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 On the upside, the 2011 lowers the taillights and eliminates the clear-lens-over-chrome style, which is outdated at best.

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    WindshieldWipers and Washer
    The ignition switch must be in the ON position. WARNING. Use only windshield washer fluid or plain water in the reservoir: Using radiator antifreeze as washer fluid is dangerous. If sprayed on t ...

    Tiedown Hooks
    CAUTION. Don't use the tiedown hooks under the front and rear for towing. They are designed ONLY for tying down the vehicle when it's being transported. Using them for towing will damage the bum ...

    Features
    The Mazda5's standard features include automatic climate control, remote keyless entry, 17-inch alloy wheels, steering-wheel audio controls, a rear window washer/wiper, and power windows, locks an ...