THE market seems to be awash with sports utility vehicles these days - if you don’t believe me check out any early morning school run and count those gas guzzlers parked outside the school gates.
But every so often a real gem of a vehicle is introduced and Mazda has come up with the perfect jewel in its CX-7 model.
Crammed to bursting with quality features, luxurious levels of comfort and a drive that cannot fail to impress, the CX-7 boasts eye-catching good looks with a rugged appearance, dazzling alloys and somewhat menacing tinted windows.
And the quality is apparent throughout the entire cabin too. Once inside the heated leather seats can be adjusted every which way to find the perfect driving position and there are memory settings just in case you ever let anyone else drive your car.
The dashboard, which is a little on the plastic side, has a clutter-free appearance and many functions are controlled via levers on the steering wheel, which means the driver is less distracted by not having to look for fiddly audio buttons to press.
All passengers are treated to a generous amount of room and the vehicle’s high sides means the cabin has a very light and airy feel. The boot has a capacity of 455 litres which can be increased to 774 litres with the rear seat folded flat. Elsewhere, there is an array of useful storage compartments throughout the vehicle.
Mazda has packed plenty of creature comforts into the CX-7 including climate control, rain-sensing wipers, sat nav, a Bose sound system with nine speakers and lots more besides.
The CX-7 performed admirably in busy city centre traffic proving not all larger vehicles are cumbersome and difficult to manoeuvre. It was agile and deceptively nimble as it weaved through the traffic and proved a breeze to park too thanks to the excellent all-round visibility and the added bonus of a rear view parking camera.
On the faster roads, the CX-7 was a delight to drive and the 2.2-litre engine delivered plenty of power. The six-speed ,manual transmission was responsive and smooth.
Safety features include a wonderful device called a rear vehicle monitoring system. This warns the driver when any vehicles are in the blind spot before changing lanes. And then there is the Active Torque 4-Wheel Drive system which means your CX-7 is capable of taking on all driving conditions no matter what difficulties the weather poses.
Other safety specifications include the more standard anti-lock brakes, traction control, electronic brake force distribution and lots more.
All in all, the CX-7 is quite a performer and if you do spot one outside the school gates, slow down to admire its quality.
FAST FACTS
Mazda CX-7 2.2D Sport
Price: £26,995
Mechanical: 173ps, 2,184cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving four wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox
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