I tend to be a skeptical when automakers I associate with sports cars make SUVs. People who make sports cars should stick with making sports cars and leave the bigger vehicles to the guys who do that well.

Mazda's CX-7, though, was a pleasant surprise.

The CX-7 seems to fit nicely into that crossover mold -- offering a little more room for the driver and passengers, plus all-wheel drive for handling, while still maintaining the sports styling that Mazda has made its own.

I appreciate vehicles with snappy front ends. A first impression is important, after all. And the CX-7 makes sure that you present a snazzy first impression. The hood carries the emblematic "M" of Mazda, and front-end is dressed up with a spider-web pattern on the front grille.

The CX-7 is has sweeping curves from the front to back. It presents a very clean profile, one that seems a little deceptive in that the interior is more accomodating than you might think from the outside.

The CX-7 also provided the kind of comfort SUV-loving people expect. Seats are nicely contoured and the back seat provided ample room for the peanut gallery.

The CX-7 looks zippy and it is. The CX-7 has a 4-cylinder engine, but it is tooled-up to give the type of performance you'd expect from a V-6. Mazda attributes this to the turbo-charger and Direct Injection Spark Ignition that provides up to 244 horsepower. I will take their word for it. I can tell you, that the CX-7 did not disappoint when I allowed it to, as they say, go "Zoom, zoom."

Safety touches include front and rear side air curtains and rollover protection.

The CX-7 starts under $24,000 which seems relatively reasonable for such a sporty SUV. There are six trims, all of which offer the same engine.

The CX-7 I tested came with a moon roof, a nice touch. As a Grand Touring CX-7, it also had upgrades like xenon headlights, heated exterior mirrors, automatic headlights, automatic climate control and leather upholstery.

The CX-7 I drove also came with the technology package -- which for $4,485 added a souped-up sound system (nine speakers) a navigation system, and a rearview camera.

Fold-flat seats in the back made me ready for anything I might need during a trip to the home improvement store. Except, my trips to the home improvement store pretty much entail buying light bulbs or bug spray. Um. But, I could have fit lots of stuff in the back of the CX-7. If I could have convinced someone to take the kids so I could fold down the backseat.

Even without the type of amenities they enjoy in minivans and larger SUVs (such as DVD players, for instance), the peanut gallery enjoyed riding in the CX-7 because it stood out nicely in the crowd of humdrum vehicles parked at the soccer field.