2025 Lexus RX vs 2026 Mazda CX-70

$49,125 · Crossover

$42,250 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Deciding between the established luxury of the 2025 Lexus RX and the emerging value proposition of the 2026 Mazda CX-70 can be tricky. The common dilemma centers on whether to pay a premium for luxury branding or maximize utility and initial savings. The Mazda CX-70 undercuts the Lexus significantly, starting at $42,250 compared to the RX’s $49,125—a hefty $6,875 difference. Interestingly, the CX-70 offers superior practicality, boasting 39.6 cu ft of cargo space versus the RX’s 29.6 cu ft. Performance is neck-and-neck, with the CX-70 slightly ahead in power (280 hp vs. 275 hp) and torque (332 lb-ft vs. 317 lb-ft). Both achieve a 25 MPG combined rating, though the Mazda uses cheaper regular unleaded fuel, further boosting its cost efficiency, especially considering the RX recommends premium fuel.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Mazda CX-70

The 2026 Mazda CX-70 wins for commuters due to its lower purchase price and the ability to run on regular unleaded fuel instead of the Lexus's premium requirement.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Mazda CX-70

The CX-70 clearly wins for families by offering significantly more storage, with 39.6 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to the RX's 29.6 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Mazda CX-70

The CX-70 edges out the RX slightly for driving fun, offering marginally more horsepower at 280 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque.

💰 Best Value

2026 Mazda CX-70

The Mazda CX-70 is the definitive value choice, saving buyers $6,875 upfront and requiring less expensive regular unleaded fuel.

Choose the Lexus RX if...

You prioritize the established reliability and upscale interior feel associated with the Lexus brand.
You prefer the shorter overall footprint (192.5 inches long) for easier city parking.
You are comfortable with the higher running cost associated with premium unleaded fuel recommendations.

Choose the Mazda CX-70 if...

Maximizing cargo volume is critical, as the CX-70 provides an extra 10.0 cu ft (39.6 cu ft total).
You want the advantage of standard All-Wheel Drive right out of the box.
Saving $6,875 on the initial purchase price is a major deciding factor.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Lexus RX	Mazda CX-70
Length	192.5"	200.8"
Width	75.6"	-
Height	67.3"	68.2"
Wheelbase	112.2"	122.8"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Lexus	Mazda
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	—
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	—
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Fog Lights	✓	—
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	—
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	—	✓
Self-Leveling Headlights	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Lexus	Mazda
Base Engine Displacement	2.4 L	3.3 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 6
Base Engine Type	gas	mild hybrid
Horsepower	275 hp @ 6000 rpm	280 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque	317 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm	332 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
Number of Valves	16	24
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Lexus	Mazda
Transmission Type	8-speed shiftable automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
Center Differential Type	—	Limited Slip
Hill Descent Control	—	✓

Fuel

Feature	Lexus	Mazda
Fuel Type	premium unleaded (recommended)	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	22/29 MPG	24/28 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	25 MPG	25 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	391.6/516.2 mi.	444.0/518.0 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	17.8 gal.	18.5 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Lexus	Mazda
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Power Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	—
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Front Parking Sensors	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Three Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control	✓	✓
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	✓	—
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	—	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	—	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	—	✓
Heated Steering Wheel	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Lexus	Mazda
Infotainment Display	9.8 in	12.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	12	8
Subwoofer Count	1	—
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	—
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	—
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	—	✓

Power Feature

Feature	Lexus	Mazda
One-Touch Power Windows	4	4
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Reverse Tilt Dual Mirrors	✓	—
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
Moonroof Type	—	1st Row Power Glass

Frontseats

Feature	Lexus	Mazda
Front Head Room	39.5 in.	39.7 in.
Front Leg Room	41.1 in.	41.7 in.
Front Shoulder Room	58.1 in.	59.2 in.
Front Hip Room	56.7 in.	56.2 in.
Seat Material: Leatherette	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	8-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	Power
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	8-way
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Lumbar Support	Power	—
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Seat Material: Leather	—	✓
Driver Seat Memory Settings	—	2
Driver Seat Ventilation	—	✓
Passenger Seat Ventilation	—	✓

Rearseats

Feature	Lexus	Mazda
Rear Head Room	38.6 in.	39.3 in.
Rear Leg Room	37.4 in.	39.4 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	56.5 in.	58.1 in.
Rear Hip Room	55.9 in.	55.5 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Heated Rear Seats (Multi-Level)	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Lexus	Mazda
Painted Alloy Wheels	✓	—
Polished Alloy Wheels	✓	—
Wheel Size	19 x 8.0 in	21 x 9.5 in.
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	✓	275/45R21
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Inside Mounted
Wheel Finish	—	Painted Alloy

Suspension

Feature	Lexus	Mazda
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Lexus	Mazda
Basic Warranty	4 yr./ 50000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	6 yr./ 70000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	6 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	4 yr./ unlimited mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	1 yr./ 10000 mi.	—

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Lexus RX and 2026 Mazda CX-70.

Is the fuel economy significantly different between the RX and the CX-70?

No, both vehicles are rated for 25 MPG combined. However, the Lexus RX recommends premium unleaded fuel, while the Mazda CX-70 uses less expensive regular unleaded, making the CX-70 cheaper to fuel in the long run.

Which crossover offers better raw performance specs?

The 2026 Mazda CX-70 holds a minor edge with 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, slightly surpassing the 2025 Lexus RX's 275 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque.

How much more usable space does the CX-70 provide?

The CX-70 is noticeably more utilitarian for cargo, offering 39.6 cubic feet, which is exactly 10.0 cubic feet more than the Lexus RX’s 29.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity.

What is the primary reason the Lexus RX costs nearly $7,000 more?

The $6,875 MSRP difference largely reflects Lexus’s established luxury positioning, expected higher material quality, and brand perception, despite the Mazda offering superior cargo space and slightly better power output.