Editing Mario Kart 7

{{FA}}
{{italic title}}
{{game infobox
|image=[[File:Mario-Kart-7-Box-Art.jpg|250px]]<br>'''United States box cover'''
|developer=[[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development|Nintendo EAD]]<br>[[Nintendo SPD|Nintendo SPD Group No. 3]]<br>[[Retro Studios]]
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
|release='''Retail:'''<br>{{release|Japan|December 1, 2011|Europe|December 2, 2011|Australia|December 3, 2011|USA|December 4, 2011|Mexico|December 4, 2011<ref>[http://mariokart7.nintendo.com/es/ ''Mario Kart 7'']. ''Official Website (in Spanish)''.</ref>|South Korea|May 31, 2012|HK|September 28, 2012|ROC|September 28, 2012|China|December 7, 2012}}'''Nintendo eShop:'''<br>{{release|Europe|October 4, 2012|Australia|October 4, 2012|USA|October 18, 2012|Mexico|October 18, 2012|Japan|November 1, 2012}}
|languages={{languages|en_us=y|en_gb=y|fr_fr=y|fr_ca=y|es_es=y|es_latam=y|de=y|it=y|nl=y|ru=y|pt_pt=y|jp=y|kr=y|zh_simp=y|zh_trad=y}}
|genre=[[Genre#Racing|Racing]]
|modes=Single-player, local multiplayer (up to 8 players), online multiplayer
|ratings={{ratings|cero=a|pegi=3|esrb=e|classind=l|usk=0|acb=g|gsrr=p}}
|platforms=[[Nintendo 3DS]]
|format={{format|3ds=1|3dsdl=1}}
|input={{input|3ds=1|3dstilt=1}}
|serials={{serials|Japan|CTR-AMKJ-JPN|Europe|CTR-AMKP-EUR|USA|CTR-AMKE-USA|South Korea|CTR-AMKK-KOR|ROC|CTR-AMKW-TWN|China|CTR-AMKC-CHN}}
}}
'''''Mario Kart 7''''' is a [[Genre#Racing|racing]] game developed by [[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development|Nintendo EAD]] and [[Retro Studios]] for the [[Nintendo 3DS]]. It is the seventh console installment in the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'' series]] (hence the game's title), and the second (the first being ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'') installment in the ''Super Mario'' franchise overall (excluding crossover installments) to be localized to Dutch, Portuguese, and Russian. Additionally, it is the first ''Mario Kart'' game to be developed by more than one video game developer, namely Nintendo EAD and Retro Studios, and the second ''Mario Kart'' to have a different video game developer (not including the ''Mario Kart Arcade GP'' series), the first being ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''.

The main new feature of this installment is the hang gliding and [[underwater driving]], which allows racers to glide through the air and race in underwater sections of the new and old tracks. [[Kart]] customization is also introduced instead of racing in pre-made karts like the previous titles. In the game, players can exchange [[Ghost (Mario Kart series)|Ghost]] data and play online in multiplayer mode. Players can also receive Ghost data via [[Nintendo 3DS#StreetPass and SpotPass|SpotPass]] and race against other player's Ghosts from around the world. Nintendo stated that the game brings "a bunch of new elements" to the ''Mario Kart'' series.

''Mario Kart 7'' was the first [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' game]] to use the [[Nintendo Network]] service, as it offered the ability to create custom communities, which would then become one of the features of the service; however, the service was terminated on April 8, 2024, making the game no longer playable online.<ref name=Shutdown> {{cite|author=@NintendoAmerica|date=October 4, 2023|title=As of early April 2024, online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end service for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software. Thank you very much for your continued support of our products.|url=https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1709418623566020975|publisher=Twitter|accessdate=October 14, 2024}}</ref><ref name=ShutdownUpdate> {{cite|author=@NintendoAmerica|date=January 23, 2024|title=Update: as of 4/8, online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end service for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software. Thank you very much for your continued support of our products.|url=https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1749963072998166670|publisher=Twitter|accessdate=February 17, 2024}}</ref> Once Nintendo introduced retail games that could be downloaded via the [[Nintendo eShop#Nintendo 3DS|Nintendo eShop]] until its discontinuation on March 27, 2023, ''Mario Kart 7'' was released in 2012 for the eShop, where it required 635.38 MB (5,083 blocks) to download.

==Gameplay==
===Features===
[[File:LakituRaceKalimariDesertMK7.jpg|220px|thumb|One of the gameplay mechanics in ''Mario Kart 7'' is racing in [[First-Person View]]. By pressing {{button|3ds|Padup}}, the player can activate the view and then {{button|3ds|tilt}} the system to steer.]]
''Mario Kart 7'' features the standard gameplay present in preceding games in the series, with the gameplay style being very close to that of ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]''. Players compete for gold trophies in the eight Grand Prix cups, four consisting of the [[new course]]s and four consisting of the [[Classic course|retro courses]], a returning feature from ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' and ''Mario Kart Wii''. Along with Grand Prix, Time Trials, and Battle Modes also return. Time Trials have players race on tracks to set records, as well as race against their own or other racers' ghosts. Battle Mode features two different modes; [[#Balloon Battle|Balloon Battle]] and [[#Coin Runners|Coin Runners]], the latter returning from ''Mario Kart Wii''. Players can set their own rules for Battle Mode, choosing CPU difficulty, which items will appear or team games. Online races and battles return, allowing up to 8 players to race or battle using the [[Nintendo Network]] online service. Players can also create custom communities, which can be accessed by other players via codes.

''Mario Kart 7'' also has some new features. Players can now use hang-gliders to navigate through the air and propellers to drive underwater. In addition, players now assemble their own karts, rather than select preset karts as in the previous games. It is possible to select the kart's body, wheels, and glider, although some parts need to be unlocked before they can be used, mainly through collecting coins during races. ''Mario Kart 7'' returns to the traditional eight-driver race like in the previous installments, instead of the total of twelve as seen in ''Mario Kart Wii''. It is also compatible with both SpotPass and StreetPass. 

[[Coin]]s make a prominent return since ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''. Coins are to be found along a race track and can be underwater, on the road, or in the air. Collecting coins up to a maximum of ten slightly increases the player's top speed and, if enough are collected, will allow the player to unlock vehicle parts used for customization. 

Similar to preceding games, an overall "game ranking" of ★, ★★, or ★★★ is shown next to the player's nationality flag if the player has earned the designated ratings in all cups and all classes. The overall ranking can also be seen while participating in a Grand Prix. The game shows the overall ranking at the results of the last course ''before'' the overall results of the last cup are shown.

Among other gameplay mechanics is the vehicle's behavior in the courses. Each element to assemble the vehicle has a function that grants an advantage on certain courses. In other words, speed and handling alter if the player is driving through land, underwater, or in the air. Gliders also provide speed and duration for the vehicle when airborne and can be controlled using the {{button|3ds|Stick}}. Players can tilt the {{button|3ds|Stick}} either up or down to fall quickly or gently, respectively. Additionally, when driving underwater, the kart's handling, speed, and drifting can considerably change compared to when driving on land. 

This ''Mario Kart'' installment also introduces the option to race and battle in a first-person view. This function allows the player to watch the race and battle from the character's perspective and can race by {{button|3ds|tilt}} the system. In first-person view, the player can also see the vehicle's steering wheel in front of the character with an [[emblem]] on it. The gyroscope, which gives the player the ability to steer the kart in first-person mode by tilting the {{button|3ds|Stick}}, can be enabled or disabled by going to the Mario Kart Channel, going to the player's Mii icon on the bottom right, going to "Settings", and lastly selecting "Use" or "Don't Use" when going to "Gyro Sensor". 

In a minor note, an extra track with beats is added to the course's music if the player gets ahead in first place at top speed (frontrunning). This track fades when the player slows down via braking, going off-road, or getting hit by an item. This happens only in 100cc, 150cc, and Mirror class.

Motorbikes, which made their first appearance in ''Mario Kart Wii'', do not return in the game. On the other hand, [[Jump Boost|Trick]]s return, now known as "jump actions", and are now the sole way of obtaining a boost, known as "Jump Boost", when the kart jumps because of a ramp or an element of the course. The jump action can also be performed on glider ramps to receive a speed boost when gliding starts. The map is viewed in the bottom screen, but unlike in ''Mario Kart DS'', the map does not display course hazards and obstacles such as some items and obstacles in {{classic-link|DS|Airship Fortress}}. The map also shows a larger area surrounding the player. The Single Player version of VS mode from the other ''Mario Kart'' games and the mission mode from ''Mario Kart DS'' are also removed.

===Controls===
*{{button|3ds|A}}/{{button|3ds|Y}}: Accelerate / [[Rocket Start]] (press and hold when the countdown shows '''2''' before the race starts)
*{{button|3ds|B}}: Brake / Reverse / Drop from glider
*{{button|3ds|Stick}}: Steer / Auto [[Drift]]
*{{button|3ds|R}}: [[Hop (move)|Hop]] / Manual Drift / Perform [[trick|jump action]]s in midair.
*{{button|3ds|L}}/{{button|3ds|X}}: Use item
*{{button|3ds|Stylus}}: Switch map view
*{{button|3ds|start}}: Pause / Resume
*{{button|3ds|home}}: Display HOME Menu
*{{button|3ds|Padup}}: First-Person View
*{{button|3ds|tilt}}: Steer / Auto Drift (First-person view only)
*{{button|3ds|Pad}} (except up): Third-Person View

===Modes===
====Grand Prix====
[[File:MK73.png|thumb|upright=1.1|The game's main option mode.]]
As usual in the ''Mario Kart'' series, ''Mario Kart 7'' has the Grand Prix, where a single player has to compete against computer-controlled opponents to obtain the trophies of the eight cups in the game. The Grand Prix has three engine classes: 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc. The higher the engine class, the harder the races will be against the opponents. In this mode, by beating the first cups available, the user unlocks the other cups as well as new elements such as the kart's parts (by collecting coins in each race) or a new playable character. By completing all the engine classes available at the start, the player unlocks the Mirror class.

A notable change featured in the game is the point system given to the racers after a race in Grand Prix mode. It is similar to ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'', but racers who finish a race in fourth place or lower get an extra point. Also, 4th place is not a losing place, similar to ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'', ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'', ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'', and ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'' (which has 12 racers). Below is a chart of the point spread comparison between these seven games:
{|align=center class="wikitable"style="margin:auto;text-align:center;max-width:60em"
|-
!colspan="13"style="background:#e0e0e0"|Point spread comparisons (Grand Prix)
|-
!style="max-width:20em"| !!style="width:2.5em"|1st!!style="width:2.5em"|2nd!!style="width:2.5em"|3rd!!style="width:2.5em"|4th!!style="width:2.5em"|5th!!style="width:2.5em"|6th!!style="width:2.5em"|7th!!style="width:2.5em"|8th!!style="width:2.5em"|9th!!style="width:2.5em"|10th!!style="width:2.5em"|11th!!style="width:2.5em"|12th
|-
|'''''Super Mario Kart''<br>''Mario Kart 64''<br>''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'''''||style="background:#096;color:white;font-weight:bold"|9||style="background:#CF0"|6||style="background:#CF0"|3||style="background:#CF0"|1||0||0||0||0||&mdash;||&mdash;||&mdash;||&mdash;
|-
|'''''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''<br>''Mario Kart DS'''''||style="background:#096;color:white;font-weight:bold"|10||style="background:#CF0"|8||style="background:#CF0"|6||4||3||2||1||0||&mdash;||&mdash;||&mdash;||&mdash;
|-
|'''''Mario Kart Wii'''''||style="background:#096;color:white;font-weight:bold"|15||style="background:#CF0"|12||style="background:#CF0"|10||style="background:#CF0"|8||style="background:#CF0"|7||6||5||4||3||2||1||0
|-
|'''''Mario Kart 7'''''||style="background:#096;color:white;font-weight:bold"|10||style="background:#CF0"|8||style="background:#CF0"|6||style="background:#CF0"|5||4||3||2||1||&mdash;||&mdash;||&mdash;||&mdash;
|-
|colspan=13 style="text-align:justify;font-size:smaller;"|<span style="background:#096;color:white">A grove-green cell signifies victory results (great clapping, characters cheering) and the best after-race music.</span><br><span style="background:#CF0">A yellow-lime-green cell signifies moderate results (mild clapping, moderate character reaction) and the same music in Wi-Fi as the winner (different in ''Mario Kart DS'' GP).</span><br>A normal-colored cell signifies losing results and losing music.<br>In ''Super Mario Kart'', and ''Mario Kart Super Circuit'', 5th or worse forces the player to retry the race. If the racer fares this poorly four times, the Grand Prix must be started over. In ''Mario Kart 64'', 5th or worse forces the player to retry the race, but without the restrictions on how many times the player can retry a race. Starting with ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'', the Grand Prix normally continues.
|}

====Time Trials====
Time Trials allow the player to complete all the laps of a race course in the fastest time possible. ''Mario Kart 7'' saves the player's records, and a Ghost for the combo that they used. Through a Nintendo Network connection, the player can exchange his or her Ghosts with other players, compare their records, and even compete with their Ghosts. Up to seven Ghosts can be raced against at the same time, making it an 8-player race.

====VS====
In Versus Mode, players can customize the races by selecting personally the order of the racecourses and changing other settings, such as setting the computer difficulty, the requirements to win the races, and the engine class of the player's and computer players' karts. Unlike in ''Mario Kart DS'' and ''Mario Kart Wii'', this mode is no longer available in single-player mode. In Download Play, the players that do not have the ''Mario Kart 7'' game card in their handhelds play as [[Shy Guy]], like in ''Mario Kart DS'', and are unable to customize their kart.
{|class="wikitable"
!colspan=9|'''Point Spread'''
|-
!Number of Players!!1st!!2nd!!3rd!!4th!!5th!!6th!!7th!!8th
|-
|'''2 players'''||3||1||-||-||-||-||-||-
|-
|'''3 players'''||4||2||1||-||-||-||-||-
|-
|'''4 players'''||5||3||2||1||-||-||-||-
|-
|'''5 players'''||6||4||3||2||1||-||-||-
|-
|'''6 players'''||7||5||4||3||2||1||-||-
|-
|'''7 players'''||9||7||5||4||3||2||1||-
|-
|'''8 players'''||10||8||6||5||4||3||2||1
|}

====Battle====
In Battle Mode, the player can select one of the two types of battles available in ''Mario Kart 7'' and one of the six battle courses that appear in this mode. There are three new courses, and the remaining three are from the previous installments in the series. This version of Battle can be played with any vehicle like in ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'', as opposed to ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'', in which players could only use the [[Standard Kart]] or the [[Standard Bike]].

=====Balloon Battle=====
[[File:Balloon Battle - MK7.png|thumb|left|Free-for-all Balloon Battle]]
Racers compete by popping their opponents' balloons to gain points in a time limit of two minutes. All racers start with three balloons and must use the items from the Item Boxes to take away a balloon from their opponents. Hitting a rival is worth a point. Players who lose all of their balloons will have half of their points deducted. Up to three points can be taken away, and the player re-spawns with three balloons.
{{br}}

=====Coin Runners=====
[[File:Coin Runners MK7.png|thumb|Team Coin Runners]]
In Coin Runners (Coin Battle in the British English version), racers collect the Coins scattered in the battle course within the time limit of two minutes. The racer that has the most Coins at the end wins. Racers can use the items to hit their opponents and make them drop a maximum of three coins that they have collected. Unlike in ''Mario Kart Wii'', only up to ten coins can be held at once. Coins collected in this mode do not count toward the coin total to unlock kart parts.
{{br}}

===Online multiplayer===
With the Nintendo 3DS's online capabilities, players could look for other users for online play, local, or global range. Players could choose a worldwide competition to race against other users who are connected, race with friends that were met via StreetPass, or play in communities formed by users with customized rules for the races. Just like in ''Mario Kart Wii'', ''Mario Kart 7'' had the [[Wii#Mario Kart Channel|Mario Kart Channel]] that showed updates of online activity automatically through the SpotPass and StreetPass modes. With StreetPass, the users can exchange their Miis, Ghost Data from Time Trials, players' names, and information about communities, while the user would only receive Ghost Data from other users and community recommendations via SpotPass.

====VR====
When players take part in online races or battles, points are added to or removed from their VR (short for VS Rating) based on their finishing position. The main purpose of VR is to determine the skill of players, to match them with players of a similar skill level. Players start with 1000 VR (rather than 5000 VR, as in ''Mario Kart Wii''). Online play in Communities does not use the VR system. Also, a player's VR counts for both races and battles, as opposed to ''Mario Kart Wii'' with races affecting VR, and battles affecting BR (Battle Rating).
=====Names in other languages=====
{{foreign names
|Spa=PC / Puntos de carreras
|SpaM=Race Points
|Ger=RP / Rennpunkte
|GerM=Race Points
|Dut=RP / Racepunten
|DutM=Race Points
|Ita=PC / Punti Corsa
|ItaM=Race Points
|Fre=PC / Points course
|FreM=Race Points
|Por=PO / Pontos Obtidos
|PorM=Earned Points
|Rus=ИР / Игровой Рейтинг
|RusR=IR / Igrovoy Reyting
|RusM=Play Rating
}}

==Characters==
[[File:Mario Kart 7 Character Select Screen.png|thumb|250px|The character select screen, with all characters unlocked.]]
''Mario Kart 7'' includes seventeen total drivers (eight starting drivers and nine unlockable drivers). New playable characters to the ''Mario Kart'' series in this game include [[Metal Mario]], [[Wiggler]], [[Honey Queen]], and [[Lakitu]] (with a red shell as opposed to the [[Lakitu (Mario Kart referee)|Lakitu referee]] which wears a green shell), with Lakitu and Honey Queen also making their overall playable debuts. Additionally, this marks the first ''Mario Kart'' game where [[Shy Guy]] is a normal selectable driver, after only being available in ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' to players who were playing in Download Play without a game card. Also, this is the first installment in the series for a handheld console where [[Koopa Troopa]], [[Rosalina]], and [[Mii]] are playable, after previously being playable in at least one home console installment. Each driver is categorized into any of five weight classes: '''Feather''' being the lightest, followed by '''Light''', '''Medium''', '''Cruiser''', and finally '''Heavy'''. The player's Mii never appears as a CPU driver, but Miis the player has obtained via StreetPass for this game's Mario Kart Channel can occasionally appear as a CPU driver during the standard Grand Prix mode.

All of the starting characters are the same as in ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'', but with [[Donkey Kong]] in place of [[Donkey Kong Jr.]]

===Drivers===
{|class="wikitable sortable"style="text-align:center;margin:auto"
|-
!class=unsortable style="background-color:#FF0000;color:white;"|Artwork
!style="background-color:#FF0000;color:white"|Name
!style="background-color:#FF0000;color:white"|Weight
!class=unsortable style="background-color:#FF0000;color:white"|Unlocking criteria
|-
|[[File:Mario MK7.png|150px]]
|style="text-align:center"|'''{{color-link|red|Mario}}'''<br>[[File:MK7_Mario_Emblem.png]]
|style="text-align:center" data-sort-value="3"|'''<span style="color:green">Medium</span>'''
|Starting driver
|-
|[[File:Luigi MK7.png|150px]]
|style="text-align:center"|'''{{color-link|#009933|Luigi}}'''<br>[[File:MK7_Luigi_Emblem.png]]
|style="text-align:center" data-sort-value="3"|'''<span style="color:green">Medium</span>'''
|Starting driver
|-
|[[File:Peach MK7.png|150px]]
|style="text-align:center"|'''{{color-link|#FF6699|Peach}}'''<br>[[File:MK7_Peach_Emblem.png]]
|style="text-align:center" data-sort-value="2"|'''<span style="color:dodgerblue">Light</span>'''
|Starting driver
|-
|[[File:Yoshi MK7.png|150px]]
|style="text-align:center"|'''{{color-link|#00B3CC|Yoshi}}'''<br>[[File:MK7_Yoshi_Emblem.png]]
|style="text-align:center" data-sort-value="2"|'''<span style="color:dodgerblue">Light</span>'''
|Starting driver
|-
|[[File:Bowser MK7.png|150px]]
|style="text-align:center"|'''{{color-link|#FFBF00|Bowser}}'''<br>[[File:MK7_Bowser_Emblem.png]]
|style="text-align:center" data-sort-value="5"|'''<span style="color:red">Heavy</span>'''
|Starting driver
|-
|[[File:Donkey MK7.png|150px]]
|style="text-align:center"|'''{{color-link|#663300|Donkey Kong}}'''<br>[[File:MK7_DK_Emblem.png]]
|style="text-align:center" data-sort-value="4"|'''<span style="color:purple">Cruiser</span>'''
|Starting driver
|-
|[[File:Toad MK7.png|150px]]
|style="text-align:center"|'''{{color-link|#003399|Toad}}'''<br>[[File:MK7_Toad_Emblem.png]]
|style="text-align:center" data-sort-value="1"|'''<span style="color:gold">Feather</span>'''
|Starting driver
|-
|[[File:Koopa MK7.png|150px]]
|style="text-align:center"|'''{{color-link|#80B333|Koopa Troopa}}'''<br>[[File:MK7_Koopa_Troopa_Emblem.png]]
|style="text-align:center" data-sort-value="1"|'''<span style="color:gold">Feather</span>'''
|Starting driver
|-
|[[File:Daisy MK7.png|150px]]
|style="text-align:center"|'''{{color-link|#FFB300|Daisy}}'''<br>[[File:MK7_Daisy_Emblem.png]]
|style="text-align:center" data-sort-value="2"|'''<span style="color:dodgerblue">Light</span>'''
|Win the 150cc Mushroom Cup
|-
|[[File:Wario MK7.png|150px]]
|style="text-align:center"|'''{{color-link|#BF00FF|Wario}}'''<br>[[File:MK7_Wario_Emblem.png]]
|style="text-align:center" data-sort-value="5"|'''<span style="color:red">Heavy</span>'''
|Win the 150cc Flower Cup
|-
|[[File:Rosalina MK7.png|150px]]
|style="text-align:center"|'''{{color-link|#33A699|Rosalina}}'''<br>[[File:MK7_Rosalina_Emblem.png]]
|style="text-align:center" data-sort-value="4"|'''<span style="color:purple">Cruiser</span>'''
|Win the 150cc Star Cup
|-
|[[File:Metal Mario MK7.png|150px]]
|style="text-align:center"|'''{{color-link|#B3B9CC|Metal Mario}}'''<br>[[File:MK7_Metal_Mario_Emblem.png]]<br>''New driver''
|style="text-align:center" data-sort-value="5"|'''<span style="color:red">Heavy</span>'''
|Win the 150cc Special Cup
|-
|[[File:Shy Guy MK7.png|150px]]
|style="text-align:center"|'''{{color-link|#D9D9D9|Shy Guy}}'''{{footnote|main|a}}<br>[[File:MK7_Shy_Guy_Emblem.png]]<br>''First time as a fully playable driver''
|style="text-align:center" data-sort-value="1"|'''<span style="color:gold">Feather</span>'''
|Win the 150cc Shell Cup
|-
|[[File:Honey Queen MK7.png|150px]]
|style="text-align:center"|'''{{color-link|#CC4DFF|Honey Queen}}'''<br>[[File:MK7_Honey_Queen_Emblem.png]]<br>''New driver''
|style="text-align:center" data-sort-value="5"|'''<span style="color:red">Heavy</span>'''
|Win the 150cc Banana Cup
|-
|[[File:Wiggler MK7.png|150px]]
|style="text-align:center"|'''{{color-link|#803300|Wiggler}}'''<br>[[File:MK7_Wiggler_Emblem.png]]<br>''New driver''
|style="text-align:center" data-sort-value="4"|'''<span style="color:purple">Cruiser</span>'''
|Win the 150cc Leaf Cup
|-
|[[File:Lakitu MK7.png|150px]]
|style="text-align:center"|'''{{color-link|#0099E6|Lakitu}}'''<br>[[File:MK7_Lakitu_Emblem.png]]<br>''New driver''
|style="text-align:center" data-sort-value="1"|'''<span style="color:gold">Feather</span>'''
|Win the 150cc Lightning Cup
|-
|[[File:Mii MK7.png|150px]]
|style="text-align:center"|'''{{color-link|#FF9933|Mii}}'''<br>[[File:MK7_Mii_Emblem.png]]
|style="text-align:center" data-sort-value="3"|'''<span style="color:green">Medium</span>'''
|Successfully complete all cups in any class
|}
{{footnote|note|a|When playing in Download Play, players without a game card are restricted to an alternate-colored Shy Guy.}}

===Rival order===
Much like in ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'', all playable characters have a [[rival]] order, the order CPU drivers start at the beginning of the race. However, unlike in ''Super Mario Kart'', it is more simplified, as two characters are set instead of single characters followed by another single character, etc.

Each character's rivals will never change; for example, Bowser will always appear in a Grand Prix if the player is playing as Mario. However, if a set character is supposed to be unlockable, the set character is replaced by a default character until the unlockable character can be used. That will make the default character a third rival that occasionally appears in the race. Wario is the only character to break the rule due to both of his main rivals being default characters.

{|border=1 style="text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse"width=30% align=center
|- 
|-bgcolor=#dedede
!width="10%"style="background:#dedede"|Character
!width="10%"style="background:#dedede"|Rivals
!width="10%"style="background:#dedede"|Third Rival
|-
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Mario.png|link=Mario]]
|[[File:MetalMarioIcon-MK7.png|link=Metal Mario]][[File:MK7 Icon character select Bowser.png|link=Bowser]] 
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Peach.png|link=Princess Peach]] 
|-
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Luigi.png|link=Luigi]]
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Mario.png|link=Mario]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Daisy.png|link=Princess Daisy]]
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Yoshi.png|link=Yoshi]]
|-
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Peach.png|link=Princess Peach]] 
|[[File:LakituIcon-MK7.png|link=Lakitu]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Donkey Kong.png|link=Donkey Kong]] 
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Toad.png|link=Toad]]
|-
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Yoshi.png|link=Yoshi]]
|[[File:WigglerIcon-MK7.png|link=Wiggler]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Toad.png|link=Toad]]  
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Donkey Kong.png|link=Donkey Kong]]
|-
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Bowser.png|link=Bowser]]
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Mario.png|link=Mario]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Rosalina.png|link=Rosalina]] 
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Luigi.png|link=Luigi]]
|-
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Donkey Kong.png|link=Donkey Kong]]
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Wario.png|link=Wario]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Koopa Troopa.png|link=Koopa Troopa]] 
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Bowser.png|link=Bowser]]
|-
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Toad.png|link=Toad]]
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Rosalina.png|link=Rosalina]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Peach.png|link=Princess Peach]] 
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Koopa Troopa.png|link=Koopa Troopa]] 
|-
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Koopa Troopa.png|link=Koopa Troopa]] 
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Yoshi.png|link=Yoshi]] [[File:ShyGuyIcon-MK7.png|link=Shy Guy]]  
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Luigi.png|link=Luigi]]
|-
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Daisy.png|link=Princess Daisy]]
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Peach.png|link=Princess Peach]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Wario.png|link=Wario]] 
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Luigi.png|link=Luigi]]
|-
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Wario.png|link=Wario]]
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Luigi.png|link=Luigi]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Mario.png|link=Mario]] 
|N/A
|-
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Rosalina.png|link=Rosalina]]
|[[File:QueenBeeIcon-MK7.png|link=Honey Queen]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Peach.png|link=Princess Peach]] 
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Toad.png|link=Toad]]
|-
|[[File:MetalMarioIcon-MK7.png|link=Metal Mario]]
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Bowser.png|link=Bowser]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Rosalina.png|link=Rosalina]] 
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Mario.png|link=Mario]] 
|-
|[[File:ShyGuyIcon-MK7.png|link=Shy Guy]]
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Toad.png|link=Toad]] [[File:LakituIcon-MK7.png|link=Lakitu]] 
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Koopa Troopa.png|link=Koopa Troopa]] 
|-
|[[File:QueenBeeIcon-MK7.png|link=Honey Queen]]
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Koopa Troopa.png|link=Koopa Troopa]] [[File:MetalMarioIcon-MK7.png|link=Metal Mario]]
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Yoshi.png|link=Yoshi]]
|-
|[[File:WigglerIcon-MK7.png|link=Wiggler]]
|[[File:ShyGuyIcon-MK7.png|link=Shy Guy]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Yoshi.png|link=Yoshi]]
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Bowser.png|link=Bowser]]
|-
|[[File:LakituIcon-MK7.png|link=Lakitu]] 
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Donkey Kong.png|link=Donkey Kong]] [[File:QueenBeeIcon-MK7.png|link=Honey Queen]] 
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Mario.png|link=Mario]]
|-
|Male [[File:MK7 Icon character select Mii.png|link=Mii]]
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Bowser.png|link=Bowser]][[File:MetalMarioIcon-MK7.png|link=Metal Mario]]
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Mario.png|link=Mario]]
|-
|Female [[File:MK7 Icon character select Mii.png|link=Mii]]
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Yoshi.png|link=Yoshi]][[File:MK7 Icon character select Rosalina.png|link=Rosalina]]
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Peach.png|link=Princess Peach]]
|}

===Body frame===
Depending on the character, the kart body that's chosen may appear bigger or smaller. This affects how big of a target that character's kart will be; for example, smaller body frames are harder to hit. The character's height and weight determines the body Frame size, Metal Mario being the only exception, as he's medium size despite being a heavy character, due to him being the same height as his regular counterpart Mario.

{|class="wikitable"style="margin:auto;width:55em"
!style="background:#d0d0d0"colspan=2|Body Frame
|-
!style="background:#e0e0e0;width:12.5em"|Size 
!style="background:#e0e0e0;width:42.5em"|Characters
|-
!Small
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Toad.png|link=Toad]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Koopa Troopa.png|link=Koopa Troopa]] [[File:ShyGuyIcon-MK7.png|link=Shy Guy]] [[File:LakituIcon-MK7.png|link=Lakitu]]
|-
!Medium
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Mario.png|link=Mario]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Luigi.png|link=Luigi]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Peach.png|link=Princess Peach]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Yoshi.png|link=Yoshi]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Daisy.png|link=Princess Daisy]] [[File:MetalMarioIcon-MK7.png|link=Metal Mario]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Mii.png|link=Mii]]
|-
!Large
|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Bowser.png|link=Bowser]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Donkey Kong.png|link=Donkey Kong]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Wario.png|link=Wario]] [[File:MK7 Icon character select Rosalina.png|link=Rosalina]] [[File:QueenBeeIcon-MK7.png|link=Honey Queen]] [[File:WigglerIcon-MK7.png|link=Wiggler]]
|}

===Background characters===
These characters appear in the background of certain stages and do not affect the racers in any way.
{|
|
*[[Birdo]]s
*[[Boo]]s
*[[Mii]]s
*[[Monty Mole]]s
|
*[[Shy Guy]]s
*[[Toad (species)|Toad]]s
*[[Maw-Ray|Unagi]]
*[[Hammer Bro]]s.
|}

===Hazards and obstacles===
These characters and features serve as hazards on tracks and can directly affect racers if hit.
{|border="1"cellpadding="3"style="background:#f5f5f5;text-align:left;border-collapse:collapse;margin-bottom:5px;width:100%;"align=center
|-
!colspan="3"style="background:#9c9c9c"align=center|Characters and elements
|-
!width="15%"style="background:#dedede"align=center|Character/element
!width="20%"style="background:#dedede"align=center|Location
!width="65%"style="background:#dedede"align=center|Description
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Banzai Bill.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Banzai Bill]]
|align=center|{{classic-link|DS|Airship Fortress}}
|Banzai Bills are fired from a cannon near the starting straightaway of the track. They fly along the straight path in different positions based on where they were fired. They disappear once they hit the road where the starting line is located.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Barrel.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Barrel]]
|align=center|[[3DS Wario Shipyard|Wario Shipyard]]<br>[[3DS DK Jungle|DK Jungle]]
|Barrels are scattered around the track and can be broken by players. Once broken, a [[Banana]], a [[Dash Mushroom|Mushroom]], a [[Green Shell]], or a [[Super Star]] may fly out. In Time Trials, the barrels cannot be broken.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Big Wiggler.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Big Wiggler]]
|align=center|{{classic-link|Wii|Maple Treeway}}
|Two Big Wigglers walk around the top of the tree section of the track. Racers simple bounce off of them rather than wiping out.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Board.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Wooden cutout|Board]]
|align=center|[[3DS Piranha Plant Slide|Piranha Plant Slide]]
|Boards can be broken by players by racing into them. There are two board shapes; Goomba shaped boards and bush shaped boards. Two bush shaped boards are located in off-road sections near the end of the track.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Boulder.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Boulder]]
|align=center|[[3DS Rock Rock Mountain|Rock Rock Mountain]]<br>[[Maka Wuhu]]
|Boulders fall from mountain tops and roll down the track, flipping over any racer that hits them. They are destroyed upon hitting walls.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Bouncing Note.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Music Bash|Bouncing Note]]
|align=center|[[3DS Music Park|Music Park]]
|Bouncing Notes jump at regular intervals near the end of the track. Players can do jump actions off the ground when the Bouncing Notes land. However, players can also be flattened if a Bouncing Note lands on them. During the final lap, their bouncing is faster.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Bumper.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Bumper (Mario Kart series)|Bumper]]
|align=center|{{classic-link|DS|Waluigi Pinball}}
|Bumpers are located on the pinball table section of the track and will bump racers back when they collide with them. Pinballs will also ricochet off of bumpers.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Car.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Car (obstacle)|Car]]
|align=center|[[Wuhu Loop]]<br>{{classic-link|Wii|Coconut Mall}}
|Cars travel across the road of the entire track, causing players to flip over if hit. In Coconut Mall, cars are located in the parking lot and drive back and forth along the area.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Cheep Cheep.jpg|80px]]<br>[[Cheep Cheep]]
|align=center|[[3DS Cheep Cheep Lagoon|Cheep Cheep Lagoon]]<br>{{classic-link|Wii|Koopa Cape}}
|Cheep Cheeps swim in various water sections of the track, lightly bouncing back racers who hit them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Chomp.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Chain Chomp|Chomp]]
|align=center|[[3DS Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]]
|Chomps appear on the moon segment of the track, rolling around in circles. Two Chomps also roll off of the craters on the surface, causing them to jump off of them and float in the air for a short time. Colliding with one will flip a racer over.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Clampy.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Clampy]]
|align=center|[[3DS Cheep Cheep Lagoon|Cheep Cheep Lagoon]]<br>{{classic-link|GCN|Daisy Cruiser}}
|Clampys appear in the first underwater segment of the track, opening and closing their mouths at regular intervals. Coins and Item Boxes can appear in an open Clampy, but if a racer is caught when a Clampy is closing its mouth, they will spin out.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Crate.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Crate]]
|align=center|{{classic-link|DS|Airship Fortress}}
|Crates are scattered inside the airship of the track and act identically to Barrels. A Banana, a Mushroom, a Green Shell, or a Star may fly out when broken, but will stop a racer in the process. Crates cannot be broken in Time Trial mode.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Rocket Engine.jpg|70px]]<br>[[Burner|Cutting torch]]
|align=center|{{classic-link|DS|Airship Fortress}}
|Cutting torches appear within the airship of the track, moving back and forth along the track. Racers will spin out if they drive through the fire.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Drain Pipe.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Drain Pipe]]
|align=center|[[3DS Piranha Plant Slide|Piranha Plant Slide]]
|The water from these Warp Pipes can cancel out the glide of any player that drives under it. The Warp Pipes themselves serve as an obstruction.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Fish Bone.jpg|80px]]<br>[[Fish Bone]]
|align=center|[[3DS Wario Shipyard|Wario Shipyard]]
|Fish Bones appear near the track's beginning and swim through the first tunnel. Hitting one will simply bounce a racer back.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Flipper.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Flipper (Mario Kart series)|Flipper]]
|align=center|{{classic-link|DS|Waluigi Pinball}}
|Flippers appear at the pinball table section of the track, specifically at the bottom of the table. They hit any pinball back across the table and will hit racers if they get too close.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Shy Guy.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Flying Shy Guy]]
|align=center|[[3DS Shy Guy Bazaar|Shy Guy Bazaar]]
|Shy Guys fly about on carpets at the gliding section of the track. They will block any racer who collides with them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Frogoon.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Frogoon]]
|align=center|[[3DS DK Jungle|DK Jungle]]
|Frogoons hop across the track in the jungle section before the giant temple. Colliding with one will cause the racer to spin out.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Grand Goomba.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Goomba]]
|align=center|[[3DS Mario Circuit|Mario Circuit]]<br>[[3DS Piranha Plant Slide|Piranha Plant Slide]]<br>{{classic-link|Wii|Mushroom Gorge}}<br>{{classic-link|Wii|Koopa Cape}}
|Goombas appear on various tracks. They act in the same way they did in past installments, slowly waddling back and forth on certain parts of the track. If the player uses a [[Shell]] to destroy the Goomba, a [[Dash Mushroom|Mushroom]] will spawn in its place.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Hot air balloon.png|100px]]<br>[[Hot-air balloon]]
|align=center|[[3DS Daisy Hills|Daisy Hills]]
|Hot-air balloons float in the air. Touching them will cause the racer to bounce off them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Icicle.jpg|60px]]<br>[[Icicle]]
|align=center|[[3DS Rosalina's Ice World|Rosalina's Ice World]]
|Icicles behave in an identical way to crates and barrels, slowing the player's vehicle speed upon impact. Items do not fly out of icicles when they break and icicles cannot be broken in Time Trial mode.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Vase.jpg|80px]]<br>[[Jar]]
|align=center|[[3DS Shy Guy Bazaar|Shy Guy Bazaar]]
|Jars function identically to Barrels and Crates, stopping racers and letting a Banana, a Mushroom, a Green Shell, or a Star as they break. Some jars also move around the area and do not release items if hit, instead releasing a pit of snakes for aesthetic effect. Jars cannot be broken in Time Trial mode.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Lava Bubble.jpg |80px]]<br>[[Lava Bubble]]
|align=center|{{classic-link|GBA|Bowser's Castle 1|Bowser Castle 1}}
|Lava Bubbles jump out of the lava between the ramps near the end of the track, causing players who hit them to spin out.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Mountain Goat.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Goat|Mountain Goat]]
|align=center|[[3DS Daisy Hills|Daisy Hills]]
|Mountain Goats roam around the mountainous areas of the track, wiping out racers who collide with them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Dinosaur.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Nossie]]
|align=center|{{classic-link|GCN|Dino Dino Jungle}}
|The dinosaur appears near the track's center, occupying the bridge section after the cave and the ground below the bridge. The dinosaur's feet stomp the lower section, flattening racers in a similar manner to a Thwomp. The dinosaur's head does not spin a racer out, rather blocks their path.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Oil Slick.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Oil slick]]
|align=center|{{classic-link|SNES|Mario Circuit 2}}
|Oil slicks appear on various parts of the track, causing racers to spin out if they race over them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Penguin.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Penguin]]
|align=center|[[3DS Rosalina's Ice World|Rosalina's Ice World]]<br>[[Sherbet Rink]]
|Penguins appear around the icy pond section of Rosalina's Ice World, on both the land and in the water. In both instances, players will simply bounce off of them if they collide with them. On Sherbet Rink, Penguins roam around the track as a whole.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Pinball.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Metal ball|Pinball]]
|align=center|{{classic-link|DS|Waluigi Pinball}}
|Pinballs roll across various sections of the track, causing racers to flip over when hit. On the pinball table, pinballs can be hit by flippers and bounce of the bumpers scattered across the table.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Pipe.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Pipe]]
|align=center|[[3DS Toad Circuit|Toad Circuit]]<br>{{classic-link|SNES|Mario Circuit 2}}
|Pipes appear as stationary obstacles and are usually scattered on off road sections. Players will come to a complete stop if they collide with them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Piranha Plant.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Piranha Plant]]
|align=center|[[3DS Music Park|Music Park]]<br>[[3DS Piranha Plant Slide|Piranha Plant Slide]]
|Piranha Plants will attempt to bite any racer that drives near them. In Music Park, they appear on either sides of the track and occasionally swap positions. In Piranha Plant Slide, they are completely stationary and will turn back and forth regularly to attack racers.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Puddle.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Puddle]]
|align=center|[[3DS Neo Bowser City|Neo Bowser City]]
|Puddles appear at the end of the track and function identically to oil slicks. They can be avoided by jumping over them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Rocky Wrench.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Rocky Wrench]]
|align=center|{{classic-link|DS|Airship Fortress}}<br>{{classic-link|GBA|Battle Course 1}}
|Rocky Wrenches pop out of the ground and will flip over racers who hit them. Players can also do jump actions off of their manhole covers when they peek out from the ground.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Screaming Pillar.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Screaming Pillar]]
|align=center|[[3DS DK Jungle|DK Jungle]]
|Screaming Pillars are completely stationary obstacles and will stop a racer if they collide with them. They occasionally let out screams that will push racers back if they are in range.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Sidestepper.jpg|80px]]<br>[[Sidestepper]]
|align=center|[[3DS Cheep Cheep Lagoon|Cheep Cheep Lagoon]]<br>{{classic-link|N64|Koopa Troopa Beach|Koopa Beach}}<br>{{classic-link|DS|Palm Shore}}
|Sidesteppers move back and forth along parts of the track, causing any racer who hits them to spin out.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Snowball.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Snowball]]
|align=center|{{classic-link|DS|DK Pass}}
|Snowballs appear on DK Pass and function identically to Boulders or Pinballs. They roll down the mountain and fall off the track, flipping over racers who collide with them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Snowman.jpg|80px]]<br>[[Snowman]]
|align=center|{{classic-link|DS|DK Pass}}
|Snowmen appear at the end of the track and function in the same way as they did in past installments, causing racers who hit them to flip over.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Stingby.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Stingby]]
|align=center|[[Honeybee Hive]]
|Several Stingbies fly around the battle stage, spinning out racers who hit them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Super Thwomp.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Star Thwomp|Super Thwomp]]
|align=center|{{classic-link|SNES|Rainbow Road}}
|Super Thwomps appear throughout the track, wiping out racers who hit them. When they hit the ground, they cause ripples in the track, which make the kart jump, allowing the driver to perform a jump action.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Swooper.jpg|80px]]<br>[[Swoop]]
|align=center|[[3DS Rock Rock Mountain|Rock Rock Mountain]]
|Swoops appear in the cave section of the track, slowing racers down if they hit them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Thwomp.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Thwomp]]
|align=center|[[3DS Bowser's Castle|Bowser's Castle]]<br>{{classic-link|GBA|Bowser's Castle 1|Bowser Castle 1}}
|Thwomps act identically as they did in past installments, stopping racers who hit them and flattening them if they fall on them.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Tiki Goon.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Tiki Goon]]
|align=center|[[3DS DK Jungle|DK Jungle]]
|Tiki Goons move back and forth along the track, pausing at the track's edges before moving the other way. Colliding with one will cause the player to spin out.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Train.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Train (obstacle)|Train]]
|align=center|{{classic-link|N64|Kalimari Desert}}
|Two trains follow an oval track around the center of the race track. Players will flip over if they hit the train or their carriages. 
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Walking Tree.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Walking Tree]]
|align=center|{{classic-link|DS|Luigi's Mansion}}
|Walking Trees walk around set paths at the end of the track. They function just like normal trees and will stop a racer completely when hit.
|-
|align=center|[[File:MK7 Water Geyser.jpg|80px]]<br>[[Water Geyser]]
|align=center|{{classic-link|GCN|Dino Dino Jungle}}
|Water Geysers appear in both the cave section and near the end of the track, erupting at regular intervals. Racers are flipped over if they hit an erupting geyser. Players can do jump actions off of geyser spouts if they are inactive.
|}

==Vehicle parts==
''Mario Kart 7'' introduces the option to personalize the player's vehicle before getting to the race. The player can select the body, the tires, and the glider to build the desired kart. By collecting many [[coin]]s from the races in Grand Prix mode, the player can unlock a new body, a new set of tires, or a new glider to use. It is possible to acquire a maximum of ten coins in a race. As the user chooses the parts, the stats may vary according to the parts' combination, and the vehicle will work better in particular situations. 
===Available parts===
There are 17 kart bodies, 10 tires, and 7 gliders for a grand total of 1,190 kart combinations. The following is a list of all the available parts, using the American English names. If the kart has a different name in the British English version, the British name is put in parentheses under the American name. All kart parts are sorted based on how they're ordered in-game, starting with the standard parts. The following notation is used:

{{footnote|note|b|Changes color, depending on the character.}}
{{footnote|note|c|Changes color for [[Daisy]], [[Rosalina]], and [[Honey Queen]].}}
{{footnote|note|d|Not used by male or gender-indeterminate CPU drivers.}}
{{footnote|note|e|Not used by CPU drivers, except for Miis obtained via StreetPass from this game's Mario Kart Channel, if they are equipped.}}
====Karts====
<gallery>
MK7 Toad-Standard Kart.png|[[Standard Kart#Mario Kart 7|Standard]]{{footnote|main|b}}
MK7 Gold Kart.png|[[Gold Standard#Mario Kart 7|Gold Standard]]{{footnote|main|e}}<br><small>''(Gold Kart)''</small>
MK7 Royal Ribbon.png|[[Birthday Girl]]{{footnote|main|c}}{{footnote|main|d}}<br><small>''(Royal Ribbon)''</small>
MK7 Bumble V.png|[[Bumble V]]
MK7 Growlster.png|[[Bruiser]]<br><small>''(Growlster)''</small>
MK7 Soda Jet.png|[[Soda Jet]]
MK7 B Dasher.png|[[B Dasher]]
MK7 Egg 1.png|[[Egg 1]]
MK7 Barrel Train.png|[[Barrel Train]]
MK7 Tiny Tug.png|[[Tiny Tug]]
MK7 Cact-X.png|[[Cact-X]]
MK7 Koopa Clown.png|[[Koopa Clown]]
MK7 Cloud 9.png|[[Cloud 9]]
MK7 Zucchini.png|[[Zucchini]]<br><small>''(Gherkin)''</small>
MK7 Blue Seven.png|[[Blue Seven]]
MK7 Bolt Buggy.png|[[Bolt Buggy]]
MK7 Pipe Frame.png|[[Pipe Frame]]{{footnote|main|b}}
</gallery>

====Tires====
<gallery>
MK7 Standard.png|[[Standard (tire)|Standard]]<br><small>''(Normal)''</small>
MK7 Gold Tires.png|[[Gold Tires]]{{footnote|main|e}}<br><small>''(Gold Wheels)''<br></small>
MK7 Roller.png|[[Roller]]
MK7 Slim.png|[[Slim (tire)|Slim]]
MK7 Slick.png|[[Slick]]
MK7 Sponge Wheels.png|[[Sponge]]
MK7 Mushroom Wheels.png|[[Mushroom (tire)|Mushroom]]
MK7 Wood.png|[[Wood]]<br><small>''(Wooden)''</small>
MK7 Red Monster.png|[[Red Monster]]
MK7 Monster.png|[[Monster (tire)|Monster]]
</gallery>

====Gliders====
<gallery>
MK7 Super Glider.png|[[Super Glider]]{{footnote|main|b}}
MK7 Gold Glider.png|[[Gold Glider]]{{footnote|main|e}}
MK7 Peach Parasol.png|[[Peach Parasol (glider)|Peach Parasol]]{{footnote|main|c}}
MK7 Flower Glider.png|[[Flower Glider]]
MK7 Beast Glider.png|[[Beast Glider]]<br><small>''(Ghastly Glider)''</small>
MK7 Swoop.png|[[Swooper (glider)|Swooper]]<br><small>''(Swoop)''</small>
MK7 Paraglider.png|[[Parafoil|Paraglider]]<br><small>''(Parafoil)''</small>
</gallery>

===Unlocking criteria===
The only parts that are already unlocked are the [[Kart#Mario Kart 7|Standard]] kart, the [[Standard (tire)|Standard]] tires, the [[Super Glider]], Bolt Buggy, Birthday Girl, Monster tires, and Roller tires. Unlocking a different kart part requires a certain total of coins collected from every race in Grand Prix. Once the player has reached that amount, a random kart part is unlocked. The only exceptions to this rule are the gold parts and the Beast Glider.
====Random parts====
Players can unlock random parts by collecting the following coin values:
{|
|
*50
*100
*150
*200
*250
*300
|
*400
*500
*600
*700
*800
*900
|
*1,000
*1,200
*1,400
*1,600
*1,800
*2,000
|
*2,500
*3,000
*3,500
*4,000
*4,500
|}

====Special parts==== 
{|border=1 style="text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse;max-width:100em;margin:auto"align=center class="wikitable"
|-
!style="background:#e0e0e0"|Part
!style="background:#e0e0e0"|Standard criteria
!style="background:#e0e0e0"|Coin criteria
|-
!Gold Standard
|Reach 10,000 VR.
|Collect 20,000 coins.
|- 
!Gold Tires 
|Obtain a minimum of one star ranking in all cups of every engine class.
|Collect 15,000 coins.
|- 
!Gold Glider 
|Reach 100 StreetPass hits.
|Collect 10,000 coins.
|-
!Gold Steering Wheel 
|Race in 100 races using gyro-controls in at least 80% of them.
|N/A
|-
!Beast Glider
|N/A
|Collect 5,000 coins. Its amount will decrease if players unlock kart parts via the StreetPass feature.
|}

==Drivers' and vehicle parts' statistics==
:''For the in-game tables from which these values were derived and for the tables to translate those values into the actual statistics used by the game, see [[Mario Kart 7 in-game statistics]].''
===Statistics shown in the vehicle customization screen===
In contrast with ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'', which directly added the characters' and vehicles' physical parameters to obtain their final values, the game introduces the ''Points'' which are conferred by characters and vehicle parts. In each statistics, the points given by the character, body, tires, and glider are summed to obtain a final value called ''Level'' (''Lv'') which is then used by [[Mario Kart 7 in-game statistics#Statistics Translation Tables|a table]] to convert the level into various related physical parameters used by the game. The Level of five statistics is displayed in the vehicle customization screen:
*'''Speed:''' The top speed of the kart on land.
*'''Acceleration:''' The rate of speed increase when holding the acceleration button.
*'''Weight:''' The weight of the kart. Karts with higher weight knock away vehicles with lower weight.
*'''Handling:''' The turning ability of the kart on land. A higher stat means vehicles turn sharper.
*'''Off-Road:''' The grasp of the kart. Karts with higher Off-Road slip less on certain terrain and are faster, to the point of being able to charge [[Mini-Turbo]]s. Not to be confused with handling.
Said Level is represented through bars by adding two points to the sum of points, then dividing the result by four, resulting in values ranging from 0.75 to 5.5. As an example, the process through which the statistics of a certain combination of character and vehicle parts are calculated and displayed is shown below:
[[File:MK7 Bolt Buggy Garage.png|thumb|center|400px|A combination consisting of [[Bowser]], [[Bolt Buggy]], [[Monster (tire)|Monster]] [[Tire]]s, and [[Parafoil|Paraglider]].]]

{|class="wikitable"style="text-align:center; margin:auto"
!rowspan=2|Element
!colspan=5|Points conferred
|-
!Speed
!Acceleration
!Weight
!Handling
!Off-Road
|-style="color:red"
![[File:MK7 Icon character select Bowser.png]]<br>[[Bowser]]
|'''4'''
|'''0'''
|'''8'''
|'''0'''
|'''0'''
|-style="color:green"
![[File:MK7Bolt Buggy.png]]<br>[[Bolt Buggy]]
|'''7'''
|'''1'''
|'''3'''
|'''2'''
|'''3'''
|-style="color:blue"
![[File:MK7Monstericon.png]]<br>[[Monster (tire)|Monster Tires]]
|'''7'''
|'''0'''
|'''8'''
|'''0'''
|'''15'''
|-style="color:darkorange"
![[File:MK7Paraglider.png]]<br>[[Parafoil|Paraglider]]
|'''0'''
|'''1'''
|'''0'''
|'''0'''
|'''0'''
|-
!Final Values
!Speed
!Acceleration
!Weight
!Handling
!Off-Road
|-
!Level
!<span style="color:red">4</span> + <span style="color:green">7</span> + <span style="color:blue">7</span> + <span style="color:darkorange">0</span> =<br>18
!<span style="color:red">0</span> + <span style="color:green">1</span> + <span style="color:blue">0</span> + <span style="color:darkorange">1</span> =<br>2
!<span style="color:red">8</span> + <span style="color:green">3</span> + <span style="color:blue">8</span> + <span style="color:darkorange">0</span> =<br>19
!<span style="color:red">0</span> + <span style="color:green">2</span> + <span style="color:blue">0</span> + <span style="color:darkorange">0</span> =<br>2
!<span style="color:red">0</span> + <span style="color:green">3</span> + <span style="color:blue">15</span> + <span style="color:darkorange">0</span> =<br>18
|-
!Value shown in the vehicle customization screen
!(18 + 2) / 4 = 20 / 4 =<br>5
!(2 + 2) / 4 = 4 / 4 =<br>1
!(19 + 2) / 4 = 21 / 4 =<br>5.25
!(2 + 2) / 4 = 4 / 4 =<br>1
!(18 + 2) / 4 = 20 / 4 =<br>5
|}

===Internal statistics===
The following table shows the statistics of the various drivers and kart parts.
In addition to the statistics shown in the vehicle customization screen, there are the following statistics:
*'''Water Speed:''' The top speed of the kart while driving underwater.
*'''Air Speed:''' The top speed of the kart while gliding.
*'''Water Handling:''' The turning ability of the kart while driving underwater.
*'''Air Handling:''' The turning ability of the kart while gliding.
*'''Mini-Turbo:''' The length of the kart's mini-turbo speed boosts.
*'''Stability:''' How much the tires stick to the ground and how much the kart tends to tilt sideways when turning and drifting.
*'''Drift:''' How much the kart slips when a drift begins.
The following table reports the statistics in points.

{|border="1"cellpadding="3"style="background:#f5f5f5;text-align:center;width:94%;border-collapse:collapse;margin-bottom:5px;"align=center
|-
!colspan="14"style="background:#9c9c9c"|Character Stats
|-
!width="20%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"colspan="2"|Weight Class
!width="24%"style="background:#dedede"colspan="3"|Speed
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Acceleration
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Weight
!width="24%"style="background:#dedede"colspan="3"|Handling
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Off-Road
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Mini-Turbo 
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Stability
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Drift
|-
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"|Land
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"|Water
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"|Air
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"|Land
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"|Water
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"|Air
|-style="font-weight:bold"
!rowspan="1"style="background-color: beige; color: gold; border-color: black;"|{{text outline|Feather}}
!style="background-color: beige;"|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Toad.png|link=Toad]][[File:MK7 Icon character select Koopa Troopa.png|link=Koopa Troopa]][[File:ShyGuyIcon-MK7.png|link=Shy Guy]][[File:LakituIcon-MK7.png|link=Lakitu]]
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|2
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|2
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|2
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|2
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|2
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|1
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|-style="font-weight:bold"
!rowspan="1"style="background-color: #CCFFFF; color: dodgerblue; border-color: black;"|{{text outline|Light}}
!style="background-color: #CCFFFF;"|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Peach.png|link=Princess Peach]][[File:MK7 Icon character select Yoshi.png|link=Yoshi]][[File:MK7 Icon character select Daisy.png|link=Princess Daisy]]
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|1
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|2
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#80bfff;"|6
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|2
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|2
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|2
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|2
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|-style="font-weight:bold"
!rowspan="1"style="background-color: honeydew; color: green; border-color: black;"|{{text outline|Medium|white}}
!style="background-color: honeydew;"|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Mario.png|link=Mario]][[File:MK7 Icon character select Luigi.png|link=Luigi]][[File:MK7 Icon character select Mii.png|link=Mii]]
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|-style="font-weight:bold"
!rowspan="1"style="background-color: thistle; color: purple; border-color: black;"|{{text outline|Cruiser|white}}
!style="background-color: thistle;"|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Donkey Kong.png|link=Donkey Kong]][[File:MK7 Icon character select Rosalina.png|link=Rosalina]][[File:WigglerIcon-MK7.png|link=Wiggler]]
|style="background-color:#80bfff;"|3
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|2
|style="background-color:#80bfff;"|6
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|-style="font-weight:bold"
!rowspan="1"style="background-color: mistyrose; color: red; border-color: black;"|{{text outline|Heavy|white}}
!style="background-color: mistyrose;"|[[File:MK7 Icon character select Bowser.png|link=Bowser]][[File:MK7 Icon character select Wario.png|link=Wario]][[File:MetalMarioIcon-MK7.png|link=Metal Mario]][[File:QueenBeeIcon-MK7.png|link=Honey Queen]]
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|4
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|-
!colspan=14 style="background:#b8b8b8"|Bodies
|-
!width="20%" rowspan="2"style="background:#dedede" colspan=2|Body
!width="24%"style="background:#dedede"colspan="3"|Speed
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Acceleration
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Weight
!width="24%"style="background:#dedede"colspan="3"|Handling
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Off-Road
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Mini-Turbo
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Stability
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Drift
|-
!style="background:#dedede"|Land
!style="background:#dedede"|Water
!style="background:#dedede"|Air
!style="background:#dedede"|Land
!style="background:#dedede"|Water
!style="background:#dedede"|Air
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7ToadStandardKart.png|link=Standard Kart#Mario Kart 7|Standard]]
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|6
|style="background-color:#aaffd4;"|4
|style="background-color:#aaffd4;"|2
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|3
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|3
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|2
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Gold Standard.png|link=Gold Standard#Mario Kart 7|Gold Standard (Gold Kart)]]
|style="background-color:#80bfff;"|7
|style="background-color:#aaffd4;"|4
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|2
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|3
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|2
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Birthday Girl.png|link=Birthday Girl|Birthday Girl (Royal Ribbon)]]
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|4
|style="background-color:#80f0ff;"|6
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|4
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|5
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|5
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|2
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Bumble V.png|link=Bumble V|Bumble V]]
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|6
|style="background-color:#aaffd4;"|4
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|4
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|5
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|2
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Bruiser.png|link=Bruiser|Bruiser (Growlster)]]
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#e2ff9c;"|2
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|2
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|2
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Soda Jet.png|link=Soda Jet|Soda Jet]]
|style="background-color:#80bfff;"|7
|style="background-color:#e2ff9c;"|2
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80bfff;"|4
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|3
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|2
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7B Dasher.png|link=B Dasher|B Dasher]]
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#e2ff9c;"|2
|style="background-color:#aaffd4;"|2
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|style="background-color:#80bfff;"|4
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|2
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Egg 1.png|link=Egg 1|Egg 1]]
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|5
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|10
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|4
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|5
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|3
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Barrel Train.png|link=Barrel Train|Barrel Train]]
|style="background-color:#80bfff;"|7
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|3
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Tiny Tug.png|link=Tiny Tug|Tiny Tug]]
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|4
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|10
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|3
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|3
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Cact-X.png|link=Cact-X|Cact-X]]
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|5
|style="background-color:#80f0ff;"|6
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|2
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|style="background-color:#80bfff;"|4
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Koopa Clown.png|link=Koopa Clown|Koopa Clown]]
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|6
|style="background-color:#aaffd4;"|4
|style="background-color:#aaffd4;"|2
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|2
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|5
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|2
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Cloud 9.png|link=Cloud 9|Cloud 9]]
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|4
|style="background-color:#80b8ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80bfff;"|4
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|5
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|2
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Zucchini.png|link=Zucchini|Zucchini (Gherkin)]]
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#e2ff9c;"|2
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|2
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|2
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Blue Seven.png|link=Blue Seven|Blue Seven]]
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#aaffd4;"|4
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|2
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|2
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Bolt Buggy.png|link=Bolt Buggy|Bolt Buggy]]
|style="background-color:#80bfff;"|7
|style="background-color:#e2ff9c;"|2
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|2
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7RedPipeFrame.png|link=Pipe Frame|Pipe Frame]]
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|5
|style="background-color:#80b8ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80bfff;"|4
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|3
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|3
|-
!colspan=14 style="background:#b8b8b8"|Tires
|-
!width="20%" rowspan="2"style="background:#dedede" colspan=2|Tire
!width="24%"style="background:#dedede"colspan="3"|Speed
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Acceleration
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Weight
!width="24%"style="background:#dedede"colspan="3"|Handling
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Off-Road
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Mini-Turbo
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Stability
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Drift
|-
!style="background:#dedede"|Land
!style="background:#dedede"|Water
!style="background:#dedede"|Air
!style="background:#dedede"|Land
!style="background:#dedede"|Water
!style="background:#dedede"|Air
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Standardicon.png|link=Standard (tire)|Standard (Normal)]]
|style="background-color:#92ffec;"|4
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|3
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#9dffe1;"|5
|style="background-color:#aaffd4;"|5
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80d4ff;"|10
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Gold Standardicon.png|link=Gold Tires|Gold Tires (Gold Wheels)]]
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#d4ffaa;"|1
|style="background-color:#80bfff;"|6
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#aaffd4;"|5
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Rollericon.png|link=Roller|Roller]]
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|1
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|4
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|6
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|13
|style="background-color:#80d4ff;"|10
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#aaffd4;"|5
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Slimicon.png|link=Slim (tire)|Slim]]
|style="background-color:#b6ffc8;"|3
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#80d4ff;"|4
|style="background-color:#9fffdf;"|3
|style="background-color:#80baff;"|10
|style="background-color:#80d4ff;"|10
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#aaffd4;"|5
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Slickicon.png|link=Slick|Slick]]
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#aaffd4;"|2
|style="background-color:#80dfff;"|5
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Spongeicon.png|link=Sponge|Sponge]]
|style="background-color:#b6ffc8;"|3
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80aaff;"|5
|style="background-color:#dfff9f;"|1
|style="background-color:#9dffe1;"|5
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#80d4ff;"|10
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Mushroomicon.png|link=Mushroom (tire)|Mushroom]]
|style="background-color:#80ecff;"|5
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#aaffd4;"|2
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|2
|style="background-color:#80baff;"|10
|style="background-color:#aaffd4;"|5
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#aaffd4;"|5
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Woodicon.png|link=Wood|Wood (Wooden)]]
|style="background-color:#daffa4;"|2
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80aaff;"|5
|style="background-color:#bfffbf;"|2
|style="background-color:#80baff;"|10
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|15
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#80d4ff;"|10
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Red Monstericon.png|link=Red Monster|Red Monster]]
|style="background-color:#80a4ff;"|7
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#d4ffaa;"|1
|style="background-color:#809fff;"|7
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|15
|style="background-color:#80dfff;"|5
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Monstericon.png|link=Monster (tire)|Monster]]
|style="background-color:#80a4ff;"|7
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|15
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|-
!colspan=14 style="background:#b8b8b8"|Gliders
|-
!width="20%" rowspan="2"style="background:#dedede" colspan=2|Glider
!width="24%"style="background:#dedede"colspan="3"|Speed
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Acceleration
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Weight
!width="24%"style="background:#dedede"colspan="3"|Handling
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Off-Road
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Mini-Turbo
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Stability
!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Drift
|-
!style="background:#dedede"|Land
!style="background:#dedede"|Water
!style="background:#dedede"|Air
!style="background:#dedede"|Land
!style="background:#dedede"|Water
!style="background:#dedede"|Air
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7MarioSuperGlider.png|link=Super Glider|Super Glider]][[File:MK7Gold Glider.png|link=Gold Glider|Gold Glider]][[File:MK7Beast Glider.png|link=Beast Glider|Beast Glider (Ghastly Glider)]]
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|12
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|1
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Peach Parasol.png|link=Peach Parasol (glider)|Peach Parasol]][[File:MK7Flower Glider.png|link=Flower Glider|Flower Glider]]
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|8
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|-style="font-weight:bold"
|style="background-color:#ededed;" colspan=2|[[File:MK7Swooper.png|link=Swooper (glider)|Swooper (Swoop)]][[File:MK7Paraglider.png|link=Parafoil|Paraglider (Parafoil)]]
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|6
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|1
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|4
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#8080ff;"|1
|style="background-color:#80ffff;"|0
|style="background-color:#ffff80;"|0
|}

==Items==
:''For the probability of obtaining each item when an Item Box is opened in the various modes, see [[Mario Kart 7 item probability distributions]].''
Many classic items make a return in ''Mario Kart 7''. The game introduces three new items &ndash; the [[Fire Flower]], the [[Super Leaf]], and the [[Lucky Seven]] (the last two of which do not return in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]''). The [[Thunder Cloud]], [[POW Block]], and [[Mega Mushroom]] from ''Mario Kart Wii'' are absent from the game. The [[Fake Item Box]] from ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'', ''Double Dash!!'', ''DS'', and ''Wii'' is also absent, along with [[Boo]] from ''Super Mario Kart'', ''64'', ''Super Circuit'', and ''DS''. Similar to its predecessors, players receive items by driving through an [[Item Box]] found on courses. When players drive through an Item Box, the Item Roulette will select an item. In addition to Item Boxes, [[Coin]]s can be found on the track. Players can collect the coins by driving through them. Picking up a coin increases a player's top speed. If players collect ten coins, their kart is at maximum speed and cannot gain additional coins. Players lose coins if they get hit by an item or fall in a pit. Collecting a certain amount of coins unlocks vehicle parts to select them in the vehicle's customization menu. Also, unlike in its predecessor, the item warning sound will only play if a [[Spiny Shell (blue)|Spiny Shell]] or a [[Bullet Bill]] is approaching.

One prominent change to the classic items is that the Spiny Shell now has been redesigned into a wingless form, similar to the one found in ''Mario Kart 64'' and having a new sound effect. Its overall behavior is also changed as well; the shell now flies lower to the ground and is able to hit other racers on its path. In addition, the explosion is noticeably less powerful compared to previous installments.
===Items found on tracks===
<center>
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Image
!Name
!align="center"|Description
|-
|[[File:Itembox MK7.png|100px]]
|[[Item Box]]
|Item Boxes give players items.
|-
|[[File:Coin MK7.png|100px]]
|[[Coin]]
|Players receive a small boost and an increase to their top speed. A maximum of 10 can be carried at one time.
|}
</center>

===Items received from Item Boxes===
<center>
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Image
!Name
!align="center"|Description
|-
|[[File:Banana - Mario Kart 7.png|100px]]
|[[Banana]]
|Players that run over Bananas spin out.
|-
|[[File:Triple Bananas MK7.png|100px]]
|[[Triple Bananas]]
|Gives the player three Bananas that trail behind the kart. They can then be dropped or thrown one by one.
|-
|[[File:Green Shell MK7.png|100px]]
|[[Green Shell]]
|Travels in a straight line and bounces off walls. Knocks over the player it hits.
|-
|[[File:Triple Green Shells MK7.png|100px]]
|[[Triple Green Shells]]
|Three Green Shells that protect the player from incoming attacks by rotating around its kart. They can then be thrown one by one.
|-
|[[File:Red Shell MK7.png|100px]]
|[[Red Shell]]
|Chases after the closest player in front of the player and knocks it over. Throwing it backwards will make it travel in a straight line, like a Green Shell.
|-
|[[File:Triple Red Shells MK7.png|100px]]
|[[Triple Red Shells]]
|Three Red Shells that protect the player from incoming attacks by rotating around its kart. They can then be thrown one by one. CPU players can't get this item in Grand Prix and Battle modes, unless the item settings are set to Shells Only.
|-
|[[File:MK7-Spiny-Shell.png|100px]]
|[[Spiny Shell (blue)|Spiny Shell]]
|Chases after the player in the lead, then explodes on it. It will also knock over anything that is on its path.
|-
|[[File:Bobomb MK7.png|100px]]
|[[Bob-omb]]
|After being thrown or dropped, it explodes after a moment or when a player comes too close, knocking over anything in its blast radius. It will also chase after players that comes by.
|-
|[[File:Mushroom MK7.png|100px]]
|[[Dash Mushroom|Mushroom]]
|Gives the player a speed boost.
|-
|[[File:Triple Mushrooms MK7.png|100px]]
|[[Triple Mushrooms]]
|Same effect as the Mushroom. It can be used three times.
|-
|[[File:Golden Mushroom MK7.png|100px]]
|[[Golden Dash Mushroom|Golden Mushroom]]
|Same effect as the Mushroom. It can be used at will, but only for a moment after the first use.
|-
|[[File:MK7 Bullet Bill.png|100px]]
|[[Bullet Bill]]
|Transforms the player into a Bullet Bill, which rockets down the entire track at high speeds on auto-pilot for a time that is determined by the player's current position. The Bullet Bill is invincible and can knock over items, course hazards and other players, which makes them lose any item in their possession.
|-
|[[File:Blooper MK7.png|100px]]
|[[Blooper]]
|Sprays ink on all the players ahead of the user and reduces their visibility. The ink will go away after a moment or when the player receives a boost from a Mushroom or a Boost Pad.
|-
|[[File:Lightning MK7 no glow.png|100px]]
|[[Lightning]]
|Causes all players, except the user, to drop their item, shrink, and have their kart's top speed reduced for a moment, the effect being longer for the players that are leading the race. They can also get squashed by normal-sized players.
|-
|[[File:Star MK7.png|100px]]
|[[Super Star]]
|The player obtains total invincibility for a moment and is able to knock over everything in its path including items, course obstacles, and other players, making them lose their current item. In addition, the player receives a speed boost and the ability to drive off-road without losing any speed.
|-
|[[File:Fire Flower MK7.png|100px]]
|[[Fire Flower]]<br>''New Item''
|Allows the player to throw fireballs that bounces off walls and cause other players to spin out of control on impact. Up to three fireballs are allowed at a time per player, throwing a fourth one will make the oldest one disappear. If ten fireballs are used, this item wears off immediately.
|-
|[[File:SuperLeaf-MK7.png|100px]]
|[[Super Leaf]]<br>''New Item''
|Gives the player's kart a tail that can be used to deflect items, knock over opponents and collect coins. The tail will disappear after a moment or if the player is hurt.
|-
|[[File:MK7 Lucky7.png|100px]]
|[[Lucky Seven]]<br>''New Item''
|Surrounds the player with seven items that rotates around its kart. The player receives a Mushroom, Banana, Green Shell, Red Shell, Blooper, Bob-omb, and a Star. CPU players can't get this item, unless only one type of item is chosen in Battle Mode.
|}
</center>

==Courses==
Like ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'', ''Mario Kart 7'' features 32 courses that includes 16 [[new course]]s and 16 [[Classic course|retro courses]], which consists of one course from ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'', two courses from ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'', three from ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'', and four from ''Mario Kart DS'' and ''Mario Kart Wii''. Only the [[Mushroom Cup]] and [[Shell Cup]], as well as the battle courses, are available from the start, but upon unlocking them they are available for all game modes, and not just for that specific [[Mario Kart (series)#Engine Class|Engine Class]], unlike past installments. A new feature of ''Mario Kart 7'' is that three of the new courses &ndash; Wuhu Loop, Maka Wuhu, and Rainbow Road &ndash; have three sections each, with each section counting as one lap. The following charts show the American English names of the tracks, with the British English names in italics. Like in ''Mario Kart DS'', the retro tracks' width have been shortened, except the DS retro courses, which have been widened.
===New courses===
{|style="width:700px;margin:auto;text-align:center"class="wikitable"
|- 
![[File:MK7-MushroomCup.png|50px]]<br>[[Mushroom Cup]]
![[File:MK7-FlowerCup.png|50px]]<br>[[Flower Cup]]
![[File:MK7 Star Cup Emblem.png|50px]]<br>[[Star Cup]]
![[File:MK7 Special Cup Emblem.png|50px]]<br>[[Special Cup]]
|- 
|[[File:Toad Circuit.png|150px]]<br>[[3DS Toad Circuit|Toad Circuit]]<br> <br>
|[[File:Wuhu Loop.png|150px]]<br>[[Wuhu Loop]]<br><small>''Wuhu Island Loop''</small>
|[[File:PPS2.png|150px]]<br>[[3DS Piranha Plant Slide|Piranha Plant Slide]]<br><small>''Piranha Plant Pipeway''</small>
|[[File:DKJungle.png|150px]]<br>[[3DS DK Jungle|DK Jungle]]<br> <br>
|- 
|[[File:Daisyhills.png|150px]]<br>[[3DS Daisy Hills|Daisy Hills]]<br> <br>
|[[File:MariocircuitMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[3DS Mario Circuit|Mario Circuit]]<br> <br>
|[[File:Wariogalleon.png|150px]]<br>[[3DS Wario Shipyard|Wario Shipyard]]<br><small>''Wario's Galleon''</small>
|[[File:RosalinaIceWorld.png|150px]]<br>[[3DS Rosalina's Ice World|Rosalina's Ice World]]<br> <br>
|- 
|[[File:Cheepcheeplagoon.png|150px]]<br>[[3DS Cheep Cheep Lagoon|Cheep Cheep Lagoon]]<br><small>''Cheep Cheep Cape''</small>
|[[File:MusicPark.png|150px]]<br>[[3DS Music Park|Music Park]]<br><small>''Melody Motorway''</small>
|[[File:NeoBowserCity.png|150px]]<br>[[3DS Neo Bowser City|Neo Bowser City]]<br><small>''Koopa City''</small>
|[[File:BowserCastleMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[3DS Bowser's Castle|Bowser's Castle]]<br> <br>
|- 
|[[File:ShyGuyBazaar.png|150px]]<br>[[3DS Shy Guy Bazaar|Shy Guy Bazaar]]<br> <br>
|[[File:RockRockMountain.png|150px]]<br>[[3DS Rock Rock Mountain|Rock Rock Mountain]]<br><small>''Alpine Pass''</small>
|[[File:Wuhumountainloop.png|150px]]<br>[[Maka Wuhu]]<br><small>''Wuhu Mountain Loop''</small>
|[[File:RainbowroadMK7.png|150px]]<br>[[3DS Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]]<br> <br>
|}

===Retro courses===
{|style="width:700px;margin:auto;text-align:center"class="wikitable"
|- 
![[File:MK7 Shell Cup Emblem.png|50px]]<br>[[Shell Cup]]
![[File:MK7 Banana Cup Emblem.png|50px]]<br>[[Banana Cup]]
![[File:MK7 Leaf Cup Emblem.png|50px]]<br>[[Leaf Cup]]
![[File:MK7 Lightning Cup Emblem.png|50px]]<br>[[Lightning Cup]]
|- 
|[[File:LuigiracewayMK7.png|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|N64|Luigi Raceway}}<br> <br>
|[[File:KoopaTroopaBeachMK7.png|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|N64|Koopa Troopa Beach|Koopa Beach}}<br><small>''N64 Koopa Troopa Beach''</small>
|[[File:KalimariDesertMK7.png|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|N64|Kalimari Desert}}<br> <br>
|[[File:KoopaCapeMK7.png|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|Wii|Koopa Cape}}<br> <br>
|- 
|[[File:GBA Bowser Castle 1.jpg|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|GBA|Bowser's Castle 1|Bowser Castle 1}}
|[[File:MK7-SFC-MC.png|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|SNES|Mario Circuit 2}}
|[[File:DKPassMK7.png|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|DS|DK Pass}}
|[[File:DinoDinoJungleMK7.png|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|GCN|Dino Dino Jungle}}
|- 
|[[File:MushroomGorgeMK7.png|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|Wii|Mushroom Gorge}}
|[[File:Wii Coconut Mall.png|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|Wii|Coconut Mall}}
|[[File:DaisyCruiserMK7.png|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|GCN|Daisy Cruiser}}
|[[File:AirshipFortressMK7.png|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|DS|Airship Fortress}}
|- 
|[[File:LuigiMansionMK7.png|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|DS|Luigi's Mansion}}
|[[File:MK7-DS-WP.png|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|DS|Waluigi Pinball}}
|[[File:MapleTreewayMK7.png|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|Wii|Maple Treeway}}
|[[File:SNES MK7.png|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|SNES|Rainbow Road}}
|}

===Battle stages===
There are a total of six battle stages: three new stages and three retro ones. Similar to games prior to ''Mario Kart Wii'', the three new battle stages all have the same music, albeit with different arrangements between stages, while the three retro stages use the ''Mario Kart Wii'' arrangement of their respective music, which was previously used in that game's version of {{classic-link|GBA|Battle Course 3}}, {{classic-link|N64|Skyscraper}}, and {{classic-link|DS|Twilight House}} respectively.
{|style="width:400px;margin:auto;text-align:center"class="wikitable"
|- 
!colspan=13 width=35%|[[File:MK7-BattleMode.png|50px]]
|- 
!New Stages
!Retro Stages
|- 
|[[File:Honey Bee House.png|150px]]<br>[[Honeybee Hive]]<br><small>''Honeybee House''</small>
|[[File:Battlecourse1gbaMK7.png|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|GBA|Battle Course 1}}<br> <br>
|- 
|[[File:SherbetRink1.jpg|150px]]<br>[[Sherbet Rink]]
|[[File:BigDonutMK7.png|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|N64|Big Donut}}
|- 
|[[File:WuhuTownOverview.jpg|150px]]<br>[[3DS Wuhu Town|Wuhu Town]]
|[[File:DS Palm Shore.png|150px]]<br>{{classic-link|DS|Palm Shore}}
|}

==Ghosts==
Just like in ''Mario Kart Wii'', ''Mario Kart 7'' has '''Normal Staff [[Ghost (Mario Kart series)|Ghosts]]''' and '''Expert Staff Ghosts''', which appear in the Time Trials game mode. The Normal Staff Ghosts are available at the start, but when the player gets a time higher than the Normal Staff Ghost of a track, the Expert Staff Ghost of the same track will be unlocked.
===Normal Staff Ghosts===
{|border=1 style="text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse;max-width:100em;margin:auto"align=center class="wikitable"
|-
!width=15% rowspan=2|Course
!width=10% rowspan=2|Staff Name
!width=5% rowspan=2|Time
!width=10% rowspan=2|Character
!width=30% colspan=3|Vehicle Combination
|- 
!width=10%|Body
!width=10%|Tires
!width=10%|Glider
|-
!Toad Circuit
|Nin★KATIE
|01:35.135
|Toad
|Standard
|Standard
|Super Glider
|-
!Daisy Hills
|[[Satomi Terui|Nin★Terui♪]]
|02:06.351
|Daisy
|Birthday Girl
|Roller
|Peach Parasol
|-
!Cheep Cheep Lagoon
|[[Kenta Nagata|Nin★Gonta♪]]
|01:53.758
|Peach
|Birthday Girl
|Roller
|Peach Parasol
|-
!Shy Guy Bazaar
|[[Teague Schultz|Ret★TEAGUE]]
|02:31.167
|Shy Guy
|Standard
|Roller
|Super Glider
|-
!Wuhu Loop
|[[Bryan Walker|Ret★Bryan]]
|01:44.287
|Peach
|Standard
|Sponge
|Peach Parasol
|-
!Mario Circuit
|Nin★MIKI★
|02:25.001
|Mario
|Standard
|Standard
|Super Glider
|-
!Music Park
|Nin★wtnbt
|02:19.336
|Rosalina
|Birthday Girl
|Roller
|Super Glider
|-
!Rock Rock Mountain
|Nin★Morimo
|02:35.105
|Wiggler
|Standard
|Red Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!Piranha Plant Slide
|[[Taro Bando|Nin★tBando]]
|02:20.186
|Lakitu
|Standard
|Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!Wario Shipyard
|Nin★Miyamo
|02:26.268
|Wario
|Bolt Buggy
|Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!Neo Bowser City
|[[Chuck Crist|Ret★Chuck]]
|02:11.032
|Metal Mario
|Standard
|Standard
|Super Glider
|-
!Maka Wuhu
|[[Reed Ketcham|Ret★Reed]]
|01:50.607
|Yoshi
|Bumble V
|Sponge
|Paraglider
|-
!DK Jungle
|[[Derek Bonikowski|Ret★Derek]]
|02:24.040
|Donkey Kong
|Bolt Buggy
|Red Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!Rosalina's Ice World
|[[Russell Lingo|Ret★RLingo]]
|02:25.784
|Rosalina
|Standard
|Sponge
|Paraglider
|-
!Bowser's Castle
|[[Matt Manchester|Ret★Matt M]]
|02:34.815
|Bowser
|Standard
|Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!Rainbow Road
|Nin★Takamu
|02:10.090
|Honey Queen
|Birthday Girl
|Slim
|Peach Parasol
|-
!<small>N64</small> Luigi Raceway
|Nin★McCoy
|02:04.317
|Luigi
|Standard
|Slick
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>GBA</small> Bowser Castle 1
|Nin★Hayata
|01:31.030
|Bowser
|Pipe Frame
|Standard
|Beast Glider
|-
!<small>Wii</small> Mushroom Gorge
|Nin★Kataok
|02:02.292
|Toad
|Cloud 9
|Mushroom
|Paraglider
|-
!<small>DS</small> Luigi's Mansion
|[[Hideki Konno|Nin★Konno]]
|02:09.982
|Luigi
|Zucchini
|Slim
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>N64</small> Koopa Beach
|[[Amanda Rotella|Ret★Amanda]]
|01:54.274
|Koopa Troopa
|Pipe Frame
|Standard
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>SNES</small> Mario Circuit 2
|Nin★ITRO-S
|01:28.106
|Mario
|Pipe Frame
|Standard
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>Wii</small> Coconut Mall
|[[Thomas Robins|Ret★Thomas]]
|02:30.117
|Honey Queen
|Standard
|Slim
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>DS</small> Waluigi Pinball
|[[Bill Vandervoort|Ret★Bill]]
|02:44.372
|Wario
|Standard
|Slick
|Swooper
|-
!<small>N64</small> Kalimari Desert
|Nin★Nishim
|02:01.932
|Shy Guy
|Cact-X
|Wood
|Swooper
|-
!<small>DS</small> DK Pass
|[[Sean Horton|Ret★Sean]]
|02:35.045
|Donkey Kong
|Barrel Train
|Wood
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>GCN</small> Daisy Cruiser
|Nin★Dai8
|01:49.564
|Daisy
|Pipe Frame
|Sponge
|Peach Parasol
|-
!<small>Wii</small> Maple Treeway
|Nin★Asakaw
|02:53.560
|Wiggler
|Standard
|Wood
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>Wii</small> Koopa Cape
|[[Quinn Smith|Ret★Quinn]]
|02:49.046
|Koopa Troopa
|Standard
|Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>GCN</small> Dino Dino Jungle
|Nin★iwaco
|02:29.837
|Yoshi
|Egg 1
|Roller
|Paraglider
|-
!<small>DS</small> Airship Fortress
|Nin★OBSHNN
|02:23.323
|Metal Mario
|Zucchini
|Slick
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>SNES</small> Rainbow Road
|[[Kosuke Yabuki|Nin★YABUKI]]
|01:34.459
|Lakitu
|Pipe Frame
|Slim
|Super Glider
|}

===Expert Staff Ghosts===
{|border=1 style="text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse;max-width:100em;margin:auto"align=center class="wikitable"
|-
!width=15% rowspan=2|Course
!width=10% rowspan=2|Staff Name
!width=5% rowspan=2|Time
!width=10% rowspan=2|Character
!width=30% colspan=3|Vehicle Combination
|- 
!width=10%|Body
!width=10%|Tires
!width=10%|Glider
|-
!Toad Circuit
|Nin★ishi
|01:26.632
|Toad
|Standard
|Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!Daisy Hills
|Nin★SASAKI
|01:51.111
|Daisy
|Birthday Girl
|Sponge
|Super Glider
|-
!Cheep Cheep Lagoon
|Nin★Tkdr
|01:42.011
|Peach
|Tiny Tug
|Roller
|Peach Parasol
|-
!Shy Guy Bazaar
|Ret★RWO
|02:14.714
|Shy Guy
|Pipe Frame
|Monster
|Paraglider
|-
!Wuhu Loop
|Nin★nkm
|01:32.854
|Peach
|Pipe Frame
|Slick
|Peach Parasol
|-
!Mario Circuit
|Nin★raba
|02:10.018
|Mario
|B Dasher
|Slick
|Super Glider
|-
!Music Park
|Nin★Masa
|02:07.511
|Rosalina
|Soda Jet
|Roller
|Paraglider
|-
!Rock Rock Mountain
|Nin★Hiroma
|02:19.149
|Wiggler
|Standard
|Mushroom
|Flower Glider
|-
!Piranha Plant Slide
|Nin★JIKU
|02:06.540
|Lakitu
|Cloud 9
|Sponge
|Paraglider
|-
!Wario Shipyard
|Nin★syun1
|02:12.313
|Wario
|Bruiser
|Slim
|Beast Glider
|-
!Neo Bowser City
|[[Matt Manchester|Ret★Matt M]]
|01:58.996
|Metal Mario
|Blue Seven
|Monster
|Paraglider
|-
!Maka Wuhu
|Nin★Chucky
|01:39.361
|Yoshi
|Standard
|Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!DK Jungle
|[[Stephen Dupree|Ret★Dupree]]
|02:10.777
|Donkey Kong
|Standard
|Wood
|Swooper
|-
!Rosalina's Ice World
|[[Dax Pallotta|Ret★Dax]]
|02:13.091
|Rosalina
|Zucchini
|Red Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!Bowser's Castle
|[[Tom Ivey|Ret★Tom]]
|02:15.244
|Bowser
|Bruiser
|Red Monster
|Beast Glider
|-
!Rainbow Road
|Nin★Asakur
|01:52.077
|Honey Queen
|Bumble V
|Standard
|Flower Glider
|-
!<small>N64</small> Luigi Raceway
|Nin★miyakw
|01:52.206
|Luigi
|Pipe Frame
|Slick
|Paraglider
|-
!<small>GBA</small> Bowser Castle 1
|Nin★hokwai
|01:22.221
|Bowser
|Koopa Clown
|Roller
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>Wii</small> Mushroom Gorge
|[[Jay Fuller|Ret★Jay]]
|01:50.526
|Toad
|Pipe Frame
|Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>DS</small> Luigi's Mansion
|[[Vince Joly|Ret★Vince]]
|01:58.539
|Luigi
|Egg 1
|Monster
|Paraglider
|-
!<small>N64</small> Koopa Beach
|Nin★ueda
|01:42.909
|Koopa Troopa
|Soda Jet
|Sponge
|Paraglider
|-
!<small>SNES</small> Mario Circuit 2
|Nin★==Kony
|01:17.777
|Mario
|B Dasher
|Slick
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>Wii</small> Coconut Mall
|[[Ryan Powell|Ret★RyanP]]
|02:14.167
|Honey Queen
|Koopa Clown
|Sponge
|Paraglider
|-
!<small>DS</small> Waluigi Pinball
|Nin★Nshhr
|02:27.574
|Wario
|Bruiser
|Slim
|Beast Glider
|-
!<small>N64</small> Kalimari Desert
|Nin★KOZ★
|01:48.707
|Shy Guy
|Bolt Buggy
|Red Monster
|Beast Glider
|-
!<small>DS</small> DK Pass
|Nin★MaTU
|02:16.534
|Donkey Kong
|Bolt Buggy
|Red Monster
|Paraglider
|-
!<small>GCN</small> Daisy Cruiser
|[[Carlos Mendieta|Ret★Carlos]]
|01:43.341
|Daisy
|Tiny Tug
|Sponge
|Peach Parasol
|-
!<small>Wii</small> Maple Treeway
|[[Bill Vandervoort|Ret★Bill]]
|02:34.877
|Wiggler
|Egg 1
|Sponge
|Flower Glider
|-
!<small>Wii</small> Koopa Cape
|[[Shane Lewis|Ret★Shane]]
|02:28.585
|Koopa Troopa
|Cact-X
|Standard
|Flower Glider
|-
!<small>GCN</small> Dino Dino Jungle
|[[Will Bate|Ret★Will]]
|02:14.430
|Yoshi
|Egg 1
|Monster
|Paraglider
|-
!<small>DS</small> Airship Fortress
|[[Shane Lewis|Ret★Shane]]
|02:07.704
|Metal Mario
|Standard
|Monster
|Super Glider
|-
!<small>SNES</small> Rainbow Road
|Nin★SRIWtm
|01:21.994
|Lakitu
|Cloud 9
|Roller
|Paraglider
|}

==Differences in multiplayer modes==
When playing in multiplayer mode, both locally and online, there are several changes made to the tracks, most likely to retain a stable connection.
*One of the two [[Goat|Mountain Goat]]s has been removed from [[3DS Daisy Hills|Daisy Hills]].
*There is only one [[Sidestepper]] in [[3DS Cheep Cheep Lagoon|Cheep Cheep Lagoon]], as opposed to two.
*In the bazaar section of [[3DS Shy Guy Bazaar|Shy Guy Bazaar]], one [[jar]] has been removed. Also in the gliding section, there are fewer [[Shy Guy]]s on flying carpets.
*In [[Wuhu Loop]], the first group of cars consists of only two cars instead of three. The last group of cars near the finish line were removed entirely. Also, the wind turbines near the lighthouse have no rotor blades.
*In [[3DS Mario Circuit|Mario Circuit]], the coin placement in the castle area is different. Also, one of the two [[Goomba]]s is absent.
*In [[3DS Music Park|Music Park]], the second of three [[Music Bash|Bouncing Note]]s has been removed.
*[[3DS Piranha Plant Slide|Piranha Plant Slide]] has no [[Item Box]]es flowing with the water. Also in the section before the finish line, the Goomba and the [[Wooden cutout|boards]] resembling it were removed.
*The [[Fish Bone]]s in the tunnel in [[3DS Wario Shipyard|Wario Shipyard]] are absent as well as the Sidesteppers before the gliding section.
*One [[Tiki Goon]] and one [[Frogoon]] were taken out of [[3DS DK Jungle|DK Jungle]], reducing their number to two and one respectively.
*There are no [[penguin]]s in the underwater section of [[3DS Rosalina's Ice World|Rosalina's Ice World]].
*One of the two [[Thwomp]]s in [[3DS Bowser's Castle|Bowser's Castle]] is absent.
*The two ceiling lights in the second room of {{classic-link|DS|Luigi's Mansion}} were removed.
*In {{classic-link|N64|Koopa Troopa Beach|Koopa Beach}}, three of the six Sidesteppers are absent: Two underwater and one before the finish line.
*In {{classic-link|DS|Waluigi Pinball}}, there is only one [[metal ball]] rolling around in the open area before the finish line.
*{{classic-link|N64|Kalimari Desert}} has only one [[Train (obstacle)|train]] on its rails as opposed to two.
*{{classic-link|DS|DK Pass}} does not have any [[Snowball|snowballs]] in the part that goes uphill. Also most of the [[snowmen]] are absent.
*There are no Cheep Cheeps in the underwater section of {{classic-link|GCN|Daisy Cruiser}}.
*One of the two [[Wiggler]]s in {{classic-link|Wii|Maple Treeway}} is removed.
*{{classic-link|Wii|Koopa Cape}} has no moving Item Boxes in the area where the water flows with the track. Also, there are no Cheep Cheeps in the underwater area.
*There are fewer [[Rocky Wrench|Rocky Wrenches]] in {{classic-link|DS|Airship Fortress}}.

==Regional differences==
*The Mainland China release was published by [[iQue]]. It is one of the last two games published by the company, the other being ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]''.
*The flag of Taiwan (ROC) was removed in the China release. Any Taiwanese locations were also hidden.<ref>https://twitter.com/chinesenintendo/status/1152588845570908160</ref>
*The China release is the only ''Super Mario'' game, as well as the last Nintendo game officially released in China (PRC), to support global online multiplayer, as the next PRC release that supports online multiplayer is ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'', published by Tencent, operates completely separately from the global release and offers no interactions between the two versions.
*''Mario Kart 7'' has more track name differences between the American English and British English versions than any other ''Mario Kart'' game, with a total of eight racetracks and one battle course.

==Update history==
[[File:MK7 online multiplayer.png|thumb|After the first update, "Ver. 1.1" can be seen on the "Online Multiplayer" button.]]
''Mario Kart 7'' is the first Nintendo 3DS game to use the system's ability to patch games, spurred by significant shortcut exploits found on certain courses. Updating is free, with the data being categorized as 3DS Add-On Content; the patches can be deleted at any time and have no effect in offline play, but are mandatory to play online. An SD Card is required to download the patches, however.
;Version 1.1 of May 15, 2012 (43 SD Card blocks)
Resolved shortcut exploits for Wuhu Loop, Maka Wuhu, and <small>GBA</small> Bowser Castle 1 when playing online. Does not affect offline play; the exploits remain in Single Player and Local Multiplayer, and Ghosts that used these exploits are unaffected. Starting on May 15, 2012, all players must download and install this update to access Online Multiplayer.
;Version 1.2 of December 13, 2022 (46 SD Card blocks)
This update patches a vulnerability in the game's network code which enables hackers to take full, remote control of a user's (unmodified) Nintendo 3DS system during online multiplayer sessions,<ref>PabloMK7, Rambo6Glaz, and Fishguy6564 (December 22, 2022). [https://github.com/PabloMK7/ENLBufferPwn ENLBufferPwn (CVE-2022-47949)]. ''GitHub''. Retrieved December 25, 2022. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20221225025808/https://github.com/PabloMK7/ENLBufferPwn Archived] December 25, 2022, 02:58:08 UTC via Wayback Machine.)</ref> with one possible use case being using it to reset the user's VR.<ref>Fishguy6564 (February 13, 2022). https://twitter.com/fishguy6564/status/1492742285590736896. ''Twitter''. Retrieved June 18, 2023.</ref> Starting on December 13, 2022, all players (excluding the iQue version) must download and install this update to access Online Multiplayer.

This update is not available for the Mainland China (iQue) version as the [[Nintendo 3DS XL|iQue 3DSXL]] lacks the [[Nintendo eShop]] to distribute the update. After December 13, 2022, the iQue version still has access to Online Multiplayer, but can no longer play together with other versions.<ref> https://twitter.com/chinesenintendo/status/1743566077932544485</ref>
{{br|left}}

==[[Nintendo eShop#Nintendo 3DS|Nintendo eShop]] description==
;NA Version
<blockquote>''A New Dimension of Kart Racing!''

''The newest installment of the fan-favorite Mario Kart™ franchise brings Mushroom Kingdom racing fun into glorious 3D. For the first time, drivers explore new competitive kart possibilities, such as soaring through the skies or plunging into the depths of the sea. New courses, strategic new abilities and customizable karts bring the racing excitement to new heights.''</blockquote>
;EU Version
<blockquote>''Mario Kart 7 brings Mushroom Kingdom racing fun into glorious 3D - and that's just the beginning, as new courses, strategic new abilities and cutomisable karts bring the racing excitement to new heights.''

''Up to 8 players can enjoy local wireless races or race together online.''</blockquote>

==Reception==
===Critical reception===
The game has received generally positive reviews. As of December 12, 2013, Metacritic has an average score of 85, including 64 positive reviews, and 9 mixed.<ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/game/3ds/mario-kart-7 Metacritic score of ''Mario Kart 7''] ''Metacritic''. Retrieved December 12, 2013.</ref> GameRankings has an average score of 85.17% based on 50 reviews.<ref>[http://www.gamerankings.com/3ds/997822-mario-kart-7/index.html GameRankings score of ''Mario Kart 7''] ''GameRankings''. Retrieved December 12, 2013.</ref> Critics generally praise the new glider and underwater mechanic that the game adds, but often cite how similarly it feels to past entries of the ''Mario Kart'' series.

GameXplain has given the game's Multiplayer 4.5 stars out of 5, and Single-Player a 3.5 out of 5.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWuxbTmdVQA</ref> Audrey Drake of IGN gave the game a 9.0/10. She criticized the character roster for being small and the potential of the Spiny Shell "screwing up" the race, but she praised the innovation and the polish the game provides.<ref>Drake, Audrey (Nov 29, 2011) [http://ds.ign.com/articles/121/1213485p1.html ''Mario Kart 7'' Review] ''IGN''. Retrieved December 11, 2013.</ref><ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16D9OXFzRJc&feature=channel_video_title</ref> Griffin McElroy of Joystiq gave it 4.5 stars out of 5. He praised the game for being well-polished with only a few flaws, noting the Spiny Shell as "unavoidable race-ruining bullshit".<ref>McElroy, Griffin (November 29th 2011) [http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/mario-kart-7-review/ ''Mario Kart 7'' review: An exercise in fun/frustration] ''Joystiq''. Retrieved December 11, 2013.</ref> Adam Biessener of Gameinformer gave it an 8.5/10. He praised the first person view, the new tracks, and the new glider and underwater features while criticizing the Battle Mode, and online modes "being a distraction rather than a destination".<ref>Biessener, Adam (November 29, 2011) [http://www.gameinformer.com/games/mario_kart_7/b/3ds/archive/2011/11/29/review.aspx Solid Tweaks, Cool Tracks, Same Design] ''GameInformer''. Retrieved December 11, 2013.</ref> 1up gave it a B- grade. Tom McShea of Gamespot gave it an 8/10. He remarked that the game has "been the same as previous entries of the series, but the innovations have kept it fresh", while criticizing the online structure and lack of mission mode.<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/mario-kart-7/reviews/mario-kart-7-review-6346887?tag=games%3Bgame_title%3B1 ''Mario Kart 7'' review] ''Gamespot''. (broken link)</ref> Justin Towell on Gamesradar gave it a perfect 10/10. He praised the fanservice and how "anyone can pick up and enjoy" the game.<ref>Towelle, Justin (July 2, 2012) [http://www.gamesradar.com/mario-kart-7-review/?page=1 ''Mario Kart 7'' review] ''GamesRadar''. Retrieved December 11, 2013.</ref> However, Jim Sterling of Destructoid rated the game a 5.0/10, criticizing how this game is "practically the same as any other game in the ''Mario Kart'' series", criticizing the slow speed of the vehicles, the unpredictable item system, and the underwater and gliding's minimal impacts. They <!-- Jim Sterling is non-binary - please do not change to 'he'--> ended their review with, "''Mario Kart'' is in need of a severe shake up. This stagnant, crawling, and indolent effort is not it".<ref>Sterling, Jim (November 29, 2011) [https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-mario-kart-7/ Review: ''Mario Kart 7''] ''Destructoid''. Retrieved December 11, 2013.</ref>
{| class="wikitable reviews"
!colspan="4"style="font-size:120%; text-align: center; background-color:silver"|Reviews
|-style="background-color:#E6E6E6"
|Release
|Reviewer, Publication
|Score
|Comment
|-
|[[Nintendo 3DS]]
|Audrey Drake, [https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/11/29/mario-kart-7-review IGN]
|9/10
|align="left"|"''Overall [Mario Kart 7 is] a well-polished experience that fans of the kart-racing genre - or of the Mushroom Kingdom - should not hesitate to pick up.''"
|-
|Nintendo 3DS
|Marc Camron, [http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/egm-review-mario-kart-7/ EGM]
|9/10
|align="left"|"''Mario and pals return to get their race on. Featuring great graphics, amazing tracks and some hilarious new power-ups, the game shows that the series is a long way away from running its course.''"
|-
|Nintendo 3DS
|Neal Ronaghan, [https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/28552/mario-kart-7-nintendo-3ds Nintendo World Report]
|8.5/10
|align="left"|"''Mario Kart 7 isn’t a huge leap forward for the series. Instead, it’s another damn fine iteration in a proven series. You’ll still be upset when you’re “Mario Karted” by a blue shell followed up by a red shell and a bomb, but the winning online play and gameplay polish make Mario Kart 7 a must-have for all 3DS owners.''"
|-
|Nintendo 3DS
|Griffin McElroy, [http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/mario-kart-7-review/ Joystiq]
|4.5/5
|align="left"|"''Mario Kart 7 is an exquisitely polished game with few flaws.''"
|-
|Nintendo 3DS
|Adam Biessener,<br>[https://www.gameinformer.com/games/mario_kart_7/b/3ds/archive/2011/11/29/review.aspx Game Informer]
|8/10
|align="left"|"''Mario Kart 7 isn’t 100 percent golden, nor is it going to make believers out of anyone who wrote off the series years ago. Taken on the whole, though, this is one of the best entries in the series. As a fan, I’m thoroughly pleased.''"
|-
|Nintendo 3DS
|Justin Towell, [https://www.gamesradar.com/mario-kart-7-review/ GamesRadar]
|5/5
|align="left"|"''Mario Kart 7 is THE game the 3DS has been in dire need of. Sadly, it raises the bar so high for almost everything else, most 3DS games don't even look like they belong on the same system. Get it now.''"
|-
|Nintendo 3DS
|Jim Sterling, [https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-mario-kart-7/ Destructoid]
|5/10
|align="left"|"''Mario Kart 7 is as derivative as a game can get, and while we pour scorn on so many other games for rehashing themselves, something tells me this will get a free pass from many critics and gamers. That strikes me as ironic since Mario Kart 7 is the one game I'd hold up as the least deserving of any kind of leniency. It being an unadventurous and predictable retread, however, is only half of Mario Kart 7's problem. The other half is the fact that it's a lethargic and mundane game, easily outpaced by games that could be considered knock-offs of the formula Nintendo itself perfected.''"
|-
!colspan="4"style="background-color:silver; font-size:120%; text-align: center;"|Aggregators
|-style="background-color:#E6E6E6"
|colspan=2|Compiler
|colspan=2|Platform / Score
|-
|colspan=2|Metacritic
|colspan=2 style="background-color:limegreen"|[https://www.metacritic.com/game/3ds/mario-kart-7 85]
|-
|colspan=2|GameRankings
|colspan=2|[http://www.gamerankings.com/3ds/997822-mario-kart-7/index.html 85.17%]
|}
{{br}}

===Sales===
The game sold over 420,000 units in its first 4 days in Japan.<ref>http://www.vgchartz.com/game/45691/mario-kart-7/Japan/</ref> As of March 31, 2021, ''Mario Kart 7'' is the best selling game for the Nintendo 3DS, having sold 18.94 million copies worldwide.<ref>[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/3ds.html IR Information : Financial Data - Top Selling Title Sales Units - Nintendo 3DS Software]. ''Nintendo''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> As of June 30, 2022, it had sold 18.97 million copies worldwide.<ref>Nintendo (August 3, 2022) [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/3ds.html Top Selling Title Sales Unites]. ''Nintendo Japan''. Retrieved May 12, 2022. [https://web.archive.org/web/20220511010706/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/3ds.html Archived] from the original on May 11, 2022 via Wayback Machine.</ref>

==Staff==
{{main|List of Mario Kart 7 staff}}
[[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development]] developed ''Mario Kart 7'', with [[Retro Studios]] as Co-Developers and Artists. Retro Studios was also responsible for contributing to the ''Donkey Kong series'' attributes in the game, mainly the [[3DS DK Jungle|DK Jungle]] track. The music composition is credited to [[Kenta Nagata]] and Satomi Terui. [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] and [[Satoru Iwata]] were the game's general and executive producers respectively.

==Glitches==
{{main|List of Mario Kart 7 glitches}}
Some of the most well known glitches are found in [[Wuhu Loop]], [[Maka Wuhu]], and {{classic-link|GBA|Bowser's Castle 1|Bowser Castle 1}}. If executed correctly, they allow the driver to skip sections of the track. On May 15, 2012, an update was released that made these glitches unusable in Online Multiplayer.

==Pre-release and unused content==
{{main|List of Mario Kart 7 pre-release and unused content}}
The ''7'' in the original logo featured a different design than the final logo. Original demos featured many elements from ''Mario Kart Wii'', such as menu music, [[Dash Panel]] textures and a winged [[Spiny Shell (blue)|Spiny Shell]]. Several tracks shown in early trailers lacked details shown in the final version, such as the lack of [[Wiggler]]s in {{classic-link|Wii|Maple Treeway}} and the lack of ramps in [[Wuhu Loop]], [[3DS Mario Circuit|Mario Circuit]], and [[3DS Rock Rock Mountain|Rock Rock Mountain]].
<gallery>
MK7logo.png|The original logo, featuring the seven's different design.
MK3DS4.png|An early version of [[3DS Mario Circuit|Mario Circuit]], with missing ramps.
KalamariDesertKart7.png|An early version of {{classic-link|N64|Kalimari Desert}}, featuring more cacti than the final version.
</gallery>

==Gallery==
{{main-gallery}}
<gallery>
MarioGlider3DS.png|[[Mario]] gliding in his [[Standard Kart]]
MK7 yoshi new.png|[[Yoshi]] driving his [[Bumble V]] with a [[Red Shell]]
LuigiGlider3DS.png|[[Luigi]] gliding in his Standard Kart
MK3D Bowser.png|[[Bowser]] driving his [[Monster (tire)|Monster]] Standard Kart
Peach-glider-mk7leuml.png|[[Princess Peach|Peach]] gliding in her [[Birthday Girl]]
Donkeykong-spinyshellnmdww.png|[[Donkey Kong]] driving his [[Bolt Buggy]] with a [[Spiny Shell]]
</gallery>

==Media==
{{main|List of Mario Kart 7 media}}
{{media table
|file1=MK7 Theme2.oga
|title1=Mario Kart 7
|description1=The game's main theme
|length1=0:30

|file2=MK7 Neo Bowser City Theme.oga
|title2=Neo Bowser City
|length2=0:30

|file3=MK7 Wi-Fi MainMenu.oga
|title3=Wi-Fi menu
|description3=The first variation of the Wi-Fi menu music
|length3=0:30

|file4=MK7 Credits.oga
|title4=Credits
|length4=0:30
}}

==References to other games==
*''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'': The [[Fire Flower]] appears for the first time as a usable item that throws fireballs. The layout of the course [[3DS Piranha Plant Slide|Piranha Plant Slide]] greatly resembles the tile sprites from this game.
*''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'': The [[3DS Shy Guy Bazaar|Shy Guy Bazaar]] course makes references to the elements from this game such as the addition of [[magic carpet]]s (being ridden by Shy Guys) and [[jar]]s in their original colors.
*''[[Super Mario Bros. 3]]'': The [[Super Leaf]] appears as an item, and the [[Angry Sun]] appears on a blanket in [[3DS Shy Guy Bazaar|Shy Guy Bazaar]].
*''[[Super Mario Kart]]'': The [[Pipe Frame]] returns from this game, however it uses the dual exhaust design from ''Mario Kart 64'' instead of the single exhaust from ''Super Mario Kart''. [[SNES Mario Circuit 2|Mario Circuit 2]] and [[SNES Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]] return as retro courses. Collecting coins also returns from this game.
*''[[Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3]]'': A small portion of Wario Shipyard's music is an arrangement of this game's main theme.
*''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'': DK Jungle's music is a rearrangement of the [[Jungle Hijinxs (Donkey Kong Country)|Jungle Hijinxs]] theme from this game.
*''[[Mario Kart 64]]'': Some musical pieces are arrangements from this game such as the main title screen, the results screen and [[N64 Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]]. A segment of the theme for the course [[N64 Toad's Turnpike|Toad's Turnpike]] can be heard in the newer course, [[3DS Neo Bowser City|Neo Bowser City]]. [[Chain Chomp|Chomp]]s appear in [[3DS Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]] similar to how they appear in [[N64 Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]] from that game. [[N64 Luigi Raceway|Luigi Raceway]], [[N64 Koopa Troopa Beach|Koopa Troopa Beach]], and [[N64 Kalimari Desert|Kalimari Desert]] return as retro courses, plus [[N64 Big Donut|Big Donut]] returns as a playable battle course.
*''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]'': [[GBA Bowser's Castle 1|Bowser Castle 1]] returns as a retro course, plus [[GBA Battle Course 1|Battle Course 1]] returns as a playable battle arena. 
*''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'': The possible [[Toad]] artwork can be seen on Toad Circuit on the Mario Kart banner near the starting line.
*''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'': Part of the [[3DS Bowser's Castle|Bowser's Castle]] and Rainbow Road themes are based on their respective themes originating from this game. Some voice clips are reused. Also, the [[Barrel Train]] returns from this game. [[GCN Daisy Cruiser|Daisy Cruiser]] and [[GCN Dino Dino Jungle|Dino Dino Jungle]] return as retro courses, and finally, the 3-2-1 starting countdown returns with a new design.
*''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP]]'': The way that [[coin]]s give the kart a small boost upon being collected originated from this game.
*''[[Mario Kart DS]]'': The [[Egg 1]] and [[B Dasher]] return from this game as kart parts. [[DS Luigi's Mansion|Luigi's Mansion]], [[DS Waluigi Pinball|Waluigi Pinball]], [[DS DK Pass|DK Pass]], and [[DS Airship Fortress|Airship Fortress]] return as retro courses, plus [[DS Palm Shore|Palm Shore]] returns as a playable battle arena. During multiplayer with someone who doesn't have the game, [[Shy Guy]] becomes their automatic character like in this game. A portion of the [[Figure-8 Circuit]] and [[DS Mario Circuit|Mario Circuit]] theme from this game can be heard on the title screen.
*''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'': The playable Lakitu's artwork in ''Mario Kart 7'' is a color swapped version of Lakitu's artwork from this game. Koopa Troopa's artwork is also reused from the game.
*''[[Super Mario Galaxy]]'': The [[Comet Observatory]], some domes, the Starshroom and the starting planet of [[Gateway Galaxy]] appear in the background in the course [[3DS Rosalina's Ice World|Rosalina's Ice World]]. [[Rosalina]] and [[Honey Queen]] both originate from this game.
*''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'': Most of the gameplay in ''Mario Kart 7'' is based off of this game. The music used on {{classic-link|SNES|Mario Circuit 2}}, {{classic-link|N64|Luigi Raceway}}, {{classic-link|GBA|Battle Course 1}} and the first part of the Award Ceremony is from the said installment as well. Minecarts from [[Wii Wario's Gold Mine|Wario's Gold Mine]] can be seen on [[3DS Wario Shipyard|Wario Shipyard]]. Tricks return from this game. The menu selection music is based on said music from this game. The roster and map sprites also return from this game. Some voice clips are reused. [[Wii Mushroom Gorge|Mushroom Gorge]], [[Wii Coconut Mall|Coconut Mall]], [[Wii Maple Treeway|Maple Treeway]], and [[Wii Koopa Cape|Koopa Cape]] return as retro courses.
*''[[Mario Super Sluggers]]'': Some of [[Wiggler]]'s voice clips, as well as its artwork, are taken from this game.
*''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns]]'': DK Jungle is based on and includes elements from this game.
*''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'': The new look for the Super Leaf introduced in this game is shown as one of the newest items for the ''Mario Kart'' series and used as the logo for the [[Leaf Cup]]. Also, the bush and [[Goomba]] [[Wooden cutout|Boards]] reappear in Piranha Plant Slide.

==References in later games==
*''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP DX]]'': Gameplay elements such as the glider and underwater racing return in this game.
*''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]'': [[Donkey Kong]] plays this game during his idle animation. Also, he is confirmed as playing as himself.
*''[[Mario Golf: World Tour]]'': The countdown timer and the signal light returns in Speed Golf to signal the start of the first hole. Various voice clips of Rosalina are recycled.
*''[[Mario Kart 8]]'': The [[Wii U]] follow-up includes various elements from this game. [[3DS DK Jungle|DK Jungle]], [[3DS Music Park|Music Park]], and [[3DS Piranha Plant Slide|Piranha Plant Slide]] return as this game's retro tracks. The glider and underwater racing mechanics return. Customization returns as well. Some vehicle bodies, tires, and gliders from ''Mario Kart 7'' return also. [[3DS Neo Bowser City|Neo Bowser City]] returns as a downloadable retro course.
**''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'': The [[Koopa Clown]] kart body returns. [[3DS Wuhu Town|Wuhu Town]] returns as a retro battle course. [[Lunar Colony]] has a moon section with low gravity just like Rainbow Road. [[3DS Toad Circuit|Toad Circuit]], [[3DS Rock Rock Mountain|Rock Rock Mountain]], [[3DS Rosalina's Ice World|Rosalina's Ice World]], and [[3DS Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]] return as downloadable courses in the ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass|Booster Course Pass]]''.
*''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'' / ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U|Wii U]]'': Various voice clips of Rosalina are recycled in these games.
**Nintendo 3DS version: [[3DS Rainbow Road|Rainbow Road]] appears as a stage in this game. The Rainbow Road theme music can play on the aforementioned stage, along with an arrangement of Rainbow Road themes from handheld ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' games. In addition, various trophies reference content from this game.
**Wii U version: The Rainbow Road theme, an arrangement of Rainbow Road themes from handheld ''Mario Kart'' games, and an arrangement of this game's circuit theme appear as music tracks for the Mario Circuit stage. Various trophies reference content from this game.
*''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'': All of the game's race courses return in this game except for [[Wuhu Loop]], Music Park, [[Maka Wuhu]], and DK Jungle. All of this game's [[classic course]]s also return in this game. Many of ''Mario Kart 7''{{'}}s music is also included in the game, including the local and online multiplayer menu music. [[Honey Queen]]'s emblem appears on a badge. The [[Birthday Girl]], [[Cloud 9]], [[Zucchini]], [[Blue Seven]], [[Bolt Buggy]], [[Bumble V]], [[Bruiser]], [[Soda Jet]], [[Koopa Clown]], and [[Gold Standard]] return as kart parts, along with various tires that are no longer separate pieces. The [[Super Glider]], [[Parachute (glider)|Parachute]], [[Parafoil]], [[Peach Parasol (glider)|Peach Parasol]], [[Flower Glider]], [[Gold Glider]], and [[Swooper (glider)|Swooper]] return as gliders.

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=マリオカート７
|JapR=Mario Kāto 7
|JapM=Mario Kart 7
|Kor=마리오 카트 ７
|KorR=Mario Kateu 7
|KorM=Mario Kart 7
|ChiT=瑪利歐賽車７
|ChiTR=Mǎlìōu Sàichē 7
|ChiTM=Mario Racing 7
|ChiS=马力欧卡丁车７
|ChiSR=Mǎlìōu Kǎdīngchē 7
|ChiSM=Mario Kart 7
}}

==Trivia==
*The new courses use the current ''Mario Kart'' logo on their starting banners, while retro courses still use the classic logo.
*When unlocking a new kart part, if the player goes to the [[Wii#Mario Kart Channel|Mario Kart Channel]] to change parts, no jingle sound will play and the gift icon will not be there. However, it will still appear when going into the Grand Prix or Time Trials.
*This is the first ''Mario Kart'' game that does not have its corresponding year of release on the title screen.
*The Circle Pad can be used to manually rotate the trophy in the Grand Prix results screen, as well as move the camera in both ending screens.

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{NIWA|StrategyWiki=1}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N36jPMZWyAA Launch Trailer]
*[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/3ds/amkj/index.html Official Japanese Website]
*[https://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/games/nintendo_3ds/mario_kart_7_44817.html Official European Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120103104229/http://gamesites.nintendo.com.au/mario-kart-7/en_AU/index.php Official Oceanian Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120722030929/https://mariokart7.nintendo.com/ Official American Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120603144650/https://mariokart7.nintendo.com/es/ Official Mexican Website]
*[https://nintendo.co.kr/3DS/software/mariokart7/index.php Official Korean Website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com.hk/mk7/ Official Chinese (Hong Kong) Website]
*[https://www.nintendo.com.tw/mk7/ Official Chinese (Taiwan) Website]
*[http://www.ique.com/3ds/amkj/index.html Official Chinese (China) Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120112171709/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/gameslist/manuals/3DS_mario_kart_7_single_sheet_en.pdf American English manual]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20200130042113/https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/manual-3DS-mario-kart-7-en.pdf American English e-manual]

{{MK7}}
{{Super Mario games}}
{{3DS}}
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