The new Mazda 5 is relying on its sliding doors and seven-seat capacity to win sales. Andrew Hamilton reports.
Is there a limit to cleverness when it comes to designing MPVs?
After all, there are only so many configurations in how the car furniture can be moved around and how it can swivel and slither. Still, Mazda feel that their new 5 MPV, successor to the Premacy, is different from the rest of this growing sector. Marking it apart are the doors which slide open.
Its appeal too is heightened with seven-seat capability. Mazda is part of the Ford family and it's no surprise to discover that it shares underpinnings from the Ford Focus.
Significantly, the extra two seats which appear Zafira-style from the floor give the 5 an advantage over the C-Max, the Focus MPV derivative which is a five-seater.
The looks are smart enough but in a very conventional MPV sort of way. Internally, there's an attractive layout and driver and passengers enjoy comfort and quality.
The placement of the gear lever at the bottom of the instrument panel seems at first a bit odd but it enhances driving style.
According to Mazda, the sliding doors were tried and tested using a whole variety of adults carrying an average-sized three-year-old in their arms. The doors are wide and high and of lightweight construction. The tailgate comes with a two-stage mechanism. First stop is at 1,812mm from the ground, low enough for shorter people to reach and use easily. The second stop is at the fully opened 1,909mm position.
Mazda say their Karakuri seating and storage arrangement is "unique and innovative" but it's difficult to see where it greatly exceeds the arrangements of new competitors like the Mark Two Opel Zafira. While the system boasts a 2+3+2 interior, seven people travelling in total comfort might be considered utopian.
The third row seats are more accommodating than other MPVs but a longish journey could still take its toll. MPV buyers, however, are swung by that extra row: school runs make that kind of demand.
With seven people on board, predictably there's little luggage space. Dropping all the chairs creates a huge flat boot area and with the second row in place, luggage space is roomy. The model line-up includes 1.8 and two-litre petrol with 115 and 145bhp and a two-litre diesel with the option of 110 or 143bhp.
Irish sales will start in August but David Moran, Mazda's marketing manager says it will be a 2006 consideration for most buyers. In mid-2006 Mazda Europe take control of the Irish operation from Motor Distributors Limited. "We see the 5 as being well established in the MPV scene by that time." There's no hint yet of Irish pricing: negotiations are still continuing.
In a separate initiative Mazda is doing away with the conventional service booklet for all its vehicles. Replacing it is a DSR or Digital Service Record. The database will be held accessible on the internet. Service dealers will update with servicing operations and create a complete history for each car.
DSR is already being implemented in France, Germany and the Netherlands. It will be operational in Ireland and Britain in September.