The big news coming out of the Canadian International Auto Show for 2010 is that the CX-7 is getting a new 2.5-liter normally-aspirated four-cylinder model (the same engine is employed in the 2010 Mazda6 and Mazda3). So-equipped, the CX-7 generates 161 horsepower (at 6000 rpm) and maximum torque of 161 pound-feet of torque (at 3500 rpm). The turbocharged, 244-horsepower 2.3-liter engine remains unchanged. Further details like fuel-economy, price, and trim specification for this model will be revealed “at a later date,” and in fact there is no official confirmation that the normally-aspirated inline-four will come to America, although it would be hard to imagine Mazda not doing so.

For 2010, Mazda’s performance-minded SUV gets a makeover inside and out. The changes add up to a great value equation — the CX-7 is a great family SUV with cool styling and a sporty driving experience.

Test drivers find the 2010 Mazda CX-7 continues to offer deliciously sporty performance, especially for an SUV. Though reviewers heavily criticized the previous model’s fuel economy, a new normally aspirated engine for 2010 offers a more efficient option. “Cruising down the coast, we felt — if only for a moment — that there might be something to Mazda’s claim of ‘the soul of a sports car,’” says CNET. “The CX-7 has the heart. Mazda’s crossover certainly feels sporty in the power and the handling departments, as long as you don’t push it too hard.”