The 2025 Mazda CX-70 lineup: three trims with real differences in comfort and safety

The 2025 Mazda CX-70 comes in three trim levels—Select, Preferred, and Premium—each adding features that affect how the vehicle drives and what you see on the road. The Select is the entry point with the essentials; Preferred adds comfort features and safety technology; Premium brings leather, a power liftgate, and the most advanced driver aids. All three use the same 2.5-liter turbocharged engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, so the difference is what surrounds you in the cabin and how much the vehicle helps you stay aware of your surroundings.

Understanding what each trim actually includes matters because some features you might want—like all-wheel drive, a sunroof, or specific safety packages—are either standard, optional, or bundled differently depending on which trim you choose. A feature that costs extra on Select might come standard on Preferred, or might not be available at all on a lower trim.

Key Takeaways

  • All three trims use the same turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, so your choice is about interior features, safety technology, and convenience rather than performance.
  • Select comes with front-wheel drive standard; all-wheel drive is available on all trims but costs more on Select than on Preferred or Premium.
  • Preferred adds heated seats, a power driver's seat, and i-Activsense safety features that Select does not have, making it the most common choice for daily drivers.
  • Premium includes leather upholstery, a power liftgate, and a Bose audio system, plus the full suite of driver-information features standard.
  • Options like a sunroof, navigation, and premium paint are available across trims but pricing and bundling vary by trim level.

Select: the base configuration and what it includes

The Select trim is the entry point and comes with the essentials for a compact crossover: the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, eight-speed automatic, front-wheel drive, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You get power windows, locks, and mirrors; air conditioning; and a six-speaker audio system. The seats are cloth, and the interior trim is plastic rather than soft-touch materials.

Safety features on Select include automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping information, and lane-departure warning—all standard across the lineup. However, Select does not include the full i-Activsense package that comes on Preferred and Premium, which adds adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and rear cross-traffic alert. If you want all-wheel drive on Select, it is available but adds cost; on Preferred and Premium, the pricing structure changes because more features are already bundled.

Select is the right choice if you drive mostly in the city, do not need heated seats or a power driver's seat, and want to keep the purchase price as low as possible. It is also the trim where adding options makes the most financial sense, because you are starting from a lower base price.

Preferred: the middle trim with the features most drivers use daily

Preferred adds heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The touchscreen remains 10.25 inches, but Preferred adds the full i-Activsense suite: adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring. These features reduce fatigue on longer drives and give you more awareness of what is happening around the vehicle.

Preferred also includes an eight-way power driver's seat (Select has manual adjustment), which matters if you spend hours behind the wheel and want to find the right position without reaching for levers. The interior trim upgrades to softer materials on the dashboard and door panels, making the cabin feel more refined than Select without jumping to leather.

All-wheel drive is available on Preferred and typically costs less than on Select because Preferred already includes more features; the price difference between front-wheel and all-wheel drive is smaller when you are starting from a higher base. Preferred is the trim where most of the features that affect daily comfort are already included, which is why it is the most common choice for owners who keep their vehicles for several years.

Premium: the top trim with leather and the most driver information

Premium adds leather upholstery on the seats and steering wheel, a power liftgate (hands-free opening), and a Bose premium audio system with nine speakers instead of six. The driver's seat gains heating and cooling, which Select and Preferred do not have. The interior trim is upgraded throughout, with softer materials and more attention to detail in how panels fit together.

Premium also includes the full suite of i-Activsense features as standard, plus Mazda's i-Activsense Plus package, which adds features like front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera view. This makes parking in tight spaces easier and reduces the risk of low-speed collisions. Premium is the only trim where the power liftgate comes standard; on Preferred and Select, it is not available at all.

Premium is the right choice if you want the most comfort features, plan to keep the vehicle long-term, or spend significant time in the vehicle and want heated and cooled seats. The leather and Bose system make longer drives more pleasant, and the extra safety features reduce the mental load of parking and maneuvering in traffic.

All-wheel drive availability and how it affects handling

All-wheel drive is available on all three trims but is not standard on any of them. On Select, adding all-wheel drive increases the price more than on Preferred or Premium because you are adding it to a lower base price. On Preferred and Premium, all-wheel drive is priced more consistently because the vehicle already includes more features.

The all-wheel-drive system on the CX-70 is a reactive system, meaning it sends power to the rear wheels only when the front wheels lose traction. This improves grip in snow and on wet pavement without reducing fuel economy as much as a full-time all-wheel-drive system would. If you live in a region with regular snow or drive on unpaved roads, all-wheel drive is worth the cost. If you drive mostly on dry pavement in a mild climate, front-wheel drive is sufficient and saves you money both at purchase and at the pump.

Options and packages: sunroof, navigation, and paint

A power sunroof is available on all three trims as an option, though it is not bundled into any package. Sunroofs add weight and reduce headroom slightly, and they require maintenance—the drain tubes can clog, and the motor can fail. If you want one, it is available, but it is not necessary for comfort or safety.

Navigation is available on Preferred and Premium through Mazda's infotainment system upgrade. Select does not offer factory navigation, though the standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allow you to use your phone's maps. If you spend time in areas with poor cell service, factory navigation is more reliable than phone-based maps.

Paint colors include standard solid colors at no extra cost and premium metallic colors that add cost. The premium colors—like Polymetal Gray and Zircon Sand—are more durable and hide minor scratches better than solid colors, but the difference is cosmetic rather than functional. Wheel options vary by trim, with larger wheels available on higher trims; larger wheels look more aggressive but reduce ride comfort slightly and wear tires faster.

How to compare configurations side by side

When comparing trims, focus on what you actually use: if you do not use heated seats, Preferred's heated-seat feature is not a reason to buy it. If you spend two hours a day commuting, heated and cooled seats on Premium become more valuable. If you park in tight spaces or have poor vision, the 360-degree camera on Premium is a practical safety feature, not a luxury.

Make a list of features that matter to your driving: heated seats, adaptive cruise control, all-wheel drive, leather, power liftgate, and the Bose system. Then check which trim includes each feature standard and which trims require it as an option. This shows you the true cost of getting the features you want, because sometimes paying more for a higher trim is cheaper than adding options to a lower trim.

Test drive at least two trims—typically Select and Preferred—to feel the difference in seat comfort, steering feel, and how the infotainment system responds. The engine and transmission are identical, so the driving experience is similar, but the interior comfort and technology features are noticeably different.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get all-wheel drive on the Select trim?

Yes, all-wheel drive is available on Select as an option, but it costs more than on Preferred or Premium because you are adding it to a lower base price. If all-wheel drive is important to you, comparing the total cost of Select with all-wheel drive to Preferred with front-wheel drive often shows that Preferred is a better value.

What is the difference between i-Activsense and i-Activsense Plus?

i-Activsense is the standard safety package on Preferred and Premium, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping information, and traffic-sign recognition. i-Activsense Plus, available on Premium, adds front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera view. Select does not include either package.

Is the sunroof worth the cost?

A sunroof adds weight, reduces headroom slightly, and requires maintenance over time. If you value the open-air feeling and do not mind the cost, it is available on all trims. If you are budget-conscious or live in a cold climate where you will not use it often, skipping it saves money and reduces future repair risk.

Do I need factory navigation or can I use my phone?

The standard 10.25-inch touchscreen supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can use your phone's maps without paying for factory navigation. Factory navigation is more reliable in areas with poor cell service and does not drain your phone battery. It is available on Preferred and Premium but not on Select.

What is the real difference between Preferred and Premium?

Premium adds leather, heated and cooled seats, a power liftgate, a Bose audio system, and parking sensors with a 360-degree camera. If you spend significant time in the vehicle and want maximum comfort, Premium is worth it. If you drive shorter distances and do not need leather, Preferred includes all the safety and convenience features most drivers need daily.