As Pawed by Daisy Mae (with a little help from Jim Hamel)the Mazda CX-7 gets PAWS UP. Who is Daisy Mae, she is the new PAW investigative automotive writer for Bark Buckle UP. She is an 8 year old Boxer who, until recently, called Boxer Rescue Los Angeles her only home. As a senior citizen among many adorable Boxer pups, her chances of being adopted seemed pretty dim. But http://www.examiner.com/honda-and-acura-in-national/james-hamel">James Hamel, a freelance auto journalist who works from home, adopted little Miss Daisy Mae and has put her to work helping him write reviews. She now travels with him in every vehicle that he tests and offers up her unique take on what makes a vehicle or product truly “Pet Safe.” When most people think of a “dog friendly” or “pet safe” vehicle, their minds usually turn to that modern day “mommy and me” station wagon now called the SUV or crossover. Either way, SUVs and crossovers feature an elevated ride height that 98% of people will never use. Does that strike anyone else as being kind of pointless given the laws of physics and top heaviness? Yes, I am better educated that your children! I went to private school.
So what can a dog lover do if they aren’t really excited about a new SUV? Enter the positively wagon-like 2010 Mazda CX-7 iSport.
Since my human companion writes about automobiles for his job he tends to talk about them a lot. I really learned a lot from sitting and listening to him talking about his new cars. A lot of times I just tune him out too. He can talk a long time. Maybe you can talk to your dog about some special interest and you could become an all new Canine Investigative Reporter!
I know, I am a dog so what do I know about ride, handling, horsepower and steering? I know that when they are properly calibrated in unison they can turn an average transportation appliance into something your chauffer will always relish driving. A vehicle with predictably linear steering, a smooth ride, and roll free cornering that encourages him to drive this SUV faster not slower.
The five-passenger 2010 Mazda CX-7 (the larger 2010 Mazda CX-9 SUV fits 7-paggengers) has a very low step in height which allows me to jump easily into the cargo hold or into the back seat. I am 8-years old and sometimes my sight and jumping ability isn’t what it used to be.
Considering the never ending financial chaos that is a fact of daily life, it is no wonder that the least expensive compact SUVs are finally getting the credibility they deserve. There was a time when people laughed at you for driving a Toyota RAV4 but I can guarantee that nobody is going to laugh at you for buying a 2010 or 2011 Mazda CX-7.
While my human companion was unsure if the exaggerated exterior wheel-arch design on the 2010 Mazda CX-7 would quickly make this SUV look dated, I think that this stylistically “out there” move really kept the CX-7 from suffering such an unpleasant fate. But once you drive (or ride in) the 2010 Mazda CX-7, you will learn quickly that no compact crossover drives as much like a station wagon as the CX-7. And, yes, that is a complement.
Although the iSport specific 2.5 liter 161 horsepower/161 lb. feet of torque 4-cylinder does not have a turbo like more expensive CX-7 variants, my test unit had plenty of pep. Quite frankly it felt just as fast as the RAV4, Hyundai Tucson and Honda CR-V. Granted, you may need to occasionally plan passing maneuvers at freeway speeds as this is still a bluff sided, relatively heavy car. Fuel economy is so-so at 21.8 miles per gallon.
The interior is well worth the affordable entry price as it features dual zone climate control, power driver’s seat, halogen headlamps, heated seats, power moonroof, 17-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth, all of the expected power goodies, a back-up camera, Sirius satellite radio and much more. The final total just came to a reasonable $24,490.
My last concern is with the 2010 Mazda CX-7’s Auxiliary input jack that is offered in place of a USB/iPod connectivity port. I find auxiliary input jacks to be very distracting for my daddy as he always has to look down at the iPod to pick artists, albums or playlists. Doesn’t anyone at Mazda have an iPod, iPhone or iPad?
Daisy’s Likes
· Exterior Styling
· Low Jump in Height
· Easy to access D-latches for safety harness.
· Durable feeling cloth and plastic.
Daisy’s Dislikes
· Interior was black cloth that is not very easy to clean. It shows the fur more than the brown.
· Daisy would always want the turbocharged variant but that’s only because it is faster.
Vehicle Tested: 2010 Mazda CX-7i Sport
Base Price: $22,490
Price as Tested: $25,690 (including destination)
Options on Tester: Sirius satellite radio : ($430), Rear bumper guard : ($125), Scuff Plates : ($145), Convenience Package—(includes heated front seats, power moonroof, back-up camera, power driver’s seat, automatic climate control) : ($1,750)
Engine: 2.5 liter 4-cylinder
Power: 161 horsepower/161 lb. feet of torque
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
0-60: 10 seconds (estimated)
Fuel Economy (EPA): 20 city/28 highway
Fuel Economy as Tested: 21.8 miles per gallon
Fuel Tank Size: 16.4 gallons
Runs on: Regular Unleaded
Tow Capacity: 1,500 pounds
Cargo Volume (rear seats in place): 29.9 cubic feet
(Second Row Folded): 58.6 cubic feet
Crash Test Ratings (NHTSA): Front driver/passenger—(5 stars both sides)
Side Impact: front seat/rear seat—(5 stars front and back)
Rollover Protection: 4 stars
Warranty: 3 years/36,000 mile bumper to bumper
5 years/60,000 mile powertrain
Vehicle Assembled in: Hiroshima, Japan
Vehicle Provided by: Mazda USA
For More Information on Automotive Pet Safety: BarkBuckleUp.com
BeSmartRideSafe.com
About: Bark Buckle UP® founder Christina Selter “Pet Safety Lady” works with first responders nationwide teaching pet safety and has buckled UP more then 10,000 pets. Education is the first step to show that pet safety is connected to human safety, which helps to save lives. Christina has been featured in more then 372 news segments, directed and produced several pet safety PSA’s and created Be Smart Ride Safe-take the pledge Buckle Up the whole family.
