Midsize SUV; Built in Japan |
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Good condition price range: $11,500 – $27,500* |
2008 Mazda CX-7
2008 Mazda CX-7
2008 Mazda CX-7
2008 Mazda CX-7
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Cons: |
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Mazda’s CX-7 emphasizes sport over utility and ride comfort, to stand out in a crowded market segment. On the downside, its turbo four-cylinder engine is neither as fuel-efficient as one might expect, nor as smoothly powerful as it should be. Still, the CX-7 shows some appeal for those who need something roomier than a midsize car and want fresh-looking SUV styling.
Overview
Mazda’s CX-7 debuted for 2007 as the company’s first car-type, midsize sport-utility vehicle. This five-passenger four-door crossover wagon came in Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring models with either front- or all-wheel drive, the latter lacking low-range gearing. All CX-7s had a 244-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, drawn from the sporty MazdaSpeed 6 sedan, and a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift gate. When promoting the CX-7, Mazda continued the “zoom-zoom” message that it’s used in connection with other vehicles, to suggest their sporty-handling nature. In fact, Mazda called the CX-7 its “sports crossover SUV.” Sleek styling details included a steep (66-degree) windshield angle, prominent fender arches, and a curved roofline.
Every CX-7 came with antilock braking and traction/antiskid control. Also standard were front side airbags and curtain side airbags with rollover deployment. Touring and Grand Touring editions added leather upholstery and heated front seats. Available for all was a navigation system with rearview camera. The steering wheel came from Mazda’s MX-5 sports car, as did the driver manipulated a high-mounted gearshift lever. CX-7’s rivals included the Honda Pilot, Nissan Murano, Saturn Vue, and Toyota Highlander.
Yearly Updates
2008 CX-7 No major changes were evident for the 2008 model year. |
2009 CX-7 Heated seats were newly optional on the Sport, but there were few other changes. |
2010 CX-7 The 2010 Mazda CX-7 received freshened styling and a new base engine. The i SV and i Sport have front-wheel drive and are powered by a new 161-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and 5-speed automatic transmission. |
2011 CX-7 The 2011 Mazda CX-7 lineup gains a new trim level, the i Touring. Otherwise, the smaller of Mazda’s two crossover SUVs is largely unchanged. |
2012 CX-7 There were no changes to the Mazda CX-7 for 2012, its final model year. |