Used 2008 Mazda CX-7 Consumer Reviews

Fun to drive, not fun to maintain

The 2008 CX7 is a fun car to drive, but over the years has been less than fun to maintain. Less than 3 months after purchasing it brand new, the exhaust tips began rusting. That was the first bad sign. Since then in just over 2 years, I've had a door replaced after rusting, trailer hitch has rusted, tires lasted a whole 18,000 miles, I need new brakes and rotors already, and the EGR valve has gone bad and needs replacement ($900 repair). After all of this, last week I decided to trade in the vehicle rather than deal with 3 more years of problems on the loan. I'm picking up my 2011 GMC Terrain tomorrow.

Turbo gone!!!!

I bought my 2008 CX7 with almost 5k miles. I really enjoyed driving it....until the timing chain had to be replaced at at 40000 miles, which I thought was a little soon but it was covered. About a year ago, I had to have the engine mount replaced, some bearings were worn and there was an oil leak. That was not covered over $1000 worth of repairs. The CEL came on over the weekend. Took it to the dealer ,turbo engine done....timing chain again, The car needs almost 9000 dollars worth of repairs..are you kidding me!!! The service rep told me that I did good for having 95k miles on the car without anyhing major happening before now. Going to get rid of this car!!!

Surprise, Surprise!!!

Bought 2008 CX-7 in '08 with no miles. Had no issues until June 2014 after driving the car 2.5 miles and the car started to overheat. I parked the car and took it to the dealer the next day. Diagnosis, the engine needed to relaced. Never had a check engine light warning or any other indicator for that matter. It is now October 2015, a refurbished engine and new turbo later, the car still does't work. The car has been operational maybe 4 months in this timeframe. A car salesman who was a friend told me to trade it in after paying on it for 3 years back in '11 because he said these engines were bad. I wish I had listened. Mazda should be ashamed of themselves. This model's engine was a lemon.

Engine Failure CX7 @ 70K miles

We bought a Certified CX7 2008. A year and a half later the car is completely giving out. We take MAJOR care of all our cars with Synthetic Oil, so when they told us it was due to "Sludge" it was definitely a slap in the face. The engine needs to be replaced at only 70k miles. We talked to a mechanic and he told us that the turbo overhearts the engine turning everything into sludge and even melting it. Although we have a platinum coverage, the insurance is doing everything they can to blame it on us. I've been looking at reviews and it seems ALOT of you are having or had the same issues! It's horrible to keep paying for a car whose engine dies of its own malfunction. Its time Mazda owns up!

Engine Failure

We bought a 2008 CX 7 with 62,000 miles on it in April 2012 they replaced the vvt adjuster and chain at that point. It is now March 2013 and 14,000 miles later and the vvt is out again, the turbo is out and after a $3000 quote to repair it my dealer calls back and says "well we made the repairs to your car but it is going to need an engine". That is supposed to cost $6,000. No helpis being brought from Mazda the issue is being pushed to higher up in the world of Mazda. Needless to say Mazda has not impressed me. They are telling me this is caused by "sludge". But in the next breath my dealer tells me "sludge" is normal in this engine. I wonder how this will play out.

Mazda Builds CRAP!!!!!! Buyer Beware

Mazda's design engineers have the heads in a very dark hole. The turbo charger they put in the vehicle does not lubricate itself and fails quickly. At 70K the timing belt has stretched and failed causing a complete rebuild of the engine (BTW, Mazda won't cover any of that, wait until you get to deal with their warranty people). Mazda has design a vehicle that is very noisy inside, bad visibility from anywhere inside the car, terrible air-conditioning, the car rides like a stage coach, and worst of all Mazda does not back its warranties and hides from its responsibilities concerning its products....buyer beware

AVOID!

I owned the car a year and a half. I've been through 2 engines and constant check engine lights. I will never buy a mazda again.

Owned for years, still love it

I purchased a 2008 CX-7 new, in 2009. It was a "demo" model so I got a good deal. My car only has 25,000 miles on it so far (yeah, I don't drive it all the time). However, I do love the sporty feel, the moderately large cargo capacity, and the styling; it still looks cutting edge. I don't drive it much because my wife and I also own a diesel VW Jetta, which gets better than twice the mpg of the Mazda. I've averaged about 18.5mpg on the CX-7 in the years I've owned it. I love the sportiness of the vehicle, but you'll have to make a judgement about whether poor fuel economy is worth the love of the road/drive. I'm happy with my decision to buy this car.

RUN FAST

This is our second cx-7. The first one we bought used but after a year it got hit and was totaled. We really didn't own it long enough for us to have many problems. HOWEVER, we bought another cx-7 after the first one thinking it would be another good car. Hindsight is 20 20. We bought the second one with only 56,000 miles on it. After just a few months, the turbo went out. That cost $4000 to fix!! After this the check engine light constantly came on and the dealership kept telling us it was because of "sludge". At 109,000 miles we finally replaced the motor because it had so many problems. Here we are today and we can't get the check engine light to stay off on the NEW motor. We've only had the new motor for 6 months... We've already spent a couple thousand dollars on it trying to fix it. Finally about to trade it in... hopefully for a Nissan Maxima. PLEASE SAVE YOUR SELF AND DO NOT BUY THIS CAR OR ANY MAZDA FOR THAT MATTER!!!!!

Great SUV

This is a great car considered lots of other vehicles before buying. I thought the some of these reviews were unfair about this car as most of the problems were due to driver error. And not keeping up on normal maintenance this is a fantastic car fun to drive lots of spunk and great ride quality. Its quite inside with plenty of room I would recomend this car to anyone

Let me tell you!!

I got this car with 18k miles on it and I initially loved it despite the premium gas and the gas mileage it was great. We took it on family trips from Ohio to Florida on 3 occasions. 60k noticed an oil leak-engine ouil cooler was defective-not covered under warranty but Mazda was aware that this was a known issue and was doing nothing about it. Cost-$600+. White smoke out the exhaust-Vent kit needed-known issue not covered. Cost-$700+. At now 98k all of a sudden rattling took it in low on oil by 4 quarts?? No oil light came on or service light came on?? A week later guess what same thing..and the engine is blown! Talk about Angry... I still owe on it and I am just going to junk it.

Sophisticated and Spunky

Bought a used 08 CX7 about a month ago with only 25,000 miles on it. After looking at many crossovers, I never considered the CX7 because I didnt know they existed. After seeing this on the lot, I fell in love with it. This is my first ever foreign car and although I was torn about buying foreign, I couldnt be more happier with this vehicle. It has the power of any full size SUV out there. I am getting about 20 miles combined to the gallon. This isnt that great but I knew that going in. The car is well built and it is so much fun to drive. Although I bought primarily for my wife to drive, I find myself using it whenever I can. This is a vehicle that I will keep for a long long time.

2008 Mazda CX7 AWD

We own a 2008 Lexus RX350 as well as this CX7. The CX costs almost one half the as much as the Lexus. I cannot justify the difference. The CX7 is THE VALUE proposition. Ride, handling, comfort,and its pep are truly outstanding. The CX7 runs well on regular gas but fuel economy is a serious disappointment. Mazda with all its talent MUST come up with a fuel efficient engine for this otherwise superior offering. The Bose surround sound system is an absolute must. Still a better value than the Lexus even considering the poor fuel economy. With better fuel efficiency while maintaining the peppy, fun to drive experience, this crossover would lead all competitors. Fit and finish are excellent

DRIVING IT UNTIL IT DIES

Bought it new on 12/31/2007 and have put on a little over 55,000 miles. Taken it to the dealer for service for oil changes and regular maintenance. Had a bearing start to go around 54,500 miles and they replaced it under warranty - NO charge. Great overall car. Grand Touring package (leather) makes it just as nice as a Lexus. Great Snow car (just change out the factory tires) Gas mileage ok - around 20-21 overall. Probably a great car to buy used as well as it has a LOT of features and is not a typical SUV box to drive around in.

Great car with a few quirks

We bought this car a little over a month ago, Traded a 2008 Scion TC for it cause our little family had grown by 1 more. Aside from the MPG's I have no real complaints about it. The brakes needed changed at less than 30K but i undertook that task myself & it has a slight vibration at 50-60mph that i'm still trying to track down. But it's an amazing car to own, it's fast & sporty. The older kids (6&8) absolutely love it, Just wish i had gotten one with more options.

Fun car to drive but too many issues.

I will edit this review with details; in a nut shell, it is very fun to drive, good steering and suspension response on all kind of roads. It is agile and has road holding that is better than all of its rivals. Its brakes are also impressive and despite they are little difficult to dose, stopping distance is beautiful. I am 6'7" and I fit inside comfortably. Actually, I have a friend who owns an BMW X6 and a 2010 CX-7 and he likes dynamics of CX-7 more than X6. His words are "CX-7 is like extension of my body, obeys all my orders perfectly".

Love my baby!!

I purchased a 2008 CX7 in Oct 2012. 3 days after purchasing it I too had white smoke coming from the exhaust. I returned it to the dealership and they fixed it with no questions asked. Other than that, like everyone else, the gas consumption is a little low but it also depends on how you drive. If your always driving like a bat out of hell then of course your gas consumption will be less than someone takes their time or goes a slow, steady speed. The interion is comfortable (sometimes I feel like Im in a cockpit in a spaceship lol). The back is very roomy and everyone says they love it back there. This is my first SUV so I ma love, love, loving sitting higher. Great purchase so far.

Zoom Zoom

I started out looking for a used mid size suv. Looked at due to 4,000 rebate which helped my upside down on trade in. Loved this car more than any I have owned. At first thought I made a mistake. Read alot of reviews on CX7 and other cross overs and know I made the correct choice.

Educate yourself before you buy

The 08 does not require high octane, but its recommended. If you buy a car with a turbo, expect lag, it's that simple. Yes it's a 4cyl but it's a turbo, so don't expect standard 4cyl economy. From a performance standpoint the car does not feel super fast off the line, but passing can be a lot of fun under full throttle, especially from about 40mph as 80 comes up really quick! The ride is stiff due to performance, if you want a soft ride buy a boat. Stopping ability is outstanding and cornering is very good. This car is the best of both worlds if you ask me. Driver's seat fits well and controls are all within easy reach.

Such A Letdown

I was so excited to own this vehicle. However, I did not do enough research on this vehicle. I paid $8k for this vehicle at 88k miles. I have the package with all the bells and whistles as well. Favorite parts about this car: - Zippy (turbo charged) - Great Audio - Relatively Comfortable Issues I ran Into: - Mechanically unreliable (fuel injectors, leaky seals, bad AC switches, etc.) I've put ~$8-$10k into this since buying it - Not the best for anyone over 6 foot tall - Expensive basic maintenance (trasmission fluid was "special" so it cost 2x more) - Back up camera monitor was pretty low def/not effective For as fancy as this car looks, i wish they would've put more effort into the reliability of it. NO JOKE every time I leave town (15 miles on the interstate or 200) my check engine light would come on. The turbo definitely doesn't do anything to help the reliability as it causes my fuel injection issues. I've had to repair 3 oil leaks (transmission was in the way for one of them so it had to be removed thus costing a boat load). I've had issues with seals breaking/not going back together correctly and hurting my fuel economy. Long story short, if you just want something to take around town day-to-day in an area where it snows, this would be an alright decision but expect repairs. If you need something that's long lasting and can easily be taken on long road trips, DO NOT buy this car. I'm having a difficult time with this because i truly loved the car and now i'm not sure i can by a Mazda ever again. This was my first experience with Mazda and quite possibly the last.

dissatisfied

Air compressor locked up at 18000 miles and burned the drive belt up. Gas mileage stinks, don't let the dealership lie about the fuel, you HAVE to use premium gas or it lugs and shifts like crap.

very disappointed

I have had the suv for a year and half I have had to take it in 3 times bought it brand new I am very disappointed. I think when you buy a brand new vehicle it should work. I will NEVER buy a Mazda again and if you are thinking about purchasing this vehicle Please Think Twice cause it has been a nightmare for our family.I wish they would take it back.

Mazada CX7

I get 20+ mpg in town and 23 hwy. I have put almost 70,000 miles on in the last 2 1/2 years. A lot of room inside and very stylish outside. I have been very satisfied with my CX7. Dependable with good service, comfort, and power.

Fell in love....now HATE

This was my second car ever and I was completely in love until the cars issues began! It killed me to see this car break so much because it was my baby. Turbo went twice, tires had to be changed at 20000 miles, navigation only works when it wants to, the engine ticks VERY loudly, squeaks like a 30 year old car, battery just went due to bad starter (still fighting dealership over that), the gas mileage is terrible!,the paint scratches very easily, and the abs has failed more then once. This car could be a awesome car if they fixed the problems! I loved it so much when I bought it!

2008 GT CX-7 AWD

I did not rate reliability since I have only owned the SUV for 1 month or less. The sport tuned drive train/suspension is awesome, really grabs the road. The pick-up (horsepower) is awesome. I got the 6 disc CD, Bose system, which is wonderful. My husband owns a Murano and this SUV blows it away from stand-still starts, but that might be because of the CVT in the Murano. The CX-7 is a bit louder with regards to road noise compared to the Nissan, but much more fun to drive/sportier. Don't be afraid of the 4 cylinder, it rocks. Of course it is going to be louder than most v6 engines due to the turbo. All in all I am very pleased.

Best Decision I Ever Made

I have only had the car for a week and I absolutely love it. I went to buy the Mazda 3. The price on the CX7 was outstanding so I took a test drive. Wow what a car. I love the turbo 2.3 engine no problems pulling out when needed. When I first sat in the CX 7, I thought to myself, "Now this is a car". I drive 30+ miles each way to work and I want to be comfortable. The radio controls are a little out of the way and I always change the channel when I think I'm hitting the volume but now I use the controls on the steering wheel for everything. The one gentleman was correct the Radio Mute Button is fantastic. I think the car needs to add telescoping steering wheel to their tilt controls.

I love this car!

This car has a lot of power under the hood. It takes off very quickly and the ride is so smooth. I love the size and it is very easy to handle in traffic.

Best Car EVER!

I love my CX-7. This is the 9th car I've owned in my 30 years of living. It's also my favorite. The turbo is great and a thrill to drive. I know everyone keeps downing on the gas and mileage however, I have learned that it runs great if you can alternate between mid-grd. and prem. gas, also being very cautious with driving lately due to gas increase (not as much fun!). I can pull about 22-23 mpg in town and usually 26 hwy. Driving it hard it usually gets about 14-16 in town (we gotta have our fun sometime). Excellent, safe, dependable, not too pricey! Don't under estimate the performance till you try it.

What Lines

Stunning exterior lines accent this perfect sized SUV. Solid footing allows you throw this platform into a switch-back with a peace of mind. The lows, much too noisy cabin, turbo lag, and eats tires every 20K.

Only the first week

Two days of ownership and the electrical system shut down on startup. Happened again the very next day, the keyless entry, radio and dashboard display shutdown completely. Electrical issue and the dealership will be checking it over in a couple of days. Great!

Loved it... and now hate it

I started off loving the CX-7 and after having it for over a year I now hate it sadly. The engine makes excellent power, could easily make more, but is held back by the automatic trans. When in auto mode its ok but manual mode is an absolute joke. It takes so long to shift that without perfect timing it would never give optimal acceleration. A manual version, which they do have overseas, would really wake it up. We've had some issues, biggest being the a/c failing. I've seen others have the same a/c issues and dealerships seem to not be covering them under warranty. It eats tires. I could go on much more but don't have enough room to type all that's wrong. Won't buy a new Mazda again.

No regrets

After weeks of surfing and comparison with competitors, my wife and I knew the fact that this is no fuel economy CUV. We decided anyway to purchase the top of the line selection in brilliant black. We just absolutely love this CUV. All the other details to this CUV overshadows the fuel consumption dilema. My wife now prefers to enjoy the ride while watching her movies on the ent. system. You can not go wrong with the BOSE sound system. What outside noise? It's built solid. I would definitely recommend this CX7 if gas is not a factor with your decision. I recommend the AERO package. We also opted to install the IPOD adapter with our dealer.

A question of Mileage

Bought my cx 7 in March and I am happy with my purchase. The exterior and interior are wonderful and innovative. However, the gas mileage is atrocious. Turbo lag takes away from the performance, and the car has a very slow pick up without the turbo kicking in. Mazda has yet to prove its reliability in the crowded Japanese market. They offer a six cd changer but no ipod jack?

Best decision I ever made

I love everything about this car. It is fast to accelerate, fun to drive, and a great looking car. It draws a lot of attention because not many people have them. The only bad thing is tires are expensive. I have had the car for four months and I still get excited every time I drive it. BUY IT

Best Value in Mid Sized SUV

Just bought my second CX-7. After 2 years, turned in a leased Galaxy Gray GT for a purchased 2008 Mica Copper Red GT, Sand leather interior loaded with every option. It is the first time ever I have repeated on a new vehicle with the same body style. The CX-7 was ahead of the styling curve and the other 'crossovers' are just catching up. Exception is the Infiniti FX, a great vehicle, but for price and value, the CX-7 cannot be touched. Some ding it for the mileage, but its reasonable for its class and the 2008-09 can use regular fuel (07 required premium). Performance (244 hp) and handling are like a sports car. Zoom Zoom is more than hype. My other car is a 350z roadster. Both are a blast.

Zoom Zoom Rules!

Test drove others, and nothing in its class compared to the super fun drive and sleek design of the CX-7. Gas mileage was not that different on others,and the CX-7 quality outshined their cheap feel. Looking forward to seeing how Mazda holds up over time. Drive it smart to maximize gas mileage, and the power is there if you need it. Disappointed in the stock stereo, the speakers are on the bottom of the front doors so I am always adjusting volume to hear radio. A little more roominess in front would be nice for taller people. A few more little inexpensive features -- rear cup holders, magazine holders for rear passengers etc. would have made me even happier.

Love It

I couldn't be happier with this vehicle. Got a GT FWD loaded. The performance is awesome!! It is such a fun car to drive! A suggestion for some folks. Skip the technology package and put in an aftermarket radio like the Pioneer AVIC-Z2 or D3. Everything else with the car is wonderful!!!

Worst Car Ever

I have been driving Hondas for 30 years. I purchased the Mazda 2 years ago. The turbo just went out and Mazda won't honior the warrantly because there is "sludge" in my engine. The Mazda dealership told me to replace the entire engine at a cost of $9000. I have 60,000 miles on it. Regular maintenance and use synthetic oil but since I did not have my oil changes done at the dealership the dealership won't cover it either. Also, I bought it used and did think to ask for copies of the oil changes from the previous owner and without those, I can't prove the oil was changed every 3,000 miles.

Value SUV

Have owned the vehicle 18 months. Replaced the factor tires at 12K miles, and the AC compressor at 26K. Both very unacceptable, (AC was covered by warranty.) With that said, this vehicle represents the most car for the money in its segment. I have a Grand Touring with Navigation and paid less than 29K. Try and find anything for that price that drives like this car. It has plenty of room, drives and looks great, and it get's around 20 mpg. My lease ends this November and I will most likely buy this CX7 at lease end. If you drive this car, and compare it to it to other SUV's, you will buy it. Compare this to an Acura MDX and you will have an extra $10K to buy a few extra set of tires.

My 1st Mazda, lovin' the 2008 CX-7!

After owning all American cars (Chryslers, Fords and one GM) since my beloved 1985 Honda Civic I purchased a 2008 Mazda CX-7 Grand Touring after a recommendation from one of the dealerships I was shopping at. I had never even considered a Mazda before but I did about 4 days of crash research on everything Mazda I could find on the Net and test drove 3 different CX-7's before I made the purchase. After a week and a half of ownership I am in love with it. The drive, performance and look are second to none and I got a GREAT DEAL on it. So far I am very impressed and pleased with it, looking forward to doing a little customization on it! :-)

Great car

Big Disapointment

I thought driving a Mazda would be wonderful. I love forgeign cars as they last forever!! I couldn't be more wrong. Bought the car with 16k miles and at 70k miles, the engine blows. First was thought the timing chain broke, but wasn't. Mazda will NOT stand by their product. They have a crappy warrenty for a reason. Their cars are CRAP!! I checked out more cars like mine, there IS a bad problem with the engines!!! There is NO reason for a maintained car to have such issues at low miles. I had a VW with 144k miles, 10 years old and never once gave me problems. SHAME ON YOU MAZDA!! Build a better car or fix it. Check reviews and engine problems on the 07' & 08' CX-7's!! U have been WARNED!!!!

Zoom Zooming 1st Timer!

Been a proud CX-7 owner for about a month now and we absolutely love, love, love it! It's a great looking CUV/SUV that definitely handles more like a sporty car, especially when that turbo kicks in and you're hitting those curvy roads! The fun factor and looks factor sure does beat the pants off of a RAV4, CRV, or Murano. The Bose system is awesome. It's like having Bono & Edge jamming in the car with us as we're driving. My only gripes would be the locks not automatically locking when the car is in gear - kind of a no brainer to include. Also wished it came with a optional manual 6 speed. Bottom line: A-W-E-S-O-M-E vehicle!

2008 Mazda CX-7 Grand Touring FWD

The CX-7 does great at handling many driving conditions. It has great passing power on the highway. Avg. MPG on highway was 24. Using premium fuel and using cruise control really helps. I am not impressed with the navigation system. It is not as user friendly as the plug and go Garmins. Its point of interest database is very limited. Instrument cluster is easy to read and has a dimming switch. Bose sound system is great. Outdoor temp. display can be read when you toggle between the A/C temp and outdoor temp. I would have liked it if the outdoor temp was always visible in display above the steering wheel. Reliability is still unknown so I would suggest a short term lease.

Great Crossover for the Money

Leased this 2008 CX7 after looking at Chevy Equinox, Ford Edge and Murano. Mazda offered best value for the money. 2008 edition can take regular unleaded which is what we use however the performance and turbo really needs premium gas. At $4 plus a gallon, we will use regular unleaded and loose some performance. Moonroof and Bose stereo with power seats is terrific. A fun car to drive. I'm not tall but I wish the headroom was a little higher. Sometimes feel a little tight with near the sun visors.

A happy wife is a happy life

Got this car for my wife, we looked at all the usual suspects and I'm so glad that she preferred the CX-7 in the Grand Touring AWD package. This car is a revelation in the price bracket; it is the better value X5. Being an ex racer and a Manager of a Ferrari and Maserati dealer I get to drive some nice cars, but this car is really good, with a few short comings, but they are insignificant to the positives.

nice crossover you didn't know about!

We didn't think about it until we decided we needed a roomy, sporty, sedan-looking SUV/crossover with superb safety features, incl AWD (Seattle) and actually test-drove it. This car has all those things and what a joy to drive! Although you do hear some engine and wind in the cabin, but some, and you can't hear the traffic/road noise. Amazing brakes/acceleration! Roomy enough, although the back seats are not as comfy as the front. Nice styling; interior could use better materials. Test-drive it! Not sure if people who complain test-drove it first, knew of mpg. Rav4=cavernous/dark/plastic;CRV=underpowered; Forester=comfy back seats, as much room; uncomfortable front; sluggish as the Rogue

Awesome, Fun and Cool

I test drove a lot of vehicles, both sedans and SUVs, before I got behind the wheel of the CX-7. Once I drove this, I forgot all about the Rogue, Outlander, CRV and Rav4. I also discovered why they say "Zoom Zoom." I drove a Honda Civic for 10 years, so this was a big upgrade in evey way. The only thing I miss about the Civic is the gas mileage (I am averaging 21- 22 MPG in the CX-7). I went for the Sport FWD model as I did not need AWD, leather or navigation. The bad thing about the Sport model is the crappy stock stereo. I will be upgrading the speakers!

What i expected

I bought this car in January 2008 and since then all the other cars I drove in my life were nothing. It's an absolutely fantastic car, very quick, the engine noise fantastic ,the steering is like driving a GTi and the build quality fabulous. Of course like every car in the market has its negatives. I have tried hard to find as many as I can but I only find one. Fuel consumption. Well at least you know it before you buy, it even though that Mazda misleads you with the 12.3l per 100km. The best i have managed is 14.5l per 100 km.

It will be one year....

in a few weeks since I bought the 08 CX7. It has 18k miles, and I haven't had any problems with the vehicle. I brought the Sport but it came with some options (nav, Bose system, moon roof, Sirius, remote start). The CX7 is the perfect size for me. Overall, I enjoy the CX7.