Vehicle History Report
Get a CARFAX Vehicle History... the first step to protecting yourself from costly hidden problems.
- • New Cars
2007 Mazda CX-7 Full Review
Date Published: 4/09/08
Also in the 2007 Mazda CX-7 Review:
2007 Mazda CX-7 Review
CX-7 bows for 2007 as Mazda's first car-type midsize SUV. This five-passenger 4-dr wagon offers Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring models with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive that lacks low-range gearing. All have a 244-hp turbocharged 4-cyl engine, drawn from the sporty MazdaSpeed 6 sedan, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual shift gate. CX-7s come with ABS and traction/antiskid control. Also standard are front side airbags and curtain side airbags with rollover deployment. Touring and Grand Touring add leather upholstery and heated front seats. Available for all is a navigation system with rearview camera.
Competition
Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 18 classes based on size, price, and market position. Larger than Compact SUVs, Midsize SUVs offer a mix of car- and truck-type construction, V6 and V8 power, and up to eight-passenger seating. This class also includes crossover vehicles.
Our Best Buy choice is the Honda Pilot. Our Recommended picks are the Ford Explorer, Ford Freestyle, Mazda CX-7, Nissan Murano, and Toyota Highlander.
New or significantly redesigned models include the Dodge Nitro, Ford Edge, GMC Acadia, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-7, Mazda CX-9, Saturn Outlook, Suzuki XL-7, and Toyota FJ Cruiser.
Our Best Buy choice is the Honda Pilot. Our Recommended picks are the Ford Explorer, Ford Freestyle, Mazda CX-7, Nissan Murano, and Toyota Highlander.
New or significantly redesigned models include the Dodge Nitro, Ford Edge, GMC Acadia, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-7, Mazda CX-9, Saturn Outlook, Suzuki XL-7, and Toyota FJ Cruiser.
News
CX-7 gets a big brother early in calendar 2007. Called CX-9, it looks much the same, but comes with 3-row seating on a longer 113.2-inch wheelbase. There's a lone powerteam comprising a 3.5-liter V6 with around 250 hp and a new 6-speed automatic transmission paired with either front drive or all-wheel drive. In fact, CX-9 is Mazda's version of the upcoming Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX (nee Aviator). Mazda will offer Sport, Touring and top-line Grand Touring models with standard front torso side airbags, curtain side airbags with rollover sensors, stability/traction control and ABS brakes. Grand Tourings roll on 20-inch wheels, other models on 18s. Seating is in a 2-3-2 format with a 60/40 2nd-row bench seat and a 50/50 3rd-row bench, both of which fold flat for cargo. The middle seat moves fore/aft to favor passenger or cargo space and also has reclining backrests. Mazda claims 17.2 cu ft of cargo volume behind the 3rd-row seat. More information will be released closer to the on-sale date, so keep checking back with us for the latest.
Locate a Dealer
Get a FREE Price Quote:
2007 Mazda CX-7 Road Test
| Pros | Cons |
| Steering/handling | Ride |
| Cargo room | "Turbo lag" power delivery |
| Interior materials | |
Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings
Acceleration
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.
| 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
Test AWD models averaged 18.0-21.4 mpg. Premium-grade fuel is required. No opportunity to measure with front-wheel drive.
| 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
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.
| 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
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.
| 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
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.
| 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
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.
| 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)
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.
| 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)
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.
| 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
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.
| 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
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.
| 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 |
Scores for all Midsize Sport-utility Vehicles
| Low Score | 48 | |
| Average Score | 58 | |
| High Score | 69 |
Locate a Dealer
Get a FREE Price Quote:
2007 Mazda CX-7 Prices & Equipment
Model Prices
Prices Updated: 12/08/2006
| Trim Name | Retail Price | Dealer Invoice | Destination Charge |
|
|
|||
| 2WD Sport 4-door wagon | $23,750 | $22,225 | $595 |
|
|
|||
| AWD Sport 4-door wagon | $25,450 | $23,811 | $595 |
|
|
|||
| 2WD Touring 4-door wagon | $25,500 | $23,857 | $595 |
|
|
|||
| AWD Touring 4-door wagon | $27,200 | $25,442 | $595 |
|
|
|||
| 2WD Grand Touring 4-door wagon | $26,300 | $24,603 | $595 |
|
|
|||
| AWD Grand Touring 4-door wagon | $28,000 | $26,188 | $595 |
Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's
manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker.
Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are
what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options.
The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price
and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently
throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's
window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.
NA = price note available, NC = no charge.
Rebates and Incentives
| Model | Rebate & Incentives | Type | Expires |
|
|
|||
| CX-7 | 0.9% financing. | Customer | 06/02/08 |
Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national
manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings
may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.
Standard Equipment
Sport
Powertrain
2.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, 6-speed automatic transmission w/manual-shift capability, traction control.
Safety
Dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain side airbags w/rollover deployment, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, antiskid system, tire-pressure monitor.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Air conditioning, power steering, tilt steering wheel w/radio controls, cruise control, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, center console, cupholders, split folding rear seat, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD player, digital clock, tachometer, variable-intermittent wipers, visor mirrors, rear defogger, variable-intermittent rear wiper/washer, floormats.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Theft-deterrent system, rear privacy glass, rear spoiler.
Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires
235/60HR18 tires, alloy wheels, AWD adds: all-wheel drive.
Touring adds to Sport:
Comfort and Convenience Features
Leather upholstery, heated front seats, 8-way power driver seat w/lumbar adjustment, leather-wrapped steering wheel, cargo cover.
Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires
AWD adds: all-wheel drive.
Grand Touring adds to Touring:
Comfort and Convenience Features
Automatic climate control, heated power mirrors, outside-temperature indicator, automatic headlights.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Xenon headlights, fog lights.
Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires
AWD adds: all-wheel drive.
Optional Equipment
Major Packages |
Retail Price |
Invoice Price |
|
Technology Pkg.
|
||
|
Grand Touring, Sport, Touring
|
$4,005
|
$3,484
|
|
Navigation system w/voice control, rearview camera, keyless access and starting, power sunroof, Bose AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer, alarm. Sport requires 8-way power driver seat.
|
||
|
Bose and Sunroof Pkg.
|
||
|
Grand Touring, Sport, Touring
|
$1,585
|
$1,379
|
|
Power sunroof, Bose AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer. Sport requires 8-way power driver seat.
|
||
|
Preferred Equipment Group
|
||
|
Sport
|
$295
|
$236
|
|
Touring, Grand Touring
|
$170
|
$136
|
|
Cargo cover (Sport), cargo net and tray, rear bumper guard, wheel locks.
|
||
|
|
||
Comfort and Convenience Features |
||
|
Rear-seat DVD entertainment system
|
||
|
Grand Touring, Sport, Touring
|
$
|
$
|
|
AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer
|
||
|
Grand Touring, Sport, Touring
|
$500
|
$400
|
|
Satellite radio
|
||
|
Grand Touring, Sport, Touring
|
$430
|
$344
|
|
8-way power driver seat
|
||
|
Sport
|
$350
|
$305
|
|
Includes lumbar adjustment. NA w/trailer-hitch receiver.
|
||
|
Remote engine start
|
||
|
Grand Touring, Sport, Touring
|
$350
|
$280
|
|
Automatic day/night rearview mirror
|
||
|
Grand Touring, Sport, Touring
|
$175
|
$140
|
|
Includes compass.
|
||
|
Cargo cover
|
||
|
Sport
|
$125
|
$100
|
|
Cargo tray
|
||
|
Grand Touring, Sport, Touring
|
$50
|
$40
|
|
Cargo net
|
||
|
Grand Touring, Sport, Touring
|
$40
|
$32
|
|
Rubber floormats
|
||
|
Grand Touring, Sport, Touring
|
$60
|
$48
|
|
|
||
Appearance and Miscellaneous |
||
|
Fog lights
|
||
|
Sport, Touring
|
$250
|
$200
|
|
Special paint
|
||
|
Grand Touring, Sport, Touring
|
$200
|
$174
|
|
Rear bumper guard
|
||
|
Grand Touring, Sport, Touring
|
$50
|
$40
|
|
Mud guards
|
||
|
Grand Touring, Sport, Touring
|
$95
|
$76
|
|
|
||
Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires |
||
|
Class II tow-hitch receiver
|
||
|
Grand Touring, Sport, Touring
|
$335
|
$268
|
|
Wheel locks
|
||
|
Grand Touring, Sport, Touring
|
$40
|
$32
|
|
|
||
Locate a Dealer
Get a FREE Price Quote:
2007 Mazda CX-7 Specs & Safety
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | Mazda CX-7 4-door wagon |
| Wheelbase, in. | 108.3 |
| Overall Length, in. | 184.0 |
| Overall Width, in. | 73.7 |
| Overall Height, in. | 64.8 |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 3929 |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 58.6 |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 18.2 |
| Seating Capacity | 5 |
| Front Head Room, in. | 39.7 |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 41.7 |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 39.3 |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 36.4 |
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.
Engines
| Turbocharged dohc I4 | |
| Size, liters/cu. in. | 2.3 /138 |
| Horsepower @ rpm. | 244 @ 5000 |
| Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm. | 258 @ 2500 |
| Availability | Standard |
|
EPA City / highway mpg
|
|
| 6-speed automatic | 18/24 |
Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft;
dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders;
V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions
per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--"
= measurement does not exist.
Safety Features
Antilock Brakes
Traction Control
Antiskid System |
Front Side Airbags
Curtain Side Airbags
Rear Side Airbags |
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
| Test | Mazda CX-7 4-door wagon |
| Front Impact, Driver | 5 |
| Front Impact, Passenger | 5 |
| Rollover Resistance | 4 |
| Side Impact, Driver | 5 |
| Side Impact, Rear Passenger | 5 |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's
worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to
rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury:
5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact
crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%;
1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover
when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%;
2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Manufacturer's Warranty
| Class | Years/Miles | Comments |
| Powertrain | 5/60,000 | -- |
| Bumper-to-bumper | 3/36,000 | -- |
| Corrosion | 5/Unlimited | -- |
| Free roadside assistance | 4/50,000 | -- |
| Free scheduled maintenance | None/-- | -- |
Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive.
There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two
other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for
2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any
on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts
and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.
Built in:
Japan
Drivewheels:
front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive
|
Tester's Comments
|
|||
 |
|||
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Major Options: Moonroof/Bose Audio/6CD Changer Pkg. (power sliding glass moonroof with interior sunshade, 9 speaker Bose® Centerpoint® surround system with AudioPilot®, in-das 6 CD changer) Consumer Guide® Fuel Economy: 21.47 mpg (what's this?) Problems During Test: None From The Back Seat Ed Piotrowski CX-7's blend of solid driving dynamics, versatility, and reasonable initial pricing are tough to beat. The fairly-loaded $29,500 Grand Touring version tested here is priced on the high end of most rivals. It does, however, undercut "premium" compacts like the BMW X3 and Acura RDX by thousands of dollars while nearly matching them for luxury and overall performance. It may be a bit too sporty for some, and the premium-grade-fuel requirement will be a turn-off. That shouldn't stop shoppers from putting this SUV near the top of their list. Well done, Mazda. |
|||
|
|
Locate a Dealer
Get a FREE Price Quote:
Also in the 2007 Mazda CX-7 Review:
Car Buying Resources
Vehicle History Report
Locate a Dealer
Sell Your Car
Powered by:
-
MAKE -
CATEGORY
Subcompact Car
Compact Car
Midsize Car
Large Car
Premium Midsize Car
Premium Large Car
Sporty/performance Car
Premium Sporty/performance Car
Minivan
Full-size Van
Compact Sport-utility Vehicle
Midsize Sport-utility Vehicle
Large Sport-utility Vehicle
Compact Pickup Truck
Premium Midsize Sport-utility Vehicle
Premium Compact Sport-utility Vehicle
Large Pickup Truck
Premium Compact Car
Premium Large Sport-utility Vehicle
Exotic Car
