Road Test of the Month, by Rich Velardo

There are some changes coming to the Mazda line-up for 2007, first of all, the MPV (van) will go

away, if you want one get it now the prices are great and rebates may still be available. The MX-5

Miata will get the Hard Top Convertible while the 6 and Mazdaspeed 6 stay about the same. The

Mazda 3 will stay-the-course too, with the addition of the Mazdaspeed 3 (250 + hp, yum!) and you’ll

also find the Tribute SUV and the B-Series Truck on Mazda lots again this year. “All new” this year

will be the CX-7 Crossover SUV with two row seating and latter in the 2007 model year the larger

CX-9 SUV will be introduced.

But today we’re going to be discussing the five passenger CX-7 that is, according to Mazda, “the

SUV you never saw coming”. Uh, Dudes, it’s an SUV right, what’s the big deal? “Pfft, another SUV,

just what the world needs”, was my first reaction, I’ve driven the Tribute and while it’s nice enough I

don’t have much use for any SUV, my tastes run to Miatas and sporty sedans or hatchbacks but I was

ready to give this upstart SUV a try.

Nick Soranno, of Park Mazda of Wooster, sang the C X-7’s praises, good power, sporty handling,

comfort etc.. sure Nick… it’s an SUV. Sheesh, you’d think this CX-7 would get decent fuel mileage,

be comfortable and fun to drive the way he was going on about it, and I KNEW, yes positively KNEW

that SUVs are NOT fun to drive. Oh well, I was wrong. I’ll take my serving of crow with a nice spicy

Cajun sauce please.

Lilas and I test drove a new CX-7 today, and yes, sigh, I must admit that I liked it and yes Mazda’s

claims for it stand up. So what makes it worthy? First of all each and every CX-7 is equipped with a

244 HP, turbocharged four cylinder engine that puts out a remarkable 258 lb ft of torque at only 2500

rpm. This engine is capable of 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway and is connected to a slick smooth

shifting six-speed automatic transmission that can be manually shifted. Yeah it’s still a big and pretty

heavy vehicle, but it’s very well styled and bite my tongue, with its meaty 18 inch rims and great

suspension, it’s fun to drive too. There, I said it…fun to drive, I could actually see myself owning one

of these.

CX-7s are available in 3 tasty flavors, Sport, Touring or Grand Touring and in front or all wheel

drive. Lilas and I drove an Icy Blue AWD Sport with very few options, but True Silver Metallic,

Brilliant Black Clearcoat, Galaxy Gray, Liquid Platinum Metallic, Black Cherry Mica, Copper Red

Mica or Crystal White (+$200) are available too. The CX-7’s shape is muscular-swoopy with RX-8

style fenders; it’s quite attractive and sporty looking in the current Mazda styling theme and the Icy

Blue paint really set it off nicely.

The dash is in two easy to read levels with all controls being easy to locate and use. The standard

cloth seats, black only & optionally power adjustable in our test CX-7 Sport were very comfortable

and attractive, as was the rest of the interior. There’s nothing gimmicky here, just clean attractive

styling and functionality. Fold the seats down and you’ll find a usable cargo area, there are more than

enough cup holders and a big glove box and center console bin.

But many SUVs have nice comfy interiors, that’s are why they’re so popular right? Right, but

where this SUV differs from the herd is in the driving experience, it’s fun to hustle this baby around a

corner. Now how many SUVs beside BMWs and Porsches, are fun to hustle around corners? This one.

True, you can feel it’s heft as you drive it, but the acceleration is still reasonably good and I found

myself taking the corners faster than in any other SUV, and many cars, that I’ve driven before. I had

fun driving this car, has the SUV finally arrived at the junction of sport, utility and fun?

The Sport comes with the 244 HP engine, sport shift transmission, 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS,

traction & stability control, 18” alloy wheels, keyless entry, side air bags and side air curtains for a

base price of $24,310 FWD or $26,010 AWD. Step up to a leather trimmed interior, power drivers

seat and heated front seats in the Touring for $26,060 FWD or $27,760 AWD. Feeling flush? Then

you’ll certainly want the Grand Touring, which adds a GT Leather Trimmed Interior,

electroluminescent gauge faces, automatic climate control and automatic xenon HID headlights for

$26,860 FWD or $28560 AWD.

You know, if you put enough hot sauce on crow it ain’t all that bad, and neither is the CX-7. Put

this SUV at the top of your SUV list. I’ll be looking for the V-6 powered CX-9 with it’s three row

seating to test when it comes along latter this model year.

Icy Blue CX-7 Copper Red Mica CX-7