Mazda SUV's future in doubt

Mazda has announced it will end production of the CX-70 large SUV for the US market imminently, and will instead offer a five-seat version of the more popular CX-90 to cover the gap in its line-up.. It comes amid a shake-up for Mazda's large SUV range, which has been languishing in the sales charts both globally and locally.. However, despite this huge blow for the CX-70 nameplate, Mazda Australia told CarsGuide the large five-seat SUV was set to continue on for the foreseeable future, as it aims to offer its customers as much choice as possible..

Contrary to Mazda's official position, sources with knowledge of the situation have said to CarsGuide the car will leave the Australian market in the near future.. While Mazda is embattled on the sales front in Australia, with economic troubles burdening buyers and an ultra-competitive market from new and established rivals, things are worse for the brand in the USA, where the Japanese-built CX-70 is also facing an additional 15 per cent tariff.. With the lucrative US market now off the table due to this re-oriented range, it puts the viability of the entire nameplate in doubt globally..

In the meantime, the incoming upgraded CX-90 promised as part of sweeping changes to the large SUV range will include a higher towing capacity for the five-seat variants, which is potentially appealing for Australia.. Australia is still the only market to offer all four of Mazda's Large Architecture SUVs, from the five-seat CX-60 and CX-70, to the three row CX-80 and CX-90.. All were part of a daring push by Mazda to move its large SUVs into more premium territory pricing-wise, introducing more sophisticated inline six-cylinder turbocharged engines and plug-in hybrid powertrains along the way..

The CX-70 is also embattled in the Australian market, as the least popular of the lot, amassing just 182 units so far in 2026.. A Mazda Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide the two row still has a small but loyal fanbase, which it would continue to cater to.. Meanwhile, the CX-90 has amassed 470 sales this year and the CX-80 is up to 1931..

The most popular offering in the brand's big SUV range, the CX-60, has managed 3566 units this year.  All have reported significant year-on-year declines, with Mazda's Global operation calling out Australia as a particularly "tough environment" in its last quarterly financial report.. The brand acknowledged strong demand for "low-priced battery EVs and HEVs amid rising fuel prices" was core to success of rivals in our market.. While going upmarket might have seemed like a brilliant move at the time for the once-dominant Mazda, this combination of factors, as well as a raft of issues with the CX-60 from launch from a jerky transmission to harsh rear suspension, has hemmed the brand's luxury market ambitions..

These issues have been addressed multiple times for new and existing CX-60 owners, while learnings from early cars have been incorporated into the CX-70 and CX-90 which arrived later.. Mazda is down 16.2 per cent for the year, with its best-selling CX-5 mid-size SUV in the midst of a generational change-over, and missing its important plugless hybrid variant, which isn't due until 2028.. Meanwhile the popular CX-30 and ageing CX-3 continue to be the brand's other two performers, amassing over 9000 sales each so far in 2026..

The CX-30 in particular has just received a model year update, with Mazda turning its global attention to its next-generation small car family for the future of the CX-3.. In the interim, the brand is testing the Australian market's taste for Mazda-branded electric vehicles, with the 6e sedan and CX-6e SUV based on platforms and technology sourced from its Changan partner in China..