I just had a chance to test drive the CX-7 AWD today. What can I say.... it was pretty exciting! The car was very agile and handled twists and turns very well. The brakes were equally as amazing -- even at high speeds and the vehicle came to a stop in a short distance. It was very responsive!
I am currently driving a Mazda 5, and could not help comparing them in terms of the driving experience. The CX-7 felt like a completely different animal than the 5. It handled very well and had this rough / agressive driving feel to it...the kind that makes you want to zoom-zoom! My 5 on the other hand typically feels more graceful, again also responds well to twists and turns, but it does so in a gentle laid-back way than compared to the CX-7.
I also noticed that during steering, the steering wheel on the Mazda3/5 turns smoothly and with ease. The CX-7 is a little bit more stiff.
During acceleration, you can hear the CX-7 engine roar. More like a low roar than compared to an Infiniti's howl. The highway test drive was not very quiet. There might have been a number of things contributing to this: 1. Today was a little bit windy, 2. Tires were not quiet, 3. Enjoyed pressing that gas pedal
Interior-wise, I think it's just fine. Leather seats and all, felt like standard Mazda quality. The only thing I did not like was the controls on the steering wheel. Unlike the Mazda3/5, it had little switches surrounded by a black rectangular plastic shell. In my opinion, it looks really cheap when they do that -- not sure why they couldn't just stick with the same style on Mazda3/5.
Have to admit though... the CX-7 feels a little bit small. I guess that I'm just too used to my 5 (seats 6)!
The CX-7 really is quite amazing and definitely a head turner. I think some guy in an X3 was following me for a bit....
And what better way to end this post with pictures! It is black cherry mica..looks a little bit darker than it should be.
BTW, also included a picture with a front comparison between my Mazda 5 and the CX-7. You can surely see that agressive, muscular stance I like it!
I am currently driving a Mazda 5, and could not help comparing them in terms of the driving experience. The CX-7 felt like a completely different animal than the 5. It handled very well and had this rough / agressive driving feel to it...the kind that makes you want to zoom-zoom! My 5 on the other hand typically feels more graceful, again also responds well to twists and turns, but it does so in a gentle laid-back way than compared to the CX-7.
I also noticed that during steering, the steering wheel on the Mazda3/5 turns smoothly and with ease. The CX-7 is a little bit more stiff.
During acceleration, you can hear the CX-7 engine roar. More like a low roar than compared to an Infiniti's howl. The highway test drive was not very quiet. There might have been a number of things contributing to this: 1. Today was a little bit windy, 2. Tires were not quiet, 3. Enjoyed pressing that gas pedal
Interior-wise, I think it's just fine. Leather seats and all, felt like standard Mazda quality. The only thing I did not like was the controls on the steering wheel. Unlike the Mazda3/5, it had little switches surrounded by a black rectangular plastic shell. In my opinion, it looks really cheap when they do that -- not sure why they couldn't just stick with the same style on Mazda3/5.
Have to admit though... the CX-7 feels a little bit small. I guess that I'm just too used to my 5 (seats 6)!
The CX-7 really is quite amazing and definitely a head turner. I think some guy in an X3 was following me for a bit....
And what better way to end this post with pictures! It is black cherry mica..looks a little bit darker than it should be.
BTW, also included a picture with a front comparison between my Mazda 5 and the CX-7. You can surely see that agressive, muscular stance I like it!
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