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Québec drivers hauling kids to school, running errands around Laval or Montréal, or heading to the cottage all face the same question at the pump: how much fuel does a large SUV really burn?
The Mazda CX-90 and CX-70 PHEV answer that question differently than most large SUVs in this segment. Their plug-in hybrid powertrain lets short trips run on electricity alone, then falls back on gasoline once the battery runs low.
Natural Resources Canada rates plug-in hybrids with a combined Le/100 km figure that merges gasoline and electricity into a single number. Both the CX-90 PHEV and the CX-70 PHEV GS-L share the same e-Skyactiv PHEV powertrain, and each returns a combined rating of 4.2 Le/100 km.
That shared architecture runs deep. Both PHEVs pair a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a 17.8 kWh battery and an electric motor rated at 173 hp and 199 lb-ft, for a system total of 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque.
Mazda’s own gas-only large SUVs, the CX-90 MHEV and CX-70 MHEV, land in the 9.3 to 9.5 L/100 km combined range depending on trim and fuel grade. That gap is the core of the fuel-savings case for the PHEV lineup.
| Metric | CX-90 PHEV | CX-70 PHEV | CX-90 MHEV | CX-70 MHEV |
| Combined energy consumption | 4.2 Le/100 km | 4.2 Le/100 km | 9.3-9.5 L/100 km | 9.3-9.5 L/100 km |
| Electric-only range | 42 km | 43-51 km | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Gas-only combined (battery depleted) | 9.2 L/100 km | 9.0-9.2 L/100 km | 9.3-9.5 L/100 km | 9.3-9.5 L/100 km |
| Max towing | 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg) | 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg) | 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) | 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) |
The CX-90 PHEV covers 42 km on electricity alone. The CX-70 PHEV ranges from 43 km on the GT and Signature trims up to 51 km on the newer GS-SC and GS-L SC trims.
For a commute through Montréal or Laval, a school run, or a quick errand loop, that range often covers an entire day of driving without touching the gas tank.
Home charging on a Level 1, 120-volt outlet takes about 6.4 hours to bring the battery from 20 to 80 percent. A Level 2, 240-volt charger cuts that to 1.3 hours. Drivers who plug in nightly, even on a standard outlet, wake up with a full charge for typical daily loops.
Longer highway trips change the math. Once the battery depletes past the electric range, say on a cottage run beyond 50 km one way, the CX-90 PHEV settles into 9.2 L/100 km combined on gasoline alone.
That figure sits close to the 9.3 to 9.5 L/100 km that Mazda’s own gas-only CX-90 and CX-70 MHEV models return without ever carrying a battery. On trips like these, the PHEV advantage narrows because there is no chance to recharge along the way.
The trade-off for that electric range shows up in towing. CX-90 PHEV and CX-70 PHEV are each rated to tow up to 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg) with Mazda Genuine Towing Accessories. The gas-only CX-90 MHEV GS-L and CX-70 MHEV GS-L climb to 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg).
Families hauling a trailer or heavier boat on a regular basis should weigh that difference before counting on fuel savings alone.
Seating follows a similar trade-off pattern. The CX-90 PHEV offers up to 8-passenger seating on the GS trim, drops to 7 with captain’s chairs on GS-L, and the CX-90 MHEV Signature seats 6. The CX-70, PHEV or gas-only, keeps a fixed 5-passenger, two-row layout.
Buyers who need three rows alongside daily electric range should look at the CX-90 PHEV. Those who want a two-row footprint with the same plug-in powertrain fit the CX-70 PHEV instead.
The savings math favours drivers who plug in nightly and keep most trips inside the electric range. At 15,000 to 20,000 km a year, the roughly 5.1 L/100 km gap between a 4.2 Le/100 km PHEV rating and a 9.3 L/100 km gas-only large SUV works out to somewhere between 765 and 1,020 litres of gasoline avoided annually, based on distance alone.
What that is worth in dollars moves with pump prices in Québec, but the litre count itself does not change with the market.
A CX-90 or CX-70 PHEV fits best for drivers who: – Drive mostly within 40 to 50 km a day, inside the electric range – Have home access to a Level 1 or Level 2 charger – Want large-SUV space without a daily stop for gas – Tow occasionally rather than daily, within the 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) rating
Drivers who rarely charge, or who spend most weeks on long highway runs without a plug nearby, will still see efficient gas-only numbers from the CX-90 PHEV and CX-70 PHEV, just without the daily electric-only bonus. For Québec commuters with home charging and frequent short trips, the CX-90 and CX-70 PHEV turn a large SUV into a vehicle that rarely needs a gas station at all.
The CX-90 and CX-70 PHEV pair electric-only daily driving with the flexibility of a full gasoline range, giving Québec drivers large-SUV space without the fuel consumption typical of gas-only models in the same segment.
Visit Planète Mazda in Mirabel to test-drive the CX-90 and CX-70 PHEV, see how EV mode handles your daily route, and talk through your home-charging options with the team before choosing your plug-in SUV.
