Remember those old Mazda commercials, the ones with the kid whispering “zoom-zoom” like it was the most important secret in the world? Mazda hasn’t forgotten either. Slide behind the wheel of the 2026 CX-70 Turbo S Premium Plus and that same mischievous spirit is right there, just wearing a nicer suit.

Mazda introduced the CX-70 last year as the two-row companion to the three-row CX-90, pitched at buyers who want the size and presence of a midsize SUV without hauling around a rarely-used third row of seats. For 2026, the changes are modest but thoughtful. The base Preferred trim now comes standard with heated and ventilated front seats with eight-way power adjustments, and the Premium and Premium Plus trims pick up a new towing drive mode that bumps the tow rating up to 5,000 pounds.

The Turbo S Premium Plus sits at the top of the lineup. Under the hood is a turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, sending 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic. Those are healthy numbers, and they translate to the real world in the way you’d hope. There is a bit of a growl under hard acceleration, more purposeful than obnoxious, and the transmission does its job well with quick, even shifts.

What sells the driving experience, is the way this thing moves. The CX-70 shares its platform with the CX-90, and Mazda’s engineers have clearly spent their time on the parts that matter to a driver. The steering has actual weight to it, the front end tucks into corners the way a good sports sedan does, and the whole vehicle feels a size smaller than it actually is. Point it down a twisty road and you find yourself grinning. This is where the zoom-zoom lives.

The ride is firm, and I’d be lying if I told you it soaked up every crack and expansion joint the way a Lexus might. On the rougher stretches of Southern California pavement, you feel the road. But it’s the kind of firmness that comes with a purpose. You give up a little cushiness and you get back a vehicle that actually responds to your inputs.

The Turbo S Premium Plus interior is where Mazda’s aspirations really come into focus. The Tan Nappa leather with quilting, the suede-like accents on the doors and dash, the two-toned leather-wrapped steering wheel, the ambient footwell lighting front and rear. This is a cabin that would not look out of place with a luxury badge on the hood, and it doesn’t feel like Mazda is trying too hard to convince you of that. It just is what it is. The 12.3-inch center display works with a rotary controller on the console, which takes some getting used to if you’re accustomed to poking at a touchscreen, but once you make peace with it, the setup is less distracting on the move.

Space up front is generous, though the wide center console does eat into knee room a bit. The back seat is comfortable enough for two adults on a run to dinner, but this isn’t a limo, and taller passengers will notice the legroom is merely adequate rather than abundant. What you gain by ditching the third row is cargo space, and there’s plenty of it. This is the CX-70’s honest pitch: if you’d rather have room for luggage, gear and groceries than seats you’d only use twice a year, this is your Mazda.

Fuel economy comes in at an EPA-estimated 23 city, 28 highway and 25 combined. In mixed driving, expect real-world numbers in the low-to-mid 20s. Not thrifty, not thirsty. About what you’d expect from 340 horsepower and all-wheel drive.

The Turbo S Premium Plus also comes loaded with the safety kit you want, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance and automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The adaptive cruise, in particular, is one of the smoother-operating systems in the segment. The CX-70 has also earned a five-star overall crash rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Mazda’s old ads promised zoom-zoom. All these years and body styles later, the CX-70 Turbo S Premium Plus is proof they meant it.