Satisfying Drivetrain
What you get for your diminished mileage is respectable but not exceptional acceleration. Though the 2.3-liter four-cylinder (to be replaced in the 2010 by a 2.5-liter) is pretty robust, the Mazda3 is among the heavier compact cars out there, in both hatchback and sedan forms. The optional automatic transmission's five speeds aren't enough to make the larger engine super quick or efficient. The smaller engine's optional automatic is a four-speed, which remains relatively common in this class.
My car had the standard five-speed manual transmission, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The stick is within reach and is a decent height. The clutch pedal is livable from day to day without being too soft. I certainly wouldn't mind having a sixth gear, but the engine has enough torque at low rpm to allow a standing-start launch without too much clutch slippage. Overall, for an engine of its size, the 2.3-liter's power delivery is pretty even. You have to rev the Civic's wee four-banger to higher rpm to get a move-on, but the payoff is way better mileage.
See also:
Cargo & Towing
The CX-7's rear cargo area holds just under 30 cubic feet with the second-row
seats in place and 58.6 cubic feet with them down. This is a large area, but
it's also a bit high, so the depth isn't ...
Safety
Side-impact and side curtain airbags are optional. All-disc antilock brakes
with brake assist are standard on s models and optional on i models. Traction
control and an electronic stability system ...
CX-7 in the Market
The CX-7 isn't the first crossover on the market by a long shot, and there
are a slew of others that will join it shortly. The Ford Edge borrows a lot of
Mazda technology and will be out this fall ...