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  The first major update this year to the CX-7 includes a 2.5-litre petrol starter engine and, more importantly to fuel misers, a turbodiesel. Photo Gallery

• Video: Stuart Martin road tests and reviews the Mazda CX-7

Paul Gover and Alison Ward road test and review the Mazda CX-7

The first time I drove the Mazda CX-7 I was impressed. The 7 looked very good, drove more like a car than a four-wheel drive, was practical in the cabin, and finished to the standard you expect when you slide in behind a Mazda badge.

The more I drove it, mostly the more I liked it. There was a bit of delay in response from the turbocharged petrol engine, but nothing major. And it was more than compensated by the grip in corners and the way the CX-7 responded to the wheel.  It felt like Mazda had made a major breakthrough on the people mover front.

Then I stopped at the petrol station . . . and everything changed. The CX-7 was averaging 14.7L/km and that was enough to put me off it.  I was still happy to tell people to put the CX-7 on their shopping list, but I always warned about a V8-style thirst for city work and open-road economy that was still nothing special.

Mazda heard the complaints, and there must have been a few, because it has reacted as quickly as possible to get some fuel economy into the CX-7.  The first major update this year to the CX-7 includes a 2.5-litre petrol starter engine and, more importantly to fuel misers, a turbodiesel.

There are other changes and improvements _ including a bigger grille, better noise suppression and an updated cabin that picks up a lot of stuff from the latest Mazda3 _ but it's the engines that got my interest.  The diesel in particular.

Mazda has been slow to move to diesel power for its passenger vehicles, like every other Japanese maker, but has had non-petrol power in the 3 and 6 for a while now. The engines have excellent pulling power and great economy, but you have to like shifting yourself because there is no automatic gearbox capable of handling the incredible twisting force created by the diesel.

It's the same with the CX-7, because the 2.2-litre diesel only comes with a six-speed manual gearbox and all-wheel drive. Still, the economy claims are good at 7.6L/100km and the price is fine at $43,640 with equipment including satnav, leather seats, Bose sound and the usual stuff on the aircon and power steering/windows front.

The CX-7 line now starts with the 2.5-litre petrol model and a price of $33,990, which is good buying for a five-seater family wagon with front-wheel drive, a five-speed manual gearbox, six airbags, ESP and anti-skid brakes, alloy wheels and the rest.  Oh, and the starter car also has 9.4L/100km economy.

So Mazda is doing what it can to spark more interest in the CX-7 and the four-model range ticks most of the boxes with prices up to the Luxury Sports at $45,990 that is expected to win half of all sales.

But . . . and it's a big one . . . the competition in the SUV family class is incredibly tough. Rivals run from the Suzuki Grand Vitara and Subaru's Outback to the Kia Sorento, Ford Territory and many more. Including my personal favourite, the Volkswagen Tiguan.

Driving

The latest CX-7 is much as I remember it, and a little bit more.  It's good to see the multi-purpose dash display including a rear-view camera and satnav, although _ just like the Mazda3 _ it really needs to be bigger, the equipment level is good, the cabin is comfy and quiet, and there is space in the back for three adults without compromising the luggage area.

The CX-7 still drives like a car, which I really like. It's not sloppy or floppy like so many SUVs, even if some shoppers should also be considering the excellent drive of the Territory. And the Tiguan is now awful, either.

So we come to the engine.  The arrival of a diesel is great news and I watch carefully on the dash display to monitor the economy. Mazda claims 7.6L/100km and it's easy to beat that on the highway. Right now it's running at 8.2, a figure confirmed at the bowser, which is pretty good.  It also means a great touring range beyond 900 kilometres between stops.

The torque of the turbodiesel, even for people who don't know a thing about the technicalities, means it has great pulling power at any time in any gear. It will happily lug around town in a high gear and the overtaking performance is great.

Were you waiting for a 'but'? Well, here it comes and it's another big one.  The gearbox in the diesel CX-7 is totally inappropriate for a family hauler intended for suburban work. It's a six speed manual, which means lots of shifts even with that towering torque. And the shift itself is slow and baulky, with a clutch that needs to be held right on the floor for smooth changes.

It is definitely not a car you would want to be shop-starting through traffic every day.  It's such a pity, because the CX-7 is a very good people mover with a fair lick of Mazda's sports car DNA to make it an enjoyable drive. I would like to recommend the diesel without any reservations, but until there is an automatic gearbox it still comes with a but.

She says - Alison Ward

I think the new diesel Mazda CX-7 is a bit of an 'if only' car.  If only this otherwise safe and comfortable car had an automatic gearbox.  For me, an automatic is essential and I find it hard to understand why Mazda would go the trouble of creating such a great long-range diesel engine and not have gone the extra distance with creating the auto to match.

The car has plenty of pick-up and lives up to the 'zoom-zoom' reputation as I could negotiate most roads in second, sometimes third gear, without changing.    This is handy for a lazy runabout driver like myself. I am too busy talking to the bubs in the back to be worried about gear levers.

Anyway, I think most customers would prefer the auto as most customers would be mums doin' the school run. They don't want to fuss with this and certainly won't like the fussy clutch that needs your foot flat to the floor before you can change the gears.  Once out on the open road or freeway, driving it was easy and I did feel I was in control when taking corners.

I liked the varied cupholder areas and there was ample space in the back for prams and extra bits and bobs.  The seats were comfy to me and there was enough legroom to get car seats in and out with ease.

The sat-nav and reversing camera is a great plus, but the screen appeared tiny inside such a big interior. You almost need a magnifier for it.  The air-con doesn't include vents to the rear seats, which means you freeze in the front to cool the people sweltering in the back.  It's a minus for me, as the car has front seat heaters which I would swap any hot summers' day for extra air-con vents.  But don't get me wrong, it's a good car. I do like it.

Score 72/100

THE BOTTOM LINE: Better but still not bestMazda CX7 Diesel Sports

PRICE $43,640

ENGINE 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel

POWER  127kW at 3500 revs

TORQUE 400Nm at 2000 revs

TRANSMISSION Six-speed manual

FUEL CONSUMPTION 7.6/100km combined

CO2 EMISSIONS 202g/km

RIVALS

Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI: 80/100 (from $36,690)

Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.9 DDiS: 72/100 (from $35,990)

Holden Captiva 2.0 TD SX AWD: 74/100 (from $39,490)

Jeep Cherokee Sport 2.8 TD : 70/100 (from $44,490)

Kia Sorento 2.5 CRDi : 72/100 (from $35,290)