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Mazda 5 2.0 DISI Sport road test report

2.0 DISI Sport

Despite being the first and only MPV of its size to boast sliding rear doors, the four-year-old Mazda5 has slipped under most buyers’ radar. But with a new design, new engines and more, maybe this second-generation seven-seater will divert potential customers away from Ford, Renault and Vauxhall dealerships.

Road Test Reports Says 4 star rating
A front-facing image of the Mazda 5 2.0 DISI Sport

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TOM STEWART SAYS

Performance Performance - 1 stars

Two engines are available initially – a 115PS 1.8 petrol and a direct injection 150PS 2.0 petrol with stop/start. Both have 6-sp manual transmissions, as will the 115PS 1.6 diesel when it arrives in early 2011. Claimed performance for the 2.0 is 0-62mph in 11 secs with a max of 120mph. Acceleration at lower speeds is certainly brisk enough, but for reasons unknown the two-litre I drove (as well as several others on the press launch) laboured with gradient and headwind on the open road, so much so that reaching 70mph was sometimes a struggle, despite stirring the gearbox and having only two plus light luggage aboard.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 5 stars

Unlikely though it may seem, we go from one star for performance above to the full five stars for ride and handling here. In recent years a few manufacturers have taken great steps to bestow their smaller MPVs with entertaining and rewarding chassis dynamics and the new Mazda5 definitely joins those ranks by riding very comfortably even on less than perfect surfaces and by absorbing the nastier bumps with minimum disturbance and noise. Its steering is nicely weighted, responsive and direct, and the car feels well-balanced, grippy and secure. Just don’t be temped to drive the wheels off it with the family aboard…

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 5 stars

The new Mazda5 scores well here too. The attractively designed dash, instrumentation and centre console are all well up to par in terms of materials, fit and finish, as is the rest of the car’s interior. After only a limited time with the car it’s not possible to pass judgement on longevity, but the new 5 certainly gives the impression of being well-designed, well made and of good quality throughout. Mazda as a brand scored a comfortably above average 792 points out of 900 in the 2009 JD Power Vehicle Ownership Study, and although not improving on its 12th place position, it did up its overall score to 799 in the 2010 study.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 5 stars

The entry-level TS version comes as standard with a total of six airbags plus Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control System (TCS), Emergency Stop Signal system (ESS) as well as ABS (with EBD and EBA). There are also ISOFIX child seat anchor points on the outer second-row seats and a Thatcham Category 1 anti-theft alarm and engine immobiliser. There are no Euro NCAP results to report yet for this new model, but the previous-generation Mazda5 scored the full 5-stars for adult occupant protection on the pre-2009 scale back in 2005.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 5 stars

The new model’s large, twin, sliding rear doors (powered on the top spec Sport version) now open to a wider 686mm, and the three rows of seats create a wide range of passenger/luggage combinations. The rear seats can be flipped and folded (60/40 middle row, 50/50 third row) for a variety of configurations. The small 112-litre loadspace in seven-seat mode enlarges to 426 litres in four-seat configuration, while folding all five rear seats flat creates an 857-litre loadspace (floor to belt-height), or 1,485-litres (floor to roof). There’s also an abundance of cup holders, pockets, picnic tables and even a clever, folding ‘Karakuri’ centre seat box (see your dealer for further enlightenment!).

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 4 stars

Priced from £17,695 (for the 1.8 TS), standard equipment is comprehensive on all three spec variants so even the entry-level TS version gets cruise control, aircon, alloy wheels, a decent audio system and more. The top-spec 2.0 Sport I drove sells for £20,195 OTR and comes with parking sensors, Bluetooth, climate control, a trip computer, auto lights and wipers, leather upholstery, tyre pressure monitoring, and so the list goes on. The 2.0 Sport emits 159g/km of CO2 (VED band G) and has a combined mpg figure of 40.9. So, all in all the new Mazda5 is a convincing all-round package, or it would be if it had a lot more of Mazda’s so-called ‘Zoom-Zoom’ at higher speeds.

Submitted: 04/11/2010 09:50:40

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