Ride & Handling
Impressively, Mazda continues to make good on its zoom-zoom marketing tagline. Just about every one of its models, with the possible exception of the Escape clone Tribute, is among the most engaging to drive in its respective segment. The CX-7 is no different: The heavy steering wheel takes a bit more effort to turn, but it isn't overly stiff in parking lots. It transmits precise inputs on curvy roads, and on the highway it's evenly weighted when pointed straight ahead. Body roll is minimal, and the chassis sticks to the road over bumpy corners more than I'd expect in an SUV. I found myself throwing the CX-7 around with carlike abandon at times, and though understeer is prevalent at the limits, it sticks to its course pretty well.
Like nearly all crossovers, the CX-7 uses a four-wheel-independent suspension. The wheels hit bumps with little noise or reverberation, and road and wind noise on the highway remains relatively low. Ambient noise, however, seems high; on the highway, trucks passing in the next lane can drown out your music — unless you're listening to U2's "Achtung Baby," in which case it'll probably all blend together. (Cue the hate mail.)
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INTERIOR
The inside is where some of those surprising features I mentioned earlier
make themselves known. First off is the sporty red piping that lines the black
seating upholstery. It comes standard in th ...
Door Locks
WARNING.
Always take all children and pets with
you or leave a responsible person with
them:
Leaving a child or a pet unattended
in a parked vehicle is dangerous. In
hot weather, temperatures in ...
Exterior
While the redesigned Mazda5 retains the general silhouette of its
predecessor, new sheet metal gives the van a different look. Apart from the
happy-face look provided by the new grille, which is a ...