Mazda5 in the Market

You would think that selling the only vehicle of a particular type would be desirable. With few exceptions, automakers don't work that way. They'd rather slug it out with competitors for the heart of the market, as illustrated by the size uniformity of most minivans — as well as the recently enlarged Subaru Forester and Outback, which historically were uniquely sized in between other crossovers.

The Mazda5 and Rondo are in a subclass by themselves, where the Mazda distinguishes itself further with sliding doors and a price that's hard for any small vehicle to beat. The added stability system helps it catch up with the Rondo, and the manual gearbox is a plus for some buyers.

The Mazda5's main shortcoming versus its competitors is its limited front and second-row dimensions. If your family members are all small, it shouldn't be a problem, but if you don't care about sliding doors or only carry two to four people on a regular basis, the Mazda5's appeal is more elusive.

    See also:

    Rear WindowWiper and Washer
    The ignition switch must be in the ON position. Rear WindowWiper Turn the wiper on by turning the rear wiper/washer switch. ON - Normal. INT - Intermittent. Rear WindowWasher To spray wa ...

    Cruise Control
    With cruise control, you can set and automatically maintain any speed of more than about 32 km/h (20 mph). WARNING: Do not use the cruise control under the following conditions: Using the cruise ...

    Parking in an Emergency
    The hazard warning lights should always be used when you stop on or near a roadway in an emergency. The hazard warning lights warn other drivers that your vehicle is a traffic hazard and that t ...