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.
Based on the Mazda 6 platform, the five-passenger CX-7 weighs in between 3,710 – 3,929 pounds and rides on an independent MacPherson strut suspension up front and a multi-link setup in the rear, first used on the Mazda 3 then adapted for the Mazda 5 and once again for use on the CX-7 SUV. Front and rear anti-sway bars are standard.