2012 Mazda CX-7 Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
17 -20 City / 21 -27 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
161 -244
Seats
5
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Caroline R
It is a very smooth vehicle to drive and has a very classic look.
I really like that the car is larger and has room for the family. It also has good gas mileage. And, the warming seats are a definite bonus in the winter.
accountCircle Amie W
It is very comfortable and roomy.
The car is extremely comfortable and roomy. The seats are cloth which makes the heat bearable during the summers. There is an auxiliary cord connection, so you can play any music you want. The air conditioning works well and the windows are decently tinted.
accountCircle Dee H
It is dependable and safe.It does not need much Maintenance.
I like the way it drives. I like the way it looks. It is dependable. It has needed a little maintenance.
accountCircle LaTrisha M
The Mazda cx-7 is comfortable and will last a long time with proper maintenance.
I have had my cx-7 for the last 6 years. It was a rental before I purchased it. I have had 2 recalls on it and have replaced the air compressor. It runs beautifully and I have been on several long trips the longest being about 21 hours. I haven't had any major problems. The only problem I have right now is that the motor that allows the window to go down on the driver's side is out.
accountCircle Mike B
Great car, no real problems.
This car, 2012 cx 7, is a great car. I bought it brand new and have almost no problems with it. I have put 164,871 miles on it and it is still running great. The only issue I have with it is that it is fairly difficult to change the headlights. They are hard to reach, so I just have it done in a shop.
accountCircle Becky R
They don't make it anymore but I still love it and would buy it again if I could
The size and it's a great car. It's drives great in the snow it's roomy but comfortable at the same time
accountCircle Federico P
Easy and safe ride even for an SUV.
The Mazda cx 7 is very reliable. I bought it used but it still drives perfectly after 6 years. Every year I do a check up and usually tires get a little deflated. The sensors for blind spots are a little faulty especially with warm weather but that is the only real issue I had.
accountCircle Joseph A
Blackout, love the style.
The biggest problem I have with my car are my headlights every 5 or 6 months the bulbs burnout on either side which is very annoying. The dealership does not have a answer as to why this is happening, it is very costly to replace headlights. So my biggest problem are my headlights.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle jane vane
Never buy
Never buy a Mazda
accountCircle Christopher S
2012 cx-7 cancelled for all the right reasons.
Gas mileage is horrific. No power. Quality is low. I've tried high octane gas or boosters, expensive oil. Still unless straight freeway driving I only get 250 miles on a tank. Ac isn't cold, the traction control disables your car basically as soon as it slips.
accountCircle Jacqueline L
Reliable car, but no four-wheel drive.
This car is nice for driving in normal conditions, however, it lacks four wheel drive which can be a real problem when it snows. Keep this in mind when purchasing this vehicle! I love the interior of the car and it provides enough space for transporting furniture. Overall, it is a comfortable, reliable car.
accountCircle Kim M
Mazda cx-7. Safety, comfort and speed. . .
The Mazda cx-7 has been a great vehicle all in all. It is comfortable and with leather seats, both driver and passenger side offer heated seating. Our 6 cylinder engine has a turbo drive which makes it a lot easier to get up and go. The rear camera is visible from nearly every seat, but especially the driver seat. Located on an approx. 4x5 inch screen in the center of the dash it has come in handy quite often. The camera eye is located on the hatchback.
accountCircle Dom B
Mazda cx 7 2012 last generation.
Great compact SUV for New England. 4 cyl engine is good on gas. Handles well and has decent pickup. Drives smooth on highway. The car is comfortable inside and has enough room for larger than average passengers. Vehicle can be equipped with roof rack. The rear seats fold down as well.
accountCircle Amanda A
The issues with my vehicle.
Here is a list of issues I have with this vehicle: 1. The gas mileage is not that great. 2. When driving I often feel the car bouncing around or wobbly. 3. I have issues with blind spots and I do not feel like the backup camera is accurate. 4. The dashboard is extremely reflective in my windshield.
accountCircle Amya H
Maintenance has been one of the biggest hassles.
I have had to pay a lot of money on maintenance on the car and even then the maintenance does not really help, the problem comes back again and my car sounds like I Does not want to start every time I start it. Maybe it is just too old and time for a new one but even random things such as my windows do not work. The buttons to let the windows down does not work.
accountCircle Josie H
It has a camera where you can see the back and a navigation system.
The car is easy to drive but it's kind of high up. It has really good speakers and the gas lasts a long time before needing to be refilled. I just do not like the way it looks from the outside and wish it was smaller, but it has great safety features.

Mazda CX-7 Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
i SV
161 HP 22 MPG 5 Seats
car
i Sport
161 HP 22 MPG 5 Seats
car
i Touring
161 HP 22 MPG 5 Seats
car
s Touring
244 HP 19 MPG 5 Seats
car
s Grand Touring
244 HP 19 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2012 Mazda CX-7 Owner Reviews

4.04
53 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 36%
4 stars 38%
3 stars 23%
2 stars 2%
1 star 2%
accountCircle jane vane on May 9, 2021
Never buy
Never buy a Mazda
accountCircle Colleen W on March 30, 2021
Great vehicle comfortable and reliable.
No problems! Very reliable vehicle! Performance is very good. Very comfortable. I am able to have 4 other people in the car. Seats fold down easily to haul things. Regular oil changes and maintenance and tire rotations. I have loved this car for short distance and long distance travels.
View All Reviews (53) chevronRightAlternative

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Amanda N.

It is a great family car with plenty of trunk space. It drives nice and is comfortable. It gets good gas mileage and is nice looking. The only cons would be the air conditioning. There are no vents in the back seats for passengers. Also, in the summer months it takes a while for the ac to cool the car down, especially in the Texas heat.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Amanda N.

The only con would be the air conditioning. It does not have ac vents in the back for passengers. Also, in the summer months it can take a while for the ac to cool the car down, especially in the Texas heat.

Ranks #19 Midsize SUV by Owners

The 2012 Mazda CX-7 has an average owner rating of 4.25 out of 5 which ranks it #19 of 22 other Midsize SUVs.

1
car
2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser
4.88
2
car
2012 Toyota 4Runner
4.69
19
car
2012 Mazda CX-7
4.04

Ranks #2 Midsize SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2012 Mazda CX-7 has a combined MPG of 27 which ranks it #2 of 22 other Midsize SUVs.

1
car
2012 Subaru Outback
29 MPG
2
Tie
car
2012 Mazda CX-7
27 MPG
2
Tie
car
2012 Kia Sorento
30 MPG

Is The 2012 Mazda CX-7 A Good Car?

Yes. It is been a great car that has allowed my family to slowly grow. We drive to and from New York twice a year in it and we've never had any major problems.
Brittany B.
Yes. It drives well, handles easily with nice cornering. Seats are comfortable, secure and nice headrests.
Yvette L.
Yes it has been a good vehicle. It's been driven on lots of out of state trips with no problems. It's good on gas.
Kathy C.
Yes! It had top safety ratings in its year and is super dependable! It also has terrific gas mileage. Super roomy backseat.
Zack J.

How Reliable Is The 2012 Mazda CX-7?

It is reliable. The only real problem that we have had is the motor on the drivers side door for the window has decided to act up and we need to help the window to travel up and down. We've had a few... Read More
Brittany B.
Very reliable. It provides comfort and style. I feel safe in this vehicle. It is easy to handle. No real pest problems. Only we have to replace the small headlight bulbs frequently.
Yvette L.
It is very reliable. It has no problems other than small minor ones like the check engine light coming on.
Kathy C.
It is absolutely reliable! It makes a fantastic family car. The only problem I have come across is the faulty airbag but it has been recalled and the dealers will fix them for free!
Kelsey M.

Is The 2012 Mazda CX-7 A Good Value?

We bought it used for about $24,000. The monthly payment is a little over $300 a month and we are paying it off next month. It was a good value at the time we bought it which is why we decided on this... Read More
Brittany B.
It was about $26000. I believe it was a good value over the years. We have over 196000 miles and it still rides well.
Yvette L.
We paid $7000 when we bought it 4 years ago. It's been well worth what we paid for it. I am not sure what it cost new but it 3 years old when we bought it.
Kathy C.
I paid 10.000 for mine. It had 90k miles on it and everything works. It has backup camera, sunroof, power and heated seats, CD/USB/mp3 with am/FM stereo, plus many more! It is a fantastic value with... Read More
Kari I.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the mazda cx 7 engine oil type?

Answer: Sae 5w-20 synthetic motor oil is the listed engine oil type for the Mazda CX7. When performing an oil change on the car You will first want to make sure that the vehicle has been parked and off for a couple of...

What's the mazda cx 7 car battery size?

Answer: The Mazda CX7 has had some variation of battery size throughout the years. For recent model years, You'll want to go with a group size of 35, and it's recommended to use an AGM style battery. Try for at least...

What might cause mazda cx7 turbo oil leak?

Answer: Mazda's CX7 series engines are earning a reputation for variable valve timing (vvt) defects that can cause oil leaks, excessive smoke out of the tailpipe, loose timing chains, and catastrophic engine failure....

What might cause mazda cx 7 vacuum leak?

Answer: A vacuum leak on the Mazda CX7 can be caused by a couple of things. The most common is the hose that is running in the system has been damaged. If the hose has a hole in it, or the hose has dry rotted, then it...

What are some of the mazda cx 7 overheating problems?

Answer: The Mazda CX7 overheating problems stem from either a cracked radiator or a leaking coolant hose, either of which will cause the vehicle to overheat. If the needle on Your vehicle's engine temperature gauge...
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Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Not Rated

Rollover

Side

Not Rated
*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety