Mazda CX-5 vs. CX-30 vs. CX-50 vs. CX-70 vs. CX-90 SUVs: What’s the Difference?

Mazda’s SUV naming convention isn’t strong on clarity, while simultaneously being in the midst of a change. In years past the Mazda SUV lineup went from smallest to largest from CX-3 to CX-5 to CX-9, but now the only surviving single-digit SUV is the CX-5. However, no matter which number you land on, Mazda SUVs deliver grace in motion above and beyond the competition. For a little fun on the commute, and more than a little style, it's worthwhile to sort through the 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, and it’s newly available as a hybrid. 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?

The Mazda CX-90 has three rows, but 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 has three hybrid SUVs, starting with the smaller and more adventure-focused CX-50 hybrid that just made its debut. The two larger Mazda SUV offerings, the CX-90 and CX-70, both offer hybrid options that provide a boost in overall power and 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 whether 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 we first tested 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; 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 definitively 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. The 2025 CX-50 also offers a hybrid option.

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.

What Engines Do Mazda SUVs Use?

There are up to six combinations of powertrains under the hood of Mazda’s SUV lineup, utilizing two core engines and a new Toyota Hybrid System–based option in the CX-50. There’s the base 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which is offered in all the smaller SUVs, and in the larger pair with an added turbocharger and PHEV system. The top-flight trims of the smaller SUVs, the CX-30/50/5, also get the 2.5-liter with the turbo, but sans the hybrid equipment. The larger inline-six 3.3-liter turbo engine is available in two tunes, one making 280 horsepower and one being the most powerful Mazda has ever commissioned in a production vehicle at 340 horsepower. Besides the Mazda-derived options, the new CX-50 hybrid option uses the Toyota Hybrid System with Mazda calibration, including a 2.5-liter four-cylinder paired with three electric motors to provide AWD and up to 219 horsepower.

All Mazda SUVs

• Mazda CX-5
• Mazda CX-30
• Mazda CX-50
• Mazda CX-70
• Mazda CX-90