Mazda CX-7 2.5 Dynamic

Mazda CX-7

Mazda CX-7
The SUV market is, at the best of times, plainly incomprehensible to me.

If you wish to go off-road, well, purchase a dedicated off-road wagon with low-range reduction gearing and some lockable axles. If you need loadspace and all-wheel traction security on dirt roads, buy an all-wheel drive station wagon.

Conversely, the idea of a Crossover (sedan platform, pseudo-SUV style) is completely beyond my faculties of reason.

Of course, the Crossover’s appeal is in combining the aspiration to an outdoor, active lifestyle (Camel trophy "lite", if you’ll excuse the tobacco-driven adage) without any of the solid axle ride harshness or ponderous on-road performance.

Crossovers are, mostly, a hapless compromise. Some manage to find the golden mean between faux dirt-road performance and urban usability better than others.

Mazda CX-7 With these vehicles spending so little time on even the most unchallenging of dirt-roads, perhaps there is space in the market for more front-wheel drive derivatives?

Subsequently, Mazda CX-7 after two weeks testing Mazda’s facelifted CX-7 (in 2.5L Dynamic guise) I pondered the issue: was it a hapless compromise or golden mean pseudo-SUV style wagon?