Mazda 5 (MPV)

The MAZDA5 (formerly called Mazda Premacy in its home market and in Europe) is a compact MPV built by the Japanese manufacturer Mazda since 1999. The first generation Premacy was built in Japan and exported to Europe and Asia. A rebadged version was sold by Ford in a few Asian markets (including Japan) as the Ford Ixion or Ford MAV. The second generation is sold worldwide as the MAZDA5. As of March 31, 2005, 285,258 Premacy and MAZDA5 models had been sold worldwide.

The first generation Premacy was a 2-row, 4 or 5-passenger vehicle, while the second generation adds a third row of seats for up to 6 passengers in American form, and 7 passengers outside the United States. Both generations were true vans with near-flat floors, folding/removable 2nd row, and fold-flat rear seats.


The new 2006 model has been on sale since summer 2005. It is now sold as the MAZDA5 in all markets and is considered a much better car than the old Premacy model. While actually classified by Mazda and the EPA as a Mid-Sized Wagon, it is generally perceived as a mini-minivan in the United States because of its car-like size and sliding doors. It is based on Ford's global C1 platform, meaning it shares many parts with the Mazda3. Its closest relative is the European compact MPV Ford Focus C-MAX, though the MAZDA5 uses minivan-style sliding doors in the rear while the Ford has four conventional front-hinged doors. This version of the vehicle was also introduced for sale in the United States, making it the first compact minivan in that market since the discontinuation of the Mitsubishi Expo in 1995, along with its twins, the Dodge/Plymouth Colt Vista and the Eagle Summit Wagon. It replaces the MPV in both Europe and North America.

In the US market the MAZDA5 fits six passengers using three rows of seats, with 2 seats per row. In the European market it is sold as a seven seater using Mazda's 'Karakuri Seating System', which means the car has three rows of two seats, with the seventh seat a clever fold away jump seat in the centre of the middle row. Mazda has managed to use proper three point seat belts on all seven seats and avoided resorting to a lap only belt on the seventh seat.
The middle row of seats recline and slide front-to-rear, and fold flat to ease cargo loading. The rear row also folds flat.

Awards

The MAZDA5 was named "Best New Multipurpose Family Vehicle" in the 2006 Canadian Car of the Year awards. Consumer Reports ranked the MAZDA5 as the best "tall wagon" in their test, though the car failed to gain a "recommended" rating due to unknown reliability.





In April, 2006, the Japan New Car Assessment Program (J-NCAP) awarded the MAZDA5 a maximum 6-star rating for front-occupant crash worthiness. In Europe, the MAZDA5 was awarded a maximum 5-star "adult occupant" safety rating in September 2005 by the Euro-NCAP.