Exterior

For 2009, designers ditched the previous design for what Mazda calls a "Japanese aesthetic" in the current car. The vehicle sports a long hood with pronounced front fender flares that flow through the headlamps and mold with the front bumper.

Exterior features include:

* Standard body-colored grille, front and rear bumpers, door handles and moldings
* 16-inch steel wheels with full covers * Optional 17-inch alloy wheels * Optional 18-inch alloy wheels * Optional LED taillamps * Single (four-cylinder models) or dual exhaust outlets (V-6 models)

    See also:

    Interior
    The CX-7 seats up to five. The dashboard features double-decker construction, with a large information display at the base of the windshield. Folding down the rear seats provides a nearly flat loa ...

    Safety
    Standard safety features include side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags for all three rows of seats. Second-row seats have Latch child-safety seat anchors and top tethers ...

    Driving Impressions
    The easy-to-drive Mazda3 handles more adeptly than most rivals. The automatic transmission delivers quick, smooth responses. Performance with the larger engine falls short of some sporty compacts, ...