Mazda CX-7: Test Drive Because That's What They Gave Me

The started out fine with a call from the Mazda dealership where we purchased our 2007 CX-9 with which we have been extremely happy. Our salesman was going to come by and pick up our car for its first service appointment and leave us a loaner for the day. At first I thought he had brought us another CX-9 to drive but to my surprise it was the slightly smaller CX-7. Sitting in the driveway it seems much sportier than I thought. I figured since they gave it to me with a full tank of gas and the whole day I would just give it a good test drive.

I took it to the Lowe's parking lot and parked it next to several other new crossover SUVs and a couple of conventional mid-size SUVs. Looking at them together it seems to be a clean break from tradition. It seems like a totally new vehicle. The CX-7 is a five passenger vehicle and is geared more towards a small family or new couple. During driving it felt more like a sports car than an SUV. The spoke steering wheel and the sporty looks makes the CX-7 feel more like a sports car than a vehicle designed to transport the little league.

Performance

Crank the car and touch the gas and you can feel the power of a much stronger engine than the 4cylinders you may be used to driving. The powerful turbocharged engine helps to move a relatively heavy car down the highway with considerable ease and comfort. Unlike many other 4 cylinder cars on the market the handling and power is very dynamic. Mazda's "soul of a sports car" really shines in this vehicle. It took the in and out of traffic driving well and when I put it on the road it opens up and got me where I was going fast. Consumer Reports says "The CX-7 is a performance crossover with a turbocharged engine that makes for a fun driving experience," and I agree.

Interior

I am a big person, over 6 feet tall and 250 pounds I found the interior of the CX-7 to be roomy and comfortable. I could reach all the controls on the dashboard easily and getting in and out of the backseat was not a problem. The driver's seat gave me the height of bench while still feeling like I was in a cockpit. This car was fun to jump in and drive, the craftsmanship in the model I drove was detailed and complete. The doors slammed shut and their was very little road noise even over very rough pavement. The large 18-inch wheels, comfortable seats and strong suspension made even the rough back roads I went down fly smoothly by the windows. I thoroughly enjoyed the positioning of the center console and gear shift. It was convenient but not intrusive into the driving experience. The model I drove had leather seats, a premium sound system and the feel of a much more expensive car.

Utility

The cargo spacing was adequate for any shopping that family would do but you may limited on a long trip with the amount of luggage 4 people could carry. I loaded the back with some samples from work adding about 500 pounds of cargo. Even with this amount of weight in the back the CX-7 proved to have plenty of power and the handled exceptionally well. The wide open space allowed for easy loading and unloading of cargo. Carrying 5 passengers was not a chore as everyone had plenty of leg room and the air conditioner kept everyone cool on a very hot summer day. The crossover design is really brought together in the CX-7. It is sporty, retains the comfort of a larger vehicle and the practicality of the cargo wagon.

The CX-7 gave us a dominating driving position and strong presence on the road among other vehicles. The gas mileage at the end of the day was about 21 mpg which for a vehicle of this type is about what I expected. All day I felt like I was driving a sports car and not a crossover SUV. I never felt the desire to go off road in this vehicle but I enjoyed the looks from all the people when I got out. If you have sporty car in the driveway and want a sporty SUV to park next to it then the Mazda CX-7 is for you. But for now I will continue my love affair with the slightly larger CX-9.