End of the Road in the Mazda CX-7

For me, test drives generally come down to "Would I buy one?" In this case, however, it doesn't. Being a parent puts me out of the CX-7's target buyer group, and frankly if my kids were still newborns, the lack of center LATCH anchor points would be enough to put me off. But, as it happens, my kids' ages are 7 and almost 10. The CX-7 certainly has all the utility I need, and its price tag fits my budget (though its fuel consumption might not). I don't care about owning a frumpy-looking car (I am, after all, a parent; I plan to start wearing open-toed sandals with black socks just as soon as my kids are old enough to be embarrassed by it) -- but the CX-7's looks are undeniably handsome, and the fact that its styling makes few concessions to practicality is something even a frumpy-looking guy like me can appreciate.

So all in all, I'd have to say the 2007 Mazda CX-7 is a pretty darn impressive package. It looks good, goes fast, and aside from a slight drinking problem it lacks the bad habits of most SUVs. What I like most is that it's individualistic. Just 'cause you get married doesn't mean you have to have (or want) kids -- and just 'cause you want utility doesn't mean you have to get stuck with a typical SUV. And that's something any grown-up can appreciate.