2010 Mazda CX-7 - A Five Person Crossover with Zoom

The 2010 Mazda CX-7 is a five-seat crossover with excellent handling and capability. For 2010, Mazda offers it with a non-turbocharged four-cylinder engine for the first time. The benefit of the non-turbocharged engine is the mileage and is perfect for consumers who do not desire the turbocharged engine's 244 horsepower. The CX7 falls into Mazda's 2010 lineup price-wise between the Tribute and the large CX-9 crossover. The CX-7 was designed to deliver the utility of a small SUV and the driving experience of a passenger car. Main competitors to the CX-7 include the Ford Edge, Toyota Highlander and Nissan Murano; furthermore the CX-7's sporty nature and wagon-like shape also liken it to the Volkswagen Tiguan and Infiniti EX35. The Mazda CX-7 crossover receives an exterior and interior styling refresh and mechanical refinements for 2010. The new design brings it in line with Mazda's new design direction, the hallmark of which is the smile-shaped grille.  The CX-7 is a sporty-looking and sporty-handling CUV that will haul nearly as much stuff as it does people. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional. Overall, the Mazda CX-7 offers great seating for five people, a decent amount of cargo space, and a comprehensive set of standard safety features in a distinctive package.

CX-7 Power

An all-new, naturally aspirated, 161 horsepower, 2.5 liter four-cylinder and 5 speed automatic transmission have been added for the model year. The familiar 244 horsepower, 2.3 liter four-cylinder, direct injection, turbo-charged engine and 6 speed automatic transmission continue as the top powertrain choice. The new -turbo 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine comes only on the SV and Sport trim levels, with a five-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Now optional, the turbocharged 2.3-liter carries over from the previous model year.

2010 CX-7 Design

At 184 inches long and 73.7 inches wide, the CX-7 is comparable to other midsize crossovers, though it's relatively narrow and more likely than most to be called a wagon. The fenders are seemingly transplanted directly to the CX-7 from the Mazda RX-8 sports car. To fit those bulbous wheel housings to a sedan-like body required pinching the 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. A set of bright streaks added behind the fog lamps for 2009 break this mass up a bit. The way the CX-7's bulk is suspended across its exceptionally wide track leaves it looking almost as if it's drooping, or sagging, from the weight.

Mazda CX-7 Cabin

The CX-7 can hold five passengers with plenty of space. The dashboard features double-decker construction, but with a new, larger information display at the base of the windshield. Folding rear seats provide a nearly flat load floor when down, and the seatbacks and rear cargo compartment are coated in plastic. With the rear seats up, cargo volume is 29.9 cubic feet, and with the seats down cargo volume expands to 58.6 cubic feet. Overall, the CX-7's cargo room is tighter than most crossovers in its class. At 101.7 cubic feet, passenger space is comparable to its competitors. Beyond the quirky design, the instrument cluster is deeply hooded, stylishly compartmentalized and softly lit to the point where 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. Visibility is best out the front. The kicked-up beltline and tapered cabin constrict vision toward the rear. Even with the driver's seat at its highest adjustment, however, the hood drops away so severely it's below the sight line of a six-footer.

Driving the CX-7

Simply out, the CX-7 is fun to drive, with responsive handling and good high-speed stability. Though pricier than the prime opposition, the CX-7 excels in ride and handling. Mazda says the CX-7's body has been enhanced to increase rigidity and lower wind and other noise. The suspension has been slightly retuned. Driven fast on winding, two-lane roads, the CX-7 tracks cleanly, with minimal body lean despite its somewhat upright stature. The transmission shifts well and adapts well to different driving situations, quickly learning a driver's preferences and holding lower gears longer and adjusting shift points to match.

2010 CX7 Lineup

Mazda CX-7 Sport comes standard with air conditioning and cloth upholstery, 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, satellite radio pre-wiring, 60/40 split folding rear seatbacks, and carpeted floor mats. A four-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo with automatic volume control and auxiliary input jack, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob are also included.

Mazda CX-7 Touring comes with leather upholstery, heated front seats with eight-way power for the driver, and the retractable cargo cover.

Mazda CX-7 Grand Touring upgrades with automatic climate control, unique trim for the leather seats and steering wheel, electroluminescent gauges with indirect blue lighting, auto-dimming inside mirror with a universal garage-door opener, and an outside temperature readout. Also standard are fog lamps, automatic xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps, high-gloss painted wheels, and chrome door handles.

Summary

Safety features on all 2010 CX-7 models include frontal airbags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, front and rear side air curtains with extended inflation a fold-away brake pedal assembly. All CX-7 models come with three-point seatbelts, adjustable head restraints at all outboard seating positions, and rear-seat child safety seat anchors (LATCH).To help drivers avoid accidents, the CX-7 comes standard with four-wheel antilock disc brakes electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist; plus electronic stability control and traction control. Overall the Mazda CX-7 works well for a small family or everyday commuter, while its cabin may not be as sleek and modern as some of its competitors, the CX-7 is fun to drive, along with it's Mazda siblings, and sticks to the automaker's 'Zoom Zoom' philosophy well. For the latest updates on this model, visit Mazda's official 2010 CX-7 site.