Compare the2025 Mazda CX-70VS 2025 Volvo XC60

The Mazda CX-70 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The XC60 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

With its standard Smart Brake Support, the Mazda CX-70 is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Volvo XC60, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

Both the CX-70 and the XC60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-70 is safer than the XC60:

The Mazda CX-70 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 XC60 last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2023.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-70 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC60. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the XC60 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 2 times as many Mazda dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-70’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 10 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volvo is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 18 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

As tested in Motor Trend the CX-70 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the XC60 B5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

Both the CX-70 and the XC60 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All CX-70s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The XC60 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-70 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on CX-70 PHEV for maximum performance). The XC60 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The CX-70 stops shorter than the XC60:

For better traction, the CX-70 has larger standard tires than the XC60 (265/55R19 vs. 235/60R18). The CX-70 Premium’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XC60 (275/45R21 vs. 265/35R22).

The CX-70’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XC60’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-70 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the XC60.

The front and rear suspension of the CX-70 uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-70’s wheelbase is 10 inches longer than on the XC60 (122.8 inches vs. 112.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-70 is 2 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than on the XC60.

The CX-70 PHEV Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XC60 B5 Core (26.9 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

The CX-70 has 38.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC60 (141.6 vs. 103).

The CX-70 has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear legroom, .1 inches more rear hip room and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC60.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the CX-70’s rear seats recline. The XC60’s rear seats don’t recline.

The CX-70 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC60 with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 22.4 cubic feet). The CX-70 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC60 with its rear seat folded (75.3 vs. 63.3 cubic feet).

The CX-70’s cargo area is larger than the XC60’s in every dimension:

Pressing a button automatically lowers the CX-70’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The XC60 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Maximum trailer towing in the Volvo XC60 is limited to 3500 pounds. The CX-70 offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The engine in the CX-70 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XC60. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The CX-70 Premium’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and 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 XC60 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The CX-70’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the XC60’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the CX-70 has standard extendable sun visors. The XC60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the CX-70 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XC60 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mazda CX-70 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the XC60.

The CX-70 Premium Plus has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The XC60 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.