Test drive Mazda CX-7 2007-2009 SUV

All photos of Mazda CX -7 2007 - 2009

Mazda CX-7 dealt with Mitsubishi Outlander XL

Mazda CX-7 dealt with Mitsubishi Outlander XL. Even a convenient rear sofa, a larger trunk and peppy acceleration did not help him. The Americans would not have thought of letting out small half -years old. At least seriously.
The Russian auto industry is also not so tolerant as to invent such impractical products, which also has no double purpose (for the military registration and enlistment office). So it turned out that the fashion for crossovers came from Japan along with the first Toyota Rav4 and Honda Cr-V.
But today the wind blew the other way, and we see how one by one crossovers are developed specifically for the American market. And soon, perhaps, they will begin to do it specifically for Russia, the benefit of their sales we go out in first place in Europe.
She does everything better ...
The Mazda CX-7 belonging to the American market is immediately recognized as it is the largest in its class, its length is 4675 mm. Plus an aggressive, assertive, exceptionally extrovert (public) design of both internal and external space. Fortunately, the Americanisms end there.

Before the appearance of the Mazda CX-7, the leader in the middle class of crossovers was Hyundai Santa Fe (4650 mm), which was only slightly inferior to Mitsubishi Outlander XL 4640 mm long. It was he who chose both the Japanese as an opponent, both not so long ago in our market.
We photographed both cars on snow and ice covered with a path laid through the territory of the park under construction. It was necessary to flicker back and forth in front of the camera. For ten minutes I ironed this section in size already noticeably road lane on the CX-7. After he moved to XL and, as they say, changed in his face. It turned out to be impossible to go at the same speed and also relaxed. My former great sympathy for Outlander evaporated in a few seconds. It turns out that Mazda does everything better.
It holds the road more stable, controlled more clearly and verbally. Plus, she has below the center of gravity, longer the base and wider the track.
Here you have the concept of Zoom-Zoom in action. By the way, if anyone has forgotten, Zoom-Zoom is nothing more than a owl. The child imitation of the sound of a driving machine. Burning on Mazda is more pleasant and reliable.

Matter: Mazda CX-7

Material: Mitsubishi Outlander XL

Who is at the start?
The excitement was not dried up on this, and we decided to conduct traditional paired starts. It would be better if we didn’t do it! On the starting line, Mitsubishi XL easily and naturally selected a whole case from the Mazda CX-7, and this gap was not reduced until a speed of 100 km/h reaches.
Does the three-liter Outlander unit surpassed in characteristics smaller in liter, but a 2.3 liter of CX-7 equipped with a turbine engine? Technical data speaks the opposite. Mitsubishi 220 l. p., and Mazda 238 l. With. In addition, the XL motor reaches a maximum at 6250 rpm, and Mazda at 5000. According to the moment the same picture: CX-7 350 Nm at 2500 rpm, and XL 277 Nm at 4000. According to the Mazda passport, it accelerates to hundreds for 8.3 C and Mitsubishi for 9.7s.
You can not believe passport data overclocking! It has been confirmed more than once that they can differ greatly from realities. Mazda just removed the extra 1.5-2C?
But back to the test. Acceleration is not important for everyone. Someone is more important to the convenience of landing, the luggage compartment and the possibility of transforming the salon. Despite the extensive sizes of the Mazda salon, in the rear seats it is more convenient in Outlander. And the luggage compartment according to the type of transformation and volume in XL is better than 510 liters of Mitsubishi against 400 liters
Mazda. But in the CX-7, the rear seats are folded in one movement.
Both crossovers, if you consider them separately, are able to give pleasure from driving, as well as serve family and representative transport. But still, a large Mazda crossover created for Americans looks more solid. And not only on the road.

Accidentally smart
After paired starts on the highway, we advanced on the ground, or rather, on the hillocks frozen with snow and ice. The task was traditional to hang one, and if possible two wheels to check the work of electronic assistants. Mitsubishi bowed meaninglessly, without refusing to take the obstacles assigned to him, but doing it for a long time. He asked for good acceleration and nervous the driver.
Mazda, on the other hand, executed all the orders of the pilot clearly, without objection and delay. Here are really truly smart electronics for the SUV. Unfortunately, on crossovers, with the exception of Land Rover Freelander, the electronics are not off -road, but to keep the trajectory on the asphalt. CX-7 was not specially prepared for off-road. But the ESP was on the off -road useful. Plus, the differential of increased friction in the rear bridge helped.
The CX-7 system works as follows. When hanging the wheel, she strangles the engine, but after some time, if the driver is persistent and continues to play with the gas pedal, she slowly lets go of momentum and, unobtrusively brakeing the slippers, allows you to climb on. As a result, Mazda did not even require minimal acceleration at a snowy difference at the time of hanging one of the wheels. Yes, XL also repeated an off -road route, but it was a miserable sight, flavored with a desperate axle box and nervous efforts. Mitsubishi saved only the winnings in the clearance (215 mm versus 205 at Mazda) and, of course, a larger angle of entry.
Well, what is cooler, we found out. It seems ... although, if you do not push their foreheads, both are good.

Author: Dmitry Leontyev, photo of Alexander Ortnova-Baranov