- minivan 111,071
- Taylor, TX
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- autoshopper.com
2009 mazda mazda5 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Versatile and economical, with six-passenger seating. introductionthe mazda 5 combines the best features of a wagon, a minivan, an suv, and a car. It boasts six-passenger seating and generous cargo space. It's easy to park and run about and it rides and handles like a compact car, albeit a tall one. it's inexpensive to buy and operate. It's a tall car, a concept very popular in europe, less so in america. It's built on the same mechanical platform as the mazda 3 compact sedan. In fact, the mazda 5 weighs less and covers a smaller patch of road than the mazda 6 mid-size sedan. mazda5 was introduced as a 2006 model, then restyled and updated for 2008. Changes for 2009 are minor: there's more standard equipment than before, and there are more interior color choices. the mazda 5 is inexpensive, starting at $17,995. All are powered by the same engine, a 153-hp 2. 3-liter inline-4. A five-speed manual transmission is standard for the sport, and a five-speed automatic optional 1,110). An attractive and durable-looking fabric covers the seats and door panels with seat side bolsters and insets wearing contrasting textures. The standard wheel-and-tire package consists of 205/50vr17 all-season radials on 17-inch alloy rims. A popular equipment package 490) adds an in-dash 6cd changer, a rear liftgate spoiler, and side sill extensions. Also, every seating position gets a three-point seatbelt and an adjustable head restraint. The middle and rear seats have child safety seat anchors (latch). A tire-pressure monitor, antilock brakes (abs) with electronic brake-force distribution (ebd) and brake assist also come standard. Traction control and electronic stability control are not available, which is odd for such a family-oriented vehicle. walkaroundmazda 5 was introduced as a 2006 model, and significantly re-styled and updated for 2008, with a new grille, front fascia, headlights, and taillights. the mazda 5's hood is expansive and flows gracefully into the windshield and a-pillars. A single, horizontal bar divides the grille opening and supports the mazda trademark logo, while the opening itself resembles an angular, stylized grin. The broad lower air intake and the large fog light recesses support the impression that the mazda5 is chuckling to itself. Headlight housings slash into the fenders and reach around the sides to touch the front wheel well arches, which are mostly filled by the tires. from the side, the vista is much busier, although geometrically consistent. A strong wedge influence flares character lines and surface planes from the pinched-down front end rearward to a tall, chopped off, stubby tail rendered even more awkward by a pouting, bulbous rear bumper. Matte black b-pillars and c-pillars play down the height of the glasshouse. Side mirrors attach to the lower half of small, wind-wing-shaped quarter windows. Body-color, full-round handles bridge concave circles in the doors. A gentle bulge crossing the doors' lower extremities ties together the blistered fenders. The slots for the sliding side doors scar the flanks. The liftgate extends well into the rear bumper, removing some visual mass from the back end, as well as easing loading with a low cargo floor. The optional spoiler drags the roofline back and out above the rear window, adding edginess to the egg-shaped rear. interiorthe interior of the mazda 5 is all about packaging and space efficiency. Making room for six in a vehicle casting a smaller shadow than the five-passenger mazda6 sedan is no small achievement. Symmetrical right and left panels belie the mazda 5's international character, as it's easily re-cobbled for right-hand drive countries. The look is sleek and high tech, but with an odd-looking indentation splitting the upper and lower halves of the dash. Air vents shutter like window blinds if the cool or warm air gets to be too much. Metallic-look plastic trims the center stack, shift console and front door handles. The instrument cluster is pleasantly basic, with eye-catching contrasts between the speedometer and supporting gauges. Equally pleasant surprises for a car in this class are the steering wheel-mounted controls for audio and cruise settings. the navigation system screen, when ordered, is integrated into the spot normally reserved for the radio. Menu buttons for the navigation system and radio are placed above and below the screen, and some of the functions are controlled by touching the screen. The system takes time to learn but should become natural after a few weeks. the climate controls are sublime, with large, round knobs and widely spaced, clearly marked buttons. the seats are adequate, nothing more. The seat bottoms could be deeper, and the side bolsters could be more substantive. The driver's seat height adjustment is manual and pivots on the front of the seat bottom. Thus, the higher it's ratcheted, the less leg room it leaves. The best seats are in the front row. This is no mercedes r-class, nor is it as comfortable as a toyota sienna. head restraints are adjustable in all three rows, but they, too, diminish in comfort in the second and third rows, especially the rearmost, which are functional but add nothing to a minimally accommodating seat. On the other hand, in their lowered position in those two rows they cut so sharply into the upper back that anybody sitting there will be sure to adjust them to an effective height just to avoid the pain: a good thing because headrests add a measure of safety. not many adults will want to park for very long in the third row. There's decent head room, measuring only 1. 5 inches less than in the ford taurus x, another tall station wagon with three rows of seats. It's in leg room and hip room that the mazda5 cramps third-row occupants. It gives up 2. 7 inches of leg room to the taurus x. Access to that third row is achieved one of two ways. The second choice is also the way to fold the second-row seats down to open up maximum cargo room. rear cargo area is limited with the third row of seats in place. When they are folded, the rear compartment opens up to about 44 cubic feet of space, which is still about three cubic feet less than the taurus x and much less than any other minivan. Bucket Seats✔ Power Windows✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Power Mirrors✔ AM/FM✔ Climate Control✔ Leather Seats✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Cruise Control✔ Navigation System
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