Mazda's new CX-70 comes with either a mild hybrid engine or as a plug-in hybrid.Mark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
My wife and I are looking to replace our 2016 Mazda CX-5 to reflect our growing family. We have two children with rear-facing car seats and a dog. Our major problem in searching for a vehicle so far is that we find there is insufficient legroom with a car seat behind us. I’m 6 feet and my wife is 5-foot-10 with long legs.
We are a one-car family, so we need something that commutes well, but has the room for a future of camping trips and hockey gear. We would prefer to have a two-row SUV that’s not terrible on fuel for a price of $55,000 or less. Three-row SUVs and minivans are acceptable but driver and passenger legroom with a rear-facing car seat behind is a must. – Zach
Petrina Gentile: Clearly space is key for Zach, his wife, kids and pooch. And I know exactly what you’ll recommend, Mark. A minivan, right?
Mark Richardson: Actually, first I’ll recommend that Zach checks his seating position in his Mazda. The CX-5 is a spacious SUV and the front seats should not need to be so far back they compromise the space in the second row – at least, not behind the driver.
Gentile: What? I’m shocked you’d recommend a SUV over a minivan – that’s a first.
Richardson: A minivan might be a good idea in a few years’ time, once Zach starts driving his kids’ friends around too, and it’s unbeatable for camping with a dog, but its larger size will probably be wasted most of the time on a family of four. And he says he’d prefer a two-row SUV. He’ll want one with extra legroom in the second row.
Gentile: A spacious two-row mid-size SUV is all he needs. Where shall we start – Honda CR-V?
Richardson: The CR-V is officially a compact SUV, and about the same size as the CX-5 Zach’s replacing. He’ll be happier with a Honda Passport, which is one size up, but smaller than the three-row Pilot.
Gentile: I don’t think he needs a Passport – it’s too big. While the CR-V is “officially” a compact, it’s pretty big and spacious inside. I consider the smaller Honda HR-V a “compact” even though it’s officially known as a “subcompact.”
Richardson: Those size classifications can be confusing. There’s nothing official that says a “compact” vehicle must be a certain size – if a maker wants to state its vehicle is compact, it can do so even if it’s huge, or tiny. Really, they’re just useful as a general comparison between models of different brands. But Zach wants something with more leg room than his CX-5, so the similarly sized CR-V isn’t going to cut it.
Gentile: The Passport is very spacious both in the cabin and cargo area so there will be plenty of room for the kids and dog. It also has nice road manners and I like the V6 engine – it’s powerful and smooth. But I find the infotainment system is a bit fickle and frustrating to use.
Richardson: There’s a certain machismo behind the off-road aspirations of the Passport, though it’s definitely a highway vehicle. I have friends who own one and use it for camping, and they love it. There’s plenty of space in both rows, but if Zach’s unsure, he should take a child seat to his local Honda dealer and see how it fits.
2024 Honda Passport.Courtesy of manufacturer
Gentile: That’s a good idea. The 2025 Passport does come close to Zach’s budget, though – the base model starts around $52,600, but it includes freight, predelivery inspection and fees.
Richardson: It’ll be close to $60,000 out the door after taxes, and that’s the base model. The Passport’s been around for a while though and it was updated for this year. Zach would be smart to look at a lightly used model if he can find one. It’s a bulletproof powertrain under that hood.
Gentile: If we’re looking at a Honda Passport we have to look at the competition, too. What about a Toyota Highlander?
Richardson: The Highlander is the logical next choice. It’s a size up from Toyota’s popular RAV4 and it’s priced competitively against the Passport. It may not be as easy to find though – both RAV4s and Highlanders still have lengthy waits for units to arrive at dealerships.
Gentile: The Highlander is spacious and comfortable with three rows of seats, but Zach could easily fold down the third row for extra cargo carrying capacity because that third row is best suited for kids.
2023 Toyota Highlander.Courtesy of manufacturer
Richardson: There are plenty of vehicles in this size range he should look at – the Nissan Pathfinder, Ford Edge, Chevrolet Equinox, Hyundai Santa Fe, the list goes on – and they’re priced against each other. To my mind, the Honda Passport and Toyota Highlander stand out as reliable and good value, but I’d also recommend the Mazda CX-70 as a well-put-together SUV that would probably fit his family well.
Gentile: The CX-70 is an all-new mid-size SUV for 2025. It seats five, is stylish and slots below the three-row CX-90. But I haven’t had a chance to drive it yet, so I can’t comment on the ride and handling. Have you?
Richardson: I drove it earlier this year in California and enjoyed it. The CX-70 is almost identical to the three-row CX-90, but with only two rows, there’s a little more legroom for the second row. That’s what Zach is looking for.
Gentile: And since he’s already part of the Mazda family, he might like staying with the same brand.
Richardson: If you like your dealer, I always recommend staying with who you know. The CX-70 will stretch his budget, though. The base model, which is considered a mild hybrid, comes in around $52,000 before taxes, and it’s too new to find a used model. There’s also a more powerful edition, and a plug-in hybrid edition, that are an extra $10,000 or so, but which he doesn’t really need.
Gentile: Agreed – he can stick with the base model. There’s no need for a more powerful or plug-in version. So, what is your final pick for Zach?
Richardson: He should certainly look at all three of the Honda Passport, Toyota Highlander and Mazda CX-70. If it was me, I’d save some money and seek out a lightly used, Honda-certified Passport.
Gentile: I’d do a new Toyota Highlander – it’s a few thousand dollars less than the new Passport, but just as spacious and comfy. And filled with smart safety technology, too.
What car should you buy? Write to Mark and Petrina at globedrive@globeandmail.com and use ‘What car’ as part of your subject line. Emails with different subject lines may not be answered.
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