2008 Mazda CX-7

I originally planned to do a few more reviews but this week has been very tiring. So I'll do a review on a car fresh in my mind.


Introduction: The Mazda CX-7 is Mazda's second entry into the crossover market and their first mid-sized vehicle in the utility vehicle segment after their Navago(an explorer re-badge) failed. Unlike many other recent Mazdas the CX-7 does not share a platform with any Fords and is a uniquely designed Mazda. It uses a combination of suspension parts from other Mazda vehicles depending on the drive configuration, if only front wheel drive its composed of MPV and Mazda5 suspension parts front and rear in that order. The all-wheel drive models however use the system developed for the Mazdaspeed6. In some sense this is probably the most sport oriented crossover especially if bought in AWD form.

I've always wanted to drive one of these cars, but we never got these for our fleet. Its one of Mazda's most interesting vehicles when it comes to what sort of parts its composed of, to think a good portion is actually composed of Mazdapseed parts is quite incredible. Well we finally got one last week...only to get a message its been sold...so I used it as a shuttle.


Performance: The CX-7 uses the engine straight from the Mazdaspeed division. A 2.3L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, the very engine used in the Mazdaspeed3 and Mazdaspeed6. The biggest difference however is the transmission is a 6-speed automatic instead of the 6-speed manuals found on those cars. As a result the power is 244 hp and 258 lb.ft of torque. When driving this vehicle you will notice the turbo kick in pretty early sometimes coming on during turns. Most crossovers have smooth V6s totally set up for comfort cruising, the CX-7 on the other hand with its slightly more coarse 4-cylinder prefers a thrashing thanks to its Mazdaspeed roots. I know the noise is not pleasant especially before the turbo kicks in, yet I just don't care considering the turbo is coming soon giving you more power than you asked for. To tell you how quick these CX-7s are they accelerate from 0-100 in 7.5 seconds. If the future meant small displacement turbo engines replacing bigger displacement ones...I'm all for it. I just loved this engine. Do note its a bit more thirsty even though its a 4-cylinder, its up to you whether to trade fun for fuel economy.

My Score: 10/10 - A fantastic engine, feeling that surge of power is such a great feeling you stop caring about the noisy rev early on and the less impressive fuel economy.

Handling: I've driven the AWD version and I thought the handling was pretty planted and much easier to push than other crossovers and SUVs its size. Its not often I find a vehicle like this that encourages much more aggressive behaviour, perhaps I should try a BMW X-series SUV. Cornering is mostly flat which is very good since most vehicles in this category roll. I didn't even notice much discomfort on the road.

My Score: 9/10 - Great AWD system that encourages spirited driving, just don't get a ticket for reckless driving.


Interior: When I got into the Mazda CX-7, this was probably the least enjoyable part about the vehicle since the more practical stuff comes into question. If you know Mazda's lineup during this time then the interior is extremely similar to that of the Mazda6 and set the standard for Mazda digital displays to be found on the 2010 Mazda3. As a 5-seater the CX-7 is quite comfortable being large enough to not make the passengers cramped. The tailgate space for your things is moderate in size. The problem with the interior here is it does nothing clever with the space given. The build quality however is fantastic, these vehicles being built from Hiroshima, Japan.

My Score: 6/10 - If your sole intention is to carry passengers and modest amounts of cargo the CX-7 does the job but if you wanted more you'll be disappointed, good build quality however.

Styling: The CX-7 is actually somewhat handsomely styled, while it retains much of the round profile of the Edge and CX-9 the rear tail lights for instance are slightly transparent like that of the old Lexus IS. Unlike the IS, it doesn't make a big deal out of those. In the front the grille and head lights naturally fit the shape and profile of the car making it look pretty good.

My Score: 8/10 - A pretty good looking CUV, everything flows pretty naturally to the design.

Value for the money: Its a mixed bag here, if you clearly need the family practical utility vehicle features you will not want the CX-7, its too small and doesn't fit those needs. If you however wanted the most driver oriented vehicle of the segment, this is clearly the best. This is the only CUV that encourages your driver urges, all other CUVs are far less driver oriented with smoother V6s and comfortable rides. Its a slight bit of a compromise but the big body didn't manage to spoil the fun.

My Score: 8/10 - So long as your goal is driver fun and you need something the size of a SUV this is a fantastic vehicle for that goal.

Overall: 42/50 - Until Mazda designs a new CX-7 just as sport oriented, there isn't another crossover that is as much fun as this is.

2002 Mazda Protege

I don't know why I keep forgetting to put this car on. This car was what I used for driver's ed and therefore one of the earliest cars I've ever driven.


Introduction: The Mazda Protégé is a new name given to one of Mazda's oldest line of small cars. In Japan these cars have always been called the Familia and the Protégé being reviewed is the 9th generation of this vehicle. The Familia dates all the way back to 1964 making it technically an older name than the commonly known Toyota Corolla. For North America Mazda introduced the Familia as the 1200(2nd generation), the 3rd gen was called the Mizer and the 4th gen was called the GLC. It was from the 4th gen that the 323 name was given and most Mazda Familia's would use the 323 name others changing to Protégé name like the US did. The early cars were RWD, while the 5th generation cars from 1980 and beyond were FWD. The name Protégé was used mostly in advertising to promote the car's more sporty driving experience to Mazda's more famous MX-5/Miata. Eventually Mazda replaced the Familia line with the new Mazda 3/Axela in 2004 which had significantly better success finally putting the Mazda name as a top seller in some countries.

Now as I mentioned this was my driver's ed car. I really didn't know a whole lot about cars back then and therefore didn't really take much notice of the Protégé. I did know about Mazda's aggressive zoom zoom advertisements though. So in my mind, was this car really worth saying zoom zoom?


Performance: When driving this car I was thinking zoom zoom was about power, I was kind of disappointed with the Protégé in that respect. In hindsight its actually not so bad now that I've driven much slower cars. That said, the engine in question is a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine that produces 130 hp and 135 lb.ft of torque, this is actually good numbers back then. The acceleration numbers from 0-100 km/h is about 9.4 seconds, as a result it doesn't seem nearly that quick and part of why I thought it was slow. If that's a bit of a downer, on the positive side I heard the manual was much quicker than the automatic.

My Score: 6/10 - Not very zoom zoom with an automatic, getting a manual is much preferred.

Handling: This was the surprise of this car, clearly billing the Protégé as the Miata's student was not false advertising after all. This car was always pretty sharp and took corners pretty well, due to not having access to a Protégé anymore...I'm not sure how to compare it with 2 generations of Mazda3 which I have driven recently and have very favourable views of. Despite that, I still remember that there was that charm which made me enjoy both versions of the 3 and that without this car they might not have that feel that makes these seemingly normal cars that bit more special.

My Score: 10/10 - Its clear Mazda recognized their future to winning small car buyers was in handling, this is the Protégé's best point.


Interior: The Protégé had a pretty generic interior not only for its time but even now. The interior definitely took a bit of a back seat compared to the development of how the car would drive meaning its got everything you expect a normal car would have and everything a normal car wouldn't have. There wasn't much styling put into the interior. Build quality did not suffer fortunately and these cars were made in both Hiroshima and Hofu plants in Japan.

My Score: 6/10 - Generic interior, built well though

Styling: Much of Mazda's lineup back in the 90s were really generic looking. Their most interesting looking vehicles were only from the MX line like the MX-3, the MX-5 and the MX-6. The Japanese got the treat of having the 323F body style which had pop-up headlights. The rest of the cars however were pretty dull and typical of Japanese cars back then. The early Protégé started out this way, since I'm reviewing the face-lifted version they struck a chord. With cleaver mild changes the later Protégés actually looked very good while still retaining a pretty generic demeanor. This clearly set Mazda to its styling objectives after the Protégé with the new 3 and the 6 using styling cues from earlier models but modernizing them.

My Score: 8/10 - Very modern touches turns a boring looking car into something nice without putting a lot of attention towards it.

Value for money: The Protégé was never a tremendous sales success but it showed Mazda that it was on the right track. The inclusion of the Protégé5 meant it was the only car in the class back then offering a hatchback model. The Corolla Wagon no longer existed and the Civic hatchbacks were offered only for Europe. The poor name recognition also meant you could get a good deal on these cars for much less than other Japanese cars. The Protégé also existed in a time when Korean cars were terrible meaning it was a great choice. Even today, not too many Protégés experience much issues except some rust problems.

My Score: 10/10 - It was better than what Korea offered, cheaper than what anybody else offered and it was the only choice if you wanted a good hatchback.

Overall: 40/50 - A very good car that paved the way for Mazda's success.

2007-2008 Mazda 3 GS

After quite a few Chryslers which are all bad, I think it calls for a change of mood.


Introduction: The Mazda 3 was introduced in 2004 as the Mazda Protege's replacement. The Protege was still called the 323 in a few markets and proved to be a reasonably successful car but not something that scared the leaders of the segment. Using Ford of Europe's C1 platform for the successful Euro Ford Focus, Mazda decided to use this platform for the Mazda 3. By this point Mazda dropped the original numbering scheme 323 and 626 in favour of just the 3 and the 6 while the 929 would not return with a successor. Since its introduction the Mazda 3 has become one of Mazda's all time best selling vehicles in certain markets belonged to the top 10 selling vehicles. As a global vehicle the Mazda 3 found in one location was stylistically the exact same in another car market. The Mazda 3 offered a sedan and hatchback body types, one could also buy a Mazdaspeed 3 which had a 4-cylinder turbo engine making it one of the quickest FWD hatchbacks sold in most markets. Mazda would replace the current 3 in 2010 with a new redesign, due to the old 3's success Mazda rather than totally change the vehicle decided to fine tune what they believed made the 3 so successful.

The Mazda 3 was one of the later vehicles I got to drive, I was very curious about how this one would drive. I have driven the Protege and while I liked it, the Protege suffered from not having the performance I thought would make it great. I really wanted to see whether the Mazda 3 was different for better or for worse.


Performance: The Mazda 3 we have in fleet only have the 2.0L which produces 148 hp and 135 lb.ft of torque. Much to my surprise this engine actually was more than adequate to move the Mazda 3 despite its slightly lower torque rating. Its actually less noisier than the Mazda 6's 4-cylinder engine making it a good engine even for highway usage. Acceleration numbers for the Mazda 3's bigger 2.3L engine is an impressive 7.4 seconds for the 2.0L I drive the estimate is somewhere between 8.5-9 seconds to reach 100 km/h from 0. Not bad. If I had to pick out a flaw, its not as fuel efficient as a Civic or Corolla.

My Score: 8/10 - Despite being the base engine its reasonably smooth, decent power and is a non-issue for a regular motorist.

Handling: I mentioned the C1 platform's capabilities in the Focus review. The Mazda 3 was the car that showed me how great this platform is and confused me why the 2008+ Ford Focus didn't use it. The Mazda's ability to take corners is one of the best among the compacts and subcompact cars. I've never had an issue with ride comfort either making it better than a Honda. Lastly steering feel...incredible, I instantly fell in love with how the car felt when making even a simple turn. The Celica GT I reviewed a while back is the best handling FWD I've driven, the Mazda 3 felt it had about 95% of the Celica's cornering ability. I actually think the steering feel in the 3 is better than the Celica's, the Celica had a tougher wheel which I do like but the 3 has a lighter one that still gave the same great feeling. Fantastic.

My Score: 10/10 - Want a very fun, conventional car? The Mazda 3 is so far ahead of the competition here.


Interior: Like I mentioned in the Mazda 6 review, Mazda seems to enjoy having black sporty interiors. I guess its to go with the image of their cars being more sporty than others. The Mazda 3 doesn't try to hide the fact most of the interior is plastic, fortunately its decent plastic. Interior room is also pretty decent although the rear isn't as spacious as other vehicles and the trunk is a bit small. The problem with the Mazda 3's interior...its very difficult to clean. The carpets are the biggest obstacle making it frustrating if you want the interior clean when the vacuum is not cleaning the way it should. The Mazda 3 is built in Japan, I've not seen a build quality flaw in the Mazda 3 and thus I considered them well built.

My Score: 7/10 - Mostly plastic, few colour choices and difficult to clean but functional and styled alright, built very well.

Styling: The Mazda 3 does have a bit of a generic look to it but like I would say for a Subaru Legacy not in a bad way. Its a regular car but it just looks its part, its not very boring and its different than your typical Toyota or Honda. The headlights show a tad bit of aggression while the tail lights flow with the round body very well. I just can't complain, while not the most beautiful car certainly a pretty good looking one.

My Score: 8/10 - Good looks, it just doesn't go far enough to reach absolute beauty

Value for money: Having a sedan and hatchback option really do put the Mazda in a good position. For a car this well built and this good to drive and its also not expensive to run...its hard to argue against its value. A Mazda badge also helps since Mazda is still trying to make a name for itself and doesn't overcharge like Toyota or Honda do. If the regular 3 is not sporty enough, Mazda offers the Mazdaspeed 3 which is much better than anything Honda or Toyota offer. A reasonably priced family car that's rewarding to drive and due to popularity won't depreciate quickly...its one of the best deals out there.

My Score: 10/10 - Worthy every single penny regardless of what options you choose, its the new industry standard

Overall: 43/50 - One of the best family vehicles I've ever come across.

2007-2008 Mazda 6

There is one more review coming up today.


Introduction: The Mazda 6 began in 2003 replacing the old 626 with a new direction. The old 626 was not a noteworthy vehicle and was often considered bland and boring. In an effort to fit with Mazda's new slogan zoom zoom, the Mazda 6 was designed to be more sporty in order to give it a characteristic over its competitors. Mazda also gave the 6 the option for a wagon when many other similar vehicles do not offer it. Lastly Mazda produced a high performance version of the 6 called the Mazdaspeed 6 in 2006-2007 where it was given a turbo engine, all-wheel drive and a Mazdaspeed tuned suspension.

By the time I got the drive the Mazda 6 I've already driven the Protege knowing that Mazda does make pretty good driver's cars. When I got the chance to drive one, I took it with high expectations.


Performance: The Mazda 6 I drove had the 2.3L 4-cylinder producing 156 hp and 154 lb.ft of torque. Due to the design of the car, the 4-cylinder is capable of reaching 0-100 km/h in a matter of 8 seconds which is very good with so little power. The engine is noisy on 1st gear, afterwords its very quiet and refined. Knowing the data now, its certainly faster than the old Fusion.

My Score: 8/10 - A good 4-cylinder engine, surprisingly well powered

Handling: This is where the Mazda 6 takes its place as one of the more fun mid-sized cars. Most other cars in this segment go after the Accord and Camry which have lately gotten heavier and are less concerned about fun. The Mazda 6 has very good handling for a FWD mid sized sedan, it takes the corners quite well without a lot of the expected items like understeer and body roll. The steering wheel is actually on the light side, yet due to how sharp the car handles this light wheel actually doesn't lose feel like what I've experienced with Honda and Toyota.

My Score: 9/10 - An excellent FWD platform which makes this normal sedan more fun than others.


Interior: The Mazda 6 does not have the greatest interior, in order to keep with its sport image the vast majority are black interiors. Mazda was mindful not to make the atmosphere depressing making the pillars and roof white. Beige cars however had beige interiors with some of the black remaining. The radio is a good unit but lacks a auxiliary plug which it should have by now. The lighting in the Mazda 6 might annoy some since it uses only red LED lighting. The Mazda seats are also reasonably comfortable but more importantly rather supportive. Build quality in general is quite good but I noticed some small problems with some panels, all Mazda 6s sold in North America are built in the United States. Many don't like that the Mazda 6 is very mid sized, the interior room is not as big as a Camry or Accord. I'm not fat so I didn't notice.

My Score: 7/10 - A decent interior, not brilliant but one that doesn't embarrass.

Styling: The Mazda 6 does not change all too much from the previous 626, yet despite this the modest styling I think works very well. The 6 is rather sleek yet muscular in its appearance with its rather round body. There's not much I can criticize about the styling, it looks good but not still remains pretty inoffensive.

My Score: 8/10 - Not horribly exciting, but regardless it has a modern look that will age well.

Value for the money: The Mazda 6 is truly a bargain compared to the Accord and Camry. You get the option of a wagon along with a mid sized car that acts like its a sports car. Both the Accord and Camry do not offer this, the Camry particularly is not sporty. If you're not a fat person the size should be more than adequate and better for fuel economy too. While it doesn't have the reputation like the Accord or Camry, the fact it offers a different experience sets it apart from the others. The most versatile of all the mid sized cars without breaking the budget.

My Score: 10/10 - Offers many options its competition doesn't and doesn't overcharge due to the badge.

Overall: 42/50 - A very good car, if you don't need luxuries its more than enough to satisfy the family man who initially wanted a sports car.