Cdar And Driver Cx7

Check out the 2008 Mazda CX-7 review at CARandDRIVER.com. Use our Car Buying Guide to research Mazda CX-7 prices, specs, photos, videos, and more.

With the imminent arrival of the all-new CX-5, Mazda has decided to retire its CX-7 crossover after the 2012 model year. Given the CX-7 s sales numbers versus those.

Read the review and see photos of the 2010 Mazda CX-7 i SV at Car and Driver.

Research and compare the 2011 Mazda CX-7 and get MSRP, invoice price, used car book values, expert reviews, photos, features, pros and cons, equipment, specs.

CX-7: CX-ancelled. Mazda recently announced that it will no longer sell the CX-7 crossover in the U.S. The two-row utility will continue on in other markets.

Check out the Mazda CX-7 review at CARandDRIVER.com. Use our Car Buying Guide to research Mazda CX-7 prices, specs, photos, videos, and more.

Overview: Introduced in 2007, updated in 2010 and again for 2013, the Mazda CX-9 remains one of the few three-row crossovers we actually find fun to drive. Even Mazda calls the CX-9 the elder statesman of its lineup, and it shows its age enough that its replacement is expected to appear at the Los Angeles auto show this fall. Although too old to reflect Mazda s latest Skyactiv approach, the CX-9 is lighter than most competitors and still enjoys the advantage of a rigid structure. It s also bigger inside than you d guess from looking at its raked windshield and carlike shape. Its 3.7-liter V-6 makes 273 horsepower, routed through a six-speed automatic to either the front or all four wheels. Sales fell to just under 18,500 units last year. The 2011 peak of more than 34,000 was anomalous in most years, about 25,000 buyers have found the CX-9 s mix of utility and dynamic mojo just right. That makes it a niche player in the un-minivan segment of seven-seat SUVs that includes the Ford Explorer, the Dodge Durango, the Toyota Highlander, and the eight-seat Honda Pilot. In comparison tests, the CX-9 beat all but the Pilot, and we still harbor fond memories of driving a 2008 model for a 40,000-mile long-term test.

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What s New: A new optional Recreational Accessory package including roof rails and crossbars, a cargo net, and stainless-steel rear bumper trim appeared on our 2015 test car, an all-wheel-drive model in the top, Grand Touring spec. The new package is 650, but that gets discounted to free if you get the 2435 GT Technology package, which brings touch-screen navigation, a 10-speaker Bose audio system, and a power sunroof. Real recreational users would also opt for the Tow Prep package optional on FWD Grand Touring, standard on all AWD models, which increases towing capacity from the standard 2000 pounds to 3500 pounds and includes a heavy-duty transmission cooler, a revised engine-cooling fan, and a remapped ECU. It also requires a receiver hitch 425, which was not found on our test car, perhaps because it would have pushed the price over 40,000. Otherwise, the CX-9 remains as it has since our 2013 track test, when the styling was revised to replace the smile face from 2010 with the latest Kodo design language.

What We Like: By the numbers, the CX-9 is a competitive performer, but it s really the subjective elements of steering feel, handling response, brake feel, and a general sense of agility that set it apart. The six-speed automatic shifts crisply and the gauge-cluster display always tells you what gear is engaged, even if you re not using manual mode. The rear doors open wide for easy access to the sliding second-row seats and the kid-sized third row.

What We Don t Like: The 5.8-inch touch-screen seems small by modern standards, and the in-cabin and safety technology offerings were already a half-step behind in 2013. The interior on this top-level model remains handsome but the layout reflects its age. The 20-inch wheels on the Grand Touring model impede ride comfort without appreciably improving performance.

Verdict: Still a delight after nine model years, but ready for a redo.

More for less obviously sounds like a good thing, but it also sets off alarm bells: What s the catch.

The CX-7 crossover debuted in 2006 and quickly won praise from Car and Driver for its style, respectable power, and road manners worthy of Mazda s Zoom-Zoom tagline. One of the few elements that seemed to need attention, other than a bit more refinement, was pricing, which could be perceived as a little high versus the base models of key competitors such as the Hyundai Sante Fe and Dodge Journey.

That was because the CX-7 s lone powerplant a turbocharged and intercooled 2.3-liter four is a more expensive source of propulsion than a naturally aspirated engine.

Mazda s response to this problem is a broadened CX-7 range for 2010 that starts with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four lifted from the Mazda 6 sedan s engine room. Mated to a five-speed automatic and available with front-wheel drive only, it s a reasonably smooth operator. But more important, it s easier on the pocketbook the base price for the entry-level CX-7 is now 22,300, down 2350 from the bottom of the all-turbo lineup in 2009, and that s amplified by better fuel economy. The EPA estimates 20 mpg city/28 highway for the 2.5 on regular fuel, compared with 18/25 for the front-drive turbo and 17/23 for the top-of-the-line all-wheel-drive models and the turbo models are even thriftier than last year s. Even though the CX-7 s footprint is still closer in size to that of the Ford Edge and Nissan Murano, both of which are slightly more expensive than the turbocharged Mazda, the new four-cylinder brings the CX-7 s sticker more in line with the base prices of smaller utes such as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

That s all good, of course, but what s that catch to which we were referring. It has to do with your expectations relative to Mazda s marketing mantra. If you re expecting haste, this is not the right setup. The 2.5 generates 161 hp and 161 lb-ft of torque compared with the turbo s 244 hp and 258 lb-ft. Although it s lighter Mazda lists the curb weight at just under 3500 pounds versus almost 3800 pounds for the front-drive turbo version that s a big power disparity, and it adds up to leisurely acceleration.

On the other hand, even though the 2.5 models are equipped with soft-riding 70-series tires on 17-inch alloy wheels turbo models offer 18- and 19-inch wheels with lower profile rubber, responses are prompt by the standards of this class, with steering that delivers better-than-average road feel. Maybe that s not particularly zoomy, but there are other benefits. For example, the ride quality is a shade better than in the turbo editions, and interior noise levels are distinctly lower.

Besides the new powertrain and reduced price point, the CX-7 gets some modest exterior freshening for 2010 a revised front fascia with a new grille and fog-light treatments and a redesigned rear bumper but the more visible updates are inside. Splashes of chrome trim brighten the appearance of the dashboard, and upgraded upholstery materials both cloth and leather, a new steering wheel, and revised gauges elevate the quality of the interior.

Safety is obviously an important factor in a vehicle likely to see family duty, and the CX-7 scores well in this area. Although all-wheel drive is available only on the turbo models, all versions include stability and traction control as standard, and the CX-7 gets five-star front- and side-impact NHTSA crash ratings.

The 2010 line is on sale now. As noted, the base 2.5 i SV model starts at 22,300. The better-equipped i Sport model, also powered by the 2.5, is 23,090, and a turbocharged front-drive s Touring model starts at 26,550 add 1700 for all-wheel drive. The top-of-the-line s Grand Touring version begins at 31,935 with front-drive and 33,635 with all-wheel drive.

Mazda CX-9

Mazda CX-7 2.3 car review from the AA. Overall car review rating: 7 out 10. Value for money: 8 out 10.