is the only vehicle of the three offered with an inline-6 cylinder engine
The Lincoln is the least powerful of the three cars
The Lexus’ drivetrain is adequate but has few highlights
Driving Experience
In terms of driving experience, the Mazda feels sporty for a midsize SUV. The inline-6 engine gives the CX-70 a far smoother and more effortless feel behind the wheel than the Lincoln and Lexus and is well-matched to the 8-speed automatic transmission. The steering is sharp and direct, the car has a rear-biased and planted feel through corners and better body control than both the Lincoln and Lexus. This is not at the expensive of ride quality, which remains very good, although it is ultimately not as softly sprung as the Lincoln and Lexus. Noise insulation is also impressive. The Lincoln is a more comfort-oriented SUV. The Nautilus is quiet and isolated and has a soft ride making it a great highway cruiser. However, it doesn’t feel as solid as the Mazda. The handling is also far less impressive than the Mazda, with more understeer, body roll, and more numb feeling steering. The powertrain, being a turbo four-cylinder, is also not the most inspiring engine and is less refined than the 6-cylinder Mazda. The Lexus feels very similar to the Lincoln. The Lexus is also very well isolated and has a great ride quality. The engine is unrefined, with noticeably more vibrations and noises than the Mazda’s inline-6. Just like the Lincoln, there is a lot of body roll in corners, light steering, and the vehicle doesn’t feel as substantial and surefooted as the Mazda to drive. Overall, for driving experience the Mazda is the clear winner, with a premium-feeling chassis that elevate it above the Lincoln and Lexus. The Lincoln and Lexus drive very similarly and both have notable deficiencies in terms of drivetrain refinement and handling so both rank equal second.
The Mazda has the most engaging driving experience of the three cars
The Lexus’ driving experience is decent but it is not spectacular in any way
The Lincoln prioritized comfort above all
Conclusion
So overall, which is the best premium two-row midsize SUV for around 60 thousand dollars? Personally, the Mazda is the winner. The CX-70 might be a controversial vehicle for its positioning, but the fundamentals of the vehicle are excellent. Despite the most commodity brand name of the three, the Mazda has a drivetrain that is far more premium than the Lexus and Lincoln, with its smooth 6-cylinder engine and rear-wheel drive architecture providing a much higher quality driving experience. This is combined with a very practical cabin and good styling and the cheapest starting price of the three vehicles, making it easily the best choice here. However, it must be said the Lincoln’s technology and interior quality do feel superior. The Lincoln takes second place. The new Nautilus looks fantastic and has an excellent interior with the most forward-thinking design and great materials. Unfortunately, the driving experience and powertrain lack the sophistication that the Mazda offers. In last is the Lexus. The RX has a comfortable ride and great levels of standard equipment, but its driving experience, just like the Lincoln, doesn’t feel as premium as the Mazda, the interior is by far the worst in terms of practicality of the three, and it doesn’t look the most exciting.