THERE'S as much cross-dressing in the world of motoring these days as you'll find on the stage during panto season.

Everyone's at it - creating something that is essentially one thing, but has pretensions to be something else.

The problem is, on many occasions, being Jack of all trades means you are very often master of none.

Every now and then, however, there's an exception to the rule and with the CX-7, Mazda may have come up with one.

Ostensibly a 4x4, it has also been laced with some sporty undertones.

Those aspirations are clear from the exterior, which, unlike most soft-roaders, is a mass of sweeping lines and curves.

Sure, it's muscular, but it's also been honed in a wind tunnel, rather than carved out of granite.

It sits on 18-inch alloys and has twin exhaust pipes on either extreme of the rear bumper. The rear light clusters are also eye-catching - two overlapping circles, with a separate strip disecting the centre, designed for show as much as go.

To illustrate the fact, two random punters came up to me on separate occasions and asked me just what it was, cooing over its shapely form.

Under the bonnet there is a 2.3-litre powerplant that is currently only available in petrol form, although a diesel is promised later this year.

The latter will undoubtedly be the unit of choice when it hits the market, but for now purchasers must make do with the more thirsty petrol derivative.

It returns around 28mpg to the gallon which isn't great when you consider most, if not all, of its rivals with diesel options easily exceed its consumption figures.

But what you lose at the pumps you certainly gain in oomph'. It's not rocket-powered, but a 0-60mph time of around eight seconds is not to be sniffed at, certainly for a car of this size, and a race track top speed of 130mph is enough to satisfy all but the most testosterone- charged of drivers.

The six-speed gearbox has a lovely chunky feel about it and the changes are sure, although sometimes it feels like the engine is playing catch-up ever so slightly. It's a minor quibble and one you will probably never notice, unless you drive as many cars as I do.

Inside, it's the kind of standard fare that we have come to expect from Mazda - well laid out, well constructed and extremely comfortable.

Some of the design cues have been taken from the truly sporty MX-5 by way of emphasis, just in case you hadn't quite grasped what the designers were intending.

As you'd expect there's room enough for five and the luggage compartment is spacious enough without being cavernous.

All in all, Mazda has achieved what many have tried and failed to do in creating something that, to the best of its abilities, is all things to all people.

It's not the complete article, but it's a darn sight closer to the finishing line than most have reached.

SPECIFICATION

Engine: 2.3 litre direct injection turbo
Max power: 256bhp
Max torque: 280lb/ft
Max speed: 130mph
0-60mph: 8secs
Average fuel consumption: 27.7mpg
Equipment (includes): Antilock brakes (ABS); electronic brake force distribution (EBD); Dynamic Stability Control (DSC); traction control; active torque four-wheel drive; front side and curtain airbags; Thatcham alarm; 18ins alloys; chrome door handles; Xenon headlamps; privacy glass in rear and rear side windows; remote central locking; electric front and rear windows; climate control with air conditioning; leather seat trim, steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake lever; driver's seat power recline, tilt/slide, height adjustment; heated front seats; BOSE audio system with 6-CD autochanger.