From the back it's a different story. Sort of. With clear "Altezza" taillights, a relatively small back window and dual exhaust; the CX-7's
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| Dual exhaust, clear taillight lenses, fender flares, and a small, slanted rear window make the CX-7's rear look far more upscale than it is. (Photo: Mazda Canada) |
derriere has an undeniably upscale appearance that looks more like a Lexus or Infiniti (there's that pesky Nissan influence again) than a Mazda. Also, a low standover height means the CX-7 should be pretty easy to load up, which is always a plus.
There is one minor flaw though, and it's a pet peeve: the MX-5/RX-8 style fender flares look massive from directly behind the CX-7, which has the effect of making the 235-series tires look downright spindly.
The interior of the CX-7 continues the sporting theme
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| A MX-5-like steering wheel and focused gauge cluster gives a sporting feel to the driver's position. (Photo: Mazda Canada) |
of Mazda's latest creation, beginning with a steering wheel that looks like it came directly out of the MX-5. On the far side of the aforementioned steering wheel lies a driver-oriented three-pod gauge cluster that looks great, although its mounting position appears as if it might be hard for taller drivers to see. The dashboard into which these gauges are set is also quite attractive; using what Mazda is calling a "double roof design" that incorporates what appears to be a floating shelf above the leading edge of the actual dashboard. Finally, the interior is finished in an amalgamation of leather and textured plastic, with brushed aluminum accents on the easy-to
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| The top-of-the-line GT model gets this two tone leather interior, among other things. (Photo: Mazda Canada) |
-reach centre console, shifter surround, and door panels. Coincidentally, that brushed aluminum turns up on the best part of the whole interior; the first-generation Miata-door-handle styled glovebox latch.
And finally we get to the zoom-zoom. Under the hood lies a slightly detuned version of the same engine that powers the Mazdaspeed6, an impressive 2.3L turbocharged and intercooled four-cylinder that achieves 244 horsepower in CX-7 trim. As all turbo motors should, the CX-7's mill benefits from a forged bottom end (crank and connecting rods) for added durability, as well as direct fuel injection for better fuel control, power, and economy. The compression ratio is a low, turbocharger-friendly 9.5:1, which effectively boosts torque across the rev range; a must have in any turbocharged car.
Speaking of the turbo, it's one of the few areas in which the CX-7 motor differs
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| With a 2.4L inline four churning out 244 turbocharged horses, the CX-7 should give V6 performance for a four-cylinder gas bill. (Photo: Mazda Canada) |
from the Mazdaspeed6. With a refined (read: smaller) inlet, throttle response is improved and turbo lag decreases. Unfortunately, that smaller inlet can't inhale as much spent gases, and therefore costs a few horsepower at the upper end of the tachometer (the CX-7 has 30 less horsepower than the Mazdaspeed6), although the effect is diminished by the CX-7s 6-speed automatic (with manual-shift capability) transmission's ability to keep the engine in it's powerband most of the time. Backing that slushbox is your choice of two drivetrains, either a front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive setup. The latter involves a complex system of computer-controlled couplings that can send a maximum of 50 percent of available torque to the rear wheels when needed.
