'Crossover utility' vehicles are a relatively novel concept in the global automotive market. The 2010 Mazda CX-7 runs at the forefront of this segment for 2008, successfully challenging some very tough competition with its evolved styling and enviable performance.
With the CX-7, the Mazda development team chose a product positioning strategy that targets both the athletic and emotional elements associated with sports cars, as well as the dynamism of a more unconventional SUV. While practical utility was still a significant consideration in the overall design concept, it is not prioritized in the production vehicle as it is in many traditional SUVs. The CX-7 is arguably more of a 'sport crossover' than a 'crossover utility' vehicle, aiming at those who find car-like SUVs with an athletic character infinitely more appealing.
