Get cross

On the face of it's the five-seat CX-7 ought to be competing with the likes of the new Peugeot 4007, Citroen C-Crosser and Mitsubishi Outlander in the burgeoning soft-roading market which aims to offer compact MPV like accommodation with economical running costs and the added benefits of four-wheel drive.

But not for Mazda, they have given their single specification newcomer an injection of zest and up-market style as they aspire to higher things. Instead, they are hoping to pitch it against the likes of the formidable opposition of the Nissan Murano and the BMW X3.

Hence the reason you don't hear Mazda's marketing team talking about the CX-7 in terms of its versatility, practicality or its off-road abilities.

While it doesn't look vastly different from what should be its mainstream opposition (perhaps less muscular and bulky) the CX-7's real eye catcher is lurking under the bonnet. Not a fuel cheating diesel as in its rivals, but a blood vessel bursting 258bhp 2.3 litre turbocharged direct injection petrol engine.

It's the same un-altered four-cylinder unit as found in the hot Mazda3 MPS and Mazda6 MPS, so when Mazda tells you it is capable of reaching 62mph in less than 8 seconds, you believe them. As well as a brisk start from a standstill, the CX-7 is very efficient in the mid -range, the 2.3 offering the sorts of torque normally associated with a diesel so its very easy to get to the speed limit in rapid time.

The new Mazda CX-7 also has plenty of sustained acceleration on tap to keep things rolling along while the one thing you won't finds is fuel economy - drivers are going to struggle to get 30mpg out of the CX-7 and the 243g/km emissions only just squeak in under the 260 g/km tax threshold.

To go with the sporting image, Mazda combines the power unit with a short throw six speed manual transmission so that drivers can play around to their hearts content.

It has to be said that the gearbox isn't the most precise around and it is easy to miss select and find yourself in fourth rather than second which rather dulls the acceleration at times.

Handling the added power of the engine, Mazda has fitted the CX-7 with a suspension layout taken from the Mazda3 MPS, so it's not as soft as the opposition giving less body movement and a more car like quality which is great on a smooth piece of tarmac but less comfortable off-road.

The technical team has reworked the fully independent MacPherson front and multi-link rear suspension for Europe so that its stiffer for more assured road holding - and even at speed the CX-7 certainly feels secure and well placed.

And the assisted steering has a nice feel for a 4x4 with less movement before things start to happen at the wheel, but its certainly not quite sportscar like instant reflexes.

Dismissing any pretensions to an all-terrain vehicle, the CX-7 is installed with Mazda's Active Torque four-wheel drive system which can transfer only up to 50 per cent of the power to the rear wheels while in normal conditions all the grunt goes to the front wheels.

Mazda's therefore isn't expecting this vehicle of venture too far off the black stuff so doesn't make much of its mud plugging credentials and there isn't a low ratio transmission to play with. But, as Mazda points out from their research, 83 per cent of SUV's venture off-road just once a year.

The other clue to a change in emphasis for the Japanese built CX-7 is the fit and finish of the leather clad interior which is distinctly superior in appearance to many of its rivals in the sector.

Surfaces are clothed in smart and simple soft grained plastics dominated by the big, sweeping, two-deck dashboard set off with chrome trimmings and a three-dial instrument cluster set into deep recesses.

The instrumentation and controls are simple and easy to use while the sporting touch is provided by the smaller than average steering wheel, which looks distinctly familiar. That's no co-incidence as it has been lifted straight from the MX-5 Roadster.

This is part of a specification list that has almost everything you could want as standard including; bespoke Bose premium sound system with six disc CD autochanger and nine speakers, climate control air conditioning, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, electric windows and door mirrors and xenon headlights.

The only thing that appears as a factory option is metallic paint (£375) while dealers will be able to offer after-fit items such as roof rails.

Seating is comfortable, especially for the driver who has an electrically operated and heated leather chair, although they do have more of a sportscar style than the broader platform of a typical 4x4.

What isn't sportscar is the generous amount of rear leg and headroom, which offers occupants plenty of space to relax in.

Behind this, the 455 litre luggage area (with a reversible top deck) is wide and extensive but not especially deep - part of the potential space being eaten up with the space saver spare wheel.

A nice touch is the twin back seat release levers which are mounted either side of the wheel arches. A quick pull on these are the 60/40 seat backs fold down quickly and effortlessly leaving a near flat load compartment that will take up to 774 litres and 1,348 to the ceiling.

But that's are far as it goes, Mazda declining to got for any trickery with the seating or offering the option of seven seats.

Outside the CX-7 avoids too many of the SUV clichés such as overtly blistered wheel arches, huge grille and add-ons. But with its obvious bulk it hardly has the sportscar' image that Mazda wants us to accept.

Certainly it's smart and stylish with sharp cut lines, a rising belt line, an exceptionally steep windscreen rake (at 66 degrees its actually steeper than the RX-8) and its not unattractive with its chrome window surrounds and door handles, 18 in alloy wheels and five pointed grille - but a sportscar? Not quite.

Not unexpectedly, with its price tag at almost £24,000 (but not bad for the specification) and its disregard for fuel economy (in this sector up to 90 per cent of sales are diesel and Mazda will added one next year), Mazda isn't expecting the CX-7 to sell in vast numbers (just 1,500).

Cleverly (although registrations will tell if the ploy has come off) Mazda is relying on its zoom zoom heritage of being different (after all they did re-invented the compact roadster with the MX-5) to make the CX-7 a success.

Their target niche within a niche audience are motorists undergoing lifestyle change, those who have perhaps had a sportscar or a hot hatchback in the past but now need more space but without the feeling of performance Like the rotary powered RX-8 sports coupe, the new CX-7 dares to be different and for those who want the image of an SUV with the performance off a sportscar this might just be the vehicle for them.