Mazda is on some kind of roll. The 6 and the 3, possibly the best car in its class for the money, and now the CX-7, also one of the best values in its category, together form quite a troika. Designed to blend the practicality of an SUV with something close to sports-car fun and performance, the Mazda crossover SUV boasts sleek styling, responsive power and handling, and a rich entertainment/navigation package fitting even for vehicles with higher sticker prices.
The sharply angled windshield, tapered cabin and overall aerodynamic design hint at the "Zoom-Zoom" that Mazda builds into their vehicles. We were surprised at how powerful the front-wheel drive CX-7 could be. The throttle was a bit touchy but certainly got us off the line. The zip comes from the six-speed Sport AT automatic transmission, that allows for shiftless manual control, and the optional Active Torque-Split All-Wheel Drive. Under the hood is a 2.3L four-cylinder direct-injection engine. With its new turbocharger, this crossover produces 244 hp at 5,000 rpm.
Inside the cabin, Mazda outfitted the CX-7 with two-tone trim, ample seating for five, and plenty of cargo space (with the rear seats down, the cargo area stretches 39"; 70" with the seats up). The standard entertainment package offers the usual CD, AM/FM with optional Sirius Satellite Radio playback. But the options are what will have you thinking about trading in the family car. A touchscreen DVD-based navigation system with rearview camera is available. To up the sound, you can upgrade to the BOSE sound system package. It consists of nine speakers, about 240 watts of amplification, a 6-disc CD changer and the Centerpoint Surround system.
The speaker array is made up of three 3.25" hi/mid Twiddlers in the dash, including one that serves as a center channel. In the front doors there are a couple of Bose's 9" Nd woofers that provide substantial midbass, while in the rear doors you'll find 6.5" wide-range speakers. Finally there are a couple more Twiddlers in the D-pillars. You can also have Mazda's advanced keyless entry and start system and perimeter alarm, as well as the power moonroof. All of this is part of the technology package that adds almost $4,000 to the bottom line. But consider that the Sport version of the CX-7 with front-wheel drive costs only around $24,000. A grand total of $28,000 for a crossover SUV with these kinds of amenities is pretty remarkable.