Mazda CX-7 2007 Review

Road Test

From the outside, the CX-7 is arguably Mazda's best looking, most 'complete' creation ever; sleek looks, macho stance, drop-dead gorgeous colour options and the kind of performance that most SUV owners expect to have to buy a Porsche Cayenne to get.

Indeed, the on-road performance from the 7's 2.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine is startling -- and the dirt-road performance is mind-blowing.

The CX-7 punches from rest and out of corners with enough rapidity to humiliate V8 P-platers into turning their baseball caps around, yet offers docile tractability sufficient that it wouldn't startle a maiden aunt. The six-speed auto is arguably one of the best Japanese transmissions around, with imperceptible, thought-quick changes and ratios well-chosen to maximise the engine's output in propelling the chunky RAV4-rival.

The ride is firm without the obligatory sporting harshness which some Europeans insist is de rigueur for a true enthusiast's driving machine. The handling and steering absolutely as sharp as they need to be and the brakes offer gradually more bite as you dial in more pedal-pressure, until eventually the big boots cry enough and demand release by invoking the ABS.

Then take it onto a dirt road -- try a narrow, stony, dusty, hilly, winding, kangaroo-strewn, drought-battered beast of a course -- and the CX7 eats it in chunks.

On this particular stretch of road, most vehicles will twitch and wander, as their stability control and traction systems fight to react to a deluge of inputs from each wheel -- the four (hopefully) on the ground, plus the one in the driver's hands. In contrast, the CX-7 knifed exactly where it was pointed -- at times at speeds over 100km/h, it must be admitted. With no histrionics, the Mazda danced along this exceedingly ordinary rural track with nothing more than a hanging column of fine brown dust to mark its passage.

It was as if the Mazda was unrolling its own strip of invisible asphalt underneath itself and magically removing it as soon as the vehicle passed over.

Indeed, with a surface littered with gravel, corrugations ridges and ruts, the Mazda swept along, arrow-straight, and with almost no indication of the flurry of small stones picked up by the broad 18-inch tyres and flung into the wheel wells. Traction control can be switched off but over about 35 km/h, it is automatically re-engaged. You can have some fun -- but not too much, it seems.

Built for the American market, the auto-only-at-this-stage CX-7 is a Japanese RHD version (read our launch review here) , but the manual European variant will be evaluated for Australia towards the end of 2007.

The engine is a slightly detuned version of the 2.3-litre turbocharged, high-pressure direct-injection inline four-cylinder lifted from the MPS models, 6 and 3. Power is cut from 190 to 175kW at 5000rpm but torque is an impressive 350Nm at 2500 rpm -- though it comes at a cost. During our week, the onboard computer dobbed us in with a consumption of 15.1lt/100km. That's the price you pay for having the linear accelerative capabilities of a cruise missile in a vehicle that weighs 1750kg.

But before everyone starts dialling M for Mazda, it's worth pointing out that, rapier-like performance and handsome good looks aside, the CX-7 has a few tawdry secrets. To be picky, and for a start, where does the moniker come from? C for Cross, X for… well, the same thing, but 7? Not seven seats (in reality, five), in the same way that the upcoming CX-9 does not have nine.

On the outside, the CX-7 looks sporty, but inside, it's pure peoplemover -- the vast, steeply-raked windscreen will let the sun and the heat in, and there are even those curious little front MPV-style quarter-windows. Most telling though is the complete invisibility of the nose of the vehicle from the driver's seat.

Billed as a vehicle for the 21st Century family, it's unfortunately been designed by people without children. Nine-year-old Bronwyn assures us that the back seat is "boring" -- like a number of new stylish vehicles, the high window-line mean the littlies can't see out. Note too that there are no rear seat ventilation controls or storage spaces barring a pair of shallow cupholders in the central armrest -- which is where a child would be sitting for maximum safety anyway.

In addition, the simplistic info display panel is obscured for rear seat passengers -- including adults -- so the back row are denied even the clock.

Compounding rear-seat woes, the seat-base is so close to the floor than even a moderately sized teenager or adult will find their thighs unsupported -- tiring over long periods.

However, if the driver is selfish enough to ignore these shortcomings, then there are lots of features for the front row:  supportive seats (height adjustable for the driver); rake-adjustable steering; the first auto-on headlamps from Mazda; and illuminated steering-wheel controls for audio and cruise control are matched by a decent six-disc in-dash CD and a range, speed and consumption computer.

Normally a front-drive, the CX-7 sends anything up to half its available power to the rear wheels when it detects a loss of front-wheel grip. Engaging reverse is signified by a subtle beep, and reverse-parking sensors operate sensibly.

However, there's a bit of the feel of a stripper about the base-line CX-7 -- there's a row of blanked switches by the driver's right knee, and one beside the mirror. Future models to offer electric folding, perhaps?

There's almost no storage space in the cabin, beyond a large glovebox and a lockable central console bin -- the slender door-pockets are too small to take a standard Australian capital-city map-book, although there is a single map-pocket on the back of the front passenger seat.

The dash design isn't very inspiring, with no obvious opportunity to install an in-dash  sat-nav system or reversing camera and the computer will display range, instant or average consumption or the clock but, irritatingly, not both. While the lights come on and off automatically, sadly the same is not true of the fog-lamps, which aren't cancelled each time the lights are turned off as they are on most rivals.

Merely an irritation is the two-stage unlocking system; perhaps a good idea in some districts of Chicago or Johannesburg, it's unnecessary in Australia. And it's the only way to unlock the tailgate -- there's no floor-mounted release, external handle or keyslot. To activate the locks, the key can't be in the ignition, so, to open the rear door, the engine needs to be switched off.

The safety of occupants is well looked after and active safety electric driver aids include ABS brakes with brakeforce assist, traction control, stability control, front and curtain airbags. The CX-7 gets a five-star crash rating for both front and side impacts, albeit from the US testing authority, not officially recognised in Australia.

Initial indications are that the CX-9 will be a replacement for the MPV, as the CX-7 replaces the Premacy model. It will be interesting to see if the CX-9 is more functional for a family than is the driver's car that is the CX-7.

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