TO THE POINTWhat’s New? The five-passenger CX-7 is an all-new performance SUV from Mazda, slotting in above the trucky Tribute and below the upcoming seven-passenger CX-9. Selling Points: Turbocharged engine, unSUV-like handling, plentitude of standard features Deal Breakers: Mediocre interior materials, uninspiring off-the-line acceleration Our Advice: There are plenty of midsize SUVs, but few can be legitimately called sporty. The 2007 Mazda CX-7 can. If that’s your bag, give it strong consideration, but think about giving the upcoming Acura RDX a go before buying.
The CX-7’s dash has upper and lower sections, the upper hard plastic and the lower slightly rubberized, each with a different grain. There’s yet another pattern for the hard plastic used on the gauge cluster and door switch panels. Interestingly, the pieces used on the upper doors are the same for all four doors, but the front doors get a hint of padding while the rear doors are treated to rock-solid plastic.