2009 Mazda CX-7 Review

2009 Mazda CX-7 - Zoom-zoom promise.

By: John Stein

It's a couple years into a complete overhaul and the 2009 Mazda CX-7 is still a fresh-looking crossover utility vehicle that combines an athletic exterior with the zoom-zoom driving experience Mazda touts in all its ads.

From the outside the CX-7 has no faults. With its sleek lines, raked windshield and a front end that drops steeply down to the front bumper, CX-7 makes a clear statement of sports car enthusiasm.

There are three trim levels for the 2009 CX-7: Sport, Touring and the Grand Touring model. I've driven all three and as you might suspect, the experience gets a lot more comfortable as you nudge the option arm up.

While considering which trim to get into, know that the base model starts at $23,900 and moves up through $28,400 with a massive list of options available. Remote keyless entry, power windows and locks, air conditioning and cruise control are standard for all three in the lineup. The Grand Touring trim includes leather upholstery, xenon headlights, automatic climate control, heated exterior mirrors and an upgraded gauge cluster.

There is a lot to like about the CX-7, but the Grand Touring model is the one I would want when dealing with Midwest winters and the long, static holding patterns common on Chicago highways. Comfort equals more patience and the price for that is well worth it on the Grand Touring model.

The sporty style from the outside easily translates into the cabin. My favorite feature is the red lighting on the instrument panel. The red glow at night seems to feel faster and more aggressive (even if you are waiting for your wife outside the grocery store) than a standard treatment. Speaking of sporty, the steering wheel is smallish and it feels great to handle. It has audio controls that are not only convenient but help you keep your eyes on the road.

Audio and climate displays are atop the dash, well above the controls. Visibility is pretty good for the readout at night, but I had trouble seeing it during the day. And while we are up on the dash - and it's a big one - let's take a shot across the bow and see how long it takes to echo back to us.

That great-looking raked windshield does present quite an open field of plastic inside.

You do get used to it rather quickly. Something I never did get used to was the loud cabin, which let in too much road noise.

I found front row seating to be firm and comfortable for every length trip. Rear seating was not as accommodating for taller passengers, who found it a bit cramped.

The CX-7 is listed as a five-passenger vehicle, but you would be asking three adults to get to know each other pretty well when squeezing them in back there.

The rear seats do fold flat and you will get about 70 inches of space to haul whatever fits back there. There are always trade-offs of good and bad and the CX-7's big upside is its sloping and sporty exterior styling - but it costs you considerable interior storage space due to the severe slope of the rear gate. For me, the trade-off is well worth the unique look and feel of CX-7 compared to others in this class.

The only engine available on the 2009 CX-7 is the venerable 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This direct-injection power plant delivers 244 horsepower to either a front-wheel configuration or an optional full-time all-wheel-drive system.

For all its great looks, CX-7 is a bit heavy and the higher profile has a bit of lean in quick turns. Nonetheless, there is still a fun aspect to driving this CX-7, even in automatic (there is a manual setting if you want to work for your fun). This is a responsive vehicle that handles as you might expect a Mazda claiming zoom-zoom status. Combining great handling and a stiff suspension, the turbocharged engine adds sporty sass to the experience. Adding a bit of tension to pushing that great engine is the requirement of premium fuel.

A family vehicle at heart, the CX-7 is a safety-conscious vehicle. Offering five-star ratings for frontal and side impacts as well as standard front side airbags, side curtain bags, antilock brakes and stability control, the CX-7 will keep the family safe.

Overall, the Mazda zoom-zoom attitude is either a credo you buy into or you do not. There will be plenty of people who see the CX-7 and love its looks; they may be deterred by the single-engine option or the lack of cargo space. If you are looking for inspired crossover performance and looks, this CX-7 demands you pay attention.

2009 MAZDA CX-7 GRAND TOURING

ENGINE: 244-horsepower 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder

TRANSMISION: six-speed automatic

DRIVETRAIN: front-wheel drive

FUEL ECONOMY: 17 city/23 highway

BASE PRICE: $26,700

WEB SITE: www.Mazda.com

John Stein

John Stein grew up in an extended family that valued the art of going fast. Spending plenty of weekends at U.S. 30 Drag Strip and Sante Fe Speedway, he fondly remembers the screaming machines and the flying mud that made those long-gone racing havens such special memories. With plenty of late nights spent ‘tinkering’ with cars throughout high school, he never anticipated his interest cars and his love for writing might find a common ground. After graduating from Eastern Illinois University in 1988, John started writing for the weekly Southtown Economist. So, when the Economist went to a daily in 1994, and needed an auto editor, John took the proverbial steering wheel. Featured weekly in the Sun-Times and its 17 suburban publications, as well as ELITE Magazine, John balances being the Automotive Editor for Sun-Time Media with being a husband and dad in Plainfield, Illinois.

2009 Mazda CX-7 Review

2009 Mazda CX-7 - Zoom-zoom promise.

John Stein

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