Vehicle Overview

After taking a year off, the Mazda5 small minivan is back for the 2012 model year in redesigned form. It has room for up to six people in three rows. Though it does have sliding side doors, the Mazda5's closest competitors include small hatchbacks and crossovers as opposed to regular-size minivans.

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    Functionality, Comfort & Equipment - Quieter and more Practical
    Mazda 5 facelift retains all interior features that have made it so popular with families around the globe. Still onboard are its innovative Karakuri seating and storage system (see box), 45 stora ...

    Interior
    Inside, I can see fewer people loving the two-tone color scheme and sport-oriented layout of the dashboard. It screams more tech-geek-friendly than family-friendly, but the quality is certainly on ...

    Installing Child-Restraint Systems
    Accident statistics reveal that a child is safer in the rear seat. The front passenger's seat is clearly the worst choice for any child under 12, and with rear-facing childrestraint systems it is ...