Stylish, affordable, and oh-so-nimble. Put Mazda on your short list.
Mazda CX-7
One of few standouts in a crowd of relatively bland crossovers, the 5-passenger CX-7 gets a fresh new face and several updates. A new base 4-cylinder engine offers improved fuel economy, and the 244-hp turbo 4-cylinder has been tweaked to give a few more MPGs. The interior is attractive and comfortable, though rear legroom and cargo space don't quite measure up to competitors. The CX-7's calling card is that it looks sporty and acts the part, with aggressive wheel arches, swooping lines, and taut, responsive handling.
MSRP: $21,550 – $32,885 Base Engine: 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with 161 hp Base EPA mpg: 20 city/28 hwy/23 cmb Competition: Honda CR-V, Nissan Murano, Toyota RAV4
Model Highlights Front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive Automatic transmission with manual shift mode Standard ABS and stability control Excellent crash test ratings