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We're in the midst of a shakeout. The dividing line between SUV and station wagon is under assault, led by the crossover vehicle. Joining the battle is the 2007 Mazda CX-7 Grand Touring All-Wheel Drive, packing a touch of Mazdaspeed, a hint of RX-8 and a lot of driving excitement. The 2007 Mazda CX-7 Grand Touring All-Wheel Drive ($28,000 base price; $30,660 as tested) comes with a 3 year/36,000 mile basic warranty, a 5 year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty and an EPA estimate of 18 mpg city/24 mpg highway.

Let's take a closer look.

First Glance

Larger exterior photos: FrontRear

There was a time when bigger was better and tougher and more industrial ruled the day in the SUV world. Overgrown SUVs have become a clichŽ very quickly, and Mazda is at the forefront of a sleeker, sportier look and feel with the CX-7 and big brother CX-9. Both crossovers share more design cues with the genuine sportscars in the Mazda lineup, RX-8 and MX-5 Miata, than with the other SUV in the group, the Ford Escape-derived Tribute.

CX-7 bulges with athleticism, as if it has too much energy to be confined in its metallic skin. A wedge-shaped hood and steeply-raked windshield look like they were carved by wind and speed, redistributing their bulk to the body's hind quarters. The fenders bulge like Schwarzenegger's shoulders (Conan-era Arnie, not governor Arnie). The whole body is clean and crisp, while still maintaining an organic feel. I tend to look for personality in my SUV, and CX-7 has it -- big headlights for eyes, a wide-open grille of a mouth and a sparkling "winged-M" logo on the tip of its nose.

The Grand Touring model comes with 18" aluminum alloy wheels, which look great. Franz von Holzhausen, Mazda's Design Director, drives a CX-7 that wears an aftermarket set of 20s. It looks very cool -- almost worth the tradeoff in ride quality.

Continued below...

In the Driver's Seat

Larger interior photo

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. That's physics, but you can apply it to just about every aspect of SUV design, including interiors. That steeply-raked windshield that I mentioned? It creates a severe design challenge for the CX-7's dash. Visualize the space underneath the sharp angle -- in order to get the driver close enough to the dashboard, the dash has to be very deep. Designers have done a good job with an innovative solution, raising the instrument panel and steering wheel in a pod that sits proud of the dash, and allowing the dash and center console to slope gently away from the windshield, softening the impression of depth. There's a repeated circular motif, with circular air vents, big round rotary knobs to control ventilation, a round bezel housing the speedometer and another round bezel surrounding the gear shift base in the center console.

I like the choice of materials, with contrasting pebbled plastic and hard glossy plastic panels separated by brushed aluminum-look trim. Dash colors, dark and light, are carried throughout the cabin, echoed on the door trim and in the design of the seat panels. It's a complete design, from front to back.

My test vehicle's standard trim included leather seats, which were nicely supportive and well-bolstered. The second row is nice and comfortable for three adults across. The rising shoulder line lends a cocoon-like insulation to the back seat, which shorter passengers (and children) may not appreciate.

On the Road

Mazda's recent reputation is based on driving dynamics, and CX-7 fits nicely into the bill. The 2.3 liter 16-valve 4-cylinder engine is turbocharged, and produces 244 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. It's the same engine you'll find under the hood of the Mazdaspeed6 and Mazdaspeed3, just in a slightly detuned state (though it still requires premium gas). It's a great engine, extremely well-matched with its turbocharger. Power delivery is swift and linear -- and there's enough punch to move this 3929 lb SUV in an assertive manner. The only transmission available with CX-7 is a 6-speed automatic with a "sport shift" option. As usual, I played with the sport shift for a while, then reverted to full-automatic mode. I wish that the manual transmission from the Mazdaspeed3 was available on CX-7, but the automatic worked just fine.

All of the usual safety features are included on CX-7 -- stability control, traction control, four-wheel anti-lock ventilated disc brakes, front and rear side airbags with roll-over protection, dual front airbags and front side-impact airbags. There's great luggage space (29.9 cubic feet behind the second row; 58.6 cubic feet with the second row folded down).

CX-7 has independent MacPherson strut suspension up front, multi-link in the rear, and stabilizer bars at both ends. Power rack-and-pinion steering is direct and gives great feedback. Handling is more sport sedan than sport utility, especially with the full-time all-wheel drive version. This is one SUV that delivers fun by the mile -- you'll be seeking out the twisty way to work.

Journey's End

They say that there's nothing new under the sun. Maybe, maybe not. I think that crossover vehicles are more than just glorified station wagons, more than just sporty SUVs. They really do represent a new segment, and CX-7 is ready to compete with the best of them.

So, which other crossovers should you be measuring against CX-7? I'd take a look at the Nissan Murano, quite possibly the original crossover, as a starting point. It has a similarly innovative design and a sporty character. Honda's CR-V and Toyota's RAV4 are both solid performers, leaning a little closer to utility than sport. Hyundai's Santa Fe gets great marks, as does the new Ford Edge (a corporate relative to the Mazda). Don't overlook the Suzuki Grand Vitara and the Saturn Vue Red Line. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend CX-7 to drivers who are considering the BMW X3 or Acura RDX, either. If you need a little more space (and want to spend a little more money), you should check out the CX-9, a more full-bodied crossover with some familiar design cues.

Mazda has done a great job carving a niche -- it's hard to compare their lineup with anyone else's. Each vehicle is unique, special and driver-oriented, without sacrificing everyday usefulness. CX-7 hits a sweet spot for the driver who wants it all -- space, efficiency and -- most-of-all -- fun.

I can't wait to see what they come up with next.



Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.