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 On the upside, the 2011 lowers the taillights and eliminates the clear-lens-over-chrome style, which is outdated at best.

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    All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Operation
    AWD provides excellent driveability on snow-covered and ice-packed roads, sand and mud, as well as on steep slopes and other slippery surfaces. AWD Driving WARNING: Avoid sharp turns, excessive ...

    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 ...

    Audio Set
    Audio information is displayed on the information display. Power/Volume/Sound Controls Power ON/OFF Switch the ignition to ACC or ON. Press the power/volume dial to turn the audio system on. ...