In the Mazda CX-7 Driver's Seat

Hop in and right away you'll start seeing the whole "SUV-meets-sports-car" thing in action. Note the windshield: It's steeply raked, just like a sports car. The shift lever is positioned in about the same place you'd find it in a sports car, too. (Not that it matters; all CX-7s are automatics, and how many people use those Tiptronic-style manual controls every time they drive?) And the steering wheel is borrowed from the MX-5 Miata. The one un-sports-car-like feature is the tall SUV-like seating position, which I applaud - maybe it's 'cause I'm only 5'6", but I like sitting up high. I found the CX-7 easy to see out of and quite comfy, though the cramped footwell could really use a sports-car-like footrest.

Ever notice how couples tend to befriend other couples? Mazda did and designed the rear seat accordingly. There are three-point belts for all three positions, but only the outer positions get headrests. Same deal for the CX-7's LATCH (ISOFIX) child-seat anchors: Two in the outer positions, none in the center. That's the safest place for a baby seat, so CX-7 owners who do decide to start a family should consider trading in before the first kid is born.

I liked that Mazda designed the rear suspension to minimize the intrusion of the rear fenderwells on cargo space. The rear seatback splits and folds, and the release mechanism rocks: Pull a handle in the trunk and the seatback on that side unlatches and folds down all by itself.