2025 Mazda CX-70 vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2025 Mazda CX-70 presented a sporty and appealing design, reminiscent of a sport appearance package for the CX-90. It featured redesigned front and rear fasciae, a unique grille insert, new wheels, and dark accents, creating an optical illusion that made it appear slightly smaller than its CX-90 counterpart. Inside, the CX-70 offered a distinct red leather treatment unavailable in the CX-90, while maintaining nearly identical interiors otherwise. The SUV boasted quality materials and textures, especially in higher trims, though it lacked the sophistication of luxury models. The CX-70 was available in three configurations: 3.3 Turbo, 3.3 Turbo S, and PHEV, with prices ranging from $41,910 to $58,905.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid showcased a bold design that could polarize opinions, particularly with its flat, wide grille. The vehicle's personality shifted with color and trim, with body-colored vertical strakes that blended better in darker shades. The X-Line and X-Pro models replaced these strakes with rectangular grille blocks and featured distinctive amber accent lights. The Telluride's side profile was bold, with angular fender sculpting and black plastic tabs atop each wheel well. The rear view adopted a different style, with rounded corners and vertical taillights reminiscent of a Range Rover. Inside, the Telluride's interior was less controversial, featuring a simple horizontal dashboard layout and a modern appearance. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim offered a luxurious two-tone palette, though the labeling on buttons was difficult to read.

The 2025 Mazda CX-70 offered a turbocharged 3.3-liter inline six-cylinder engine in its Turbo models, producing 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. The Turbo S model delivered 340 hp and 369 lb-ft, requiring premium fuel. Both models achieved an estimated 25 mpg in combined driving, aided by 48-volt mild-hybrid technology. The PHEV variant combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a 68-kilowatt electric motor, producing 323 hp and 369 lb-ft, with a 26-mile electric-only range. All CX-70 models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive, with various drive modes available. The Turbo and Turbo S models offered 5,000 pounds of towing capacity, while the PHEV could handle 3,500 lbs. The CX-70's handling was athletic, though the ride could be brittle on imperfect pavement. The PHEV provided a quieter and smoother operation, with an average of 30.8 mpg.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The Hybrid variant added electric motors, increasing output to 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. It was paired with a six-speed transmission and was not available in the off-road-capable X-Pro trims. The Telluride Hybrid offered a quiet and smooth ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas power. The X-Pro Prestige trim provided a comfortable ride, even with a lifted off-road suspension. The Telluride's handling was composed and controllable, though not particularly sporty. The brake pedal effort was soft, but brake response was immediate in panic stops.

The 2025 Mazda CX-70 accommodated up to five people, with heated front seats and a triple-zone automatic climate control system as standard. Premium Plus trims added heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The front seats offered good support, though adjustable side bolsters would have been beneficial. Small-item storage was limited, but cargo space was generous, with 39.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 75.3 cu-ft with the rear seat folded. Mazda offered various cargo-enhancing accessories, including an organizer and roof-rail crossbars.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid provided ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rearmost row was better suited for smaller passengers. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim featured power-adjustable second-row seats with heating and ventilation, though they took longer to slide and tilt forward. The middle-row seats offered significant travel fore and aft, allowing for more cargo or third-row legroom. The Telluride could hold up to 22.3 cu-ft of cargo behind the third row, with a maximum of 89.3 cu-ft with the seats folded. The Hybrid models lost only about one cubic foot of cargo space. The Telluride offered various storage solutions, including a large center bin and deployable cupholders.

The 2025 Mazda CX-70 featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. The Mazda Connect infotainment system offered touch-sensing capability only when using wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system was graphically pleasing and logically laid out, with a large control knob and primary function buttons on the center console. The CX-70 included Alexa Built-in, which improved voice recognition. Most models had a 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system, delivering excellent sound quality. The CX-70 also offered an Active Driving Display and a camera-based digital rearview mirror.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. The infotainment system included a native navigation system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and dual wireless phone chargers. The system was easy to use, though there were delays in response and the climate control screen was difficult to use while driving. The Telluride offered customizable themes for the infotainment screen and a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system in higher trims, delivering powerful bass and clear tones.

The 2025 Mazda CX-70 came standard with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving-assistance systems (ADAS) under the i-ActiveSense collection. The Premium trim added semi-autonomous steering-assistance features, including active blind-spot assist, emergency lane-keeping assist, road-keeping assist, and head-on traffic-avoidance assist. The CX-70 also featured a Cruising & Traffic Support system with Unresponsive Driver Support, which initiated a safe, automated stop if the driver became unresponsive. The CX-70 received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid included standard advanced safety features such as frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and more. Higher trims offered additional features like a surround-view camera system and automatic reverse braking. The Telluride's driver attention monitor had operational issues at night, and the blind-spot cameras were more distracting than helpful. The highway driving assist was effective on longer trips, maintaining lane centering and consistent speed.