FirstDrive/Mazda5:It's been three years since the Mazda5 MPV was launched, so it was time for its mid-life spruce up.
But given how cautiously Mazda has been with its tweaking, it's obvious the model must be doing pretty well. A glance at the figures reveal that it's Mazda's third best seller globally, with 100,000 roaming the streets of Europe.
The Mazda5's styling changes are pretty simple - there are new lights and bumpers, a new grille, new wheels and new colours, but it's virtually identical to the outgoing car - a little more sharply tailored, perhaps, but the same Mazda5 we know and, quite obviously, love.
Inside you still get the same excellent dashboard layout, comfortable seats and seven-seat practicality. It still has the overwrought second-row middle seat that folds up awkwardly, however, and it still has a rather tight rearmost row.
It's also got a pretty tiny 112-litre boot when all three rows of seats are used, but despite its shortcomings we can't be too hard on the Mazda5: it doesn't claim to be a full-size MPV, and it certainly doesn't have a full-size price tag either. Think of it as a small MPV into which they've squeezed seven seats, and the Mazda5 starts to make a lot more sense.
Having said that, the Mazda5 has a few key features which set it apart from the competition, the most important of which is the sliding doors which make putting small kids into the back a lot easier. Sadly, Mazda Ireland has decided not to offer the new electric sliding door option on Irish cars, which is a shame.Its chassis has only been tweaked with a new brake-booster and some rear suspension adjustments to improve stability. For the day-to-day grind it's comfortable, easy to manoeuvre and rides well, even if there is some roll in the corners.
The engine range remains the same, with a slightly strained 115hp 1.8-litre petrol and a much happier 110hp 2.0-litre turbo-diesel on offer in Ireland, and they are a little more frugal and produce less CO2 than before.
The only real disappointment is the lack of ESP as standard.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Mazda5 is its price - the well equipped Executive 1.8-litre with air conditioning and 16-inch alloys costs €27,795 while the diesel now costs €32,295, making it tremendous value compared to its seven-seat rivals.
FACTFILE
Mazda5 1.8 Exec
Max power: 115hp at 5,300 rpm Max torque: 165Nm at 4,000rpm Top speed: 182km/h
0-100 km/h : 11.3 seconds
CO2 emissions: 182g /km
Price: €27,795
Mazda5 2.0 D Exec
Max power: 110hp at 3,500 rpm Max torque: 310Nm at 2,000rpm Top speed: 177km/h
0-100 km/h: 13.9 seconds
CO2 emissions: 162g /km
Price: €32,295