Compare the2024 Kia SportageVS 2025 Mazda CX-70

Both the Sportage and the CX-70 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Kia Sportage achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The CX-70 has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The Sportage comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CX-70’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Mazda covers the CX-70. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the CX-70 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

There are over 45 percent more Kia dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Sportage’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 12th.

On the EPA test cycle the Sportage gets better mileage than the CX-70 running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sportage uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-70 PHEV requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

For greater off-road capability the Sportage has a greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-70 (8.3 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Sportage to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Sportage’s minimum ground clearance is .2 inch higher than on the CX-70 Turbo S/PHEV (8.3 vs. 8.1 inches).

The Kia Sportage may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1400 to 1500 pounds less than the Mazda CX-70.

The Sportage is 1 foot, 5.3 inches shorter than the CX-70, making the Sportage easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Sportage is 5.1 inches narrower than the CX-70, making the Sportage easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The front grille of the Sportage uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The CX-70 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Sportage has .1 inches more rear headroom and 1.9 inches more rear legroom than the CX-70.

The Sportage SX/Prestige/X-Pro’s standard Easy Access Function glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The CX-70 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the Sportage and the CX-70 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Sportage is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-70 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Sportage X-Pro to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The CX-70 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Sportage is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-70 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Sportage, based on reliability, safety and performance.