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2008 Mazda CX-7 Review

July 5, 2008

STYLING | 9 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

attention-grabbing styling
Edmunds

a bold design statement all around
Cars.com

appeals to people who want something that looks sporty
Car and Driver

For this Mazda, 2008 CX-7s carry over the same styling from their 2007 introduction: sporty without compromise.

The 2008 Mazda CX-7 is a mid-size, five-passenger CUV that, according to Edmunds, exhibits "edgy, almost sexy styling." Cars.com calls the 2008 Mazda "one of the best-looking crossovers" with "a bold design statement all around." They describe further "a menacing face and blacked-out grille, all pulled together by a very, very large Mazda emblem" and "exaggerated fenders" that remind them of Mazda's RX-8 sportscar. Car and Driver thinks the 2008 Mazda CX-7 is "the best interpretation of the term crossover [they've] seen yet," and it "appeals to people who want something that looks sporty." Sport trims receive 18-inch alloy wheels, according to various reviews read by TheCarConnection.com.

The 2008 Mazda CX-7's sportiness is not skin deep; the interior is a handsome place to work, too. Edmunds writes "the CX-7's radical styling carries inside, where an edgy yet functional cabin design greets drivers." Three pods that contain the speedometer, tachometer, and various gauges dominate the instrument panel. At night, they glow red, which some testers at ConsumerGuide "dislike" and "are divided on whether they're easy to read." They do agree that the gauges are "stylish." With its steep angle, this 2008 Mazda's windshield creates a large dashboard surface. Mazda somewhat mitigates this with what Kelley Blue Book describes as "a hooded crease" that houses "a glowing orange display for the audio and heating readouts."

Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com have little to fault about the design of the interior plastics in the Mazda. 2008 finds "Mazda...focuses on forming the plastics...into a 'sporty' look rather than an elegant one," says Cars.com, while Kelley Blue Book calls "tasteful" the blend of textured black plastic and chrome surrounds of the instrument cluster and center console of the 2008 Mazda.

Conclusion

With its athletic design inside and out, the 2008 Mazda CX-7 has the looks and style of a true crossover vehicle.

STYLING | 9 out of 10Expert Quotes:attention-grabbing stylingEdmundsa bold design statement all aroundCars.comappeals to people who want something that looks sportyCar and Driver For this Mazda, 2008 CX-7s carry over the same styling from their 2007 introduction: sporty without compromise. The 2008 Mazda CX-7 is a mid-size, five-passenger CUV that, according to Edmunds, exhibits "edgy, almost sexy styling." Cars.com calls the 2008 Mazda "one of the best-looking crossovers" with "a bold design statement all around." They describe further "a menacing face and blacked-out grille, all pulled together by a very, very large Mazda emblem" and "exaggerated fenders" that remind them of Mazda's RX-8 sportscar. Car and Driver thinks the 2008 Mazda CX-7 is "the best interpretation of the term crossover [they've] seen yet," and it "appeals to people who want something that looks sporty." Sport trims receive 18-inch alloy wheels, according to various reviews read by TheCarConnection.com. The 2008 Mazda CX-7's sportiness is not skin deep; the interior is a handsome place to work, too. Edmunds writes "the CX-7's radical styling carries inside, where an edgy yet functional cabin design greets drivers." Three pods that contain the speedometer, tachometer, and various gauges dominate the instrument panel. At night, they glow red, which some testers at ConsumerGuide "dislike" and "are divided on whether they're easy to read." They do agree that the gauges are "stylish." With its steep angle, this 2008 Mazda's windshield creates a large dashboard surface. Mazda somewhat mitigates this with what Kelley Blue Book describes as "a hooded crease" that houses "a glowing orange display for the audio and heating readouts." Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com have little to fault about the design of the interior plastics in the Mazda. 2008 finds "Mazda...focuses on forming the plastics...into a 'sporty' look rather than an elegant one," says Cars.com, while Kelley Blue Book calls "tasteful" the blend of textured black plastic and chrome surrounds of the instrument cluster and center console of the 2008 Mazda. ConclusionWith its athletic design inside and out, the 2008 Mazda CX-7 has the looks and style of a true crossover vehicle. 2008 MAZDA CX-7 STYLING | [9 out of 10] Edmunds: "attention-grabbing styling" Cars.com: "a bold design statement all around" Car and Driver: "appeals to people who want something that looks sporty" For this Mazda , 2008 CX-7s carry over the same styling from their 2007 introduction: ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The CX-7's closest rival is probably the Acura RDX, a performance-oriented crossover that also packs a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, all-wheel drive, and a suspension that's tuned for sporty handling. But the RDX's interior feels plusher yet sporty, there's more usable backseat space, and its powertrain feels and sounds more refined, with a bit less harshness and better responsiveness at part-throttle than the CX-7's engine. The RDX also has a more advanced all-wheel-drive system that is harder to fluster in brisk driving on curvy roads. The EX35 is a new competitor to the 2008 Mazda CX-7, with an excellent interior design and sharp handling, but its interior is also somewhat cramped. The BMW X3 offers a similar package, though its six-cylinder powertrains are more refined and sophisticated; however, the X3's interior trails the competition in appearance and materials. As a wild card, there's also the Subaru Tribeca, with quirky styling inside, sharp handling, and a surprisingly fun-to-drive feel on the road, thanks to the responsive flat-six engine. But what's the CX-7's biggest advantage? Its price is thousands lower than any of these rivals.

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See the Mazda CX-7 in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007

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