2008 Mazda CX-7 Euro Review

Mazda Motors is certain that the new Mazda CX-7 sports crossover vehicle will create a niche within a niche, bringing its ‘Zoom-Zoom’ sports car attitude to the traditional SUV sector. The Mazda CX-7 is expected to define its own market, just as the Mazda RX-8 sports coupe did in the sports car segment following its launch in 2003.

“Some sports utility vehicles major on their 4x4 credentials, their ability off road or to carry people – maybe up to seven passengers. Others are more ‘soft roaders’, which have the look and attitude of a 4x4 but are rarely taken off tarmac.

“Our new Mazda CX-7 is different because it is more heavily oriented towards a sports car in its styling and driving dynamics, while retaining the commanding driving position, presence and stature of an off road vehicle.”

Manufactured in Japan, the CX-7 is already hugely popular in the USA, but for the European and UK markets changes have been made to best suit the demands of local consumers. The suspension set-up has also been retuned for European roads and delivers handling agility that is unmatched in this class.

Part of the crossover concept necessitates combining sporty design with sports utility comfort and practicality, and the new Mazda CX-7 has plenty of both. There is ample space for five occupants to travel in comfort and sports utility-style rear seat functionality and boot space, which makes it an ideal vehicle for multi-activity lifestyles.

The 260ps turbocharged, four-wheel drive Mazda CX-7, priced from £23,960 (on-the-road), will be available in the UK as a single, highly-specified model. Standard equipment will include leather seats, 18" alloy wheels, Xenon headlights, climate control air-conditioning, cruise control, and a BOSE® premium audio system.

Each Mazda CX-7 is mechanically identical, with a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing up to 380Nm of torque at just 3000rpm, a six-speed manual transmission and Mazda’s unique Active Torque-Split 4WD system.

This new Mazda combines sensationally spirited performance – top speed is 130mph and 0-62mph takes 8.0 seconds – with exhilarating dynamics and genuine everyday practicality (with a 455-litre cargo bay, all seats upright), and remarkable refinement. It is the ultimate expression of ‘Zoom-Zoom’ driving excitement in a sophisticated four-wheel drive crossover vehicle.

Generous Equipment, Spacious and Versatile interior
The single, highly-specified Mazda CX-7 model available in the UK is manufactured with a generous level of equipment as standard. Every vehicle will come with features such as; cruise control, electric windows front and rear, climate control air-conditioning, powered driver’s seat with six-way adjustment and manual lumbar support, heated front seats and a bespoke BOSE® premium audio system with 6-CD autochanger and nine speakers.

Mazda CX-7’s boot is large, flexible and rugged. With the rear seats up, the boot is more than 100cm long, large enough to carry three golf bags, and has a load volume of 455 litres (to the belt line). The split rear seats can be folded 60:40 using Mazda’s unique Karakuri system with a one-touch rear seat back release located in the boot trim. With the back seats folded, load space is increased to 774 litres. The boot floor has a reversible water-proof trunk board made of robust plastic so soiled items can be transported without staining the carpet.

Customers can choose between five exterior colours (solid Brilliant Black, metallic Graphite Silver and three Mica colours – Aurora Blue, Copper Red, Galaxy Grey) and two interior colours – with Black or Stone leather upholstery – plus a range of options such as front and rear parking sensors, satellite navigation, a roof carrier and detachable tow-bar.

Mazda targets people with ‘Zoom-Zoom’ spirit
Mazda UK expects to sell between 1,000 and 1,500 CX-7s in the UK over a full year. “There is a market out there for a real sports utility vehicle, with room for five adults, a versatile interior, great performance and the assurance and safety that an intelligent four-wheel drive system provides,” asserts Cameron.

So, who will be the typical CX-7 buyer? According to Mazda UK, they will almost certainly be male, probably professionally employed and aged 35 to 55.

“We are increasingly using psychographic profiling to determine those people that have a ‘Zoom-Zoom’ spirit or attitude to life – regardless of their age, gender, etc,” says Cameron. “As a challenger brand we find that people who want to express themselves by buying something different are interested in Mazda – particularly in the sporty design, performance and handling attributes that our products offer.

“I am convinced that there is still plenty of growth in the SUV segment as long as vehicles are sensibly developed and marketed. The Mazda CX-7 is not a huge vehicle designed for the country that will be brought into town – it is an urban soft-roader with plenty of attitude and great dynamics,” concludes Cameron.

Don’t miss out – pre-order now!
For customers who want to be sure of taking delivery of Mazda's new sports crossover before anyone else… Mazda UK has launched a dedicated Mazda CX-7 Pre-Order Website www.cx-7order.co.uk where buyers can reserve their new car now. This year, Mazda is allocating a restricted number of Mazda CX-7 vehicles to the UK market and customers can place a pre-order online from the comfort of home to ensure they have one of the cars from launch.

The pre-order site asks buyers to select their preferred Mazda dealer from a list of three nearest to their location. The pre-order site indicates the anticipated delivery date for each model and customers receive a confirmation email acknowledging their order.

Orders for a Mazda CX-7 placed via the website will be processed promptly, and at this point a visit to the chosen dealer is required to confirm the order and place a deposit on the new car. Customers can also choose to arrange individually tailored part-exchange or finance packages.

In addition, a dedicated Mazda CX-7 microsite www.newmazdacx-7.co.uk provides essential information on the vehicle's sporty performance, assured driving dynamics, comprehensive safety, comfort and adaptability as well as specification and pricing. The site also allows users to register their interest in the car and to receive further communications on the Mazda CX-7.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT

Mazda CX-7

Petrol = 2.3-litre, 260ps, 380Nm torque, CO2 – 243g/km, 6-speed manual
Safety & Security

All-disc braking system with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD) with Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Traction Control System (TCS)
Active torque 4-wheel-drive system
Driver & Passenger front airbags
Front side airbags
Front and rear curtain airbags
Front seatbelt pre-tensioners with load-limiters
Whiplash-minimising front seats
ISOFIX child seat anchorage
Thatcham Category 1 alarm & immobiliser
Exterior

18.0 x 7.5-inch alloy wheels with 235/60 R18 tyres
Body-coloured bumpers and rear spoiler
Matt black sill panels
Chrome door handles
Chrome window surround trim
Electric/heated door mirrors
Body-coloured mirror housings with integrated indicator lights
Tinted glass
Dark privacy glass in rear and rear side windows
Xenon headlamps with automatic levelling and cleaning
Front fog lights
Automatic lights and rain sensing auto wipers
Twin chrome exhaust tailpipes
Rear mudflaps
Comfort & Convenience

Remote central locking and dead locks
Folding jack-knife key
Electric front and rear windows, with one-touch auto down
Global opening/closing for all windows
Climate control automatic air conditioning
Power steering and cruise control
Remote release fuel filler flap
Interior

Leather seat trim
Leather steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake lever
Silver inner door handles
Driver’s seat power reclining, tilt/slide, height adjustment
Driver’s seat adjustable lumbar support
Heated front seats
Driver and passenger seat height-adjustable head restraints
Front centre console with storage and cup holders
60/40 split folding rear seat
Rear seat centre armrest with two cupholders
Rear seat three height-adjustable head restraints
Height adjustable steering wheel
BOSE® Premium audio system with 6-CD autochanger and nine speakers
Steering wheel mounted audio controls
Trip computer
Lockable glovebox