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 On the upside, the 2011 lowers the taillights and eliminates the clear-lens-over-chrome style, which is outdated at best.

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    Washer Fluid
    InspectingWasher Fluid Level WARNING: Use only windshield washer fluid or plain water in the reservoir: Using radiator antifreeze as washer fluid is dangerous. If sprayed on the windshield, it w ...

    Cargo & Towing
    The CX-7's rear cargo area holds just under 30 cubic feet with the second-row seats in place and 58.6 cubic feet with them down. This is a large area, but it's also a bit high, so the depth isn't ...

    Engines
    The new Mazda Tribute retains the 3.0-litre petrol V6 engine, which delivers superior engine performance and smooth engine operation. New to the line up is a 2.3-litre 110 kW/150 PS MZR petrol, rep ...