Mazda CX-7 2009 review

Ten bucks says the penny-pincher inside you is balking at the very prospect of a Mazda CX-7. It's a five-seat crossover whose turbocharged engine recommends premium fuel and returns subpar gas mileage, and its cargo area is as small as its price tag is large. It is not, as Spock might say, a particularly logical choice — but is it ever a fun one. Fire up the engine, take a drive and consider some of the CX-7's strengths that are less apparent on paper, and those left-brained sensibilities eventually will come around.

The CX-7 is a smallish crossover that shares its turbo four-cylinder with the hot-rodded Mazdaspeed3. Changes for the 2009 model, which you can compare to the '08 CX-7 here, include a handful of minor cabin and styling tweaks. In ascending order, trim levels comprise the Sport, Touring and Grand Touring, with all-wheel drive optional on all three. I tested an all-wheel-drive CX-7 Grand Touring.

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Essential Safety Equipment
Use of safety equipment, including seats, seat belt system, child-restraint systems and SRS air bags. ...

Steering Wheel
WARNING: Never adjust the steering wheel while the vehicle is moving: Adjusting the steering wheel while the vehicle is moving is dangerous. Moving it can very easily cause the driver to abruptl ...

Sunvisors
When you need a sunvisor, lower it for use in front or swing it to the side. Side Extension Sunvisors The visor extender extends the sunvisor's range of sun shading. To use, pull it out. CAU ...