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.

Mazda CX-7 finely tuned

Number crunching is one of those terms like business casual that is hard to define but often achieves the desired effect and a case in point is the 2010 Mazda CX-7 crossover utility vehicle.

The CX-7 was launched in 2007 aimed at the compact CUV buyer. With its turbocharged engine, it was (and remains) one of the fastest and best handling vehicles in the segment and sold well.

Mazda CX-7

But going through the sales data, Mazda realized it was losing out at the entry end against Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V because it didn’t have a similarly priced competitor.

That has now been addressed in 2010 by the addition of a 2.5-litre normally aspirated engine in addition to the turbo.

It has resulted in the GX model with front-wheel drive and five-speed automatic transmission, the only CX-7 with FWD offered.

The engine itself is a Mazda stalwart being also used extensively by Ford.

At 2.5-litres, it’s large for a four-cylinder so Mazda uses counter rotating balance shafts in the oil pan to quell the imbalance normally found in big fours. In this form it produces 161 hp and 161 lb/ft of torque.

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?

Mazda CX-7 hailed as good family car

The Mazda CX-7 has been flagged up as a good option for families for want to travel in a transporter.

According to the Hamilton Advertiser, the vehicle can carry more than 700 litres of luggage, as well as mum, dad and all of the kids.

The newspaper said the vehicle was particularly easy to handle on town roads, which could be an asset on the mandatory trip to the supermarket.

It also noted that the Mazda CX-7 performed equally well on the motorways, where its motion was said to be "smooth-flowing and effortless".

Indeed, reviewer John Connor stated that the vehicle "really grew in my estimation" when he took it onto the motorway.

"Mazda has another winning model in its line-up," he commented.

Mazda CX-7 SUV

Mazda CX-7 is one of the world's first production SUVs to combine a sporty design and driving experience with SUV practicality and roominess. Since its launch in 2006, this unique Mazda CX-7 sports crossover SUV has steadily gained in popularity around the world, selling about 190,000 units and winning 15 automotive awards. In Europe, it found more than 30,000 owners in the growing non-premium compact SUV segment in less than two years. Europeans are attracted to its sporty design, its fun-to-drive nature and its mix of everyday practicality, roominess and quality feel.


The new Mazda CX-7 facelift model refines this package of attributes even further and is engineered to be more sophisticated, sustainable and emotionally appealing. While retaining the sporty nature of the original model, the Mazda CX-7 facelift improves ride comfort and handling stability, and combines this with lower noise levels in the cabin for a more sophisticated interior environment. It is also more sustainable with the introduction of a new, clean-running diesel that delivers high power and torque, low fuel consumption and Euro Stage V compliance. The design of the facelift received updates to make it even more emotionally appealing with a new, more dynamic Mazda family face, premium exterior detailing and a higher quality feel. And updated suspension settings further refine its driving performance.



Mazda CX-7 Design

At launch in 2007, Mazda CX-7 Mazda's sports crossover SUV featured an advanced design that gave it an emotional appeal usually reserved for sports cars. Taking this as their basis, designers of the facelift enhanced Mazda CX-7's sporty nature and sophisticated character even further. They introduced a new, more dynamic front end, improved build quality and added premium details for a sense of refinement.