Strengths

Sporty looks, excellent handling and braking, a practical design, excellent scores in federal crash tests

 

Changes

The 2010 Mazda CX-7 offers a number of changes and upgrades from previous years. New for 2010 is the introduction of a new base trim, the "i SV", which comes with a newly offered naturally aspirated engine: a 2.5L 4-cylinder gasoline engine offering 161 horsepower. On the outside, the CX-7 is now more pronounced with a revised front fascia, a more aerodynamic roof line design, sleek and sharp lines that go from bumper to bumper, and more powerful and pronounced wheel wells that are accented by a newly designed grille and redesigned rear and trunk. Inside, the 2010 model offers upgraded upholstery materials, a new steering wheel, revised gauges and chrome accents throughout the interior.

 

Value

Introduced in 2006, the CX-7 represents Mazda's first foray into the crossover SUV market and was designed on an original platform. The Mazda CX-7 slots between the smaller Tribute and larger CX-9. Since its debut, the CX-7 has gained in popularity and competes directly with Honda's CR-V, Toyota's RAV4 and Nissan's Murano. With the new choice of two engines and several trims, the CX-7 keeps the Mazda tradition of performance and practicality alive and running. MSRP starts at around $21,000, which is about $2,200 cheaper than the 2009 model. Mileage on the base i SV is estimated at 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.

 

Overview

The 2010 Mazda CX-7 is offered in four different trims: the brand new base i SV trim, i Sport, the s Touring and the s Grand Touring trim. The i SV and the i Sport comes standard with a new 2.5L 4-cylinder engine with variable valve timing, 161 horsepower and 161 pound-feet of torque. The base engine is mated to a standard 5-speed automatic transmission with sport shift (the same as ing MAZDA5 and MAZDA3). The s Touring and s Grand Touring trims come standard with a sportier 2.3L turbocharged inline-4 engine that offers 244 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 258 pounds-feet of torque at 2500 rpm. It is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The i SV and i Sport come standard with front wheel drive, while the s Touring and s Grand Touring get standard all wheel drive.

Standard safety features across the lineup include four wheel antilock disc brakes with brake assist and brake force distribution, a full array of airbags (to include front side and side curtain airbags), tire pressure monitoring, rollover protection and Dynamic Stability Control. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the CX-7 its highest rating of 'Good' for both frontal-offset and side-impact crashes.

Standard equipment on the i SV includes cruise control, power windows and locks, steering wheel audio controls, an anti-theft system, 17-inch wheels, keyless entry, auxiliary audio input and an MP3 compatible stereo. The i Sport adds privacy glass, leather-wrapped steering wheel and wireless cell phone hookup.

The s Touring adds standard 18-inch alloy wheels, leather-trimmed seats, heated and power seats, driver lumbar, a retractable cargo cover and a Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound premium audio system. The top-of-the-line s Grand Touring trim adds 19-inch alloy wheels, performance tires, HID auto-on headlights, fog lights, heated mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, electroluminescent gauges, navigation system, alarm, sunroof, leather seats with seat memory and rear parking aid.

Options available on most trims include an entertainment system, remote start and back up camera.