Skip advert
Advertisement
Road tests

Mazda5 2.0 DISI

Japanese firm makes a style statement with all-new MPV

Overall Auto Express rating

3.0

How we review cars
Find your Mazda 5
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The Mazda 5 offers space in abundance, and its clever seating and twin sliding doors make shifting people and luggage very easy. The new exterior look might not be to everyone’s tastes, but the interior is one of the firm’s best yet - particularly if you opt for the satnav system that's been co-developed by TomTom. It’s likely to give the new Ford C-MAX a run for its money in the driving stakes, and wil be competitively priced, but its let down by a small choice of engines.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It’s the Mazda that goes with the flow. The all-new 5 MPV is the first car to be completely styled using the firm’s nagare design language. Meaning flow in Japanese, it gives the car a controversial look that’s sure to divide opinion. The car doesn’t arrive in the UK until October, but Auto Express attended a special sneak peak event to get to grips with Mazda’s new challenger.

The newcomer’s looks are immediately striking. It the front, the 5 shares its nose, complete with gaping grille, with the Mazda3, which also provides the underpinnings for the MPV. But it’s in profile that the nagare influence is most felt, with three waves which undulate down each flank. The creases in the bodywork are sensitive to colour, so on lighter cars you barely notice the striking lines.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

GLC

2022 Mercedes

GLC

75,544 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £20,097
View GLC
Grandland X

2018 Vauxhall

Grandland X

41,400 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L

Cash £11,100
View Grandland X
Mokka

2021 Vauxhall

Mokka

33,983 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £13,100
View Mokka
Arona

2021 SEAT

Arona

21,085 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £12,500
View Arona

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Mazda 5

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_narrow","fid":"68637","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image"}}]]

It’s the car’s rear which is really set to split opinion. Thanks to the rising shoulderline, there’s a large mass of metal between the bottom of the rear screen and the taillights. This serves to make the rear end look bulky and rather ungainly. The runners for the sliding rear doors are fairly well incorporated, but neither this nor the taillights look as good as the simple yet elegant form of the previous car.

Once inside, the interior is one of Mazda’s best. The dash is awash with buttons, but all the major controls are easy to operate and are located intuitively, from the electric sliding door releases to the air conditioning controls.

As before, the 5 features flexible Karakuri seating for seven. The middle bench seats three, with the middle chair folding into each outer chair when not needed, aiding access to the rear.

The middle row tilts and slides forward, further improving access to the pair of rear chairs. Sub-six foot adults will be able to make short trips here, but they are better suited to children. With the rear row of seats up, boot space is tight, but the seats tumble forward with ease, leaving an ample load space which hides a small underfloor storage area and full-size spare.

Around 60 per cent of Mazda5s are bought by private owners, meaning that the car is likely to cover fewer miles, making the 2.0-litre petrol likely to account for half of sales. The engine is very quiet and refined, and features Mazda’s very clever i-stop stop start system which aligns and primes the pistons when stationary for a faster re-start.

However, on the move, its not the most responsive unit, particularly now the gear ratios in the six-speed gearbox have been lengthened to reduce all-important CO2 emissions. Mazda’s downsized, turbocharged SKY units, due early in 2011, can’t come soon enough, but in the meantime, it may be worth waiting for the 1.6-litre diesel due shortly after the car is launched here.

Aside from the engine, a lot of work has been done to make the steering more linear – or Touitsu-kan in Japanese. Just like the VW Touran and a number of BMW models, the steering column features a rubber damper which reduces the impact of sharp inputs, making for a smoother ride for passengers.

The platform is distantly related to the Ford Focus, so the 5 drives very well indeed. The ride is very comfortable, even on 17-inch wheels, and the new steering only helps the precision you have to place the car on the road – it almost drives too well for a car that will spend its life ferrying people and luggage from A to B.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £11,995
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £2,921 off RRP*Used from £8,882
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £3,158 off RRP*
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £3,710 off RRP*Used from £27,795
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
MG IM5 - Goodwood front

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range

The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
News
10 Jul 2025
New MG Cyberster Black is a dark sign of things to come for the brand
Cyberster Black - front 3/4

New MG Cyberster Black is a dark sign of things to come for the brand

MG boss thinks special editions like this might be the ticket to keeping up demand for the electric sports car
News
10 Jul 2025
New Mazda CX-5 revealed with fresh looks, more space and far fewer buttons
Mazda CX-5 - front

New Mazda CX-5 revealed with fresh looks, more space and far fewer buttons

The Mazda CX-5 has been revolutionised to take on the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson
News
10 Jul 2025