Mazda5 Range Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Mazda5
Prices: £18,000-£23,000 - on the road [est] INSURANCE GROUPS: 6-9 [est]
Emissions: 138-168g/km [est]
Performance: [2.0 DISI] 0-62mph 11.0s / Max Speed 122mph
Fuel Consumption: [2.0 DISI] (combined) 41mpg
Safety: Twin front & side airbags / ABS/ EBD/ EBA/ DCS [est]
Dimensions: length/width/heightmm 4585/1750/1620

Sport Mini-MPV

Our Rating: No Rating Available

No matter how much the world changes around us there are a few things that remain steadfast. One of those things is that most people who get married start out their married lives with small sporty cars that may or may not be practical. Then as the married couple starts to have a kid or two at least one of them trades in their sporty little thing for a less sporty family hatch. As the family gets larger both in number and size the other sporty car gets traded in for some form of MPV. Many of the younger families opt for a mini-MPV to exude the fact that they still have a bit of youth left in them. Sadly, many of the mini-MPVs on the market lack in the style department. Luckily for people who want a little MPV with some class can look at the Mazda5.

If we are honest the original launch of the Mazda5 mini-MPV was a dull little thing when it came to style. It lacked anything in the looks department that would attract the young and hip that are having kids. The good news is that Mazda has redesigned the new version of the MPV to make it look very attractive and sporty from the outside while giving a young family everything they need to survive their daily lives. The overall exterior now looks more like a sporty 5-door hatch than a mini-MPV.

Mazda is also smart enough to understand that people also want their mini-MPVs to drive with a little spring in their step as well. The Mazda5 comes with a nice range of engine options that are sure to please every type of family car buyer. The entry level engine is a 2.0-litre powered by petrol that run on 113bhp and can get form 0-62mph in 12.8 seconds. The next step up the petrol ladder is a 2.0-litre DISI that comes with the i-Stop/Start technology. This technology will turn the engine off when it is stopped in traffic and turn it back on when the foot is taken off the clutch. The power comes in around 148bhp and can get from 0-62mph in 11 seconds flat.

People looking for a diesel engine will get two choices. Both engines are based on a 2.0-litre oil-burning power plant. These engines come in a choice of either Standard or High Power. The standard 2.0-litre diesel engine produces 108bhp while the High Power comes in with 141bhp. Both engines offer the same fuel consumption numbers which are estimated at 46.3 combined. The CO2 numbers are also impressive at 163g/km.

The Mazda 5 comes standard as a 7-seated, but can also be had with only 5-seats. Both seating options come with the ability to have the seats fold down completely flat to create a large boot area when needed. With the seats in place the back area can hold 434-litres, but with the second and third rows folded into the floor the usable cargo space increases to 1,485-litres.

Safety is always a concern in the family class as no one wants to put their kiddies in harm's way. Mazda has created a special energy absorbing structure that keeps the inside safe on impact. The side beams have also been strengthened to offer more protection as well. The front has twin airbags, side airbags, anti-lock brakes, active head restraints and a nifty system that will flash the hazards to warn people following if the driver slams on the brakes.

The Mazda5 mini-MPV is sure to help Mazda grab a large share of the market. Drivers who are looking to keep their families safe while still driving in a little bit of style will be very pleased with an MPV like this one.