Engineered with its trademark "Soul of a Sports car" mindset, Mazda is taking a bold step with their all-new CX-7 crossover SUV.
As their first entry in the crossover SUV segment, the CX-7 promises plenty of 'Zoom-Zoom' with its athletic styling, nifty features, versatility, and cabin room to comfortably accommodate a family of five.
The CX-7 is just right for those looking for a sporty family-hauler. Speaking of sporty, CX-7's 66-degree windshield angle is sleeker than many sports cars, let alone SUVs.
Using the innovative MX-Crossport concept shown at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show for inspiration, the CX-7 is an attractive crossover with much appeal.
Viewed from the side, CX-7 features an aggressively rising belt line, a curved roof and prominent fender arches, producing Mazda's unique signature. I found CX-7 to be one of the most attractive crossovers in the segment.
All CX-7s are powered by a turbocharged and intercooled 2.3-liter four-cylinder direct injection gasoline engine that makes 244 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.
CX-7's engine is a slightly modified version of the one found in the highly acclaimed MazdaSpeed 6 sport sedan. While the boosted four-cylinder engine is very lively and power comes in quickly, premium fuel is required.
But that's a small price to pay for all the fun CX-7 delivers. Mated to CX-7's engine is a standard 6-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability. CX-7 is available as a front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive SUV.
The all-wheel-drive models feature Mazda's Active Torque-Split system. It uses a computer-controlled coupling integrated with the rear differential to deliver up to half the available torque to the rear wheels on demand. This system is very good at keeping CX-7 under control while driving along slippery pavement, but it's not engineered for off-roading.
Features like anti-lock brakes, stability control, and traction control are standard on CX-7. The CX-7 features a sport-tuned suspension. It's a tad stiffer than others in this class, but I didn't find it too objectionable.
During my weeklong test, our CX-7 (Grand Touring AWD) tester seemed a bit thirsty for fuel. The CX-7 Grand Touring model is rated at 18/24 mpg. That's a bit lower than I'd expect to see from a four-cylinder engine.
CX-7's cabin has plenty of room in front and back. The rear seat not only carries three passengers in comfort, it also splits and folds to increase cargo capacity and versatility.
I like the reversible cargo board that features a plastic side, which enables soiled items to be loaded without staining the carpet.
I also admire the large, lockable center console that's big enough to swallow a laptop computer.
The CX-7 is available in one of three trim levels: Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring. All trim levels can be had as either a front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
Pricing for the Sport starts at $23,750 and standard features include air conditioning, power windows and locks, cruise control, six airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability control, and traction control.
The Touring FWD ($25,500) adds leather trim, heated seats, power driver seat, and a retractable cargo cover. The top-of-the-line Grand Touring FWD ($26,300) adds unique leather upholstery, HID headlamps, fog lamps, automatic climate control and more.
Options include a moonroof, upgraded sound system, touch-screen DVD navigation system, keyless-start and rear park-assist with rearview camera. Put CX-7 on your short list if you're in the market for a fun-to-drive family hauler. |