Ten Point Test

Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 80%

Mazda aimed to put the sporty into sports utility vehicle with its Mazda CX-7.

The car looks fantastic and is a fitting addition to the manufacturer which has been revitalised by the zoom-zoom campaign.

Now it’s only gone and produced the best-looking SUV on the market.

1. Looks 9/10

The zoom-zoom branding which has served Mazda well since it was first unveiled on the original Mazda 6 marches on. For the Mazda CX-7 it set out to create a car which put the sporty into sports utility vehicle and it’s done it in spades. The CX-7 is a great looking car. It fulfils its billing as an RX-8 on steroids and also takes styling cues from the iconic MX-5. A sharply raked windscreen, twin exhausts, 18-inch alloys and rear light clusters which bring premium manufacturer Lexus to mind all contribute to a great looking car. It looks much more expensive than it is.

2. Looks inside 8/10

The interior combines sporty features including a MX-5 style steering wheel with quality, robust materials throughout and stylish, luxury design to create a really nice environment for drivers and passengers. Displays are easy to read, the central console combines air-con and audio controls with minimum fuss and, as with the exterior, the inside of the car has the look of a more costly purchase. Heated leather seats are standard – and very comfortable.

3. Practicality 8/10

So it looks nice inside and out but buyers will still be looking for a vehicle which can shift a fair amount of stuff. With all five seats in place the CX-7 boot can swallow 455 litres of luggage, increasing to 774 litres if you flatten the rear three seats. This is up to the window-line so there is plenty more if required. The glove compartment, storage between the driver and front seat passenger and door wells are also generous.

4. Ride and Handling 9/10

This is another area where the Mazda CX-7 excels. The sporty looks are matched by handling which is precise, responsive and make motoring fun. The car is very comfortable on long-distance drives.

5. Performance 8/10

The Mazda CX-7 is a car with few options, and a choice of engines isn’t one of them. All models are fitted with the same 2.3-litre engine found in Mazda’s MPS performance versions of its Mazda 3 and Mazda 6 cars. It’ll shift from 0-62mph in just 8 seconds and can hit a top speed of 130mph. All models are fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox. The box labelled “sporty” is ticked again.

6. Running Costs 6/10

Unsurprisingly the petrol-engined performance SUV is not cheap to run, returning a claimed average of 27.7mpg. We handed back our test car with the average mileage returned on 21.8mpg. A CO2 output of 243g/km places the car firmly in car tax band G, currently an annual bill of £300 rising to £400 in April. Performance also means insurance group 15. On the plus side the cars are expected to hold on to their value well in years to come.

7. Reliability 8/10

This was a new model in 2007 and as such it is too early for problems to have surfaced. However, Mazda is a manufacturer which has built a reputation for sturdiness, , featuring second in the Reliability Index, and there is nothing to suggest this model will be any different.

8. Safety 7/10

It may be a SUV rather than an off-roader but the Mazda CX-7 does boast four-wheel drive in addition to driver aids anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, dynamic stability control and traction control system. Should these prove insufficient to keep you out of trouble each model comes equipped with six airbags.

9. Equipment 8/10

The only choice Mazda CX-7 buyers need to make, beyond whether they buy the car, is whether to pay the extra £375 for metallic paint. All other features come as standard including 18-inch alloy wheels, BOSE 6-CD car stereo, privacy glass in rear and side windows, heated leather seats and a host of features listed in the safety section above.

10. X-Factor 9/10

We could pick a few for this very competent car but will plump for looks. Is there a better-looking SUV out there right now? Certainly not for this money there isn’t.

Key facts

Model tested: Mazda CX-7
On the road price: £23,960
Price range: £23,960
Date tested: December 2007
Road tester: Adrian Higgins