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2009 Mazda CX-7 Quality Review

February 23, 2009

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 6 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

headroom is good all around
Edmunds

Build quality and ergonomics are both very good
ConsumerGuide

It's far easier to get a bike inside the CX-7 than in an Escalade.
Car and Driver

This 2009 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 react positively to the Mazda CX-7’s front passenger space and comfort but not so much to the second row, which is too tight for long trips. Edmunds relates: "Previously not as roomy as the Mazda, this year's Forester slightly edges out the CX-7 when it comes to legroom and cargo capacity." 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 2009 Mazda CX-7, they note, as the "high-ride stance makes step-in a bit steep" and "disappointingly [the steering wheel] is not telescopic." But, Car and Driver states, "It's far easier to get a bike inside the CX-7 than in an Escalade." One bright spot is that 2009 Mazda CX-7 Sports are now available with dual heated front seats with power driver seat, as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

The CX-7 has "below-average interior utility," according to Edmunds, of the reasons for buying a crossover is cargo capability, and yet, according to them, the 2009 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. Worse, as ConsumerGuide notes, "total space is small by class standards. Loading is hampered by a high deck." While the center console bin is laptop-sized, there is a dearth of smaller storage spaces in the 2009 CX-7s cabin.

The top-line Grand Touring has distinctive leather from lower models. Quality of materials and assembly are mostly good in this Mazda; 2009 CX-7s in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com variously exhibit solid 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."

ConsumerGuide notes that "engine and wind noise [in the 2009 Mazda CX-7] are more than acceptable." One model they tested "suffered from a dashboard rattle when going over rippled pavement."

Conclusion

The 2009 Mazda CX-7 offers average comfort with below-average finish.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 6 out of 10Expert Quotes:headroom is good all aroundEdmundsBuild quality and ergonomics are both very goodConsumerGuideIt's far easier to get a bike inside the CX-7 than in an Escalade.Car and Driver This 2009 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 react positively to the Mazda CX-7’s front passenger space and comfort but not so much to the second row, which is too tight for long trips. Edmunds relates: "Previously not as roomy as the Mazda, this year's Forester slightly edges out the CX-7 when it comes to legroom and cargo capacity." 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 2009 Mazda CX-7, they note, as the "high-ride stance makes step-in a bit steep" and "disappointingly [the steering wheel] is not telescopic." But, Car and Driver states, "It's far easier to get a bike inside the CX-7 than in an Escalade." One bright spot is that 2009 Mazda CX-7 Sports are now available with dual heated front seats with power driver seat, as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The CX-7 has "below-average interior utility," according to Edmunds, of the reasons for buying a crossover is cargo capability, and yet, according to them, the 2009 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. Worse, as ConsumerGuide notes, "total space is small by class standards. Loading is hampered by a high deck." While the center console bin is laptop-sized, there is a dearth of smaller storage spaces in the 2009 CX-7s cabin. The top-line Grand Touring has distinctive leather from lower models. Quality of materials and assembly are mostly good in this Mazda; 2009 CX-7s in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com variously exhibit solid 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." ConsumerGuide notes that "engine and wind noise [in the 2009 Mazda CX-7] are more than acceptable." One model they tested "suffered from a dashboard rattle when going over rippled pavement." ConclusionThe 2009 Mazda CX-7 offers average comfort with below-average finish. 2009 MAZDA CX-7 STYLING | [9 out of 10] Edmunds: "attention-getting design" Cars.com: "one of the best-looking crossovers" ConsumerGuide: "Testers agree the gauges are stylish but are divided on whether they're easy to read" Mazda 2009 CX-7s continue the familiar styling from their ...

Read More of this Review:

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

Other Choices:

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, is probably the closest rival to the 2009 Mazda CX-7. 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 significantly 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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