Ahead of Its Time | 2011 Mazda CX-7 Review

The CX-7, discontinued in 2012, still performs like a modern crossover. Big turbo power, excellent steering feel and handling, and a fairly impressive interior with the sGrand Touring Package. The CX-5, however, is better than the CX-7 at everything EXCEPT the power of this 2.3L turbo.

[kevinW]

I bought a used 2011 Mazda CX-7 base model 2.5 5 speed auto last May. 152, 000 kms when I bought it, one owner, dealer serviced. It’s currently at 167, 000 kms. Had to replace an O2 sensor and just did the brakes a couple weeks back. It’s a solid little tank, good for my commute to work and back, very comfortable.
I don’t regret buying it as my insurance is also cheap and so is the maintenance.

[millos]

I have a 2011 cx7 and still running great 👍

[bridgetriley]

I bought a 2011 Mazda, CX-7 about seven years ago it had 142, 000 miles on it it now has 186, 000 miles on it. I’ve driven it from Ohio to Arizona and back a couple of times and from Ohio to Quebec and back a few times. It’s the best car I’ve ever had, comfortable and reliable and pretty good on gas. I stay up on all the maintenance to make sure I can keep this beautiful car as long as I can.

[sonnyf]

Agree ! Got one 2011mdl and the styling doesn’t get old considering it’s already 2022. Btw love it’s performance and my engine bay is perfectly clean.

[seanyoon]

I have 2010 cx-7 with 130k on no problem so far. I still love this car!!!

[christy]

I just bought one...happy to know that I made a good choice! Good video!

[BIgDubyaGanoosh]

Just found this video, Kirk! I have been a fan for years. My wife and I bought a 2011 cx7 2.5L NA. Its now 14 years old, with near 300k Km's. It gets driven in southern Ontario with all the salt on the roads. The only work ever done:
2nd setof tires ( both winter and summer), on ny 3rd battery, 2nd alternator, brakes done, and lastly a fuel sensor/solenoid. That was a $50 Cdn part lol. This vehicle is massively underrated for comfort and reliability. No rust either fyi.

[James-qzwd]

The cupholder is mounted diagonally so that you know who's drink is who's because it makes one of the drinks slightly closer to you.

[balkanmadnessmadeinaustria]

Here in Austria, Vienna, we have so many Mazda cx-7, you can Find them in every corner of the City, it's a very common popular car. I own myself and it's a fucking beast

[darrenbethell]

I bought one 3 years ago it had 135, 000 it now has 208, 000 on it never misses a beat and it’s we’ll maintained too

[damonnugent]

I got a mazda cx-7 on 289 thousand kms only thing iv ever has go wrong is a popped tyre and a blown hose that was like $200 to fix no other issues

[cotyl]

That baby navigation lol, my 2012 Mazda 3 has it. I loved the CX-7 and hope they bring it back.

[gasparnicchibelgrano]

I just buy one and im fascinated with it i was stuck in the traffic and i thought it was off because it doesn't make any sound it's incredible

[typikal]

I put 245/60 R18 tires on mine, no adjustments needed. Helps prevent curb rash and feels much better

[danielmelendez]

great handling on this car, I owned a 2008 CX-7 GT AWD. The engine had a lot of power for a 4 cylinder turbo. The car was discontinued for reasons mazda refused to come clean. The were a lot of people that experience engine and turbo failure due to the fact the car would burn excessive oil, turbo needed maintenance about 60K miles and if the dealer worked on the car it would be ridiculously expensive to rebuild the turbo. In some cases the engine failure occurred prior to the 36k mile warranty and owners had a difficult time getting any help from dealers. Since the poor design of the engine and size of the car it made no sense to have a Cx7 and CX5 with similar power train. Mazda claimed at the time, the engine was improved with Sky-active technology, high compression ratio engine, better gas mileage and better engine design in comparison to CX-7 2.4 turbo. My car needed new piston, new turbo and the engine needed to be drain due to the excessive amount of oil that it was burning. You dont see many of the CX7 on the road due to that engine, true the leather looked like crap but I will give it to Mazda it had great handling. My car lasted 64K miles before it was traded over to Acura MDX 2011 with SH-AWD. I now have 100K miles on my Acura and I love the handling of the car as well as the reliability. At the time my MDX did look like a luxury SUV and even know it still looks and performs well with proper maintenance. True there was a plain jane 4 cylinder with no turbo but that was a slow car, not fun to drive, thus I bought the Turbo.

[jrawlins]

All I remember about this whip back in '10 when I took it for a test drive was that the salesperson cut the cheese so bad we had to cut short the drive 😔

[jayyoutube]

I bought a cx7 10yrs ago brand new. 150, 000mi later still have it and runs great. No problems so far. It’s a 2010 with a 2.5l 2wd. It’s a lot of fun. One engineering que I like is how the engine is the opposite of most. The hot exhaust is ran between the block and firewall as oppose to it coming out the front of the engine and going under the oil pan.... BTW, the screen is about the size of your cell screen..

[cyrus]

It probably has air ducts under the front seats to send air to the backseat, I own one and I didn’t ever see competitors offer rear vents for that time around 2007.

[roy]

nice review.. we bought this car in 2011 with the awd version and it is definitely most fun to drive in its class.. fuel mileage however not so great... mazda engineers shd have worked a bit more on that!

[Kev_inn_]

Mazda needs to bring this car back to the states!