Mazda CX-7 2009 review

Ten bucks says the penny-pincher inside you is balking at the very prospect of a Mazda CX-7. It's a five-seat crossover whose turbocharged engine recommends premium fuel and returns subpar gas mileage, and its cargo area is as small as its price tag is large. It is not, as Spock might say, a particularly logical choice — but is it ever a fun one. Fire up the engine, take a drive and consider some of the CX-7's strengths that are less apparent on paper, and those left-brained sensibilities eventually will come around.

The CX-7 is a smallish crossover that shares its turbo four-cylinder with the hot-rodded Mazdaspeed3. Changes for the 2009 model, which you can compare to the '08 CX-7 here, include a handful of minor cabin and styling tweaks. In ascending order, trim levels comprise the Sport, Touring and Grand Touring, with all-wheel drive optional on all three. I tested an all-wheel-drive CX-7 Grand Touring.

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Sporty and Easy to Use
Like its predecessor, the Mazda CX-7 facelift makes it easy to enjoy its powerful engines. The cockpit's ergonomic design is unusually sporty for an SUV. The front seats offer good side support an ...

Starting the Engine
NOTE: Engine-starting is controlled by the spark ignition system. This system meets all Canadian Interference- Causing Equipment Standard requirements regulating the impulse electrical field stre ...

Lighter
The ignition switch must be in the ACC or ON position Press the lighter in and release it. When ready for use, it automatically pops out. CAUTION: Don't touch the metal part of the lighter, y ...