Exterior
The 2007 redesign was as substantial as the 1999 reworking, which did away with the pop-up headlights in favor of fixed units and a more curvaceous body. The current generation retains the fixed headlights but returns somewhat to the original shape, with fewer curves — except for the accentuated wheel arches that recall the Mazda RX-8.
The folding soft-top incorporates a Z-fold design that uses a single, centrally positioned latch handle. The top fits flush in its lowered position, so a detachable boot cover isn't necessary. Standard wheels measure 16 inches in diameter, but 17-inchers are available.
See also:
Competing for Space
The interior is well-engineered and well-executed, but there's no avoiding
the fact that there are six seats in a relatively small space. This isn't
uncommon, but many models sacrifice space in ju ...
Cruise Control
* Some models.
With cruise control, you can set and
automatically maintain any speed of more
than about 30 km/h (19 mph).
WARNING.
Do not use the cruise control under the
following conditions:
...
New Five-Speed Automatic Transmission
A new five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode is introduced
for the MZR 2.0-litre petrol engine, a first for the Mazda 5 line-up. It has a new
torque converter that achieves an op ...