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 On the upside, the 2011 lowers the taillights and eliminates the clear-lens-over-chrome style, which is outdated at best.

    See also:

    Mazda5 2009 Review
    Editor's note: This review was written in April 2008 about the 2008 Mazda5. Little of substance has changed with this year's model. To see what's new for 2009, click here, or check out a side-by-s ...

    Safety
    The Mazda5 hasn't been crash-tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Its standard safety features include seat-mounted side-impact airbags for the front seats, plus side curtain airb ...

    Changing a Tire
    WARNING: Be sure to follow the directions for changing a tire, and never get under a vehicle that is supported only by a jack: Changing a tire is dangerous if not done properly. The vehicle can s ...