The real headline
That being said, the real change is found under the hood. In an effort to attract economy-minded buyers, the folks at Mazda decided to create a more affordable version of their smaller crossover. Base models now abandon the lovely 2.3L turbo for the Mazda3’s naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine.
All-wheel drive also becomes optional in base trim. What this all means is that you can buy a CX-7 at a cheaper price, but expect performance to drop accordingly. Can you say ‘Zoom-Zoom’? Not anymore. The 2010 CX-7 GX feels underpowered and far from electrifying under acceleration. Granted, you can blame the vehicle’s weight, too, particularly with maximum cargo on board.
There’s worse: reaccelerating, say, to overtake another vehicle, proves to be arduous as the poor little engine struggles to unleash the entire cavalry and screams loudly while doing so.
Fortunately, the CX-7 is still a Mazda, which means pleasant ride and handling courtesy of a nicely-calibrated suspension that neutralizes body roll even during spirited driving as well as a precise steering that sends clear feedback to the driver.
The brakes are solid and the transmission is definitely geared toward fuel economy, although downshifts come in a bit late at times. While the previous model annoyed owners with its significant thirst for fuel (premium gas, no less), the new CX-7 is a lot easier on the wallet when you stop at the gas station. At the end of my test week, the trip computer indicated an average consumption of 9.6 litres per 100 kilometres.
Wrap-up
I’m still a fan of the Mazda CX-7. I love the driving, the style and the attitude. It’s a shame the detuned powertrain compromises the excitement and performance on the road.
Oh well, there will always be the GT model!
photo:Matthieu Lambert
That being said, the real change is found under the hood. In an effort to attract economy-minded buyers, the folks at Mazda decided to create a more affordable version of their smaller crossover. Base models now abandon the lovely 2.3L turbo for the Mazda3’s naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine.
All-wheel drive also becomes optional in base trim. What this all means is that you can buy a CX-7 at a cheaper price, but expect performance to drop accordingly. Can you say ‘Zoom-Zoom’? Not anymore. The 2010 CX-7 GX feels underpowered and far from electrifying under acceleration. Granted, you can blame the vehicle’s weight, too, particularly with maximum cargo on board.
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| Base models now abandon the lovely 2.3L turbo for the Mazda3’s naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine. |
There’s worse: reaccelerating, say, to overtake another vehicle, proves to be arduous as the poor little engine struggles to unleash the entire cavalry and screams loudly while doing so.
Fortunately, the CX-7 is still a Mazda, which means pleasant ride and handling courtesy of a nicely-calibrated suspension that neutralizes body roll even during spirited driving as well as a precise steering that sends clear feedback to the driver.
The brakes are solid and the transmission is definitely geared toward fuel economy, although downshifts come in a bit late at times. While the previous model annoyed owners with its significant thirst for fuel (premium gas, no less), the new CX-7 is a lot easier on the wallet when you stop at the gas station. At the end of my test week, the trip computer indicated an average consumption of 9.6 litres per 100 kilometres.
Wrap-up
I’m still a fan of the Mazda CX-7. I love the driving, the style and the attitude. It’s a shame the detuned powertrain compromises the excitement and performance on the road.
Oh well, there will always be the GT model!
photo:Matthieu Lambert
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