We’re on the Road in the 2008, Mazda CX-7
The Good: Nice styling, good handling, decent list of standard features, good curbside appeal, very safe.
The Bad: Road noise is somewhat pronounced, rear seats are low.
Overall: The CX-7 is a sharp looking small SUV, sporty styling while offering a well designed, handsome and functional interior.
The CX-7 is Mazda’s five passenger crossover sport-utility vehicle, initially introduced for 2007. The powertrain consists of a 2.3 Liter 4 cylinder turbo engine, outputting 244 horsepower and 258 lb foot of torque, coupled to the front wheel drive, six speed automatic transmission with sportshift! Mazda offers the CX-7 in three trim levels: Sport; Touring; and Grand Touring.
The CX-7 is very sporty, from the five-pointed grille and prominent front fender, up to the A pillar slanting at a 66 degree angle, the Mazda holds true to “the soul of a sports car” slogan. The integrated rounded xenon headlights round out the front corner of the vehicle nicely! It’s retains the sharp handling and responsiveness of a car, while offering light duty utility as well.
Safety
The CX-7 scored best marks in Government Front, Driver and passenger, side driver/ rear passenger test as well as good marks in government rollover tests. The 5 passenger SUV has many standard safety features, including: ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist, as well as Dynamic Stability Control and Traction Control System. Also standard find side impact door beams, Front/Rear crumple zones, an anti-theft immobilizer and TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System), four wheel ventilated disc brakes; Front wheel or Active Torque-Split All-Wheel Drive. The CX-7 has thick D pillars, but the area is very visible using the side mirrors. This Mazda also features a good compliment of six airbags for front and back.
Driving Impressions
The CX-7 is a handles well and although you might expect a v-6 to be necessary for this size vehicle, you’d be surprised how well the 4 cylinder turbo performs. Unlike the turbo of the past there’s almost zero lag. The turbo does a great job of compensating for what could otherwise be a lighter duty engine for this rather hefty vehicle. Handling is solid, responsive and tight (without being numb) and thanks to the four wheel independent suspension you’ll feel little road, the response is direct. Road noise is a bit more audible than others, but it’s not enough to be troublesome. Consumer Reports rated Mazda’s CX-7 as less than average for first year reliability, but we did not note any potential issues during our test drive.
The Way You Feel Inside
Jump into the CX-7 without needing a boost, it’s not a huge SUV. Mazda’s red and blue lighting combine for a pleasing hue across the clean and simple analogue gauge cluster. Interior styling is handsome and build quality is good, inline with the category.
Function meet form, form meet function: nice looking front/side defrost vents are smartly integrated into the dash, which is stacked to include a centered LCD display, for clock and audio info. Discover a large lockable center console, large enough for a music junkie’s CD collection, and more space for snacks. Got power? Plug in to either of the 12v power outlets. Drivers will also appreciate lighting accents that make it easy to see the interior while driving at night, thanks to the indirect blue cabin illumination (on the upper trim). Drivers and passengers delight with lumbar adjustment on front seats, that are also heated (love the heated seats, also on upper trim).
The CX-7 has a good long list of standard features, they include: Cruise Control, AM/FM/CD audio with automatic level control (automatically adjusting the volume (smooth and non intrusive) based on noise levels) fold away brake pedal assembly, LATCH rear child safety seat anchors and tethers, A/C, power door locks, plus more. The CX-7 offers fun, a sporty drive and a bit of utility as well, and gives you alot for your money!
Stowage
For a five passenger SUV, you’ll likely be taking the weekend road trip and the CX-7 is ready for the road, with decent and versatile stowage space. Fold the rear seats down (although they don’t lay entirely flat, check the photo below) and you’ll have 58.6 cubic feet. With the rear seats up find 29.9 cubic feet about average for this class vehicle, and decent space for the weekend warrior or occasional camper. Options exist to extend your storage with a roof rack (100lbs max); and the tow package (towing capacity up to 2000 lbs).
By the Numbers
By the new 2008 fuel rating the FWD CX-7 is rated at 17 city / 22 highway, and we averaged 17.8 MPG on premium fuel, combined (city and highway) driving. (AWD model gets 16 / 21MPG)
Mazda CX-7 Sticker Price
FWD Sport Trim starts at $23,750.
FWD Touring Trim starts at $25,500. and
FWD Grand Touring starts at $26,300.
AWD Sport Trim starts at $24,450.
AWD Touring Trim starts at $27,200.
AWD Grand Touring Trim starts at $28,000
By: Brian Lebow
Posts Tagged ‘Sport Utility Vehicle’
Automotive Review, 2008 Mazda CX-7
December 1st, 2009Why Should I Upgrade My Vehicle’s Interior with a Custom Dash Kit?
November 20th, 2009
There are so many reasons to upgrade your vehicle with a dash kit. These days most of us are more familiar with the interior of our vehicles that we are with our homes. We live in a society where transportation and commuting are a must. Take a minute right now and think about how much time you spend each day in your car. With that being said, it is not hard to see why you would want to invest in the interior of your vehicle. Custom dash kits can be the single best upgrade you can make to your vehicle to give yourself newfound comfort in your vehicle. Here is a list of what a dash kit can do for you and your vehicle.
A dash kit brings life to your interior
The major auto makers in Detroit must have stuck their collective color levers to ‘bland’” and ‘grey’ settings over the last decade or so, leading their assembly lines to churn out nothing but barren interiors. A dash kit has the color, pattern, shape and style to reverse the factory-original curse plaguing most newer vehicles. And, if you’re shopping for a classic, the rejuvenating effect of a dash kit is even more dramatic.
Dash kits offer limited edition luxury for less
Have you seen the price tag on that LTD, LX or Denali package including a custom dash kit these days? Well, if you havent, lets just say the window sticker lists the cost with a 20-year fixed. Compare that to our dash kits, which are shipped direct to your door at a fraction of the price. And, our dash kits save you all that extra negotiating time with the cheesy sales lot guy. Youll thank us later.
Installing a dash kit is easy
Theres no easier luxury upgrade to install than a custom dash kit. Basically, if you can apply a bumper sticker to the back of your car, truck or sport utility vehicle (SUV), then you have the skills needed to install your own custom dash kit. Of course, you could always have your dash kit installed for you. But, theres nothing quite like telling a crowd of marveling friends that not only did you get a stunning dash kit for less, you even installed it yourself. Now thats satisfaction.
Most dash kits are custom fit to each vehicle make and model
The vibrant look, elegant style and simple installation of custom dash kits are all excellent features. But, its the fit that makes dash kits outstanding. Every curve, line, shape and accent of your specific model is taken into account when aftermarket manufacturers design custom dash kits for your vehicle. Because the custom fit of most dash kits is of paramount importance, you can bank on yours looking like a factory original touch.
As you can see, dash kits are a great way to invest your money. The class and style these kits bring are well worth every penny spent. If you are considering upgrading your current vehicle but just cant decide where to start, I would suggest a custom fit dash kit.
By: Ryan Lawson