Mazda CX-7 History
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The Mazda CX-7 is a compact crossover vehicle—and one of few that focuses on sporty on-the-road performance, with no hint of ruggedness or off-road ability. Think of the CX-7 as a tall wagon that offers the handling of a sport wagon but the versatility and cargo/passenger-friendliness of a utility vehicle and you won’t be far off the mark.
The CX-7’s design has changed little from its introduction in 2006 (2007 model year) to the present day. Inside and out, the Mazda CX-7 appears aggressive and sporty, with aspects like its steeply raked windshield, large wheels, and bulging fenders and wheelwells looking the part on the outside, while a cockpit-like instrument panel and hooded gauges inside can, at times, lead you to think that you’re driving a sport coupe.
The CX-7 targets shoppers who might need a roomier vehicle, because of a growing family, for instance, but want a vehicle that’s responsive and corners well. And in repeated drives of the CX-7, TheCarConnection.com has found the CX-7 to steer and handle exceptionally well compared to rival crossovers. Available from the start was a 244-horsepower, 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine—essentially the same unit that’s been offered in Mazda’s performance-tuned Mazdaspeed3 and Mazdaspeed6 models—with either front-wheel drive or an all-wheel-drive system that can send up to 50 percent of torque to the front wheels.
Positioned in the market as a more premium, sporty alternative to basic crossover compacts like the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, or Toyota RAV4, the CX-7 has always cost a bit more and sales weren’t as high as Mazda would have hoped. Additionally, fuel economy with the 2.3-liter turbo wasn’t particularly impressive in real-world driving. So for 2010 the automaker rolled out new lower-priced versions of the CX-7 powered by a 161-horsepower, 2.5-liter four. The lineup was also separated into ‘i’ and ‘s’ trims, which get the standard engine or the turbo, respectively, but standard-feature content remained quite generous. Although the difference between the engines is remarkable in terms of specs and straight-line acceleration, the 2.5-liter has enough torque to move the CX-7 rapidly in normal driving—and it’s considerably more refined than the stronger 2.3.
The CX-7 has excellent front seats and a good driving position, but it doesn’t quite live up to its high-utility promises behind the driver’s seat, as its rakish design brings some obvious sacrifices. The backseat can accommodate three in theory, but it’s too tight for three adults and the seating position is very low. The backseats fold to yield 70 inches of flat cargo floor, but it’s not very tall—barely enough to move a short love seat. And a lout boomy ride has been an issue in former CX-7 models, though 2010 models did get improved insulation and other changes aimed at a more refined feel.
For 2010, the Mazda CX-7 saw a revised model lineup with ‘i’ and ‘s’ models, plus new base SV and affordable Sport models. All models in the lineup by the SV come with standard Bluetooth hands-free calling, and Bluetooth streaming audio is offered. At the top of the line, the Grand Touring comes such premium features as automatic climate control, a moonroof, heated mirrors, HID headlamps, and rain-sensing wipers.
