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 On the upside, the 2011 lowers the taillights and eliminates the clear-lens-over-chrome style, which is outdated at best.

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    Second-Row Seats
    WARNING. Do not stack cargo higher than the seatbacks: Stacking luggage or other cargo higher than the seatbacks is dangerous. During a sudden stop or collision, objects can fly around and beco ...

    Moonroof
    The moonroof can be opened or closed electrically only when the ignition switch is in the ON position. WARNING: Do not let passengers stand up or extend part of the body through the open moonr ...

    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 ...