Mazda5 2009 Review
Editor's note: This review was written in April 2008 about the 2008 Mazda5. Little of substance has changed with this year's model. To see what's new for 2009, click here, or check out a side-by-side comparison of the two model years.
The Mazda5 minivan is fun to drive. That's right: A minivan that's fun to drive. How can this be? The secret's in its size, as the six-person Mazda5 is significantly smaller than traditional minivans.
The benefits of this approach — sporty handling, minimal body roll and manageable dimensions — are readily apparent after only a short time behind the wheel. There are also, however, some significant drawbacks.
See also:
Exterior
The 2007 redesign was as substantial as the 1999 reworking, which did away
with the pop-up headlights in favor of fixed units and a more curvaceous body.
The current generation retains the fixed h ...
Competing for Space
The interior is well-engineered and well-executed, but there's no avoiding
the fact that there are six seats in a relatively small space. This isn't
uncommon, but many models sacrifice space in ju ...
Scheduled Maintenance (USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico)
Follow Schedule 1 if the vehicle is operated mainly where none of the
following conditions
apply.
- Repeated short-distance driving.
- Driving in dusty conditions.
- Driving with extended use of ...