Jamie Page Deaton: Let's talk about how the Mazda CX-7 drives. Now the CX-7 can't match compact SUV class leaders when it comes to fuel economy, but those same class leaders can't match the CX-7 when it comes to sporty performance.

This CX-7 has the base engine. That's a 2.

5 liter four-cylinder engine that makes 161 horsepower. Now reviewers say that if you want more punch, you can go for the optional 2.

3 liter engine. It's turbocharged and it makes 244 horsepower. You can especially feel the extra power, reviewers say, on the highway.

With the 2.

5 liter engine, a five-speed automatic transmission is standard. But a few reviewers complain that it's slow to downshift. In fact, most reviewers prefer the six-speed automatic that comes with a turbocharged engine. But since the Mazda CX-7 is such a sporty car, both engines come with a manual shift mode that reviewers like.

According to the EPA, the base CX-7 gets 20 miles per gallon in the city and 28 miles per gallon on the highway. If you want to do better in fuel economy, you're probably going to have to look at compact SUVs.

One that beats the CX-7's fuel economy is the GMC Terrain, but keep in mind that the Terrain costs about $2,500 more than the CX-7 and it also isn't as fun to drive. Now let's take the CX-7 for a spin and see how it does.

Reviewers say that the CX-7 has plenty of power and that makes it easy to get on the highway and stay with traffic.

Another nice feature is that all-wheel drive is available. But far and away, reviewers' favorite aspect of the CX-7's performance is its handling. It's really tight and responsive. If you're upset because you had to give up your sports car because you had kids, the CX-7 might make a great family vehicle for you.

Of course the tradeoff is, with that responsive handling comes a ride that's a little bit stiff and rough. So you may want to check out the CX-7 to see if it's actually as smooth as you'd like.

The bottom-line on the CX-7's performance is, if you don't want to give up a fun drive just because you need a family car, the CX-7 makes a good choice.

Fuel economy isn't great but it does have plenty of power. Families looking for more comfort should check out the Toyota RAV4 or the GMC Terrain. The RAV4 costs about the same as the CX-7, but the Terrain costs about $2,000 more. But again, those two choices just aren't as fun to drive.

If you want to learn more about the CX-7, check out our other videos on its seating, interior features, how it handles cargo, and the other SUVs you may want to consider.