Mazda CX-7 Reviews

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.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.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. The bottom line: Better but still not bestMazda CX7 Diesel Sports

Mazda has broadened the appeal of its CX-7 range of SUVs with the addition of two new powerplants.  Neither of the engines will be unfamiliar to those pedalling around in other Mazda products - the 6 in particular - but the facelifted four-model CX-7 has a new price-point entry-level.The CX-7 Classic kicks the range off from $33,990, with the Classic Sports dropping by almost $3000 to $38,990. The new Diesel Sports enters the range at $43,640, while the flagship Luxury Sports has also dropped to start from $45,990 (almost $2000 down on its predecessor).The sales and marketing department expects the new Classic entry-level model to gather around 30 per cent of the expected 400 units a month volume, with the Classic Sports and Diesel Sports each taking 10 per cent. The CX-7 Luxury Sports is expected to drop from its previous share of 80 to around 50 per cent.Mazda CX-7 was launched in Australia in November 2006 and Australian sales to date are in excess of 14,000 units (as at September 2009), averaging out to the new model's target of 400 per month.Powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder, teamed only with a five-speed auto and driving the front wheels, the new entry-level CX-7 Classic features standard stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, emergency brake assist, dual front, front-side and full-length curtain airbags, the multi information display, a reversing camera and a trip computer.There's also climate control, a 6-disc in-dash MP3-compatible CD sound system, an auxiliary jack for an MP3 player, cruise control, a leather-wrapped gearshift and steering wheel, power windows and mirrors, remote central locking, reach'n'rake adjustable steering and variable intermittent wipers and 17in alloys. The other new addition to the CX-7 range is the Diesel Sports, powered by the turbodiesel from the Mazda6 - albeit with an Australian passenger-car-first AdBlue NOX emissions control system.The 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine is also doing without an automatic in the CX-7, using the same six- speed manual/all-wheel drive transmission to put its 127kW and 400Nm to ground.The diesel claims a fuel economy figure of 7.6 litres per 100km and CO2 emissions of 202g/km, with the AdBlue system cutting NOX emissions using a urea-based natural chemical reaction within the exhaust system. The added features on the diesel include satnav, powered and heated front seats, heated front exterior mirrors, leather trim and the up-spec Bose nine-speaker sound system.The Classic Sports and Luxury Sports all-wheel drive models retain the 175kW/350Nm 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, hooked up to the six-speed automatic. The Classic Sports starts from $38,990 with a features list that adds new 18in alloy wheels, front fog lamps and a dual chrome exhaust to the Classic model's list. The Luxury Sports flagship is priced from $45,990 and has much of the equipment from the Diesel Sports, as well as 19in alloy wheels and tilt and slide glass sunroof.You won't need to be a trainspotter to pick the new CX-7, with the family's new larger grille, new alloy wheels, a redesigned rear bumper and spoiler. Inside, the company is boasting improved-quality plastics, more sound deadening and better resistance to vibration.The dashboard and instrumentation has followed the path of the Mazda3, with the dashboard-mounted multi-information display to control satnav (when fitted), the Bluetooth phone link, the sound system, the reversing camera and the trip computer. The Mazda boffins are also boasting the new steering wheel design has a ‘more premium feel’.Mazda's SUV has sportscar aspirations and one of its new powerplants will help maintain that desire. The other engine will have a little more trouble doing that. The facelifted CX-7 brings with it a 2.5-litre four-cylinder, teamed only with a five-speed auto and driving the front wheels.It's a new price-point for the brand but it's not going to surprise anyone with pace - it's a metropolitan machine that is tuned for sedate cruising, requiring a solid prod for a climb or overtaking. It is smooth and quiet on all but the most pockmarked of surfaces, with the bulk of the noise seeming to come through the wheel-arches.Both new models - as expected with the outgoing model in mind - have good road manners, good body control, with steering that will not cause any concern for the driver. But the electro-hydraulic system on the diesel doesn't feel as meaty as the hydraulic set-up on the front-wheel drive model. The cabin has benefitted from the materials upgrade and the dash layout is improved, thankfully following the 3 and not the 6, with function buttons on the steering wheel working well with dash-mounted screen.Forward vision is generally good, although the A-pillars are wide and swept back, which can interfere a little with vision when doing metropolitan work. The 2.2-litre turbodiesel has plenty of grunt and is probably the pick of the CX-7 bunch. The AWD diesel manual can hustle on the strong torque offering but is also quiet and smooth.While the six-speed manual is a nice gearbox to use, the lack of an automatic option (as is the case in the 6 diesel) will hurt the sales of diesels.The new CX-7 range will have broader appeal for those looking for an SUV image, or buyers wanting good dirt road manners as well as bitumen abilities.

High school chemistry and a compound found in urine are helping the new Mazda CX-7 reduce emissions from its diesel engine. In what Mazda is claiming as a first on the Australian passenger car market, the CX-7 is fitted with a system that injects the liquid urea – a compound found in urine -- into the toxic nitrogen oxide exhaust gases, turning them into harmless nitrogen and water. It’s a similar system to those seen on heavy vehicles here, but is also on many passenger cars overseas.The urea is held in a separate tank that lasts more than 20,000km and can be refilled as part of the normal service cycle for a charge of around $150. If the tank gets close to empty, the vehicle’s speed is restricted. And if it empties completely, the vehicle will not restart. The CX-7 also has a particulate filter to reduce the amount of soot belched by the diesel engine, and the two systems help the vehicle meet coming emissions regulations in Europe and the Unites States, where the urea technology will become mandatory in the near future.The diesel is one of two new engines – and a two-wheel drive system -- joining the carryover turbocharged petrol engine al-wheel drive that was the only one available in the current range. And Australia is the only market to get all three engines, Mazda says. The 2.2-litre turbodiesel is the MRZ that debuted in the Mazda6, retuned to match the characteristics of the CX-7. It develops 127kW at 3500rpm and 400Nm at 2000rpm, with those outputs getting to the all-wheel drive system via a six-speed manual. It posts a fairly frugal 7.6l/100km economy and 202g/km of CO2 emissions.On the other end of the scale, the new entry-level engine is the 2.5-litre petrol unit from the Mazda6, mated to a five-speed sequential automatic driving the front wheels and developing 120kW at 6000rpm and 205Nm at 2000rpm, with official economy of 9.4/l/100km and emissions of 223g/km. The range is topped by the carryover 2.3-litre turbocharged petrol unit in both the Classic Sports and Luxury Sports, which has been given some brake drag, transmission, torque control and idle speed revisions to improve economy by close to 8 per cent. A six-speed sequential automatic drives all wheels with 175kW at 5000rpm and 350Nm at 2500rpm. This is the thirstiest – and grubbiest -- of the units, with economy of 11.5l/100km and emissions of 273g/km.It would be hard to fault Mazda’s design direction over the past couple of years, and the facelifted CX-7 serves to improve on the current model with a more aggressive nose and more pronounced lines around the front fascia and light clusters.The interior is similarly improved, with better quality materials, a new sporty steering wheel with clusters of remote controls, electric-blue accented instruments and a subtle curve over the mid-dash instrument binnacle. But there’s still something a little awkward around the rear end, particularly where the C-shaped Led clusters in the tail-lights seems to sit oddly in the squared-off bezels.The entry level Classic, with two-wheel drive and the 2.5-litre petrol engine, is priced at $33,990, but given decent basic spec that includes stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes with brake-force distribution and emergency brake assist, front side and curtain airbags, reversing camera, music player jack for the audio system and cruise control.Next step up is the Classic Sports at $38,990, which is basically the same spec with the higher-powered petrol engine. The new Diesel Sports sits at $43,640, with extra kit including satnav, 19-in wheels and sunroof. The Luxury Sports at $45,990 is similar spec matched with the high petrol drivetrain.Sales and marketMore than 14,000 CX-7s have been sold here since the Australian launch in 2006, and Mazda expects to keep up that rate of roughly 400 per month – or better. “At 400 a month we have a very solid business case,” marketing manager Alastair Doak says. “And if the demand is there for 500 or 600 – we’ll just have to ask the factory if they can supply. “We expect 2WD to connect to a whole new customer, and it could be up to 30 per cent of sales. Offroad ability is not a main reason for purchase for the significant majority of buyers in this segment. They want an SUV to sit up high, giving them a feeling of safety and security in the urban jungle. “Up until now the Luxury model has been about 80 per cent of sales, but (with the new additions) it will be around 50 per cent, with the Classic Sports and the new Diesel Sports taking 10 per cent each.”There’s little doubt people will be interested in the new diesel drivetrain, but what might be a hurdle is the lack of an automatic transmission in a market that is increasingly moving that way.  Not that there’s a problem with the six-speed manual. It’s got a nicely weighted throw, snicks into the slots with definite action, and is reasonably smooth and fast.It’s a pleasure to use out on the open road, but you don’t want to be doing all that rowing every 50 metres in city traffic. But except for in the very low rev range, there’s no shortage of go in the engine, and the manual’s gearing is well suited to stir it into some sturdy action.The active torque-split all-wheel drive system has always been pretty capable, but the lack of any meaningful ground clearance will keep adventuring to a minimum. It’s impossible to be enthusiastic about the entry-level petrol unit, which struggled to haul the CX-7 up most steep slopes – despite its 1600kg being 350kg less than the diesel -- and demanded tactics and a tailwind for any urgent overtaking.The gearing is tuned for economy, and if it were any more laid back it would be horizontal. And even Masashi Otsuka -- the program manager for the facelifted softroader – admits that the two-wheel drive entry level engine will really only be right for those who want to stay within city limits. “This is a good car for heavy traffic, with good fuel consumption. And so good for ladies and families in the city. Very comfortable … but not so good for outside the city,” Otsuka says.He says Mazda also analysed the body of the current model and were able to identify some weak points around the door sills and upper apertures, so these have been amended and rigidity has increased by five per cent. These improvements – in tandem with the well-calibrated McPherson front and multi-link rear suspension – give a ride that is remarkable in the two variants we tested for being both compliant and responsive.We took both the baseline and the diesel models over stretches of often patchy bitumen, and a small stint of gravel, and neither of them were unsettled or jarring. But nor did they wallow around.And despite the rough under the wheels, both cabins were impressively quiet, with only a bit of tyre roar suggesting what was going on outside. There are some clever touches around the cabin, like the sunvisor extenders that should really be standard on every vehicle in Australia. The only annoyances we found on launch were the wide a-pillars cutting into visibility, and just a single drop of rain on the reversing camera rendering it completely useless. They’re small points, but important ones on a vehicle that aims pretty hard for family attention.

Style rates among the top three reasons why Australians choose certain cars. Some buyers, obviously, place other factors higher. That's why we have the Ssangyong Stavic, surely this decade's ugliest piece of folded metal.Style matters so much that Subaru last month announced a new nose for its Tribeca SUV, replacing the present schnoz that appears inspired by artist Edvard Munch's The Scream.The Mazda CX-7 has style. It's as pretty and absorbing as a Constable landscape, following up its beauty with great quality and arresting driver dynamics.Mechanically based on the Mazda6 MPS, the CX-7 shares that car's turbocharged four-cylinder engine and all-wheel-drive layout, but uses different front suspension.Power isn't an issue, despite the CX-7 having a trimmed output — down 15kW to 175kW and 30Nm to 350Nm, though achieved at fewer revs — compared with its donor. Still more than enough to warm the blood.Mazda packages its mid-size SUV, which sits above the Tribute but beneath the upcoming CX-9 V6, in a svelte, edgy body with a steeply raked windscreen.Cabin room is on par with the Mazda6, as is the feature list and quality ambience.The Luxury model tested is $45,560, though you can get all the pace and style in the $39,910 standard version.The CX-7 comes only as a six-speed auto, curiously contrary to the manual-only Mazda6 MPS. But it's a good auto, silky on upshifts and with a manual mode for those who want a bit more zoom.Leather seats, six-disc Bose audio, climate control, a sunroof and other niceties give it all the comfort of a quality sedan with the high seating and broad vision expected in an SUV.Practicality aside, it's the drivetrain that really shines. Strong torque at low revs, rising through the turbo's 2500rpm-plus boost, delivers an exhilarating ride.Handling is predictable, primarily because of the constant 4WD system.All this comes at a cost: the CX-7 drinks like an Aussie at Oktoberfest. On test, it averaged 14.2 litres/100km — similar to the four-litre turbocharged Ford Territory on the same route.Even high 17s weren't out of the ordinary, according to the onboard computer. That said, the Mazda can go off the bitumen.The CX-7 has a lot going for it, even though fuel consumption is an issue (slotting in the excellent Mazda6 diesel engine could be a welcome move).But would I buy one over the Mazda6 diesel station wagon or hatch, given similar cabin space and features? Unlikely.Maybe I'm not stylish enough.

Despite AWD, the chances of the CX-7 being used off-road are slim.The big Mazda, with limited ground clearance and 18-inch alloy rims, is clearly for the city.Unlike some of the cars that it will be against, the CX-7 is not a true people mover. The Ford Territory, Holden Captiva and Toyota Kluger have the option of seven seats, but the CX-7 can seat only five people. The Mazda has more of a sports focus than those cars, not just because of its running gear but also its style.It has a raked windscreen at the angle of many sports cars, has wide arches around alloy wheels and a stylish front end.The engine is a 2.3-litre turbo four-cylinder with 175kW and 350Nm and a top-mounted intercooler.This direct-injection engine is the same one that gives the urge in the Mazda6 and Mazda3 MPS.It has to work harder in the CX-7 given its 1771kg. It manages to lug the wagon from 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds, slower than most big six-cylinder family cars, but not bad compared with bigger and heavier AWD wagons.A six-speed automatic transmission is standard and there is no manual option. There are two CX-7 models, the base at $39,910 and the Luxury at $45,560.The entry level car has airconditioning, cruise control, trip computer, six-CD sound and foglights.The Luxury adds leather trim, heated front seats, sunroof, electrically-adjustable driver's seat, climate control airconditioning and a Bose sound system.Parking sensors are not standard on either model and cost $396 plus fitment costs.A rear-view camera is not an option, despite being sold overseas, because it is bundled with satellite navigation, which is not available for Australia.All cars have a space-saver wheel and have a braked towing capacity of 1600kg. The CX-7 is a size bigger than its existing Tribute AWD, 280mm longer and 47mm wider. IT TAKES only a short section of winding road to work out what Mazda is aiming for with the CX-7. This is not an AWD for holidays to Fraser Island, but a sporty wagon made for tarmac touring.With a multi-link rear suspension set-up, 18-inch wheels with low-profile tyres and a lower ride height than most crossover wagons, the CX-7 handles extremely well.It laps up corners as a well-sorted sedan and is not unsettled by off-camber bumps.On gravel, the CX-7 is nimble given its bulk and does exactly what is expected.The combination of the AWD system and stability control can be felt on slippery gravel where the pair limit the chances of any "moments".The steering is direct and offers good feedback. The ride is quite good on smoother tarmac, but the CX-7 starts to jolt and jar over second-rate roads.The biggest downside of the CX-7 ownership is its thirst. Because the CX-7 uses a four-cylinder engine, it often has to call on the turbo to haul its bulk. Most vehicles this size have a six-cylinder, for good reason.The Mazda cruises the highway using about 9.5-litres for 100km sitting just below 2000 revs, but the figures start to go pear-shaped around town or in any situation that includes acceleration.It is easy to start using 14 litres for 100km around town, which is painful because theCX-7 uses only premium unleaded.The engine is good. There is some delay as the turbo gets going, but most of the time there is more than enough power for enjoyable driving.Mazda's six-speed automatic is excellent and also has the manual override if you are feeling sporty.The interior, as in other modern Mazdas, is well designed and put together.The chrome-ringed instrument cluster with red lighting looks sporty and the combination of black and metal-look trim sections give the CX-7 a prestige/sporty feel.The test car was the Luxury model with gear including supportive leather seats and a gutsy sound system.Even small things such as the chrome strip around the side windows lift its presence.That is nice, but many buyers would trade some of the jewellery for parking sensors, which should be standard.It can carry five people, but the rear middle seat is uncomfortable and is best only for short stints.The centre armrest that folds into the back of the middle rear seat means it is quite hard.There is probably enough space in the cargo area for smaller families, but is not as big as a regular family sedan or mid-sized crossover wagons. Interior storage is good and I really like the cavernous centre area between the driver and passenger.MODERN family wagon that looks great and drives well but has a disturbing thirst.

To best describe its attributes, you still get to feel like king of the road without the drawbacks of being oversized.The CX-7 is a very slick machine that comes in standard and luxury variants. It uses the same 2.3-litre, direct-injection turbocharged four as MPS versions of the Mazda6 and Mazda3, giving it the kind of zip very few four-cylinder cars can match.Inside, it's a comfortable family wagon, with enough legroom back and front and height to burn (although in the luxury model this is reduced by a few centimetres to accommodate the sunroof). And though the electric seat went low enough for head clearance, too low and you felt as if you were driving from the floor.The kids' initial remark was: where are the drink-holders? It turned out they were concealed in the fold-down armrest. This is a little restricting, as it left the children no room for colouring books, the magnetic checker game or anything else.Sixty/40 split seats — now seemingly standard in hatchbacks — are a great thing, and a neat touch in the CX-7 is that they collapse via two discreet latches inside the boot space, which is large enough to take a family holiday load of bags, boxes and boogie boards.There's a full-sized spare wheel, too.Driving the CX-7 is a real pleasure. There's a slight lag on take-off, but when the turbo kicks in, this all-wheel-drive wagon really moves. Steering is direct, and the turning circle surprisingly small.Both models come with an easy-to-use cruise control mounted on the steering wheel, and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.The luxury model's nine-speaker Bose sound system will doof-doof with the best of them. Both variants have a dash-mounted, six-CD MP3-compatible player, but the standard model has to make do with four speakers.If there's one caution on the road, it's that the turbo can be a bit tricky at lower speeds. A nudge quickly adds 10km/h to the clock, so you have to be wary and very camera-shy.There is also a rear collision alarm, always handy in car parks — although it's clearly directed too low, as reversing down a steep hill sets it off.What the CX-7 really needs is a forward collision alarm — unnecessary in most cars, but it would be a big advantage here, as the nose falls away steeply and even the tallest driver would have no idea where the front of the car is.A foot-operated parking brake provides welcome extra space in the centre console cargo area.In the luxury model, the front seats are heated and electrically controlled. Trim is cloth in the standard version, leather for luxury.The air-conditioner seemed to struggle a bit with hotter conditions, and could only be described as adequate. It took a while to cool the rear passenger area. This was the case even with the climate control in the luxury model.This is a sexy-looking car that drew admiring looks for its low profile and sleek shape, which also makes it incredibly quiet. At night, gliding along the freeway, cruise control on and everyone asleep, it felt like a giant, silent bat.The CX-7 is suspended well — just stiff enough not to wallow over speed humps, but soft enough to make the ride very comfortable. Just right.The instruments are clear and easy to see. Everything on the dash, in fact, is easy to navigate. It's intuitively set out, as it should be.ABS brakes and front, side and rear airbags are standard.As a family car, the CX-7 ticks all the boxes, with only a couple of minor drawbacks, but its inclusions are better than those of many compatible crossovers, it feels safe and is a magic drive.It also has the eye-candy factor, which will make many dads happy.The CX-7 feels luxurious, and at a price that feels like great value for money

The overall look resembles a people mover mashed with a station wagon, but the CX-7 is unmistakably a Mazda with hulking front fenders and low-angled A-pillars making the roof seem low over a tapered cabin.The rear goes for a sporty look with round tail lights showing off detailed shards that seem to form a kaleidoscopic swirl.The pricing of $40,000 suggests Mazda wants people considering a Toyota RAV4 or Honda CRV, but the engine says the real competition is Subaru Forrester XT buyers.A 2.3-litre turbocharged, intercooled, direct injection engine produces 175 kilowatts and 350 Newton meters of torque at 2500rpm.The transmission is a six-speed Activematic, which delivers its power and torque to the road through Mazda’s Active Torque Split all-wheel drive system.This translates to acceleration from 0-100km/h in just 8.5 seconds.A smaller version named the CX-5 is also planned and likely to replace the Tribute as Mazda’s small four-wheel-drive.How it drivesThere was a time when it was quite acceptable for SUVs to handle like a hessian sack full of wet sand, but those days are gone.Outside of men who wear flannelette and fishing hooks in their hats, Australian buyers of urban trucks are apparently all in awe of "car-like dynamics".The modern SUV, typified by Mazda's new CX-7, is so much more car than off-roader that it demands a new class, Sports Utility Car perhaps - which would make a car park full of them a bunch of SUCs.Mazda folk have distilled the essence of these vehicles as "speedy, athletic, yet retaining the command driving position".So, basically, what we're dealing with is a jacked-up car that just happens to have all-wheel drive.Previously, the idea of a sporty SUV was like a snow-plow that could spit out ice sculptures, but Mazda have done a hell of a job with the CX-7.Its chassis is wonderfully taut, its body-roll is minimum and the ride is pretty darn good as well, even on dirt roads.Really big impacts do upset it more than a proper off-roader, but you don't get many really big impacts in Woollahra so that should be fine.The steering is also pretty sharp, although it's obviously still not in the league of a 6 MPS, for example.It does share that car's engine, however, a 2.3-litre DISI turbo with 175kW and 350Nm, all of which seems to kick in from just off idle, meaning it surges hard - and a little noisily - off the line and accelerates meaningfully.The 0 to 100km/h sprint is dismissed in 8.5 seconds.Noise, vibration and harshness are also crushed under the weight of Mazda's technological know-how, although some road noise from the tyres is evident on coarse-chip stuff.And despite the luxurious size of the vehicle, and its keen performance, we actually saw close to the claimed 11.5 litres per 100km economy figure.It might be a SUC, but the CX-7 doesn't suck. And at $39,910 (or $45,560 for the luxury version), it's going to be a big seller.FAST FACTSCX-7: $39,910, CX-7 Luxury: $45,5602.3-litre turbocharged, intercooled, direct injection engine producing 175 kilowatts and 350nm of torque at 2500rpmStandard ABS anti-lock brakes and Dynamic Stability Control,18-inch wheel and tyre package (16-inch spare)66-degree windshield angle is sleeker than many sports cars2750mm wheelbase (130mm longer than Tribute)Boot space is an impressive 400 litresSix air bags (frontal and side for front occupants, side curtain for all outboard occupants) are standard.In recent US Government National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) tests the CX-7 achieved the highest possible rating, five stars, in both frontal and side-impact crash testsStephen Corby is a senior roadtester for the CARSguide team whose work also appears in the Sunday Telegraph. A version of this review plus more news and analysis can be read in this Sunday's Sunday Telegraph.