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2008 Mazda CX-7 Quality Review

July 5, 2008

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 6 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Rear legroom is a little less than its main competitors
Edmunds

Taller folks might want more head clearance
ConsumerGuide

a light-effort liftgate
Car and Driver

This 2008 Mazda is best suited for couples who occasionally transport guests or cargo; as a family hauler, its limited legroom and headroom won't win many fans.

Most reviews read by TheCarConnection.com like the Mazda CX-7's front passenger space and comfort but feel the second row is too tight for adults. After a long road trip, Car and Driver finds "everyone appreciated the Mazda's comfortable front seats," but "space in the fixed second row was often tight, particularly for riders over six feet [tall]." Thankfully, for backseat riders of this Mazda, 2008 CX-7s have a wide body that "provides plenty of hiproom...for those times when all five seats need to be occupied," says Edmunds. Not only is legroom tight in back due to the swooping styling, headroom suffers as well. ConsumerGuide warns "taller folks might want more head clearance." Even shorter folks may take issue with the 2008 Mazda CX-7, they note, as the "high-ride stance makes step-in a bit steep" and "disappointingly [the steering wheel] is not telescopic."

One of the reasons for buying a crossover is cargo capability, and yet, according to Edmunds, the 2008 Mazda CX-7's luggage capacity "trails most of its competitors...with more than 10 cubic feet less capacity than the RAV4 and CR-V" at 58.6 cubic feet maximum. Cars.com likes the little touches such as the carpeted cargo floor that can be "flipped over to reveal a hard plastic one instead" and the folding rear seats that "provide a nearly flat load floor when down." Car and Driver states, "It's far easier to get a bike inside the CX-7 than in an Escalade."

Quality of materials and assembly are mostly good in this Mazda; 2008 CX-7s in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com variously exhibited good build quality but poor finishing details. For example, Edmunds calls build quality "very good [with] spot-on ergonomics," but ConsumerGuide is "let down by a few budget-grade plastics and unconvincing silver paint that passes for metal accents" and notes further, "One model tested suffered from a dashboard rattle when going over rippled pavement."

Noise-wise in the 2008 Mazda, Consumer Guide notes that "engine and wind noise are modest in routine cruising," and most of it comes from "coarse-surface tire hum."

Conclusion

The 2008 Mazda CX-7 seems to have an identity crisis; it purports to be a utility vehicle, but its sporty design compromises rear passenger comfort and cargo capacity.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 6 out of 10Expert Quotes:Rear legroom is a little less than its main competitorsEdmundsTaller folks might want more head clearanceConsumerGuidea light-effort liftgateCar and Driver This 2008 Mazda is best suited for couples who occasionally transport guests or cargo; as a family hauler, its limited legroom and headroom won't win many fans. Most reviews read by TheCarConnection.com like the Mazda CX-7's front passenger space and comfort but feel the second row is too tight for adults. After a long road trip, Car and Driver finds "everyone appreciated the Mazda's comfortable front seats," but "space in the fixed second row was often tight, particularly for riders over six feet [tall]." Thankfully, for backseat riders of this Mazda, 2008 CX-7s have a wide body that "provides plenty of hiproom...for those times when all five seats need to be occupied," says Edmunds. Not only is legroom tight in back due to the swooping styling, headroom suffers as well. ConsumerGuide warns "taller folks might want more head clearance." Even shorter folks may take issue with the 2008 Mazda CX-7, they note, as the "high-ride stance makes step-in a bit steep" and "disappointingly [the steering wheel] is not telescopic." One of the reasons for buying a crossover is cargo capability, and yet, according to Edmunds, the 2008 Mazda CX-7's luggage capacity "trails most of its competitors...with more than 10 cubic feet less capacity than the RAV4 and CR-V" at 58.6 cubic feet maximum. Cars.com likes the little touches such as the carpeted cargo floor that can be "flipped over to reveal a hard plastic one instead" and the folding rear seats that "provide a nearly flat load floor when down." Car and Driver states, "It's far easier to get a bike inside the CX-7 than in an Escalade." Quality of materials and assembly are mostly good in this Mazda; 2008 CX-7s in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com variously exhibited good build quality but poor finishing details. For example, Edmunds calls build quality "very good [with] spot-on ergonomics," but ConsumerGuide is "let down by a few budget-grade plastics and unconvincing silver paint that passes for metal accents" and notes further, "One model tested suffered from a dashboard rattle when going over rippled pavement." Noise-wise in the 2008 Mazda, Consumer Guide notes that "engine and wind noise are modest in routine cruising," and most of it comes from "coarse-surface tire hum." ConclusionThe 2008 Mazda CX-7 seems to have an identity crisis; it purports to be a utility vehicle, but its sporty design compromises rear passenger comfort and cargo capacity. 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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