Mazda Murano? Not Quite...

In today's fuel-conscious cities, large SUVs are a dying breed. Once the rulers of the road, traditional truck-based SUV herds were massive, and could be seen everywhere from the local soccer field
The new Mazda CX-7 bears an uncanny resemblance to the Nissan Murano. (Photo: Mazda Canada)
to the commuter byways and highways of our great land. But rising gas prices as well as increased environmental awareness have begun to reduce their ranks as another breed steps in to fill the family-carrier void; the crossover utility vehicle, or CUV.

There are three kinds of crossovers on the road: the less-UV, the modern iteration of the station wagon, and the cool minivan. Mercedes' R-Class is the epitome of a cool-minivan style crossover, while Chevy's retro HHR is defined by GM as a "raised wagon," so you can probably (hopefully) guess what category it belongs to. Finally, Nissan's Murano is a pretty good example of a less-UV, which is exactly what the
Most certainly an attractive crossover vehicle, the CX-7 makes no claims to off-road capability. (Photo: Mazda Canada)
name implies: an SUV, but less of it. All are capable of seating a whole family in relative comfort, and all make pretty good inner-city family haulers, but the Murano, despite being near the end of its current lifecycle, is still head and shoulders above the other two in popularity, making it a prime candidate for some other automaker to copy. That carmaker is Mazda, which has tried to do something extremely similar with its latest SUV/crossover, the CX-7.

Even the CX-7s chief designer Iwao Koizumi (who also penned the popular Mazda6) coincidentally alluded to a Nissan when he defined the design as an "advanced frontier." He may not have meant it that way, but it's incredibly ironic that he should choose what could be translated into "Advanced Nissan
Extensive aerodynamic work both on top and on the bottom with ribbed airflow-smoothing undertrays make this the most aerodynamic car in its class. (Photo: Mazda Canada)
Pickup Truck" to define a vehicle that bears an unmistakable likeness to another Nissan product, but we shouldn't be too hard, after all, imitating the Murano is the vehicular equivalent of a guy trying to look like Brad Pitt; it's probably not a bad idea. And as much as the CX-7 resembles the Murano from the front, it does have a few of it's own styling traits that go a long way towards revealing "a clear Mazda family identity."

The fender flares, for example, definitely have some MX-5 and RX-8 overtones, while the headlights and front air dam look similar to those found on the RX-8 and Mazda6. But for all its sports car styling, the CX-7 just doesn't scream "MAZDA!" at you, and that is a disappointment,
The CX-7 has decent aerodynamics, in fact it actually achieved the lowest coefficient of drag in its class. (Photo: Mazda Canada)
especially given that the MX-5 and RX-8 are both such interesting cars to look at.

But don't despair, there is an upside to all the sports car lineage: the CX-7 has decent aerodynamics, in fact it actually achieved the lowest coefficient of drag in its class, which is pretty impressive. Even more impressive is that the low coefficient figure is helped out by a little bit of supercar technology: undertrays. Ribbed covers that are affixed to the underside of the car, Mazda quickly points out the most obvious benefit of these little aerodynamic marvels (lower drag), but we wouldn't be surprised if they also make the CX-7 somewhat quieter on the highway.


From the back it's a different story. Sort of. With clear "Altezza" taillights, a relatively small back window and dual exhaust; the CX-7's
Dual exhaust, clear taillight lenses, fender flares, and a small, slanted rear window make the CX-7's rear look far more upscale than it is. (Photo: Mazda Canada)
derriere has an undeniably upscale appearance that looks more like a Lexus or Infiniti (there's that pesky Nissan influence again) than a Mazda. Also, a low standover height means the CX-7 should be pretty easy to load up, which is always a plus.

There is one minor flaw though, and it's a pet peeve: the MX-5/RX-8 style fender flares look massive from directly behind the CX-7, which has the effect of making the 235-series tires look downright spindly.

The interior of the CX-7 continues the sporting theme
A MX-5-like steering wheel and focused gauge cluster gives a sporting feel to the driver's position. (Photo: Mazda Canada)
of Mazda's latest creation, beginning with a steering wheel that looks like it came directly out of the MX-5. On the far side of the aforementioned steering wheel lies a driver-oriented three-pod gauge cluster that looks great, although its mounting position appears as if it might be hard for taller drivers to see. The dashboard into which these gauges are set is also quite attractive; using what Mazda is calling a "double roof design" that incorporates what appears to be a floating shelf above the leading edge of the actual dashboard. Finally, the interior is finished in an amalgamation of leather and textured plastic, with brushed aluminum accents on the easy-to
The top-of-the-line GT model gets this two tone leather interior, among other things. (Photo: Mazda Canada)
-reach centre console, shifter surround, and door panels. Coincidentally, that brushed aluminum turns up on the best part of the whole interior; the first-generation Miata-door-handle styled glovebox latch.
And finally we get to the zoom-zoom. Under the hood lies a slightly detuned version of the same engine that powers the Mazdaspeed6, an impressive 2.3L turbocharged and intercooled four-cylinder that achieves 244 horsepower in CX-7 trim. As all turbo motors should, the CX-7's mill benefits from a forged bottom end (crank and connecting rods) for added durability, as well as direct fuel injection for better fuel control, power, and economy. The compression ratio is a low, turbocharger-friendly 9.5:1, which effectively boosts torque across the rev range; a must have in any turbocharged car.

Speaking of the turbo, it's one of the few areas in which the CX-7 motor differs
With a 2.4L inline four churning out 244 turbocharged horses, the CX-7 should give V6 performance for a four-cylinder gas bill. (Photo: Mazda Canada)
from the Mazdaspeed6. With a refined (read: smaller) inlet, throttle response is improved and turbo lag decreases. Unfortunately, that smaller inlet can't inhale as much spent gases, and therefore costs a few horsepower at the upper end of the tachometer (the CX-7 has 30 less horsepower than the Mazdaspeed6), although the effect is diminished by the CX-7s 6-speed automatic (with manual-shift capability) transmission's ability to keep the engine in it's powerband most of the time. Backing that slushbox is your choice of two drivetrains, either a front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive setup. The latter involves a complex system of computer-controlled couplings that can send a maximum of 50 percent of available torque to the rear wheels when needed.


The press release states that the CX-7 will be available in three models; standard, Touring, and Grand Touring, however, the Mazda Canada website
The Mazda is priced right around it's competitors, with an MSRP of $31,995 to $35,195. (Photo: Mazda Canada)
declares only two models, a GS and GT. The GS, or base model, features manual a/c, power windows and locks, cruise control, and six airbags. The mystery model that doesn't appear on the website, the Touring, was supposed to add leather trim (seats, steering wheel and shift knob), a power driver's seat, heated front seats, and a retractable cargo cover that really should be standard on all models. Lastly, the top-of-the-line (and available) Grand Touring adds a two-tone leather interior, HID headlights, fog lights, body-coloured mirrors, chrome door handles and automatic climate control. The price for the GS is $31,995, while the GT costs only a few thousand more, coming in at $35,195. That doesn't sound too bad, but considering that a base Murano costs a mere $3,800 more and is vastly better equipped with advanced features like a CVT transmission and rear-view camera, this little Mazda doesn't look like it'll topple it's Nissan-made doppleganger any time soon.

Specifications:
  • Price Range (MSRP): $31,995 - $35,195
  • Body Type: 5-door crossover
  • Layout: front engine, FWD (optional AWD)
  • Engine: 244-hp, 258 lb-ft of torque, 2.3L, 16-valve, turbo I-4
  • Transmission: 6-spd auto w/ manual mode
  • Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS, EBD, DSC
  • Seating Capacity: 5
  • Web Site: www.mazda.ca