Still Looking Good
Perhaps a bit over the top when it first hit the streets back in 2006, the CX-7's lines have matured well — especially considering that the compact-SUV field, with the possible exception of the Ford Escape, is looking more windswept by the year. The CX-7's oversized elements, from its flared fenders to its mustachioed air dam, create the illusion of an RX-8-turned-SUV. The 18-inch alloy wheels, which are standard across all trims, help maintain the image as well. I'm not so crazy about the frosted taillight effects, but they're minimally offensive.
At 184 inches long and nearly 74 inches wide, the CX-7 has a slightly larger footprint than most of its immediate competitors, and its 37.4-foot turning circle isn't particularly U-turn friendly — only the Volkswagen Tiguan (39.4 feet) and Saturn Vue (40.0) rate worse; the Subaru Forester (34.4), Toyota RAV4 (34.8) and Mitsubishi Outlander (34.8) require a lot less room.
See also:
A More Exciting Engine Sound
All Mazda MX-5 facelift versions offer a sportier engine sound. Mazda
engineers restructured the sound-creating elements of the facelift model - like
the surge tank, the intake ducts and the exhau ...
Accessory Socket
The ignition switch must be in the ACC
or ON position.
Only use genuine Mazda accessories or
the equivalent requiring no greater than
120 W (DC 12 V, 10 A).
CAUTION:
To prevent accessory socke ...
Firm Ride
Despite losing much of the performance the turbocharged model offers, the
CX-7 with the base four-cylinder still has sporty handling for a small
crossover. This has its pros and cons.
On the plu ...


