The SUV That Delivers Mercedes-Level Luxury Without The Price Tag
Luxury cars have always occupied a complicated corner of the market — desirable on the surface, but often punishing to own over time. Depreciation hits hard, running costs climb steeply once the warranty expires, and some of the worst depreciation rates in the market means resale values rarely hold up the way buyers hope. For many shoppers, the prestige badge ends up costing far more than the sticker price ever suggested.
That’s what makes the 2026 Mazda CX-70 such a compelling conversation starter. It’s one of the most underrated SUVs on sale today — a vehicle that genuinely belongs in the luxury segment without demanding the premiums that come with a European badge. The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC now starts at $49,550 before options, and even the most expensive configuration tops out at $56,670, making it a remarkably strong value proposition.
Mercedes-Benz Is Known For Luxury, But It Isn’t The Only One
The Mercedes-Benz GLC is one of the brand’s top-selling SUVs, and for many buyers it represents the best Mercedes available under $50,000. On the Mercedes class ladder, the GLC is where luxury should start feeling uncompromising. It features a well-appointed interior with a large screen, an available Burmester 3D sound system, heated front seats, and more — all wrapped in a practical do-it-all SUV body, plus a sportier Coupe variant. It’s everything you’d want from a premium SUV in 2026.
At first glance, the GLC SUV and Coupe can look like solid value for money. The base GLC 300, powered by a 225-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, starts at $49,550. Begin ticking options or moving up the trim ladder, however, and the price escalates quickly. The GLC 300e 4MATIC SUV starts at $60,300, and AMG variants can push past $100,000 — a significant outlay for what is, within Mercedes’ own hierarchy, a lower-mid-tier SUV. Unless the three-pointed star is non-negotiable, comparable levels of luxury are available without the Mercedes premium. And there’s hardly a better example of that than this Japanese SUV.
Mazda’s Attempt At Affordable Luxury With The CX-70
The 2026 Mazda CX-70 is the Japanese brand’s flagship two-row midsize SUV, built on a premium architecture. If you need more passenger space, you can step up to the mechanically identical CX-90. The CX-70 is aimed at affluent, lifestyle-oriented buyers who place a premium on both performance and luxury craftsmanship.
You can have this SUV with the brand’s turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six or a plug-in hybrid. Despite being a highly praised and well-rounded vehicle, the CX-70 has remained a modest seller. Things have taken a turn for the worse, and Mazda decided to pull the plug on this SUV starting in 2027.
No Feature Spared In The Cabin To Rival A Mercedes SUV
The 2026 Mazda CX-70 is available in seven distinct configurations spanning all three powertrain options: the standard 3.3 Turbo, the high-output 3.3 Turbo S, and the PHEV. For the 2026 model year, Mazda has meaningfully strengthened the value proposition of its entry-level trims, making premium amenities like ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel standard earlier in the lineup than before.
The 3.3 Turbo Preferred serves as one of the most generously equipped base models in the segment, priced at $42,250. It comes standard with Black or Griege leather upholstery on the seats, steering wheel, and shift knob, along with ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The dashboard features a 12.3-inch Mazda Connect center display with touch functionality, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, and an eight-speaker audio system.
The $46,280 Turbo Premium adds a 12.3-inch fully digital driver’s display, a Bose 12-speaker premium audio system, and a windshield-projected Active Driving Display. The Turbo Premium Plus elevates luxury further at $49,570, introducing Black or Red Nappa leather upholstery, a power panoramic sunroof, and a 360-degree view monitor.
High-Output Models Turn The Passion Up
The $35,240 3.3 Turbo S Premium includes a driver personalization system that uses facial recognition to automatically adjust the seat, mirrors, and steering wheel to a saved driver profile. The flagship $56,670 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus represents the pinnacle of Mazda’s luxury ambitions, adding exclusive tan-quilted Nappa leather with suede-like dashboard accents, a distinctive two-tone leather-wrapped steering wheel, a windshield wiper de-icer, and front and rear illuminated footwells.
The plug-in hybrid models offer a distinct set of features geared toward tech-forward buyers. The PHEV SC, priced at $44,250, comes with leatherette upholstery in black and carries over all the features found in the Preferred trim. The PHEV SC Plus upgrades to genuine leather seating and adds the comfort suite from the Turbo Preferred — ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel — along with a panoramic sunroof and the Active Driving Display, bringing the MSRP to $47,250. Mazda applies a $1,530 destination fee to all CX-70 models.
Three Engines Suited To Varying Needs
The 2026 Mazda CX-70 offers three rear-biased longitudinal drivetrain options, each paired with a standard eight-speed automatic transmission and i-Activ all-wheel drive. The entry-level 3.3 Turbo straight-six produces 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, good for a 0–60 mph time of 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 127 mph.
Stepping up to the high-output 3.3 Turbo S raises output to 340 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, trimming the 0–60 mph sprint to 6.5 seconds and lifting the top speed to 130 mph. The PHEV powertrain pairs a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 189 horsepower with a 173-horsepower electric motor, for a combined system output of 323 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The result is a 0–60 mph time as quick as 5.9 seconds, though top speed is limited to 114 mph.
Fuel Consumption Performance Could Be Better
Opting for the entry-level turbocharged variant yields EPA-estimated fuel economy of 24/28/25 mpg city/highway/combined. Upgrading to the Turbo S nudges the city figure down to 23 mpg. With an 18.5-gallon fuel tank on the Turbo and a 19.6-gallon tank on the Turbo S, both engines deliver an estimated range of around 462 miles.
The EPA estimates that the base Turbo will cost $1,000 more in fuel over five years compared to the average new vehicle, with an annual fuel cost of $1,700 and a cost of $2.81 to drive 25 miles. The Turbo S model carries a $3,750 fuel cost premium over five years, $2,250 in annual fuel costs, and $3.76 per 25 miles driven, with roughly $70 to fill the tank.
The CX-70 PHEV earns an EPA-estimated 56 MPGe combined rating, an all-electric range of 26 miles, and returns 25 mpg combined once the battery is depleted. The PHEV uses an 18.4-gallon tank and offers a total gas-electric range of 490 miles. Expect to spend $1,250 more on fuel over five years and around $1,750 on gas and electricity annually. Charging the battery costs an estimated $2.23, driving 25 miles on gasoline runs $3.76, and filling the tank costs approximately $69.
Welcoming Consumer And Review Reception
According to J.D. Power, the 2026 Mazda CX-70 holds a consumer-verified overall score of 77 out of 100, with sub-scores of 83 for the driving experience, 82 for resale, and 82 for the dealership experience. Quality and reliability earns a more modest 69 out of 100. On the Edmunds consumer review portal, the model carries an outstanding 4.6 out of 5 average rating, with reliability and manufacturing quality, ride quality, and value ranking as its strongest attributes.
Sources: The EPA, Edmunds, J.D. Power, iSeeCars, and CarEdge
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