Mazda CX-70 vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2025 Mazda CX-70 presented a sporty and appealing design, reminiscent of a sport appearance package for the CX-90. It featured redesigned front and rear fasciae, a unique grille insert, new wheels, and dark accents, creating an optical illusion that made it appear slightly smaller than its CX-90 counterpart. Inside, the differences were subtle, with the CX-70 offering exclusive red leather treatment, unlike the CX-90's white leather. The interior boasted quality materials and textures, though the addition of soft-touch lower dashboard panels in the higher trims could have enhanced the affordable luxury concept.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt retained a familiar look with slight styling changes, resembling a conventional gas-powered car more than an EV. It featured a thin slot behind the Chevy Bowtie logo and an integrated grille insert in the bumper. The Bolt EUV body style returned, prioritizing utility and interior space over a sporty stance. The interior underwent a more dramatic makeover, with a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. Despite the hard plastic surfaces, the cabin offered thin padding at elbow touch points, and the RS trim added Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching for a touch of flair.

The 2025 Mazda CX-70 offered a turbocharged 3.3-litre inline six-cylinder engine in its gas-only models, producing 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque in the GS-L and GT trims, while the GT-P and Signature trims delivered 340 hp and 369 lb-ft. The PHEV variant combined a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a 68-kilowatt electric motor, generating 323 hp and 369 lb-ft. The CX-70 PHEV provided 42 kilometres of electric-only range and averaged 9.4 L/100 km combined. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD, with various drive modes available. The gas-only CX-70 offered 2,268 kilograms of towing capacity, while the PHEV could handle 1,587 kilograms. The CX-70's handling was athletic, though an adaptive damping suspension could have improved the ride on imperfect pavement.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, reducing costs and requiring fewer rare earth minerals. Its motor, sourced from the Chevy Equinox EV, delivered 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels, achieving a 0-100 km/h time in the low seven-second range. The Bolt's acceleration was quick compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs, with one-pedal driving available. The ride was firm but not overly stiff, and the Bolt's low centre of gravity contributed to its agility on curvy roads. On a full charge, it offered up to 422 kilometres of range, with a charging speed of 150 kW, allowing a 10% to 80% recharge in 25 minutes.

The Mazda CX-70 accommodated up to five people, with heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a triple-zone automatic climate control system as standard. Higher trims offered heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. The front seats provided good support, though adjustable side bolsters and massagers could have enhanced comfort. Small-item storage was limited, but cargo space was generous, with 1,122 litres behind the back seat and 2,132 litres with the rear seat folded. Mazda offered various cargo-enhancing accessories, including an organizer and roof-rail crossbars.

The Chevrolet Bolt's driving position was more upright, providing ample space for larger occupants. The rear seats offered plenty of headroom and thigh support, with a flat floor reducing the penalty for centre-seat passengers. The Bolt could hold up to 459 litres of cargo behind the rear seats, with a large bin underneath the floor for additional storage. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, and the release latches were easily accessible. Up front, ample storage included a large bin with dividers, a big floor tray, and a deep centre armrest bin.

The Mazda CX-70 featured a 10.25-inch infotainment screen and a 7-inch partially digital instrument cluster, with the Signature trim upgrading to a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and infotainment screen. The Mazda Connect system offered touch-sensing capability only with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the 12.3-inch screen. The system was graphically pleasing and logically laid out, with Alexa Built-in providing a conversational digital voice assistant. Most models included a 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system, delivering excellent sound quality.

The Chevrolet Bolt came with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch centre touchscreen, running on a Google-based operating system. Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto were not supported, but Bluetooth pairing allowed access to personal music libraries. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and a wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with logical menus and quick responses. The Bolt's navigation system could locate charging stations and precondition the battery for optimal charging rates. Vehicle-to-load charging was also available.

The 2025 Mazda CX-70 came standard with the i-ActiveSense collection of advanced driving-assistance systems, including features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The GT trim added semi-autonomous steering-assistance features, while the GT-P trim included a Cruising & Traffic Support system with Unresponsive Driver Support. This system combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assist, providing a hands-on semi-autonomous driving experience. Although crash-test evaluations were not available, Mazda's track record suggested high safety ratings.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt included standard advanced safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise hands-free automated highway driving system was available for an additional cost. While crash-test results were not yet published, the Bolt was expected to achieve high scores based on its platform.