Mazda cX-7 (2007-)

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Which? Car review
Mazda CX-7 (2007-)
Sep 2007 Class: 4x4s/SUVs
New price: £27,350 - £27,350 Used price: From £10,595
On sale:
Performance:
Ride comfort:
handling:
★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
Boot & Storage:
Safety:
★★★★
★★★★
Reliability:
-
Total score:
75%
Nippy. Spacious and refined. Well-made, with plenty of standard equipment.
High fuel consumption (petrol model). Restricted all-round visibility. Seats aren’t the best-designed. Recommended models
in the range
Which? Car Top Choice Model
2.2d Sport Tech 5dr
New price: £27,350
Used price: £18,395
Fastest Model
2.3T 5dr
New price: Used price: £10,595
8.0 secs
0-62mph:
Most Efficient Model
2.2d Sport Tech 5dr
New price: £27,350
Used price: £18,395
Combined fuel economy:
37.7 mpg
Cheapest Model to buy new
2.2d Sport Tech 5dr
New price:
Overview
The CX-7 is a strong rival to other road-focused 4x4s such as the BMW X3 with its sporty,
confident drive - and its good-value list price. However, its relatively high carbon dioxide output
- 199g/km from the 2.2-litre diesel model now offered - means that it’s rather expensive to run
as a company car. Despite its appearance, Mazda’s chunky CX-7 is much happier on tarmac than off it. The
ride is pretty firm and the handling very precise, while the brakes are superb. Its on-road focus
makes it one of the sportier SUVs to drive. The 2.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine we tested (256bhp) delivered 26.6mpg (Mazda
claims 27.7mpg) but this has sine been replaced in the UK by a 2.2-litre diesel (claimed to do
37.7mpg). The CX-7 is nicely finished inside, with a clutter-free dashboard containing a standard ninespeaker Bose stereo and climate control. It’s comfortable too, with lots of room both front and
rear. The boot holds 410 litres, and that figure doubles when you fold the rear seats down – a
process made easier by Mazda’s clever Karakuri lever system, which leaves a flat load floor.
The CX-7 hasn’t sold in sufficient numbers for the latest Which? Car survey to have yielded
a model reliability score, but Mazda brand reliability is good - four stars this year.
£27,350
Cheapest Model to buy used
2.3T 5dr
Used price:
£10,595
Cheapest Model to Run (new)
2.2d Sport Tech 5dr
New price: £27,350
Running costs: £24,423
(3 years/36,000 miles)
Owner’s View
It has been totally reliable,
runs very well and the
diesel engine performs
more like a sports car than
a large 4x4, have been
satisfied with this car from
day one and am surprised
that they have not sold in
greater numbers. In my
opinion vastly under-rated.
Which? Car review
Mazda CX-7 (2007-)
4x4s/SUVs
On the road
How we test
Overall the CX-7 is good to drive, but the turbocharged petrol model is marred by torque-steer.
We were really impressed with the brakes and the gutsy engine, though.
Performance
Performance
★★★★
A 2.3-litre petrol engine may sound a bit puny for a two-tonne SUV but fear not, because
Mazda has fitted a turbo big enough to deliver a rather handy 260bhp and 255 lb/ft of torque.
This means the petrol CX-7 will accelerate nought to 60mph in eight seconds, quickly for a car
of such bulk. Problem is that the turbo takes a while to deliver full thrust, so you can be waiting
a while for all that power and performance to come on stream at very low revs; luckily the
slick-shifting six-speed manual gearbox makes keeping the revs up a pleasure. The engine is
refined and vibration-free.
Model tested
diesel 2.2 CD (173bhp) manual 5-door (2010)
petrol 2.3 (256bhp) manual 5-door (2007)
Ride comfort
Acceleration (37-62mph)
5.7 secs
4.0 secs
Ride comfort
Rating
★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★
The suspension is stiff enough to prevent too much body roll in corners, but supple enough to
ensure bumps don’t rock the cabin unduly on rough surfaces.
Model tested
diesel 2.2 CD (173bhp) manual 5-door (2010)
petrol 2.3 (256bhp) manual 5-door (2007)
We use the sophisticated electronic timing
equipment to record standing-start and
in-gear acceleration, and repeat each test
several times.
Rating
★★★★
★★★★
Ride comfort is assessed by our laboratory experts who have driven hundreds of
thousands of miles in a myriad of different
models.
Which? Car review
Mazda CX-7 (2007-)
4x4s/SUVs
On the road continued...
How we test
Handling
★★★★
Handling
Although the CX-7 is four-wheel drive, the rear wheels are rarely driven; power is only diverted
to the rear axle if slippage is sensed up front. While this might not seem like a problem for a
vehicle unlikely to see much mud, the rather powerful turbocharged petrol engine struggles
to put its power through just the front wheels without corrupting the steering (you get a kick
through the wheel if you accelerate out of bends, known as torque-steer). Apart from this, the
CX-7 drives very well; the steering is accurate and responsive and it remains composed in fast
corners. Model tested
diesel 2.2 CD (173bhp) manual 5-door (2010)
petrol 2.3 (256bhp) manual 5-door (2007)
Rating
★★★★
★★★★★
Despite having a hefty SUV to bring to halt, the CX-7’s brakes do an excellent job. From
60mph the brakes were able to stop the car in 36m, four metres less than the class average.
In less drastic everyday situations the pedal provides good feel and makes it easy to slow the
CX-7 smoothly.
Braking distance (62-0mph)
37.0m
36.5m
Rating
★★★★
★★★★★
The Which? Car braking test measures
stopping distance from 62-0mph and is
repeated ten times in quick succession to
highlight any brake fade issues.
Refinement and noise
★★★★
Refinement and noise
Wind noise becomes quite loud at motorway speeds, but apart from that the petrol CX-7
is quiet, with barely a peep to be heard from its smooth engine. As you would expect from
a Japanese manufacturer, the CX-7 is well made inside and out, so there are no untoward
squeaks or rattles.
Model tested
diesel 2.2 CD (173bhp) manual 5-door (2010)
petrol 2.3 (256bhp) manual 5-door (2007)
Brakes
★★★★★
Brakes
Model tested
diesel 2.2 CD (173bhp) manual 5-door (2010)
petrol 2.3 (256bhp) manual 5-door (2007)
On-the-limit handling is explored well
away from public roads to ensure a fair
test. Our obstacle avoidance test is one of
the harshest tests in the industry..
Cruising noise
69dB
67dB
Rating
★★★
★★★★
The Which? Car experts use a decibel
meter to record interior sound levels
at common UK motorway speeds, and
combine this with subjective assessments
to arrive at an overall score.
Which? Car review
Mazda CX-7 (2007-)
4x4s/SUVs
On the road continued...
How we test
Cabin and controls
★★★★
Cabin and controls
The CX-7’s interior has a classy feel thanks to high-quality plastics and standard leather seats
and trim. In general it is easy to use, with all the main controls being easy to reach and most of
the readouts and other dials being easy to see. Unfortunately, the steering wheel is not reachadjustable, which can make it tricky for the driver to truly get comfortable. Less serious but still
irritating issues are the lack of cubby holes for odd items, no light in the glovebox, a hard-toread trip computer, and heated seat controls which are difficult to reach.
Model tested
diesel 2.2 CD (173bhp) manual 5-door (2010)
petrol 2.3 (256bhp) manual 5-door (2007)
Rating
★★★★
★★★★
Visibility and parking
★★★
Visibility and parking
The driver of the CX-7 has a good view of the road ahead, particularly at night due to the
super-bright standard-fit xenon headlights. The problems come when you want to look
either side of straight ahead, thanks to the very wide front pillars. It’s a similar story looking
backwards diagonally – the treetrunk-like rear pillars see to that. While the large heated wing
mirrors go some way to making up for these problems, guiding the CX-7 into tight parking
spots can be tricky. Parking sensors weren’t offered on early examples, but are now fitted in
combination with a very useful rear-view camera. Model tested
diesel 2.2 CD (173bhp) manual 5-door (2010)
petrol 2.3 (256bhp) manual 5-door (2007)
We penalise cars with difficult controls,
and we look for things like backlit light
switches and easy-to-use heating and
ventilation adjustments.
Turning circle
12.4m
12.4m
Rating
★★★
★★★
Visibility is a major issue for motorists
today, so each car gets a 360-degree
swivel view test to reproduce the driver’s
eye view and any obscured areas.
Which? Car review
Mazda CX-7 (2007-)
4x4s/SUVs
Comfort and practicality
How we test
Despite having plenty of space available to passengers, the CX-7 isn’t as comfy as it could be
due to poor seat design. The boot is slightly small, too.
Getting in and out
Getting in and out
★★★
The CX-7 is quite a tall vehicle, meaning that occupants must climb up quite a way to get in, but
there are otherwise few problems with entry or exit. Rear passengers will be slightly hindered
by the protruding rear wheel arches, and the door arrestors struggle to keep the front doors
open on slopes, but overall, this is an easy car to get in and out of.
Model tested
diesel 2.2 CD (173bhp) manual 5-door (2010)
petrol 2.3 (256bhp) manual 5-door (2007)
Rating
★★★
★★★
We take measurements all around the
driver and passenger’s door apertures
and note the height of the seat, door sills
and step down onto the car floor. The
best cars don’t require too much bending
or stretching to get in and out.
Seat space and comfort
Seat space and comfort
★★★★
The seats of the CX-7 really need to be sent back to the drawing board. The upholstery is
simply too thin for comfort on long journeys, their leather finish is too slippy for lateral support,
and the rear passengers must contort themselves into an unpleasant jack-knife position thanks
to a severe lack of thigh support. Good news is that the CX-7 has a very spacious interior, with
oodles of headroom and impressive width, but the seats just let it down.
Model tested
diesel 2.2 CD (173bhp) manual 5-door (2010)
petrol 2.3 (256bhp) manual 5-door (2007)
Rating
★★★★
★★★
We assess seat comfort subjectively,
using our road testers’ expert knowledge
and experience from thousands of different cars. And we measure the head-, legand elbowroom on offer in every seat, to
see how well the car caters for people of
all shapes and sizes.
Which? Car review
Mazda CX-7 (2007-)
4x4s/SUVs
Comfort and practicality continued...
How we test
Boot and storage
★★★★
Boot and storage
The 410 litres on offer in the CX-7’s boot is slightly miserly for the class. However, you can
double loadspace to 820 litres if you fold the rear seats down. The CX-7’s large tailgate affords
good access to a flat uncluttered boot area, although because this is quite a high car, objects
have to be hauled up a fair way before they can go in. Frustratingly, the design of the rear
hatch means it far harder to close than to open, thanks to a curiously located handle recess.
Model tested
diesel 2.2 CD (173bhp) manual 5-door (2010)
petrol 2.3 (256bhp) manual 5-door (2007)
Heating and ventilation
Boot space (seats up/down)
410 litres / 820 litres
410 litres / 820 litres
Rating
★★★★
★★★★
★★★
The CX-7 features digital climate control as standard. The system worked well at cooling the
car, but while front passengers will find the cabin heats up quickly in winter, those in the rear
have to wait a while.
Model tested
diesel 2.2 CD (173bhp) manual 5-door (2010)
petrol 2.3 (256bhp) manual 5-door (2007)
Carmakers give official stats for boot
space, but our tests are more realistic. We
load the boot up with measuring blocks
only as far as the rear window line, so
that luggage is well secured and won’t
obscure rear visibility. We repeat the test
with the rear seats up, and folded down
(where possible).
Heating and ventilation
Rating
★★★
★★★★
Feel sorry for the tester who has to warm
each car up from a frosty -10 degrees in
our climate chamber. Starting with a cold
engine, we measure how long it takes to
warm up the front and rear of the cabin.
Diesel cars usually take longer. We also
check the effectiveness of air conditioning, where fitted.
Which? Car review
Mazda CX-7 (2007-)
4x4s/SUVs
Running costs and depreciation
How we test
The petrol CX-7 is a bit of a gas–guzzler, which will saddle you with high fuel bills and high road
tax; it has also lost its value faster than the diesel model will do. The diesel promises more manageable fuel economy, though its carbon dioxide emissions
are still high at 199g/km - better than the petrol’s top-tax 243g/km, however. It’s in insurance
group 14, with the petrol in 15. Servicing costs are about average for a vehicle of this type. Fuel consumption
The 2.3-litre petrol CX-7 we tested was something of a gas-guzzler; we got 26.6mpg out of
it overall, down on Mazda’s claimed 27.7mpg. The 2.2-litre diesel engine promises a more
manageable 37.7mpg. Petrol (combined mpg, claimed)
27.7 mpg - 27.7 mpg
Diesel (combined mpg, claimed)
37.7 mpg - 37.7 mpg
Model tested
diesel 2.2 CD (173bhp) manual 5-door (2010)
petrol 2.3 (256bhp) manual 5-door (2007)
Urban (claimed/tested)
31.0 mpg/28.8 mpg
20.5 mpg/21.1 mpg
Model tested
diesel 2.2 CD (173bhp) manual 5-door (2010)
petrol 2.3 (256bhp) manual 5-door (2007)
Extra urban (claimed/tested)
42.8 mpg/42.8 mpg
34.9 mpg/34.0 mpg
Model tested
diesel 2.2 CD (173bhp) manual 5-door (2010)
petrol 2.3 (256bhp) manual 5-door (2007)
Motorway (measured)
31.4 mpg
24.8 mpg
Model tested
diesel 2.2 CD (173bhp) manual 5-door (2010)
petrol 2.3 (256bhp) manual 5-door (2007)
Combined (claimed/tested)
37.7 mpg/34.9 mpg
27.7 mpg/26.6 mpg
Fuel consumption
We test fuel economy under strict lab
conditions – using realistic test cycles – to
reveal the facts behind the figures. Our
figures rarely match manufacturer claims
as, unlike the official mpg test, we measure economy with both a hot and cold
engine, and on the motorway.
Which? Car review
Mazda CX-7 (2007-)
4x4s/SUVs
Running costs and depreciation continued...
How we test
Emissions
Emissions
The petrol CX-7 put out a top-tax 243g/km of carbon dioxide; the diesel emits 199g/km, putting
it into a lower banding, though it’s still not going to be cheap to run as a company car. Petrol (CO2, claimed)
243g per km - 243g per km
Diesel (CO2, claimed)
199g per km - 199g per km
Model tested
diesel 2.2 CD (173bhp) manual 5-door (2010)
petrol 2.3 (256bhp) manual 5-door (2007)
Emissions (claimed/tested)
199g per km/212g per km
243g per km/252g per km
While testing fuel economy, we also
collect exhaust gases to enable us to
measure the amount of carbon dioxide
(CO2) emitted. We also check whether
particulate filters are effective at removing
sooty emissions from diesel engines.
Safety
Safety and security
Euro NCAP score
No results available.
Which? safety rating
Active (crash avoidance)
Passive (crash safety)
Child
Pedestrian
61%
62%
57%
44%
We rate cars for safety using Euro NCAP
crash test scores (where available),
alongside our own comprehensive safety
checklist. Uniquely, we also feed in results
from our accident avoidance test – after
all, it’s far better to steer around a crash
than rely on the airbags...
Security
Security
Theft of car: Theft from car:
★★★★★
★★★★
Security scores come from the security
experts at Thatcham, who break into
hundreds of cars each year. Most modern
cars are very difficult to drive away, but
are still too easy to steal from.
Which? Car review
Mazda CX-7 (2007-)
4x4s/SUVs
Which? Car Survey results
About our survey
The Which? Car Survey is the UK’s biggest and best reliability and owner satisfaction survey.
In 2013, drivers told us about 57,182 cars, covering more than 450 million miles in the previous
12 months (that’s equivalent to driving 18,398 times around the world). This unique feedback
allows us to rate satisfaction and reliability for hundreds of new and used cars.
Note Star ratings below are from 1-5 (1 is very poor and 5 is very good). Percentages shown
under ‘Most common faults’ indicate the proportion of owners reporting each problem in the
past 12 months.
Brand
Sample size: 2,229 people
Mazda ratings
Overall owner satisfaction for this brand
Brand reliability
Dealer Sales Service
Dealer Servicing & repair
Model: Mazda CX-7 (2007-)
81%
Sample size: - people
Overall owner satisfaction for this range
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Everyone who takes part in the Which?
Car survey tells us about their car and
the dealers who sell and service it. We
analyse this feedback across all cars to
give top-level satisfaction ratings for each
brand, including the brand’s reliability
record over the last eight years. All star
ratings are out of five.
Model ownership ratings
★★★
★★★
Ownership ratings
-
Brand ratings
These show how owners score this car
in 12 different areas, from performance to
heating. Owners’ ratings are subjective –
so may differ from Which? Car test scores
– but they give a good idea of what the
car is like to live with. Where relevant, cars
are scored against other cars in the same
class (e.g. for space).
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Owner’s View
The driving position is
perfect for long and short
drives. The sound system
gives perfect reproduction
of the music played. The
headlights and fog lights
streangth is very good. The
rear view camera gives a
very good rear view when
Owner’s View
As a high performance
AWD SUV, quick when
needed, but can be
reasonably economic if
light on the foot. Great in
winter with wintertyres.
Good for family.
Which? Car review
Mazda CX-7 (2007-)
4x4s/SUVs
Which? Car Survey results continued...
About our survey
Reliability ratings
Reliability ratings
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Overall Reliability
Petrol cars
Reliability
Breakdowns
Average annual repair cost
Diesel cars
Reliability
Breakdowns
Average annual repair cost
All cars
Reliability
Breakdowns
Average annual repair cost
Up to 3 years old
3-8 years old
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-
-
-
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We split reliability into breakdowns (including failure to start), faults (where parts
need replacing) and problems (minor issues e.g. squeaks and loose trim). Where
the car has been on sale for some time,
and we have numerous survey responses
from owners, we also split scores by the
age of car and fuel type. Star ratings are
out of five – the more stars, the more reliable the car.
Most common faults
Breakdowns: Percentage of cars suffering a breakdown in last 12 months
Average annual repair cost: Average annual cost of repairs (not servicing), in past 12
months
Most common faults
Up to 3 years old
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3-8 years old
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Failure rate: The proportion of owners reporting this problem in the last year
Want to know what’s most likely to go
wrong as the car gets older? These are
the five most common faults reported by
owners, grouped by age into new, recent
and older cars. A score of 40% means
four out of 10 owners reported problems
with that part of the car over the previous
12 months. Engine electrics and non-engine electrics (e.g. windows, stereo) cause
more headaches than mechanical parts in
most modern cars.