Ride & Handling

The Mazda5's steering response is designed to engage the driver. A turn of the wheel delivers a quick change of direction, and there's a fair amount of feedback. The suspension is on the firm side, but it provides a tolerable ride even on the broken pavement that's prevalent near Cars.com's Chicago headquarters.

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    Driving Impressions
    The easy-to-drive Mazda3 handles more adeptly than most rivals. The automatic transmission delivers quick, smooth responses. Performance with the larger engine falls short of some sporty compacts, ...

    Automatic Transaxle Controls
    Various Lockouts: Indicates that you must depress the brake pedal to shift (The ignition switch must be in the ON position). Indicates the shift lever can be shifted freely into any position. ...

    Dashboard and Interior Overview
    Dashboard and Interior Overview 1 - Power window switches 2 - Lighting control 3 - Turn and lane-change signals 4 - Instrument cluster 5 - Air bags 6 - Wiper and washer lever 7 - Hazard warni ...