CD Article: 2007 Mazda CX-7

[Prius]

Well the Murano's CVT has 7 virtual gears if you wanted to "shift". I thought the Murano's design was nice. The leather was not bad and the real aluminium trim was a nice touch (though the demo already had a dent in one of the panels). I'm not sure who decided the power mirror switch placement on the Murano. Makes no sense.

Does the CX-7 require premium? I'm not sure if the RAV4 V6 requires premium or "premium recommended".

At least Mazda didn't try and squeeze a 3rd row. Honestly, none of the 3rd row compact and medium size SUVs are even livable. Highlander, Pilot, MDX, RAV4 V6 base. They're tiny. Surprisingly, the car that trumps them all is the smaller Mazda5. I can actually sit comfortably in the 3rd row of the Mazda5 after adjusting the front and 2nd row seat to my liking. Try that on the SUVs mentioned above.

[Benhaze]

Well the Murano's CVT has 7 virtual gears if you wanted to "shift". I thought the Murano's design was nice. The leather was not bad and the real aluminium trim was a nice touch (though the demo already had a dent in one of the panels). I'm not sure who decided the power mirror switch placement on the Murano. Makes no sense.

Does the CX-7 require premium? I'm not sure if the RAV4 V6 requires premium or "premium recommended".

At least Mazda didn't try and squeeze a 3rd row. Honestly, none of the 3rd row compact and medium size SUVs are even livable. Highlander, Pilot, MDX, RAV4 V6 base. They're tiny. Surprisingly, the car that trumps them all is the smaller Mazda5. I can actually sit comfortably in the 3rd row of the Mazda5 after adjusting the front and 2nd row seat to my liking. Try that on the SUVs mentioned above.

I don't know why you are even trying to compare 3rd row seats from a FWD minivan with AWD/4WD SUVs; it is expected the 3rd row seats accomodation is less than stellar because of the higher ground clearance and AWD system. If they wouldn't, there would be a problem with the minivan design. Main reason for customers buying SUVs with 3rd row seat are for carpooling kids to school, not to torture adults in there.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

The exterior (rear and 3/4 rear) is starting to grow on me slowly.

The interior treatment is fantastic. Hope the rear seats are liveable for average sized people.

If this vehicle has Mazda-like handling and performance, should be worth the price of admission. They're sort of creating a better bridge between X-Trail/CR-V and Highlander/Murano than RAV4 is IMO.

[Prius]

I don't know why you are even trying to compare 3rd row seats from a FWD minivan with AWD/4WD SUVs; it is expected the 3rd row seats accomodation is less than stellar because of the higher ground clearance and AWD system. If they wouldn't, there would be a problem with the minivan design. Main reason for customers buying SUVs with 3rd row seat are for carpooling kids to school, not to torture adults in there.

Why? Because people use SUVs as minivan substitutes. I mean even kids say it's tight in those 3rd rows (yeah.. twice... once in the showroom and another on tv). The kid in the showroom looked at me and didn't bother trying out. With minivans, you can walk to the 3rd row. With SUVs, you'd have to climb in. That's not necessarily a problem but coming out is. I took the preferred route of folding down the 3rd row seats while trying to stand, hunched over and then climb out via the hatch.