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| Road Test Mazda CX-7 |
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The Hot SUV Mazda claims that the CX-7 is the first of the performance SUVs and therefore unique in the market. But as manufacturers across the board do their utmost to prise us out of the family hatchback and step up into an SUV, performance derivatives will top their respective ranges as demands increase.
The CX-7 badge is very easily translated from Mazdaspeak - C for Crossover, X for sports and 7 for its position in the Mazda line-up. Pleasantly styled with an assertive Mazda front end, the CX-7 could be a smaller relative to the Lexus SUV and perhaps that resemblance is deliberate to hint at the quality improvements in this new model. The range is easily explained - there is just the one model, which is perhaps its weakest feature - just the one petrol engined flyer with a six-speed manual gearbox. This will obviously not appeal to those who have warmed to diesel engines (though a diesel will in all possibility expand the model choice at a later date) and appreciate the convenience and competence of state of the art automatics, but it is billed as a performance vehicle and the established attractions are there. It's not surprising then, with the proven 2.3-litre adrenalin-pumping turbo engine used to such good effect in the Mazda3 and Mazda6 MPS models, that this is the chosen unit for the CX-7. Mazda's position within the Ford empire is an integral element of its engineering output with the marque's chassis expertise a valued contribution to the blue oval. The underlying chassis architecture is unique to the model with the main floorpan courtesy of Mazda and the front subframe a Ford contribution.
The engine produces 256bhp and up to 280lb/ft of torque from 3000 rpm, giving a 0-60 mph time in just under 8 seconds with a potential top speed of 131 mph.
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