Ahead of the curve

The Mazda5 looks a sensible option for those needing MPV practicality but still wanting nice aesthetics and a fun drive from their family car.

It’s a compact MPV with up to seven seats and sliding side doors that help it stand out alongside rivals.

Mazda has also pushed the stylistic boat out, giving the car some adventurous detailing and the suspension is set-up for a sporty feel on the road.

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Power is derived from a select line-up of petrol and diesel engines with Mazda particularly proud of its 2.0-litre DISI petrol unit which comes fitted with i-Stop stop/start technology.

It’s a 148bhp engine capable of covering the 0-62mph sprint in 11s. The other petrol option is a 1.8-litre 113bhp unit that takes 12.8s to do the same but is priced at a more accessible level. This might make it a better bet for low mileage customers than the 2.0-litre diesel variants.

The actual cabin is a 7-seat affair in most models but there is a 5-seat option. All the rear seats fold flat whichever version you choose and the seat backs are wider than in the old Mazda5 to enhance comfort. As usual in this class of vehicle, there’s not much of a boot with seven passengers on board but a big one when you’re only seating 5. There’s 434 litres below the parcel shelf with the third row seats down and 1,485 litres with the second and third rows folded.

Safety is a big issue in any car but particularly so in an MPV and the Mazda5 has been designed to conform to the highest standards of occupant and pedestrian protection. The car is based around a special energy absorbing structure. The door impact beams have been strengthened compared to the old model and an advanced head restraint design is used to help prevent neck injury. There’s also Mazda’s ESS Emergency Stop Signal which warns drivers behind of sudden braking by rapidly flashing the hazard lights.

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As well as appealing to MPV buyers who’d be buying something sportier if their growing families permitted it, the Mazda5’s flowing lines produce top class aerodynamic performance, helping to lower running costs.

For a relatively big vehicle, combined cycle economy is okay with the 2.0-litre DISI petrol unit returning 41mpg with the aid of its i-Stop stop/start technology. The 1.8-litre petrol gets 39mpg with CO2 emissions of 168g/km compared to 159g/km from the 2.0-litre model. Most however, will want to consider one of the 2.0-litre diesel variants.

People carriers are usually more concerned with carrying people successfully than attracting attention with audacious design innovations and rightly so.

The latest Mazda5 doesn’t do anything too over the top but its sleek lines and curvy detailing do add an element of interest that’s often missing from the MPV class. Sliding side doors, the potential to seat seven and a focus on sharp driving dynamics will also give it a fighting chance of hitting the compact MPV big time.