After two months driving-some impressions

[midwest cx7]

Ok -- after two months driving I wanted to share my thoughts on the vehicle and see what others have to say:

1). Too early to talk quality -- but there is an irritating clunk somewhere in the rear of the vehicle..

2). My biggest gripe is the ride - IMO the ride is un-necessarily harsh & hard. I know Mazda was going for zoom/zoom, but other mfgrs have managed to find that sweet spot between a fun driver and comfort -- things the cx7 are not. Maybe it's my 47 year old butt!

Not sure if it's the suspension, rubber, seating or all of the above. Since I will be returning the vehicle at lease end I will not be experimenting with new tires.

3). I have the tech package and the nav leaves much to be desired. Even my traded-in Fords nav had much better graphics and interfacing than the unit Mazda uses. Love the rear camera and like the stereo and Sirius

4). Gas mileage still just ok for a 4 banger (but expect it to get better as the vehicle breaks in).

5). Like the looks a lot and love my black cherry finish

6) HVAC is just fine for MN driving

7). Am sure I will like the AWD come winter

8). I have a later build and while the turbo-lag is slight, it is still irritating to me.

So, overall (and early on) I would rate the vehicle about a 6.5-7/10. Not bad - better than average - but not great.

Biggest gripe for me is the ride quality.

 

[erhayes]

When my tire pressures are set cold to 32 psig I find the ride firm and not hard or harsh.

 

[midwest cx7]

When my tire pressures are set cold to 32 psig I find the ride firm and not hard or harsh.

That's a GREAT point -- I'm going to check mine today.

 

[offset_98]

Out here in Nevada, the ride is pretty smooth and I find the climate control leaps and bounds better than the Mazda 6!! The CX-7 at least cools the car off. I have some sort of funky rattle in the back of the dash on the driver's side though

 

[midwest cx7]

When my tire pressures are set cold to 32 psig I find the ride firm and not hard or harsh.

Just checked the tire pressure (cold) and they were 34 - 34.5 all around. Set them to 32 and we'll see what happens..

I have a couple hundred miles road trips coming-up this week and that should tell me if harshness is gone -- sure hope so!

 

[Mazda3]

2). My biggest gripe is the ride - IMO the ride is un-necessarily harsh & hard. I know Mazda was going for zoom/zoom, but other mfgrs have managed to find that sweet spot between a fun driver and comfort -- things the cx7 are not. Maybe it's my 47 year old butt!

Not sure if it's the suspension, rubber, seating or all of the above. Since I will be returning the vehicle at lease end I will not be experimenting with new tires.

I have to totally disagree with this one. Everytime I drive my CX-7 I can't believe how comfortable the ride is for a vehicle that handles this well. I keep my tires at 36 PSI.

What other companys have managed good handling with a comfortable ride? Nobody in the mainstream(Not BMW, Mercedes, etc...) vehicle market can touch Mazdas suspensions right now. I can pretty much guarantee you any vehicle you say is has a more "comfortable" ride handles like s*** and is not fun to drive.

 

[lisevolution]

I think the ride is just a personal taste thing. For me coming from a lowered Mazdaspeed Protege which was stiff before I dropped it, the CX-7 feels like a freaking cream puff to me though I could see how somone coming from something softer would find the ride stiff... compare the CX-7 to say a Lexus RX and it's like riding on a board!

 

[Mazda3]

I think the ride is just a personal taste thing. For me coming from a lowered Mazdaspeed Protege which was stiff before I dropped it, the CX-7 feels like a freaking cream puff to me though I could see how somone coming from something softer would find the ride stiff... compare the CX-7 to say a Lexus RX and it's like riding on a board!

I agree with you there, but no one would mistake the Lexus RX for fun to drive either.

 

[midwest cx7]

I have to totally disagree with this one. Everytime I drive my CX-7 I can't believe how comfortable the ride is for a vehicle that handles this well. I keep my tires at 36 PSI.

What other companys have managed good handling with a comfortable ride? Nobody in the mainstream(Not BMW, Mercedes, etc...) vehicle market can touch Mazdas suspensions right now. I can pretty much guarantee you any vehicle you say is has a more "comfortable" ride handles like s*** and is not fun to drive.

Well, it's a personal taste thing for sure!! (enguard)

I've owned C-Classes, 328's, Miata's, Explorers, E46 M3's and my wife owns an rx 330 (great acceleration, refinement and comfort - but $47k) -- so my arse has lot's of perspectives to compare to!

Based on those experiences (and IMPO) the cx7 ride is a bit un-refined and somewhat harsh. This opinion may change somewhat now that I am down to a factory authorized 32 psi..

Am I sorry I leased one? Absolutely not -- I feel I am getting a great value and some fun (which is what I was looking for at this particular time in my life).

Am not bashing the cx7 -- it's just not delivering against all the attributes I am looking for in a longer vehicle ownership experience

That said, I have concluded that I will be looking for a vehicle with a different ride & handling qualities when my two year lease is over.

 

[Mazda3]

Well, it's a personal taste thing for sure!! (enguard)

I've owned C-Classes, 328's, Miata's, Explorers, E46 M3's and my wife owns an rx 330 (great acceleration, refinement and comfort - but $47k) -- so my arse has lot's of perspectives to compare to!

Based on those experiences (and IMPO) the cx7 ride is a bit un-refined and somewhat harsh. This opinion may change somewhat now that I am down to a factory authorized 32 psi..

Am I sorry I leased one? Absolutely not -- I feel I am getting a great value and some fun (which is what I was looking for at this particular time in my life).

Am not bashing the cx7 -- it's just not delivering against all the attributes I am looking for in a longer vehicle ownership experience

That said, I have concluded that I will be looking for a vehicle with a different ride & handling qualities when my two year lease is over.

I'm not disputing your opinion that the ride is harsher (is that a word? lol) them some. There are definately softer rides out there. What I am saying is that there is nothing in this general price range that will match the handling and have a softer ride. The RDX matches the handling, but has an even stiffer ride. The RX is alot more money and has a more refined ride, but doesn't touch the handling. Vehicles like the Murano, RAV4, and CRV won't touch the CX-7's dynamics. I just took exception to your statement about other companys having this mastered. Because in my opinion anything in this price range that has a more refined ride won't touch the CX-7 for handling.

 

[mikey1981]

my question is: what are you looking for in terms of ride quality and what are you directly comparing the 7's ride to in terms of "harshness"? in this segment, mid/small sized SPORT suv's the ride doesnt get much better than the 7. Drive the rdx and ull love the 7's ride even more

 

[CX-7owner]

Yeah I personally love the firmness, the balance doesn't get much better, It's pretty refined for the class its in. My dad just got a EDGE and I HATE the ride, too cushy, But in reality its not all that cushy.

 

[midwest cx7]

What I am saying is that there is nothing in this general price range that will match the handling and have a softer ride.

I would agree whole heartedly with that

 

[ColoradoX-7]

Thats funny. Ford just made the change and now uses the Mazda system.

 

[midwest cx7]

Thats funny. Ford just made the change and now uses the Mazda system.

Well I would expect nothing less than these types of stellar decisions from Ford these days

Seriously though -- I traded in an 06 Explorer with Nav and found that units interfacing much more intuitive, the poi's much more up-to-date and graphics significantly better than the Mazda unit.

 

[cruzdreamer]

I have had mine almost a year now and love it!! I also love the ride....smooth to me with lots of fun and manueverability! I enjoy it every time I get in!! I had an RX 8 and Protege 5...loved them all actually! No major issues here either...little dirt in doors an radio goes out for a second or two every so often.