Exterior & Styling

The sliding doors say "minivan," but many see the Mazda5 as a wagon. Minivans tend not to set hearts aflutter, but there's one thing I appreciate about the 2010 Mazda5, and that's its styling. It's nothing special, but it's also not the redesigned 2011 Mazda5 that's due at dealerships early in 2011; Mazda has already released photos (click on the thumbnails to the right). The 2011 has a less restrained design, including the smiling grille most new Mazda models get, plus a new characteristic: wavelike accent lines in the bodyside sheet metal. On the upside, the 2011 lowers the taillights and eliminates the clear-lens-over-chrome style, which is outdated at best.

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    Warning and Beep Sounds
    System Malfunction Warning Beep If any malfunction occurs in the advanced keyless function, the KEY warning light (red) in the instrument cluster illuminates continuously and beep sounds will be ...

    Interior
    Compared with the old 626, the Mazda6's wider body translates into extra space for five occupants. The driver's seat adjusts through a 9.4-inch range, and the 60/40-split rear seatback folds down. ...

    Fuel-Filler Lid and Cap
    WARNING: When removing the fuel cap, loosen the cap slightly and wait for any hissing to stop. Then remove it: Fuel spray is dangerous. Fuel can burn skin and eyes and cause illness if ingested. ...