"My experience at Reedman Toll was fabulous.My salesman, Bob Ireland, was courteous, helpful, never pushy and went above and beyond. We have purchased two vehicles from him in the past few years. Reedman and Bob will bring us back to purchase our next vehicle there and continue to refer others in there direction." - 4/7/2011

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2007 Mazda CX-7 Philadelphia

See Our Used Mazda CX-7 Inventory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2007 Mazda CX-7 Design

The rear aspect is somewhat plain, with a modest spoiler sitting atop the backlight, itself resting in a gentle dip in the liftgate. A rather large, seamless bumper stretches the width of the back end, above a widespread pair of exhaust tips, this last a feature that's beginning to wear. It works on a vehicle boasting a robust powerplant under the hood, preferably a V8 or some other V-configuration, where each pipe nominally runs directly back from its bank of cylinders. But for draining burnt gases from an inline engine, especially an inline-4, and one sitting transversely, to boot, it's a bit overdone. A single pipe, or maybe two running tightly parallel and exiting out one side, seems more fitting.

The side view appeals more, with wheels pushed to the corners and a super-fast windshield sweeping back over tautly drawn side glass. Side mirrors separate the front door glass from an odd-looking, windwing-like, but fixed, tiny piece of glass at the base of the A-pillar. The beltline rises as it moves rearward, peaking just aft of the severely blistered rear wheelwell before tucking in between the steeply sloped backlight and the sculpted back end. Full-round, easy-to-grab door handles ride the crest of a soft bulge connecting the tops of the fenders. An understated crease highlights the lower door panels, skipping over the rear tires to continue around the bottom fold of the rear bumper.

The fenders are seemingly transplanted directly to the CX-7 from the company's sports car, the RX-8. To fit those bulbous wheel housings to a sedan-like body required pinching the front end's nose and squeezing headlights into the tops of the fenders. This leaves substantial mass below the bumper line that's only slightly lightened by a massive mouth braced by large intake-like recesses that double as housings for the optional fog lamps. The way the CX-7's bulk is suspended between the exceptionally wide track (distance between the tires side to side) leaves it looking almost as if it's drooping, or sagging, from the weight.

2007 Mazda CX-7 Lineup

The Grand Touring model upgrades with automatic climate control, auto-on/off xenon high-intensity discharge headlights, fog lamps, foldable outside mirrors, specially trimmed seats, and electroluminescent gauges with indirect blue lighting and an outside temperature readout.

The Touring model features leather-trimmed seats and steering wheel; the eight-way, power driver's seat; heated outside mirrors; and a retractable cargo cover. There are no factory options exclusive to the Touring model.

The least expensive CX-7 is the Sports model. Air conditioning and cloth upholstery are standard, as are cruise control and the usual complement of power windows, mirrors and locks. A six-way, manually adjustable driver's seat is standard, along with a tilt steering wheel hosting cruise and secondary audio controls, four-speaker stereo, satellite radio pre-wiring, 60/40 split folding rear seatbacks and carpeted floor mats. Options for the Sports model are limited to the all-wheel drive and an eight-way, power driver's seat with manual lumbar.

Interior of the 2007 Mazda CX-7

When it comes to accommodations, the CX-7 splits the difference between the Honda and Toyota. In front seat headroom, though, it comes in about an inch short of both the 2006 CR-V and the RAV4. (A side note here: the 2006 RAV4 is new for this year, while the CR-V is in line for a major upgrade for 2007. While these comparisons will hold through 2007 for the RAV4, come fall 2006, there'll be different data for the 2007 CR-V.) The Mazda also trails in rear seat legroom, by almost two inches to the RAV4 and by three inches to the CR-V.

Large buttons and knobs populate the stack of air conditioning and sound system controls in the center, but their arrangement and assigned functions are far from intuitive. The optional navigation system only adds complexity, as it incorporates many of those functions into one of the menus accessed only through the touch-screen LCD and, for example, allows switching preset radio stations by exchanging the map display for the audio display. And although the Sport shift slot is properly placed on the driver's side of the primary shift gate, gear selection feels backwards (to some of us), as you push up to shift down and pull down to shift up.

The instrument cluster is deeply hooded, stylishly compartmentalized and softly lit to the point it's not a quick and easy scan. The steering wheel, borrowed directly from the sporty MX-5 Miata with its much more confined cockpit, feels undersized in the more expansive interior of the CX-7.

Handling of the 2007 Mazda CX-7

Power from the turbocharged four-banger builds smoothly, with impressive torque at a very usable low engine speed. It's worth noting here the RAV4 V6's lesser torque peaking at a much higher engine speed. (The RAV4's V6 generates 246 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm vs. the CX-7's 258 at 2500; torque is that force that propels you from intersections and up steep hills.) However, the Toyota offers better EPA fuel-economy ratings (20/28 mpg city/highway vs. the Mazda's 18/24). But betraying their origins in an inline-4, the mechanical tones from the Mazda's engine compartment are decidedly low-key, more buzzy than throaty.

The steering wheel, brake and accelerator pedals and shift lever are properly juxtaposed for spirited driving, or at least as spirited as is comfortable in the CX-7. In support of which, Mazda points out that the wheel/shifter geometric replicates that in the RX-8 sports car. Over rough pavement, the suspension tends more to stiff than firm, with a hint of harshness. This no doubt contributes to the disappointing amount of road noise the tires transmit into the cabin, which otherwise was fairly quiet, including over poorly graded railroad crossings.

Conclusion

The 2007 Mazda CX-7 is a competent crossover utility vehicle when measured against the competition. It may be a bit behind the curve in interior styling and roominess, but not everybody needs or wants room for seven passengers. What is does have is the sporty Mazda look and a good measure of the marque's sporty handling characteristics. The CX-7 has a remarkably energetic engine and an equally accommodating transmission, and it's available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. That easily makes it worth a look.

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com