So I've been car shopping since last week... researching a lot on the net and going out and test driving quite a bit. My mom started the whole thing with her desire for a new car and all the research I was doing for her lead me to the CX-7.
I'm not really an SUV person... never have been. Some of them actually down-right piss me off. But I want more luxury (current car is a Toyota Matrix) and a bit more get-up-and-go. Love the fuel economy of the Matrix, and while the car has been good, it's missing a lot of what I want.
Below is what I looked at and my impressions... I'm looking at the top trims of each.
Mazda CX-7
CX-7 was first (and Mom test-drove the 3 Hatchback) - Loved the handling and size. I didn't feel like I was in an SUV at all. Didn't feel overwhelmed by the size, but felt like I was in a car big enough to compete with others on the road (from a safety stand-point). I'm in love with the aesthetics of the car inside and out, so nothing but thumbs-up there. Cabin was noisier than I expected but quieter than the Matrix. Very roomy in all areas accept when you're getting in... I actually bumped my head on the door frame (but that could also be because I'm just used to the low stance of a car and I was too gung-ho in my step up into the CX-7).
Downsides: Fuel effeciency. Not the best in it's class and definitely a step down from what I currently drive, and it takes premium gas. Noise only because I expected it to be quieter. Tech package is VERY nice but lacks iPod support, live traffic reporting and blue tooth. No memory setting on power seats. Back seats could be a tad more comfortable.
Nissan Murano
Very plushy inside, and very quiet. The leather had a more luxury feel (rather than sporty). Aesthics were nice, but a bit weird how the whole thing looks jacked up in the back. Big inside. Seats have memory. Supports iPod.
Downsides: other than the perks above, I didn't like it. I felt like I was driving a HUGE truck. Handling was more luxury than sporty. Turning radius, I felt, wasn't so good. It had get-up-and-go, but not in the same fun way as the CX-7. Overall it's just bigger, and too big for me. I ruled it out almost right away.
Toyota Rav 4
I didn't even want to go look until I realized they changed the body this year. I did not test-drive after seeing it.
I did like the interior and the option for a third row of seats (though not something I really need). iPod support is standard. Navigation system is not available. Fuel efficiency is better than CX-7, even in the 6 cylinder. Takes regular gas not premium.
Aesthetically, on the outside, I just don't like it (it just screams SUV to me). I hate the tire on the back. Don't like the side-opening back door. Inside it's okay, but not half as nice as the CX-7.
Honda CR-V
This is the closest runner-up to the CX-7 so far. I test drove it tonight. I saw one on the road and wasn't all that impressed with it's looks, but decided to head to the dealership anyway. Seeing one "all done up" in the showroom in the dark blue it looked real nice.
Better gas mileage. Dealership will put in any nav system I want (for comparible price to an audio pro)... so I could get nav with live traffic, bluetooth and iPod support. Loved the top and bottom opening, dual glove box and all the other little storage compartments. Leather seats were nice, and back seats recline and slide forward and back. More cargo space, but the vehicle isn't bigger.
It road pretty nice, with decent handling. Cabin in quieter than the CX-7... or at least seemed so. Get-up-and-go was decent for a 4 cylinder without turbo, but nothing special. It wouldn't be as much fun to drive as the CX-7, but it would also get better fuel efficiency.
Downsides: No auto headlights. No power seats. No keyless entry. No auto climate control -- maybe silly, but things important to me and at least some of the reasons I'm even buying a new car. Exterior looks nice with all the right items added and in certain colors, but the interior is typical Honda... not that impressive. With the nav it looks better, but still the rest of the dash and doors look on-the-cheap. The fact they're willing to put in any head unit I want is a plus and makes it easy, but it also makes the car a magnet for theives (which has been a concern if I decided to go aftermarket with the CX-7).
In conclusion...
I'm still leaning towards the CX-7. It just LOOKS so much nicer than everything else, inside and out.
I still haven't decided whether I'm going aftermarket with the radio/nav or just living with the tech package's pitfalls. I live in NY and theft is a concern, so stock is always better in this regard, and the Bose system probably sounds great (I don't need boom-boom loud, just normal-loud and clear). Part of me feels if I'm patient, down the road an iPod solution may become available, and I can live with the FM transmitter for now (it's what I've been using on my Matrix). Ultimately, if I really want to down the road when more car audio pros are familiar with the CX-7 I could always pull the tech package out and replace it. I've got my car stereo guy calling me back tomorrow - he's doing more research and will be able to give me more answers.
Mazda salesperson is calling me back tomorrow morning with new prices so we'll see! I was hoping to have the car by this weekend before I go away, but not sure if that'll happen... we'll see tomorrow!
Wish me luck
ps. mom is getting the Mazda 3 Hatchback, touring model with moonroof package and satellite (it was between that, the Nissan Versa, Hyundai Accent and Toyota Matrix). We're just waiting to get the best price.
I'm not really an SUV person... never have been. Some of them actually down-right piss me off. But I want more luxury (current car is a Toyota Matrix) and a bit more get-up-and-go. Love the fuel economy of the Matrix, and while the car has been good, it's missing a lot of what I want.
Below is what I looked at and my impressions... I'm looking at the top trims of each.
Mazda CX-7
CX-7 was first (and Mom test-drove the 3 Hatchback) - Loved the handling and size. I didn't feel like I was in an SUV at all. Didn't feel overwhelmed by the size, but felt like I was in a car big enough to compete with others on the road (from a safety stand-point). I'm in love with the aesthetics of the car inside and out, so nothing but thumbs-up there. Cabin was noisier than I expected but quieter than the Matrix. Very roomy in all areas accept when you're getting in... I actually bumped my head on the door frame (but that could also be because I'm just used to the low stance of a car and I was too gung-ho in my step up into the CX-7).
Downsides: Fuel effeciency. Not the best in it's class and definitely a step down from what I currently drive, and it takes premium gas. Noise only because I expected it to be quieter. Tech package is VERY nice but lacks iPod support, live traffic reporting and blue tooth. No memory setting on power seats. Back seats could be a tad more comfortable.
Nissan Murano
Very plushy inside, and very quiet. The leather had a more luxury feel (rather than sporty). Aesthics were nice, but a bit weird how the whole thing looks jacked up in the back. Big inside. Seats have memory. Supports iPod.
Downsides: other than the perks above, I didn't like it. I felt like I was driving a HUGE truck. Handling was more luxury than sporty. Turning radius, I felt, wasn't so good. It had get-up-and-go, but not in the same fun way as the CX-7. Overall it's just bigger, and too big for me. I ruled it out almost right away.
Toyota Rav 4
I didn't even want to go look until I realized they changed the body this year. I did not test-drive after seeing it.
I did like the interior and the option for a third row of seats (though not something I really need). iPod support is standard. Navigation system is not available. Fuel efficiency is better than CX-7, even in the 6 cylinder. Takes regular gas not premium.
Aesthetically, on the outside, I just don't like it (it just screams SUV to me). I hate the tire on the back. Don't like the side-opening back door. Inside it's okay, but not half as nice as the CX-7.
Honda CR-V
This is the closest runner-up to the CX-7 so far. I test drove it tonight. I saw one on the road and wasn't all that impressed with it's looks, but decided to head to the dealership anyway. Seeing one "all done up" in the showroom in the dark blue it looked real nice.
Better gas mileage. Dealership will put in any nav system I want (for comparible price to an audio pro)... so I could get nav with live traffic, bluetooth and iPod support. Loved the top and bottom opening, dual glove box and all the other little storage compartments. Leather seats were nice, and back seats recline and slide forward and back. More cargo space, but the vehicle isn't bigger.
It road pretty nice, with decent handling. Cabin in quieter than the CX-7... or at least seemed so. Get-up-and-go was decent for a 4 cylinder without turbo, but nothing special. It wouldn't be as much fun to drive as the CX-7, but it would also get better fuel efficiency.
Downsides: No auto headlights. No power seats. No keyless entry. No auto climate control -- maybe silly, but things important to me and at least some of the reasons I'm even buying a new car. Exterior looks nice with all the right items added and in certain colors, but the interior is typical Honda... not that impressive. With the nav it looks better, but still the rest of the dash and doors look on-the-cheap. The fact they're willing to put in any head unit I want is a plus and makes it easy, but it also makes the car a magnet for theives (which has been a concern if I decided to go aftermarket with the CX-7).
In conclusion...
I'm still leaning towards the CX-7. It just LOOKS so much nicer than everything else, inside and out.
I still haven't decided whether I'm going aftermarket with the radio/nav or just living with the tech package's pitfalls. I live in NY and theft is a concern, so stock is always better in this regard, and the Bose system probably sounds great (I don't need boom-boom loud, just normal-loud and clear). Part of me feels if I'm patient, down the road an iPod solution may become available, and I can live with the FM transmitter for now (it's what I've been using on my Matrix). Ultimately, if I really want to down the road when more car audio pros are familiar with the CX-7 I could always pull the tech package out and replace it. I've got my car stereo guy calling me back tomorrow - he's doing more research and will be able to give me more answers.
Mazda salesperson is calling me back tomorrow morning with new prices so we'll see! I was hoping to have the car by this weekend before I go away, but not sure if that'll happen... we'll see tomorrow!
Wish me luck
ps. mom is getting the Mazda 3 Hatchback, touring model with moonroof package and satellite (it was between that, the Nissan Versa, Hyundai Accent and Toyota Matrix). We're just waiting to get the best price.
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