Exterior & Styling
If it weren't for its sliding rear doors, the Mazda5 would undoubtedly be considered a hatchback rather than a minivan. Mazda says sliding rear doors offer easier access to the second- and third-row seats, and are easy to open in tight parking spaces (not to mention less likely to ding other cars when they're thrown open by exuberant kids on a trip to the mall).
Though it retains the basic shape of a large minivan, the Mazda5 looks sporty nonetheless. It features a raked windshield; an aggressive front end that's been restyled for 2008 with a new grille, headlights and bumper; a tapered roofline; and standard 17-inch alloy wheels. There are also new taillights for 2008, but the additions don't markedly change the van's appearance (see a side-by-side comparison with the 2007 model).
See also:
Vehicle Overview
Mazda's larger, more powerful replacements for the departed Protege sedan and
Protege5 hatchback went on sale in the 2004 model year. Built on the same
platform as the Volvo S40, the compact, fron ...
Storage Compartments
WARNING:
Keep storage boxes closed when
driving:
Driving with the storage boxes open
is dangerous. To reduce the
possibility of injury in an accident or
a sudden stop, keep the storage
boxes cl ...
Vehicle Overview
After taking a year off, the Mazda5 small minivan is back for the 2012 model
year in redesigned form. It has room for up to six people in three rows. Though
it does have sliding side doors, the Ma ...