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 On the upside, the 2011 lowers the taillights and eliminates the clear-lens-over-chrome style, which is outdated at best.

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    Exterior Care
    Follow all label and container directions when using a chemical cleaner or polish. Read all warnings and cautions. Maintaining the Finish Washing CAUTION: When the wiper lever is in the AUTO po ...

    Operating Tips
    Operating the Climate Control System Operate the climate control system with the engine running. NOTE: To prevent the battery from being discharged, do not leave the fan control dial on for a lo ...

    Rear Seat
    WARNING: Do not stack cargo higher than the seatbacks: Stacking luggage or other cargo higher than the seatbacks, and placing articles on the rear seat is dangerous. During sudden braking or a ...