Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
Results from Mike Morris's weeklong test drive of the new Mazda CX-7 2008:
The Experience
Edgy yet svelte, more compact than the similarly shaped CX-9, the all-wheel-drive Mazda CX-7 is a pocket rocket (zoom-zoom!), but despite its Grand Touring badge (the top model) this car is more sporty utility vehicle than either sports or touring car.
After a week of driving in town and out on some twisty country highways, I found there's a lot to like in this little squareback, although I had misgivings when I first squeezed into the driver seat and hit the throttle. The CX-7 seemed a bit too light and a bit too quick for its own good (and mine).
So I took it easy as I weaved through the neighborhood on my test drive and headed for the open road, afraid the tires wouldn't hold or the high-centered chassis would tip. Visually, the oversize (but standard) 18-inch wheels only reinforced this impression, and the snappy steering and amazingly quick 244 horsepower turbocharged engine just added to the excitement.
I don't remember if it was within 10 minutes or 10 miles that I realized I was having a ball driving the CX-7, and it was excitement, not fear, that I was feeling. This car is fun to drive! And the Mazda proved itself very sure-footed, whether I was flying down the freeway or cranking it around hillside turns.
Other things to like about this car: It can seat five smallish people comfortably (or four big guy–sized people with golf clubs). It also offers great road views from the front seats. And it's got superb design, fit, and finish, inside and out.
I didn't like everything, of course. I found the orange day-glo instrument lighting hard to see, and especially difficult when your eyes flick quickly from road to dash. There's also a split-dashboard "heads-up display" that puts a few key facts like radio and temperature settings in your line of vision, but this became wearisome because it's just one more set of lights competing for your attention.
One thing that really irks me is excess noise, and the CX-7 engine was far too noisy for a car with such refined features. And despite having a 6-speed transmission, which should smooth out the auto-shifts, there was a slight but noticeable lag in acceleration at low speeds while waiting for the turbo to kick in.
The Goods
2.3 liter gas engine (4-cylinder, 16-valve) with turbocharger and intercooler
6-speed automatic transmission with sport shift and overdrive
$1,200—Optional rear-seat DVD entertainment system
$4,005—Optional technology package (240-watt Bose 6-disk CD sound system, DVD navigation unit)
$445—Optional security system
$35,088—Sticker shock
Would I buy this vehicle?
For a less-than-full-size vehicle, 38K is a lot of cash (even if it does come with zoom-zoom). On the other hand, the longer I looked at—and drove—this car, the more I liked it. I would buy it … if I could knock the price down to under $30K.—MM
