FIRST DRIVE MAZDA 5:The Mazda 5 has been redesigned – so what's new?
PADDY COMYNwent to Vienna to find out
IT IS GETTING much more difficult to stand out in the MPV segment these days.Once upon a time, the choice was between various guises of thinly disguised vans but these days the family people carrier has come over all stylish and often, bizarrely, good to drive.
This is a welcome evolution for those buyers who are dragged kicking and screaming into the segment. It can be a tough wrench on the identity to one day be driving a mischievous coupe, and one scan and a few ante-natal classes later, to be contemplating a seven-seater. Ask anyone who has twins and they will concur.
The Mazda5 has been on the market for five years and it was one of the bold and the beautiful of the MPV segment but for a while its engine range and its price tag weren’t really suited to our market. Another criticism might have been that the seats could have been bigger and that it didn’t quite offer the versatility of some of its key rivals.This is what is being addressed with the new model, which we drove in Vienna.
The current Mazda5 looks good, so is no real need for improvement but the new grille, front spoiler and fog light surrounds do give a more purposeful look.
The other major styling cue is a deep sculpted line which flows from the front light to the back of the car, but ends rather abruptly just where you can see the tramline for the sliding door. It does break up what would be a fairly slab-sided side profile but it looks like they used up all of their creativity early on then simply got bored with the ending.
Inside there has been a change to the seating. The new seats fold in some truly origami-like ways allowing six to sit in generous comfort, or seven at a stretch.You can also fold the seats flat to give 1,485 litres of luggage space.
The cockpit has been modernised and there are all sorts of new optional gadgets and gizmos on offer – including a built-in TomTom navigation system and hard-disc audio player.
Technology wise, the new engines on show were an improved 115hp 1.8-litre petrol engine, which sold in small numbers in Ireland, and which has now had its emissions reduced by 6 per cent to 168g/km.
But Mazda were most keen to tell us about a 2.0-litre petrol unit with 150hp and Mazdas version of Stop/Start technology called i-stop. This technology, which debuted on the Mazda3 needs little explanation at this stage. It shuts the car off at a standstill saving on fuel and emissions. There is a 13 per cent reduction in fuel economy compared to the outgoing 2.0-litre petrol and a 15 per cent reduction in emissions, which are now down to 159g/km.
Mazda tell us that they have worked hard to improve the handling of the Mazda5, concentrating on making the transition between braking and cornering a lot smoother and linear, but it wasnt easy to tell if they have succeeded on our short and unchallenging route.
The 2.0-litre petrol model is likely to be rare in Ireland, but it is silent and the i-stop technology works well. The steering seems well weighted and the car changes direction purposefully which is in in-line with much of the brands new range.
This new model comes to Ireland in January 2011 – the price is to be confirmed but it should retail at about €25,000 – but before then we are likely to get news of a diesel model, which will probably make up every sale of the new version next year.