Mazda CX-7

9:31am Tuesday 16th October 2007

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IN an era when 'right now' is just not quick enough for many people it is nice to know that there are still some who get a buzz from travelling from a-to-b via any route other than the one that the crow flies.

Take the Scots, why on earth, when mankind can punch through prehistoric rock to create multi-lane highways that enable us to get from one end of the country to the other in less time than it takes to cook the Sunday lunch, do they persist with tiny thoroughfares that become impassable if Jack Frost so much as glances in their direction?

A love of driving must surely play a part.

So while England is fast becoming two grass verges either side of a huge swathe of Tarmac in the name of progress, Scotland is preserving and, most importantly, maintaining some of the most exhilarating roads anywhere in the world.

What's more it's encouraging us to use them.

No wonder Mazda opted to bring us North of the border to put the new CX-7 through its paces.

The road between Inverness and our overnight stop at the Torridon hotel on the West Coast at Achnasheen had more twists and turns than a John Le Carre novel and went up and down more times than the proverbial brides nightie.

The question was, could Mazdas sports crossover cope?

The company was keen to point out that the CX-7 is not a 4x4, shame really, as looking at the drops off the side of some of the roads we were traversing such a vehicle might have proved very handy.

No, they prefer to call it a sports utility, with the emphasis on sport.

Some sports utility vehicles major on their 4x4 credentials, their ability off road, or to carry people - maybe up to seven passengers, says Mazda UKs marketing director Mark Cameron.

Our new Mazda MX-7 is different because it is more heavily orientated towards a sports car in its styling and dynamics, while retaining the commanding driving position, presence and stature of an off-road vehicle.

With a 2.3 litre petrol engine - a diesel is mooted - capable of 130mph, and a claimed 0-62mph mark of eight seconds, allied to its body curves, it certainly has the credentials to back up the companys claims.

And despite its stature the handling is akin to that of something a lot smaller.

Plant your foot to the floor and the CX-7 responds immediately, thankfully the same is true of the brakes as I found out when my co-driver got a little over eager after being held up by one of the local farmers.

On flowing bends, the car sticks to the tarmac. It is also sure-footed when they tighten and the gradients increase thanks to its active torque split four-wheel drive system. Something I was incredibly thankful for as the fog closed in creating a real pea-souper.

The CX-7 is already a success in the USA, but it has been tweaked for the European and British markets - most notably in the way the suspension is set up, ensuring pot-holes and cattle grids are taken in its stride.

Inside, the car is extremely comfortable and offers good leg room for both those in the front and the rear. It also has a decent size boot.

Features include cruise control, electric windows, climate control air conditioning, powered drivers seat with six-way adjustment and six CD Bose stereo with nine speakers.

Our car also came with parking sensors which, unwittingly Im sure, also had a habit of activating when we got a little too close to the edge for comfort.

Mazdas aim with the CX-7 was to create a niche within a niche, to be a Jack of all trades. At first glance, it would appear they have gone some way to achieving that.

It certainly got the best out of the roads in Scotland - whether the roads south of the border can get the best out of it is another question altogether.