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Mazda5 offers minivan practicality in a compact packageStory and photos by Neil MooreMazda5 GS 2012Metroland NewspapersAt A Glance:Carguide MagazineBODY ScoTmpYactL mEiniv:an/Launching in 2006, the Mazda5 didntcrossoverbecome the companys number two sellingDRIVE MfEronTt-eHnginOe, Dfron:tnameplate in Canada on the strength of itswheel drivestyle or even its zoom-zoominess. ENGI2N.5-Elitre: DOHC, 16-valve,Not that these are entirely lacking.four-cylinder (157 hp;163 lb/ft ofIts because this five-door, multi-activitytorque)vehicle which could be best described as aFUEL ECO9.7/N6.8 OL/1M00 Ykm:three-quarter-size minivan is just so(with six-speed manual)darned practical. And with so little like it, theMazda5 is nearly in a segment of its own.PRIC$21E,79:5 (base GS)WEBSwwIwT.mEazd:a.caSince arriving in Canada, Mazda has sold justover 50,000 of these vehicles to-date, but thatbeing said, 2010 saw a 13.8 percent drop insales.In short, was time for an update.with the character lines, cleaning up theMazda in its wisdom, chose not to entirelylook.remake the vehicle (why fix what aintFirst impressions aside, the Mazda5 is bestAlthough the Mazda5 (GS shown) gets new styling for 2012,its shape and size remain the same.Sobroke?), and resisted the urge to make it big-judged by what youll find under the skin does its flexibility for carrying passengers and cargo.gerwhich is a very flexible, and surprisingly. Instead they revised key areas like per-roomy, interior that can be configured forformance and styling, along with a fewtweaks to its functionality and drivingonly 197 kg heavier than the nimble 2.5-litreIt is, howeverjust about any combination of two-six pas-, distinctive and still prettierdynamics.Mazda3 sedan.than the pumpkin-shaped Kia Rondo, itssengers, plus cargo.The company may label the 2012 Mazda5Whats most noticeable is the new look. Thedirect competition. The Chevrolet Orlando isThe front doors open to two comfortable cap-all-new, but in my mind, they have simplysize, shape and proportions havent changed,a slightly truckiertains chairs, upholstered in an attractive,, more aggressive take onrefined a very sensible design.but the conservative lines and clean, slabthis kind of vehicle and may give the Mazda5grippy fabric.First, the engine has been upgraded from asides of the previous model have beena run for the money when it arrives later thisAccess to the second row is through two slid-2.3-litre (153 hp/148 lb-ft) to the 2.5-litrereplaced by the companys Nagare flowyearing doors that are lighter and require less.four currently used in Mazda3 and Mazda6,design language the first time it has beenThe new 5s flowing curves seem to start ateffort than the before. They open wide, mak-with a six-speed manual as standard and five-used in a production vehicle.the love-it-or-hate-it Mazda family fronting it easy to load kids and bulky child seatsspeed automatic available.The idea behind this new look is to incorpo-grille, passing over the headlamps, hood andwith little clearance between vehicles.The new powerplant delivers up to 157 hp atrate the forces of wind and waterHere, youll also find comfortable captains, with thefenders, continuing down the sides to thea lower rpm than before, along with substan-design team describing its effect on therear lamps and tailgate in a continuouschairs with loads of kneeroom and a gener-tially more torque (163 lb/ft). And theres aMazda5 as a single bead of water with rip-stream.ous space between them. This can serve as atall sixth gear for quieter cruising at highwayples intentionally left on the surface, suchThe tail lights now sit lowerpass-through to the rear, or a buffer between, and the rearspeeds.that the bodys lines express the flow ofwindow panels are blacked out to cover thekids who otherwise enjoy tormenting oneIts a little punchier than the previous model,motion.D-pillaranother., giving the look of glass wrappingand is reasonably peppy with the manualSounds kind of new-agey, and Ive heard aaround the body. shift. Which isnt surprising, as the Mazda5 ismixed response to the new styling. The sliding door rails have also been blendedContinued on page 25www.oakvillebeaver.com OAKVILLE BEAVERWednesday, January 19, 2011 24