MAZDA wowed us when it launched the petrol CX-5 last month, offering up a chic, well-equipped and good value compact SUV that made an excellent follow-up to the bigger CX-7 that preceded it.
Now the Japanese brand has launched the diesel version, powered by a brand new 2.2-litre unit from its much-hyped SkyActiv family. With a thumping and class-leading 129kW of power and 420Nm of torque, we expected big things, but could it deliver?
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CX-7 diesel
Released: October 2009
Ended: February 2012
Family Tree: CX-5WHAT a brash and bold breath of fresh air the CX-7 was – and still is, really – in what is generally a staid and conservative class.
Larger, longer and more expensive than the vanilla Tribute (2001-2008) that it eventually replaced, the CX-7 was pitched as a high-performance SUV flagship, and came with plenty of go to match the head-turning show.
The diesel version was powered by a well-received 127kW/400Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel – although its lack of an auto option hindered its market potential.
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