MAZDA CX 7 Compare?

The Mazda CX-7 is a compact crossover vehicle

and one of few that focuses on sporty on-the-road performance, with no hint of ruggedness or off- road ability. Think of the CX-7 as a tall wagon that offers the handling of a sport wagon but the versatility and cargo/passenger-friendliness of a utility vehicle and you won’t be far off the mark. The CX-7’s design has changed little from its introduction in 2006 (2007 model year) to the present day. Inside and out, the Mazda CX-7 appears aggressive and sporty, with aspects like its steeply raked windshield, large wheels, and bulging fenders and wheelwells looking the part on the outside, while a cockpit-like instrument panel and hooded gauges inside can, at times, lead you to think that you’re driving a sport coupe. 

The CX-7 targets shoppers who might need a roomier vehicle,because of a growing family, for instance, but want a vehicle that’s responsive and corners well. And in repeated drives of the CX-7,TheCarConnection.com has found the CX-7 to steer and handle exceptionally well compared to rival crossovers. Available from the start was a 244-horsepower,2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine — essentially the same unit that’s been offered in Mazda’s performance-tuned Mazdaspeed 3 and Mazdaspeed 6 models —with either front-wheel drive or an all-wheel-drive system that can send up to 50 percent of torque to the front wheels. 

Positioned in the market as a more premium, sporty alternative to basic crossover compacts like the Honda CR-V,Subaru Forester, or Toyota RAV4, the CX-7 has always cost a bit more and sales weren’t as high as Mazda would have hoped. Additionally, fuel economy with the 2.3-liter turbo wasn’t particularly impressive in real-world driving.