Overview

What Changed for 2008:

• Premium fuel now recommended, not required


• Standard roadside assistance program

Overview
The CX-7 is the smaller of Mazda's two crossover utility vehicles (CUVs). Introduced for the 2007 model year, it is largely unchanged for 2008. The CX-7 is a 5-passenger vehicle aimed at buyers of sport sedans who need more space and SUV/CUV owners who want a vehicle with more style. Though designed in conjunction with the Ford Edge and larger Mazda CX-9 SUVs, the CX-7 is an entirely different product, heralded by a sharply raked windshield and Mazda RX-8-inspired front styling, big alloy wheels, and a 244-hp turbocharged engine. The CX-7 is available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). With the rear seats folded down, it has 58.6 cubic feet of cargo space. Properly equipped, the CX-7 can tow up to 2000 pounds.

Model Lineup
The 2008 Mazda CX-7 is sold in Sport, Touring and Grand Touring trim levels. The Sport's standard equipment list includes cloth upholstery; 6-way manually adjustable driver's seat; air conditioning; tilt steering wheel with audio controls; cruise control; 60/40-split folding rear seat; power windows, mirrors, windows and door locks; remote keyless entry; 4-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo; theft-deterrent system; rear spoiler; and P235/60R18 tires on aluminum wheels. Touring trim adds leather upholstery; leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob; 8-way power adjustable driver's seat; heated front seats; and a retractable cargo cover. Grand Tourings have leather upholstery with black sport seat stripes; automatic climate control; automatic high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights; heated exterior mirrors; and fog lamps. Options include a voice-activated, DVD-based navigation system with touch screen; rearview camera; keyless starting; sunroof; 9-speaker Bose sound system with 6-disc CD changer; alarm; rear DVD entertainment system; Sirius satellite radio; remote engine starting; auto-dimming rearview mirror; universal garage door opener; and a Class II tow hitch receiver.

Powertrain
Most competitors use a V-6 engine, but Mazda powers the CX-7 with a 2.3-liter, turbocharged, direct-injected 4-cylinder engine. This 16-valve, dual-overhead cam, all-aluminum engine also powers the MazdaSpeed3. In the CX-7, it produces 244 hp at 5000 rpm and 258 lb.-ft. of torque at 2500 rpm. A 6-speed automatic transmission with manual control is standard equipment. The CX-7's EPA fuel economy ratings are 17 mpg city/23 mpg highway with FWD and 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway with AWD. The CX-7's available AWD system is not meant for off-road use. It automatically diverts up to 50 percent of the power to the rear wheels as road conditions demand, but does not have low-range gearing.

While the CX-7 was developed in conjunction with the Ford Edge and Mazda CX-9, its architecture is largely its own. Some of the structure can be found in those vehicles, but it is mostly exclusive to the CX-7, which is also smaller than those vehicles. The CX-7 uses a MacPherson strut front suspension and an independent multi-link rear suspension.

Safety
Standard safety equipment on the 2008 Mazda CX-7 includes dual front air bags; torso-protecting front side air bags; head-protecting curtain side air bags with rollover protection; tire-pressure monitor; anti-lock brakes (ABS) with brake assist (BA) and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD); traction control; and electronic stability control. A rearview camera is optional. In tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the CX-7 earned a 5-star rating in both front- and side-impact crash tests. Both 2WD and AWD versions also received a 4-star rollover rating. The CX-7 has not been crash tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Technology
ABS pulses the brakes to help decrease stopping distances, minimize the chance of skids, and allow drivers to steer when braking hard. EBD automatically balances front-to-rear braking forces to optimize stopping power and braking stability. BA provides full braking power in emergency braking situations to shorten stopping distance.