2007 Mazda CX-7: Road Test
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2007 Mazda CX-7 ▼
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- MSRP: $23,750 -$28,000
- Invoice: $22,225 -$26,188
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Our road test for the 2007 Mazda CX-7 includes a full evaluation of the 2007 Mazda CX-7 from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2007 Mazda CX-7, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2007 Mazda CX-7 help you decide if a 2007 Mazda CX-7 is right for you.
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ACCELERATION
| AWD Sport | AWD Grand Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 5.2 |
Peppy once rolling: Test AWD Grand Touring did 8.5 sec 0-60 mph. Turbo lag noticeable away from a stop and during around-town passing maneuvers. Manually shifting the automatic transmission partly offsets the lazy throttle response.
FUEL ECONOMY
| AWD Sport | AWD Grand Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 4 |
Test AWD models averaged 18.0-21.4 mpg. Premium-grade fuel is required. No opportunity to measure with front-wheel drive.
RIDE QUALITY
| AWD Sport | AWD Grand Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 5.5 |
Firmer than some might prefer, but suspension irons out most pavement well. Still, some sharp bumps can pound through. Minor but annoying body jiggle on rippled surfaces at highway speeds, and some testers say wavy surfaces generate too much up-and-down body motion.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| AWD Sport | AWD Grand Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 4.5 |
Trades some ride comfort for handling. CX-7 less carlike than advertised, but agile for an SUV of this size and weight, abetted by fine steering and a well-planted feel. Standard antiskid control laudable, though it activated on one test CX-7 even in fairly low-effort cornering. Impressive brake response, control.
QUIETNESS
| AWD Sport | AWD Grand Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 5.6 |
More than acceptable, all told. Main problem is coarse-surface tire hum. Some testers cite engine whine during acceleration, but engine, wind noise modest in routine cruising. One test model suffered minor rattles over bumps.
CONTROLS
| AWD Sport | AWD Grand Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 6.6 |
Testers agree gauges are stylish, but divided on whether they're easy to read. Some testers also dislike red night lighting. Dashtop display puts audio and climate readouts remote from controls. Standard steering-wheel audio switches a plus because main array takes time to learn. Not so the large, simple knobs for climate functions. Navigation system easy to program. Cabin decor matches CX-7 pricing, but let down by budget-grade plastics, silver paint passing for metal accents.
ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
| AWD Sport | AWD Grand Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 7 |
Abundant leg room for all, but taller folks might want more head clearance. Seats well-bolstered for fast cornering. Steering wheel tilts, but should telescope too. Curvy styling crimps visibility aft and to right-rear. High-ride stance makes step-in a bit steep.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| AWD Sport | AWD Grand Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 6.1 |
Leg room tight with front seats far back. Front passenger seat doesn't slide as far back as driver's, leaving slightly more right-rear knee space. Good toe clearance, but seat cushion contour forces some riders into slight knees-up posture.
CARGO ROOM
| AWD Sport | AWD Grand Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 8 | 8 |
Beats most like-sized SUVs for space behind rear seat, but liftover fairly high, load volume not usefully cubic. Cargo bay has two nice touches: a reversible carpeted/plastic rear floor panel, and easy-to-reach releases that make lowering the standard 60/40 rear seatbacks a quick operation--and they fold almost flat. Laptop-size center console bin and integral door cupholders are also nice, but CX-7 cabin needs more spaces for small items.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| AWD Sport | AWD Grand Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 6 | 5.9 |
CX-7 emphasizes sport over utility and ride comfort to stand out in a crowded market segment. Its turbo 4-cyl engine is neither as fuel-efficient as one might expect nor as smoothly powerful as it ought to be. But there's appeal here for those who need something roomier than a midsize car and want fresh-looking SUV styling. In all, CX-7 has enough of the right stuff to earn our Recommended ribbon.
Total Score
| AWD Sport | AWD Grand Touring w/nav. sys. | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | 56 | 58.4 |
Total Score: 57
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