Sporty look gives Mazda CX-7 its edge

2010 Mazda CX-7 unique? Styling, I guess — it's sleek and reasonably contemporary, updated considerably for this model year, but those swoopy lines cost the CX-7 some cargo space and rear-seat room. If a lot of rear space is your central concern, you might be better with something more, well, angular, such as a Toyota Highlander.

Indeed, with the five-passenger CX-7, and its larger seven-passenger sibling, the CX-9, Mazda has tried hard to position itself as emphasizing "sport" over "utility" in its bigger SUVs. Just as important as styling is the CX family's stiffer-than-usual suspension and, with the CX-7, at least the option of a powerful engine.

That suspension and larger-than-average tires and wheels also mean a mildly rougher ride, especially on uneven pavement, and quite a bit of tire noise on coarse concrete. Even so, I'll happily take the rougher ride to get the CX-7's crisp handling. It doesn't feel like an SUV, and that's a compliment.

In a straight line, though, the thrill is gone if you have this 2.5-liter, 161-horsepower four-cylinder engine, mated to a plucky five-speed automatic transmission that tries hard to help the slightly coarse engine motivate the 3,500-pound sport-ute. At least mileage isn't bad, with an EPA-rated 20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, on regular-grade gas. This engine, shared with the Mazda6 and Mazda3, is new to the CX-7 this year. Previously, you could only get the now-optional turbocharged engine, which gave the CX-7 an abnormally high base price.

You can, of course, get that 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that pumps out 244 horsepower, and rides on 18- or 19-inch tires and wheels, instead of the standard 17-inchers. That model is also offered in all-wheel-drive, as well as the standard front-wheel-drive. With all the options, the turbo version of the CX-7 can hit almost $33,000, pricey in this class.