Mazda diesel packs a punch (From Advertiser Series)

Mazda diesel packs a punch

4:59pm Thursday 26th November 2009

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This year has been one to remember for car companies, for all the wrong reasons.

Car sales didn’t just fall, they crashed big-style off a cliff. From 2.4 million, they fell to 1.8 million.

And even though the Government’s scrappage scheme has done fantastically well, car companies have still had to rethink their line-ups.

Take Mazda, one of the sensible manufacturers. Its CX-7 4x4 is a brave new model which has taken Mazda into new territory over the last year or so, and has won over an army of new fans.

Now Mazda has decided to stop the petrol versions and produce just the one diesel model. It’s a sensible move, given the fact that new smooth diesel engines are so popular in this style of vehicle.

And, it has to be said, this is one heck of a diesel engine. It’s flexible, sporty, refined and economical.

The original model was introduced to the UK market in the second half of 2007, but was never aggressively marketed by Mazda.

It is one of a range of sexy 4x4s which include Ford Kuga and Land Rover Discovery.

Its attributes – mixing sports styling with hatchback practicality and SUV adaptability – was eye-catching on paper, but the sole option of a powerful petrol engine linked to manual transmission was always likely to make it a niche model.

The arrival of a diesel engine variant makes the CX-7 an altogether more attractive proposition. It goes to show how diesel-focussed UK car-buyers now are, that while some markets will be taking delivery of even larger 2.5-litre petrol models, the 2.3-litre petrol as used in the new Mazda 3 MPS has faced the chop from the UK model altogether. It is replaced by a variant of the 2.2-litre diesel that serves the Mazda 6 and now Mazda 3 extremely well.

With average fuel economy approaching 40mpg and emissions below the 200g/km barrier (emissions are lowered using a hi-tech system), the new diesel-powered CX-7 boasts a wider appeal, but it remains a niche vehicle.

Crossover models have been one of the most successful new additions the car market has seen in recent times, so much so that it’s already possible to talk about ‘traditional’ crossovers that combine family hatchback driving appeal with SUV adaptability. The sports crossover, however, is a still-emerging niche.

Only the Nissan Murano, BMW X6 and Infiniti FX can genuinely claim to offer the same mix of sports car styling on an SUV body. The Nissan is probably the CX-7’s closest direct rival – the other two are larger, premium models – but the new diesel engine means the CX-7 is now able to compete with more traditional crossovers and compact SUV models too, putting it at a distinct advantage.

Despite the shift away from sporty petrol power, the CX-7 retains the bold, broad-shouldered styling that made the original model so distinctive. A particularly sleek windscreen profile is employed in conjunction with a downward-sloping roof and upward-sloping window line to give a sporty profile.

A larger front grille combines with the arrow-head bonnet design to give the model a wider appearance at the front, while new lights, bumper designs and added chrome freshens up the front and rear.

Like the previous model, the face-lifted CX-7 will be available in a single high specification trim level in the UK. That means an impressive amount of equipment inside. Standard sat-nav is a new addition. Wheel-mounted controls and a neat interface make it an easy system to use, although the 4.1-inch wouldn’t cope with being any smaller when it comes to displaying additional information on top of mapping.

A premium Bose sound system, Bluetooth, leather trim, auto lights and wipers, reversing camera and electric front seats are among a long list of standard kit.

As you might expect for a car with SUV qualities, the driving position is impressive. An excellent view of the road is aided by a smart monitoring system that indicates when cars are present in the blind spots. The narrow window line makes this a useful addition, although the large mirrors offer a good view to the rear.

Light steering and a direct gear change make the CX-7 relaxing to drive. The 2.2-litre diesel unit has been tweaked to deal with the CX-7’s additional bulk. It’s a little lacking in lowdown torque, but above 1,500rpm is smooth, providing acceleration that feels sharper than the stated figure. Sixth gear on the manual transmission serves as an over-drive, making the model quiet, refined and efficient on a motorway run. The cosseting ride is particularly impressive, with only large imperfections transmitting through to the quiet cabin.

Multi-link rear suspension, a stiffened chassis and the ability to send half the engine’s torque to the rear wheels enables the CX-7 to offer handling performance that belies it size. It still feels like a big car on the road, but turns into corners enthusiastically and retains a strong degree of traction, whatever is thrown at it.

A spacious interior boasts a respectable boot with a level load bay and wide door. Driver and front passenger are well served for space, while the rear comfortably seats three children or two adults. The sloping roofline fails to impact on headroom and minimal intrusion from the transmission tunnel is welcome.

High specification and curious styling mean that, even with the diesel engine, the CX-7 remains a niche model, but now it can add practical running costs to its long list of qualities.

Mazda CX-7 diesel PRICE: £25,785.

ENGINE: 2.2 litre inline double overhead cam unit generating 173ps via four-wheel-drive.

PERFORMANCE: top speed 124mph, 0-60mph in 11.3 seconds.

COSTS: urban (town) 31mpg; extra-urban (country) 37.7mpg; combined 42.8mpg.

EMISSIONS: 199g/km.

INSURANCE: Group 14E.

WARRANTY: Three years, 60,000 miles.

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