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The Bottom Line:
A few new details don’t make the 2010 Mazda CX-7 look much different than before from a distance, but it works better up close and inside.
Around The Web
Exterior and interior restyling brings it in line with Mazda’s new design direction”
“Some testers dislike red, night lighting”
“Most noticeable change include larger side air-intakes”
The ride is sporty but not stiff, and the handling is sharp-it darts in and out of traffic with aplomb. Steering-wheel weight is on the heavy side, and that's a good thing.
What's not a good thing is the seating position-I constantly felt like I was falling into the seat, as if it were too low for the belt line, and no adjustment seemed to get it right for my six-foot-one frame. I eventually gave up and adjusted, even if it meant contorting my body in weird ways.
Other issues included too much hard plastic in the interior, an center stack that consists of an almost overwhelming amount of buttons, and pull-out center console storage bins that can get in the way when drivers try and reach into the larger console below.
Those interior flaws offset highlights like the info center, which is perfectly placed and easy to read; and a shifter that falls to hand so easily that you wish a manual transmission was available. There's also a decent amount of interior cargo space, especially in the rear cargo area.
Fuel economy is listed at 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, and I averaged a tick over 19 mpg in 97.4 miles of combined city and highway driving-the trip computer had me pegged at 23.0. Based on the trip computer's readings, I'd suggest that the CX-7 sips fuel at highway speeds and takes big gulps while puttering around town in lower gears.
The CX-7 presents a dilemma. It's sporty without sacrificing much in the way of ride comfort or cargo space, but it also needs a few more options and a bit more ambiance for 25 large. It feels like it should cost about $3K cheaper. And that seating position will drive some folks nuts.
For drivers serious about sport, the CX-7 might be the right choice. The CX-7 is asked to perform a specific mission and it does that job well. But for those looking for a "jack of all trades" crossover, the choice isn't so cut and dried.
