Safety & Reliability

In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests, the CX-7 earned top scores in both front and side-impact tests. Standard safety features include antilock brakes, traction control and an electronic stability system, as well as six airbags.

Child-seat provisions include standard Latch child-seat anchors in the outboard rear seats. Top-tether anchors for the outboard positions sit midway down the seatbacks — a more accessible location than up in the ceiling or down at the base of the seats, which is where they're found on many SUVs. Though the outboard rear seats have head restraints, there isn't one for the middle position; that's something the Escape, RAV4 and others include.

Reliability has been middle-of-the-road, with average overall scores from Consumer Reports. The publication rates the RAV4 significantly higher and the Vue significantly lower. Mazda's three-year/36,000-mile comprehensive and five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty match most competitors', though the Vue, Outlander and Santa Fe offer even longer policies.

Stepping up to the Touring ($25,800) adds heated leather upholstery and a power driver's seat, while the Grand Touring ($26,700) adds automatic climate control, upgraded gauges and interior trim, xenon headlights and a few styling tweaks. All-wheel drive on any trim adds $1,700. Other options include the navigation system, a backup camera, Bose audio and a moonroof. Load a Grand Touring to the gunwales, and the price tops out around $33,000.

    See also:

    Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Precautions
    The front and side supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include up to 6 air bags. You can locate the various air bags by the use of “SRS AIRBAG” location indicators. These indicators are visible ...

    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 ...

    Parking in an Emergency
    The hazard warning lights should always be used when you stop on or near a roadway in an emergency. The hazard warning lights warn other drivers that your vehicle is a traffic hazard and that the ...