Mazda SUVs follow a naming convention that is not only a little unclear but also currently in flux. Until recently, the lineup included the CX-3, CX-5, and CX-9. But most of the single-digit Mazdas are gone, with the notable exception of the CX-5, which is still on sale next to the similarly named CX-50. We’re here to help you make sense of all these alphanumerics, as many Mazda SUVs are worth a look for their style and grace, despite the head-scratching names.
Mazda CX-5
Mazda CX-30
Mazda CX-50
Mazda CX-70
Mazda CX-90
Which Mazda SUVs Are Compact/Small?
Mazda has three small SUV options, ranging from city-focused to outdoors-oriented. The Mazda CX-5 is the brand’s mainline compact SUV offering, with upscale looks and handling compared to much of its crossover competition. The subcompact Mazda CX-30 is smaller and cheaper than the CX-5 and adds further athleticism. The largest small Mazda SUV is the CX-50, which is designed to be as competent off-road as it is on pavement. The CX-50 is slightly lower, longer, and wider than the CX-5, but the CX-5 has slightly more passenger room.
Which Mazda SUVs Are Midsize?
The 2025 Mazda CX-70 is classified as a midsize SUV, though it’s essentially a CX-90 with the third row deleted. Details on the CX-70 are still light, but every sign points to the positives and negatives of the CX-90 being largely retained, including a frustrating shifter and premium cabin. Since the CX-90’s third row wasn’t exactly useful to begin with, this two-row layout with extra cargo space might just be what the doctor ordered.
Which Mazda SUVs Are Large?
While the Mazda CX-90 has three rows, it’s not a Chevy Suburban–sized vehicle, at more than 2 feet shorter than the aforementioned living-room-on-wheels. Being a little smaller, the CX-90 offers lower purchasing and running costs, easier parking, and a smaller third row. However, Mazda’s focus on spaciousness for the first two rows means the third is sized for children only. Truly full-size SUVs are just not Mazda’s style, but if transporting adults or teenagers in the third row isn’t a requirement, the CX-90’s cabin is certainly spacious enough.
Which Mazda SUVs Are Hybrids?
Mazda’s smaller SUVs, based on the renowned Mazda 3, are all old-school, gasoline-only vehicles. The two larger Mazda SUV offerings, the CX-90 and CX-70, both offer hybrid options that provide a boost in overall power as well as efficiency compared to the base engine offering. The base engine in the CX-90 is a 3.3-liter turbo I-6 with a mild hybrid system (in two states of tune). The CX-70 will also have the 3.3, but we don’t know which tune it will get (or if it will get both). The CX-90 and CX-70 also offer a plug-in hybrid powertrain, with up to 26 miles of EV range. While that EV range figure isn’t bad in the summer, it drops significantly in winter weather to the point of dubious usefulness.
Which Mazda SUVs Have 3 Rows?
Three-row SUVs are something of a staple on American roads these days, and Mazda’s offering for that segment is the CX-90. We’ve had mixed feelings about the beautifully styled SUV since first testing it, as it is uncharacteristically sporty for the otherwise dowdy segment, but it lags in terms of usability and practicality. Interior space is good in the first two rows, but the downside of that sweeping roofline is compromised third-row headroom, while legroom isn’t good, either.
How Much Do Mazda SUVs Cost?
Out of all the Mazda SUVs, the least expensive to start is the CX-30, followed by the larger CX-5. The more trail-ready CX-50 is largely in the same price bracket as its CX-5 sibling. The larger CX-70 and CX-90 crossover SUVs also share a price bracket, above Mazda’s smaller entries. Mazda has attempted to go somewhat upmarket with its vehicles and has largely succeeded, with excellent exterior styling and interior design on top of a genuinely premium feel to its lineup. That said, the CX-70 and CX-90 have high starting prices.
Are Mazda SUVs Fuel-Efficient?
SUVs in the Mazda lineup often prioritize driving fun over driving efficiency, but the smaller vehicles certainly aren’t bad when it comes to pinching pennies and passing filling stations. The larger CX-70 and CX-90 have plug-in hybrid variants that offer EV augmentation for shorter trips. At least in warm weather, this can mean trips around the neighborhood won’t need gasoline at all.
How Large Are Mazda SUVs?
Out of the full lineup of Mazda SUVs, the CX-30 is the smallest, followed by a bump up to the CX-5, and the same amount of increase to the beefier-styled CX-50. The CX-70 and CX-90 share a body and thus body dimensions, both being a foot longer than the CX-50. The three-row CX-90 uses that additional space for that rather compact extra row, while the CX-70 simply uses it for extra cargo space.