Vehicle: 2009 Mazda CX-7 AWD GT with Luxury Pkg
Price as tested: CDN$43577

Performance: CX-7 is a driver’s car in every sense of the word. It all begins with the powertrain of choice. Underneath each CX-7 is Mazda’s 2.3 liter 4-cylinder DOHC turbocharged engine with advanced MZR variable valve timing and direct injection, the same engine found in Mazdaspeed3 and previous Mazdaspeed6. This world-class powertrain is good for 244 horses and, amazingly, 258 lb/ft of torque. When it comes to delivering power, this engine is as good as you can get. Despite of the slight turbo lag happens sometimes around 2500rpm, which is exactly where the maximum torque arrives. The turbocharger boils up quickly and efficiency as rpm peaks up. Its an efficient and responsive system that encourage both driver pleasure and flexability. While the high rpm feels a bit short of breath when pushed, it doesn’t feel like its lacking anything. Just not a rev-happy engine as its arch-rival, Acura RDX, does with Honda’s renowed i-VTEC DOHC turbo. Matched with this motor is the sweet 6-speed manumatic gearbox. The gears are crisp and smooth. The manumatic mode is efficient and very willing. With all the right gear ratios at the right places, it all matched this peppy SUV exceptionally well.

Handling: Combined a very good AWD system with a good fundamental, that means an excellent chassis that is completely free of flex and rattles. You can pretty much guess CX-7 is a very capable on-road crossover. In fact, it does. The steering is sharp and responsive, without any twitches when pushed hard. Steering feel is direct and communcative. For a crossover, CX-7 has excellent body motion control and limited understeer. That’s a delightful surprise consider its center-of-gravity. Mazda engineers are smart enough to engineer a crossover with low center-of-gravity for driver’s hip point even if its a tall vehicle. The result is a crossover that is a blast to drive without losing the ride comfort one associates with this type of vehicle. While the ride is a bit firm, its far from being harsh on both rough and smooth pavements. This AWD system has worked exceptionally with CX-7’s DSC, or Dynamic Stability Control. DSC acts as a second level of security after AWD detects any slippage before it steps in. That means this DSC remains uninstrusive until AWD can’t save any driver from CX-7 rears its ugly head. Its a stability control that is both uninstrusive enough for enthuisastic driver while safe enough for those who just treat it as a daily commuter.

Brakes: With 4-wheel discs and standard ABS, CX-7’s braking prowess is enough to matched its performance given its 1782 kg curb weight. Both the stopping distance and pedal feel are top-notch. The same goes for ABS which only steps in necessarily.

Interior: CX-7’s interior wraps up with classy and elegant materials. There are plenty of soft-touch plastic while leather seats are comfortable. With its tilt/telescope steering wheel and 8-way power driver’s seat, everyone of every dimensions can find a proper driving positon easily.

Conclusion: If you are searching for a compact crossover that is both fun-to-drive and comfortable, CX-7 should be the one to beat. It all comes down in a package that doesn’t sacifice any practiality for the sake of driving pleasure, while everything has put together in an attractively attired sportswagon-like style.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2009 Mazda CX-7
=====================================
Performance: 4.5/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 4.5/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 4.5/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4.5/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 4/5
Value-for-money: 4/5

Overall rating: 4.5/5