- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.3T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
175kW, 350Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 11.5L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2010 Mazda CX-7 Luxury Sports Road Test Review
IT IS NOT NEWS to anyone that SUVs are blitzing the market. For the month just gone, and the previous one, and for much of the past year, sales of SUVs have nearly doubled the sales growth of other market sectors.
Last month, SUVs were up a staggering 44.1 percent (over March 2009) and up 34.3 percent year-to-date. Sales growth of that order is rewriting record books.
And, by and large, it is family buyers who are scooping them up. It is a growth that has all-but killed the conventional family ‘wagon’.
There is now a Kluger or a Territory where once Dad parked the Kingswood ‘Vacationer’; and a CRV or Captiva in the carport instead of a Camry wagon.
It is not because SUVs are economical, mostly they’re not (many as poor as the Kingswood in fact); nor because they’re cheap, nor because the rigours of Australian family motoring demands a high-stepping, back-roads-bustin’ all-wheel-drive.
No, it’s something else. Fashion? Yeah. Versatility? Certainly. Robustness? Maybe.
But handling? No. Few offer the on-road dynamics of an equivalent sedan. Many, in fact, are pretty ordinary at the wheel: a bit slow, a bit spongy down below, and more than a little top-heavy.
And some – a mess of bulges and clumsy lines, half bath-tub and half rhinoceros - look like… well, crap.
But not Mazda’s CX-7. Smart, swoopy and alive with personality, this is an SUV you can admire for its style. More to the point, it can be admired even more for the experience it offers at the wheel. City or country, this is one decent drive.
It comes in three distinct and quite different mechanical configurations: the CX-7 Classic, front-wheel drive only with a 2.5 litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine; the CX”7 Diesel Sports powered by a 2.2 litre turbo diesel engine with six”speed manual and Active Torque”Split AWD system; and Classic Sports and Luxury Sports models, powered by Mazda's 2.3 litre DISI Turbo engine via a six”speed 'Activematic' auto transmission and Active Torque-Split AWD.
Standard safety equipment across the range includes six airbags - dual front, side and curtain - DSC, traction control, anti”lock braking, emergency brake assist, and reversing camera with a 4.1”inch colour multi information display.