Exterior & Styling
If it weren't for its sliding rear doors, the Mazda5 would undoubtedly be considered a hatchback rather than a minivan. Mazda says sliding rear doors offer easier access to the second- and third-row seats, and are easy to open in tight parking spaces (not to mention less likely to ding other cars when they're thrown open by exuberant kids on a trip to the mall).
Though it retains the basic shape of a large minivan, the Mazda5 looks sporty nonetheless. It features a raked windshield; an aggressive front end that's been restyled for 2008 with a new grille, headlights and bumper; a tapered roofline; and standard 17-inch alloy wheels. There are also new taillights for 2008, but the additions don't markedly change the van's appearance (see a side-by-side comparison with the 2007 model).
See also:
Storage Compartments
WARNING:
Keep storage boxes closed when
driving:
Driving with the storage boxes open
is dangerous. To reduce the
possibility of injury in an accident or
a sudden stop, keep the storage
boxes cl ...
Transmissions
The 2.3-litre MZR petrol comes standard with a new five-speed manual
transmission that employs multi-cone synchronizers and a new cable shift system,
which reduces shift effort and provides for sh ...
Design: inheriting the Mazda 3's established identity while making it more
expressive
The design concept for the new Mazda 3 was "remaining faithful to an
inherited identity while evolving the design to make it more expressive." While
retaining some of the original model' ...