|
|
 |
THESE DAYS IT seems like you can't stop at the lights without some hulking Sport Utility Vehicle pulling up next to you and blotting out the sun. Truth be told, their popularity escapes me, and apart from a few wholly anarchic, ludicrously powerful models, I don't actually like them very much at all.
The problem with SUVs is that they don't, on the whole, make a lot of sense. The key issue lies with the fact that the archetype for the SUV is the super rugged Land Rover Defender-type off-roader. Now this sort of car doesn't function very well on-road but we forgive it its monstrous inefficiencies because it works very well off it.
Take away that off-road raison d'etre and what are you left with? A whole mess of inefficiencies and no justification for their existence.
This is why crossover vehicles, in a roundabout sort of way, make sense. They blend SUV looks with sedan or hatchback practicality and dynamics, and the latest to hit local showrooms is the Mazda CX-7.
The CX-7 is selling like hotcakes in the States and Europe, and just by looking at the car, it's easy to see why. It's very handsome, in a rather aggressive way, and there are plenty of visual connections to the rest of the Mazda range, the RX-8 sportscar in particular.
There's plenty underneath to back up the looks, too. The CX-7 uses the high-performance Mazda 6 MPS sedan's basic running gear. This includes a 2.3-litre direct injection turbocharged engine and four-wheel drive hardware.
Unlike the MPS's 260bhp powerplant, the CX-7's makes 235bhp, and uses a different turbocharger.
Mazda's engineers figured that they'd need better low end response to compensate for the CX-7's power-sapping six-speed automatic (the MPS gets a six-speed manual) so the new turbo unit starts boosting earlier.
The problem with SUVs is that they don't, on the whole, make a lot of sense. The key issue lies with the fact that the archetype for the SUV is the super rugged Land Rover Defender-type off-roader. Now this sort of car doesn't function very well on-road but we forgive it its monstrous inefficiencies because it works very well off it.
Take away that off-road raison d'etre and what are you left with? A whole mess of inefficiencies and no justification for their existence.
This is why crossover vehicles, in a roundabout sort of way, make sense. They blend SUV looks with sedan or hatchback practicality and dynamics, and the latest to hit local showrooms is the Mazda CX-7.
The CX-7 is selling like hotcakes in the States and Europe, and just by looking at the car, it's easy to see why. It's very handsome, in a rather aggressive way, and there are plenty of visual connections to the rest of the Mazda range, the RX-8 sportscar in particular.
There's plenty underneath to back up the looks, too. The CX-7 uses the high-performance Mazda 6 MPS sedan's basic running gear. This includes a 2.3-litre direct injection turbocharged engine and four-wheel drive hardware.
Unlike the MPS's 260bhp powerplant, the CX-7's makes 235bhp, and uses a different turbocharger.
Mazda's engineers figured that they'd need better low end response to compensate for the CX-7's power-sapping six-speed automatic (the MPS gets a six-speed manual) so the new turbo unit starts boosting earlier.
 |
DRIVING IT
Mazda did set out to do a sporty car and it has definitely succeeded. Perhaps a bit too well. The CX-7 certainly rides with the purposefulness of a proper sports car, for that read 'firm', and you do have a fair bit of road noise to deal with, too. The payoff is that the stiff ride translates to good body control and agile handling.
The CX-7's speed-sensitive power steering is nice and accurate, and you get a pretty good seat-of-the-pants feel with respect to grip levels. The brakes are pretty authoritative, too. And while the car looks pretty imposing in the metal, it actually feels pretty compact.
The CX-7's 235bhp engine has plenty of grunt, enough to make virtually any overtaking manoeuvre you're likely to encounter a doddle. If you floor the accelerator from standstill the performance figures say that 100km/h should come up in 8.6 seconds.
In reality, the car does feel a bit faster than that, the way speed builds once you get properly moving is pretty impressive. In light of this, it's therefore a bit of a pity that the engine sounds so dull.
A six-speed automatic gearbox comes as standard, and it features a proper tiptronic function. Some autoboxes that feature a manual override facility actually work by locking out all the gears that are higher than the one you select, they don't actually engage the gear that you want.
The CX-7's autobox shifts quickly and extremely smoothly. What's more, the operation of the CX-7's manual override feature is in the 'correct' orientation, as in you push the gearlever forward for downshifts, and back for upshifts.
Mazda did set out to do a sporty car and it has definitely succeeded. Perhaps a bit too well. The CX-7 certainly rides with the purposefulness of a proper sports car, for that read 'firm', and you do have a fair bit of road noise to deal with, too. The payoff is that the stiff ride translates to good body control and agile handling.
The CX-7's speed-sensitive power steering is nice and accurate, and you get a pretty good seat-of-the-pants feel with respect to grip levels. The brakes are pretty authoritative, too. And while the car looks pretty imposing in the metal, it actually feels pretty compact.
The CX-7's 235bhp engine has plenty of grunt, enough to make virtually any overtaking manoeuvre you're likely to encounter a doddle. If you floor the accelerator from standstill the performance figures say that 100km/h should come up in 8.6 seconds.
In reality, the car does feel a bit faster than that, the way speed builds once you get properly moving is pretty impressive. In light of this, it's therefore a bit of a pity that the engine sounds so dull.
A six-speed automatic gearbox comes as standard, and it features a proper tiptronic function. Some autoboxes that feature a manual override facility actually work by locking out all the gears that are higher than the one you select, they don't actually engage the gear that you want.
The CX-7's autobox shifts quickly and extremely smoothly. What's more, the operation of the CX-7's manual override feature is in the 'correct' orientation, as in you push the gearlever forward for downshifts, and back for upshifts.
 |
INSIDE IT
The CX-7's dashboard architecture is clean and neat, and everything falls pretty easily to hand. There's plenty of equipment, too, including a Bose sound system complete with satellite controls on the steering wheel, and cruise control. The interior is more restrained-looking than the exterior, but there are some interesting design touches. The dashboard is a striking, double-tiered affair and the seats are accented by a rakish dark coloured stripe.
The CX-7's cabin has a nice, breezy ambience, which is enhanced by standard-fit sunroof. Space is actually very good, too, both in front and in the back. Headroom is particularly generous all-round. The boot is a very decent size, already, but if you need more room, the rear seat backs fold forwards to form a pretty flat load area.
No complaints about build quality, everything that you have to handle often feels nice to the touch and there's no sign of wonky panel fit. Still, it's not all peaches and cream though.
Mazda Motor Singapore has thrown in an aftermarket reverse camera that displays its image on half of the modified rear view mirror. The trouble is that in bright sunlight, you can't see anything at all, in fact it's probably got to be pitch black before you get a clear picture from the camera. And the added weight of the special mirror makes it vibrate like crazy when you're on the move, you get dizzy just looking at it for too long.
The CX-7's dashboard architecture is clean and neat, and everything falls pretty easily to hand. There's plenty of equipment, too, including a Bose sound system complete with satellite controls on the steering wheel, and cruise control. The interior is more restrained-looking than the exterior, but there are some interesting design touches. The dashboard is a striking, double-tiered affair and the seats are accented by a rakish dark coloured stripe.
The CX-7's cabin has a nice, breezy ambience, which is enhanced by standard-fit sunroof. Space is actually very good, too, both in front and in the back. Headroom is particularly generous all-round. The boot is a very decent size, already, but if you need more room, the rear seat backs fold forwards to form a pretty flat load area.
No complaints about build quality, everything that you have to handle often feels nice to the touch and there's no sign of wonky panel fit. Still, it's not all peaches and cream though.
Mazda Motor Singapore has thrown in an aftermarket reverse camera that displays its image on half of the modified rear view mirror. The trouble is that in bright sunlight, you can't see anything at all, in fact it's probably got to be pitch black before you get a clear picture from the camera. And the added weight of the special mirror makes it vibrate like crazy when you're on the move, you get dizzy just looking at it for too long.
 |
DOLLARS AND SENSE
The CX-7 lists for $102,800 with COE. The equipment list is very long, and if you couple that with the car's performance mechanicals, the two make for a big value for money proposition.
You get six airbags, leather seats, 18-inch alloy wheels as standard, climate control, as well as the fancy Bose stereo to name just a few. The fact that the CX-7 also slots just under the entry-level 2.5-litre Nissan Murano is a major plus, too.
CONCLUSION
If you like the looks of an SUV but you don't want to deal with the ungainly size and the rest of the disadvantages, the CX-7 might be right up your alley. There's plenty of performance, loads of amenities and the price makes the car pretty good value for money. In fact, it wouldn't be surprising to see more SUV manufacturers adopting this bodystyle in the future.
SIMILAR CARS TO CONSIDER
Mitsubishi Outlander G (A) $97,988 with COE
The new Outlander boasts remarkably car-like handling but in your regular-sized SUV package. The Outlander does also feature actual off-roading ability, thanks to an electronically-controlled four-wheel drive system with a locking differential.
Nissan Murano (A) $106,000 with COE
The Murano is an unabashed soft-roader, as it makes do with two-wheel drive. You need to opt for the more expensive 3.5-litre version to get four-wheel drive. Like the other cars here, the Murano is also very stylish. It offers a much softer ride, too.
PLUSES Great looks, agile handling, smooth autobox and punchy powerplant
MINUSES Agile handling means a stiff ride, engine sounds dull
VERDICT Makes quite a lot of sense, more SUVs should be like this
The CX-7 lists for $102,800 with COE. The equipment list is very long, and if you couple that with the car's performance mechanicals, the two make for a big value for money proposition.
You get six airbags, leather seats, 18-inch alloy wheels as standard, climate control, as well as the fancy Bose stereo to name just a few. The fact that the CX-7 also slots just under the entry-level 2.5-litre Nissan Murano is a major plus, too.
CONCLUSION
If you like the looks of an SUV but you don't want to deal with the ungainly size and the rest of the disadvantages, the CX-7 might be right up your alley. There's plenty of performance, loads of amenities and the price makes the car pretty good value for money. In fact, it wouldn't be surprising to see more SUV manufacturers adopting this bodystyle in the future.
SIMILAR CARS TO CONSIDER
Mitsubishi Outlander G (A) $97,988 with COE
The new Outlander boasts remarkably car-like handling but in your regular-sized SUV package. The Outlander does also feature actual off-roading ability, thanks to an electronically-controlled four-wheel drive system with a locking differential.
Nissan Murano (A) $106,000 with COE
The Murano is an unabashed soft-roader, as it makes do with two-wheel drive. You need to opt for the more expensive 3.5-litre version to get four-wheel drive. Like the other cars here, the Murano is also very stylish. It offers a much softer ride, too.
PLUSES Great looks, agile handling, smooth autobox and punchy powerplant
MINUSES Agile handling means a stiff ride, engine sounds dull
VERDICT Makes quite a lot of sense, more SUVs should be like this
 |
| Pick up your FREE copy of CarBuyer at all major car showrooms; car accessory and tyre distributors and car service, inspection centres and Shell service stations. CarBuyer is published twice a month, and new issues are available one week after COE results are released. |
NEED TO KNOW
MAZDA CX-7 (A)
ENGINE TYPE: 2,261cc, 16V in-line 4
MAX POWER: 235bhp at 5,000rpm
MAX TORQUE: 350Nm at 2,500rpm
GEARBOX: 6-speed automatic
TOP SPEED: 180km/h
0-100 KM/H: 8.6 seconds
PRICE: $102,800 with COE
WARRANTY: 3 years/100,000km
CONTACT: Mazda Motor (S)
TELEPHONE: 6395-8888
MAZDA CX-7 (A)
ENGINE TYPE: 2,261cc, 16V in-line 4
MAX POWER: 235bhp at 5,000rpm
MAX TORQUE: 350Nm at 2,500rpm
GEARBOX: 6-speed automatic
TOP SPEED: 180km/h
0-100 KM/H: 8.6 seconds
PRICE: $102,800 with COE
WARRANTY: 3 years/100,000km
CONTACT: Mazda Motor (S)
TELEPHONE: 6395-8888