Zoom-zoom meets functionality and versatility in the form of the Mazda 5 — a sort of micro-minivan evolution of a completely modern small station wagon.
The front-drive Mazda 5 is a six-seater wrapped in a sleek, sweeping, wedge-shaped package with a compact footprint. Combining the dimensions, ease and use of a compact car, the Mazda5 adds the sophistication, refinement and features of a premium import. Bragging about sports-car like handling and performance attributes, the Mazda5 adds the versatility to carry a mixture of people and cargo.
For 2008, the Mazda 5 gains a freshened exterior design which includes LED tail lights and five new exterior colors.
Available in Sport, Touring and Grand Touring models, the unique front-drive Mazda 5 is powered by a MZR-series 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine bolted to a short-throw, fast-moving, five-speed manual gearbox. A sophisticated five-speed automatic transmission is an available option.
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Under way, the wagon’s high seating position and ultra-low center of gravity combine with a powertrain that is peppy and responsive to deliver an outstanding driving experience. Handling and performance at speed are first rate — reminding one of a small sports car rather than a small wagon.
The Mazda 5 starts with excellent vehicle access. Large manually operated sliding rear doors are designed to be operated with one finger, creating a wide opening for easy entry and exit to the rear seats — even for the third row of passengers. The tailgate also features a large opening, a low sill height for easy loading and a two-stage opening mechanism for ease of use. The first stop is at a height most people can reach while the second fully open stop is three inches higher to accommodate taller people.
This easy access to the passenger cabin is facilitated by an immensely strong all-steel unibody construction. Additional benefits of this stiff body shell include interior quietness; above average crash safety and low noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). The body serves as the foundation for the Mazda 5’s suspension hardware.
Engineered to specifically resist body roll, the Mazda5 utilizes a fully independent MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension system to deliver superior road holding attributes while coping with the broad range in weights of passengers and luggage possible with the vehicle’s many seating configurations.
Inside the cabin is where the Mazda wagon earns its stripes. The ingeniously flexible interior takes convenience and versatility to a much higher level. The second row has separate individual seats for big-car levels of comfort. They slide and recline and can be folded flat without removing their headrests. A one-touch lever automatically tops the seatback forward and slides the cushion to its front-most position to allow access to the third row.
The third-row seats are split 50/50. They can be tipped forward individually and folded flat to create a flat load area, ideal for carrying mountain bikes or bulky sports equipment. Interior storage space includes some 45 compartments, including a vast, illuminated glovebox and half-liter bottle holders in each front door pocket.
The Mazda5 features ‘theater-style’ seating. Each row is mounted a little higher than the one in front to improve visibility for all. The driver also benefits from excellent visibility, improving primary safety as well as making driving more enjoyable.
New or enhanced interior features this year include rear cool air vents, armrests, standard auxiliary audio input jack and two new interior colors.
Safety features include dual front airbags, front seat mounted side-impact airbags, head curtain side-impact airbags, engine immobilizer, tire pressure monitoring system, four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist and remote keyless entry. Touring adds fog lights. Grand Touring adds Xenon high-intensity headlamps (HID), automatic headlamps, alarm system and rain-sensing intermittent wipers.
