2007 Mazda Mazda5 

The Mazda5 is a true Multi-Activity Vehicle. With its high level of functionality and relatively compact exterior size, the Mazda5 delivers unprecedented comfort and a true driving pleasure.

Thoughtful design and meticulous attention to detail have created a vehicle that combines practicality and ease of use with the undeniable Zoom-Zoom spirit found in every Mazda vehicle.

Available in two well-equipped trim levels, GS and GT, the Mazda5’s stylish design is uniquely Mazda and is backed by a healthy dose of spirited Zoom-Zoom driving dynamics. Both models are powered by a 2.3L 4-cylinder engine that produces 153 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque.

Stylish and Clean — Inside and Out

The Mazda5’s appearance is stylish and clean, with a sweeping wedge profile, a sense of compactness and a solid, well–toned look. The signature five-point grille identifies the Mazda5 as part of the Mazda family, while its distinctive body shape conveys a strong, dynamic presence.

Dual sliding rear doors which can be opened with one hand permit full access to both second and third row seats, even in tight parking spaces.

The exterior design reflects the ‘stylish and clean’ concept in a way that prevents the Mazda5 from looking like an inelegantly tall minivan, and achieves the following goals:

A sweeping wedge shape
A solid, well-toned look
A sense of compactness

The nose of the Mazda5 is low and slanted, and character lines running from the front grille across the hood and up the A-pillars emphasize the body’s wedge-shaped profile.

The contour running along the front fender, doors, and rear fender conveys a sense of stability without making the body look overly bottom-heavy. And the character line along the waistline gives the side surfaces a look of tautness.

For a compact look, the side windows of the Mazda5 taper toward the rear of the vehicle and the roofline slopes downward. The doors angle inward above the waistline, reducing the visual weight of the body.

Optimal User Experience

The quality and appeal of the seat, floor and body designs is a testament to Mazda’s commitment to providing users with the best driving experience from the instant a door on the Mazda5 is opened.

The fit and finish demonstrates the high quality throughout, right down to the small clearance tolerances for panel matching.
The unobtrusive smooth surface of the B-pillar between the front and sliding doors is painted in the body color.
The ridge lines and tracks for the sliding doors create a straight, clean finish.

With a focus on user-friendly functionality, the Mazda5 features large sliding doors on both sides, maximizing the ease with which adults and children can easily climb in and out of the vehicle in a wide variety of situations.

The Mazda5’s sliding rear doors can be opened smoothly without requiring strength, making it easy to operate in parking spaces and other tight locations. For parents, a further benefit is the peace of mind that comes from knowing that children cannot accidentally bang adjacent vehicles when opening the rear doors.

The rear door’s opening is larger than that of the Mazda MPV, and the height of the rear door opening permits adults to step in and out of the cabin without bending uncomfortably. This allows easy movement to and from the rear seats even for a person carrying bulky luggage or a child.

GT models include the Easy Close sliding door system, a motorized mechanism that assists in closing the rear doors. Once either door has been manually moved so it is almost closed, the system mechanically completes the closing action – the action that typically requires the most effort on the part of the user.

Stylish and Clean — Inside and Out

As a Multi-Activity Vehicle, the Mazda5 is designed to carry up to six people and a wide array of cargo with outstanding user-friendly functionality. Its interior is both stylish and practical, with a contemporary look that is complemented by superior fit and finish.

Intelligently placed storage throughout the cabin and an available centre-row fold-out table with cargo bin provide ample space for all passengers to stow their belongings.

The interior of the Mazda5 was designed completely around the comfort of its occupants. Its spacious seating provides ample room for six passengers in three rows of two seats, with a generous centre area creating easy communication between all six seating positions. The second row seats slide forward in a simple motion to reveal a wide access path to the third row.

New for 2007 is an optional Leather package (GT models only) that includes Espresso Brown leather trimmed upholstery and heated driver and front passenger seats.

Free and Open

Core to the whole concept is the open space created in the cabin’s center that encourages and facilitates free and open interaction between all Mazda5 passengers.

At the front of the cabin, a black dashboard upper panel is punctuated by a silver centre stack that places a strong visual accent in the centre of the instrument panel. This becomes the focal point around which the six seating positions are arranged in a manner conducive to relaxation and communication.

An aluminum-like finish on the centre stack conveys a sense of refinement. The same finish is used on the front doors’ switch bezels and inner handles, giving the whole driver’s area an added touch of quality.

Stylish and Clean

Thoughtful instrument panel design creates a natural-feeling distance between the driver and instrument panel, with the shift lever, audio controls and climate control placed where the driver can easily see and reach them -- like that in a sedan.

Yellow-green backlighting is used for the meters and switches to further enhance the cool, clean look of the driver’s area.

The curvature of the spokes and parting lines on the Mazda5’s steering wheel, and the bright Mazda symbol in its centre complement the design of the instrument cluster, creating further visual continuity in the driver’s area.

Room to move

The Mazda5 comfortably accommodates six adults in its three rows of seating, and the seats can be arranged in a variety of ways for diverse people and luggage-carrying ability.

The first and second row seats consist of separate left and right bucket seats, and the third row seat is a 50/50-split folding bench. All seats are ergonomically designed with ample cushion widths to ensure comfort on long journeys.

Seat Adjustability:

The driver’s seat is height adjustable and incorporates lumbar support for improved comfort.
Second row seats recline and are individually slide adjustable. With the second row seats in their rear-most positions, adults sitting on them have ample space to cross their legs; when they are in their front-most positions, children in child seats attached to the second row seats are easily within an arm’s length of first row occupants.
Each second row seat has a double-fold mechanism. The seat cushion can be folded up and the seatback then tipped forward with the headrest still fitted.
Either one or both of the third row seat’s 50/50 seatbacks can be easily tipped forward to create a flat surface that extends from the cargo area.

When the third row seat is completely folded, the Mazda5 has a 857 litre cargo capacity. The pull-straps for the seatbacks are located close to the rear bumper so the user can reach them without climbing into the luggage area.

Recognizing the need for storage spaces for small items, the Mazda5 was designed with easy-to-reach storage spaces throughout the cabin. Convenient storage areas include:

two trays in the instrument panel on the driver’s side
a tray in the instrument panel on the passenger’s side
an 11-litre glove box, front door pockets with bottle holders
a flexible centre console located on the floor between the front seats that incorporates two lidded cup holders and a double-bottom storage box
cup holders for second row and third row seats
available second row fold-out storage box (GT models)
a seatback pocket for magazines or maps

The fold-out Karakuri storage box on GT models is located under the cushion of the right-hand second row seat. The top section of the storage box contains two cup holders and a tray that is ideal for toys, snacks, baby bottles or similarly sized objects. A net that can be used to keep valuables or waste items out of sight is attached to hooks on the bottom of the tray. The hooks could also be used for organizing shopping bags.

Below the rear cargo area is a subtrunk with a capacity of 15L. The subtrunk’s lid has a sturdy, ribbed structure which an 80kg person can kneel on without causing damage. The lid can be lifted and stood vertically in a recess just behind the third row seatback to accommodate tall cargo. Positioned vertically, the lid also prevents dirty cargo from touching the seatback. The subtrunk includes a centre dividing rib to prevent items from tipping over.

To further enhance the pleasure of driving, an AM/FM CD player with a clock comes standard on both the GS and GT models. The GS has four full-range speakers, while the GT has six speakers: four full-range speakers and two tweeters.

The switches and dials of the Mazda5’s audio equipment are optimally large and located on the centre stack, so the driver can reach and operate them without looking away from the road.

Steering-wheel-mounted audio controls provide further convenience by enabling the driver to make volume adjustments, select radio stations, and perform other operations without letting go of the steering wheel.

Driving Dynamics that Improve the Ownership Experience

The Mazda5 not only at offers user-friendliness in terms of practicality and comfort, but also delivers a high level of driving enjoyment.

The Mazda5 shares much of its drivetrain and suspension with the Mazda3, but components have been revised to reflect the more refined driving characteristics expected by families in a Multi-Activity Vehicle. The 153 horsepower 2.3-litre engine provides spirited performance, while the suspension is specially tuned to deliver a supple ride.

The Mazda5 delivers the signature Mazda driving dynamics of responsiveness, neutral handling and linear, controllable braking - embodying the full spirit of Zoom-Zoom.

The Mazda5 is equipped with a 2.3-litre 4-cylinder engine that produces 153 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque. Using a design with variable valve timing, the engine is constructed primarily of lightweight material and features a coil-on-plug direct ignition system.

The Mazda5’s 2.3-litre engine uses a reversed intake-exhaust layout, with the intake at the front of the engine and exhaust at the rear. This promotes fast catalytic heat-up for superior performance.

The intake manifold is made of plastic as a weight saving measure and incorporates a variable induction system. This system opens a valve to change the path the air takes as it travels into the engine, based on engine speed (RPM).

The Mazda5 engine uses a dual overhead cam design driven by a timing chain, not a timing belt. Using a timing chain reduces the cost of maintenance because it eliminates the expensive replacement of a timing belt.

The cylinder head and engine block are both made from aluminum alloy, a very lightweight, rigid material. When combined with lightweight pistons and connecting rods, fewer vibrations are transmitted from the engine into the body of the vehicle. This also helps give a linear feel from the accelerator. The highly rigid aluminum-alloy cylinder head and engine block, deep-skirt construction, lighter pistons and connecting rods and enhanced crankshaft rigidity help to reduce engine noise and improve fuel economy.

Mazda5 transmissions invite the driver to participate fully in the driving experience, whether using the standard manual transmission or the available automatic with Sport mode that features clutch-free manual shifting.

Each of the transmissions has an instrument panel mounted shift lever, a first for any Mazda vehicle, with its position and knob shape ergonomically designed to maximize ease of use for the driver.

The 5-speed manual transmission used in the Mazda5 is fundamentally the same as that used in the Mazda3, with refinements for smoother, easier operation. In the Mazda5, the 1st and 2nd gears have triple-cone synchronizers (double-cone on the Mazda3), and the 3rd and 4th gears have dual-cone synchronizers (single cone on the Mazda3). The higher capacity synchronizers cut shift effort by 15-35% from the Mazda3 levels.

The optional 4-speed automatic transmission includes Sport mode. This permits the driver to use the shift lever to change gears sequentially without the need for a clutch pedal. The Sport mode transmission enhances the driving experience by giving the driver more control of shift changes.

Active & Passive Safety

Peace of mind is essential for relaxation and enjoyment on the road. The Mazda5 provides superior hazard-avoidance capabilities and, in case of an unavoidable mishap, a level of crashworthiness high enough to protect occupants in all three seating rows.

The Mazda5’s triple-H architecture, Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBFD) and advanced dual-stage front airbags with belt-use sensors combine to form a comprehensive safety package. Side impact airbags and side curtain airbags are included on GT models.

In order to help drivers recognize and avoid hazards quickly, the Mazda5 provides superior forward vision angles (both upward and downward) and has large corner windows that make pedestrians easy to see.

Visibility is maintained at night by an intelligent Auto Light System that monitors the light conditions around the vehicle and turns the Mazda5’s exterior lights on and off accordingly. To promote visibility and driver concentration in rainy weather, an automatic wiper system automates control of the front windshield wipers based on the rate of rainfall detected by a sensor on the windshield.

The Mazda5 incorporates a comprehensive occupant protection package including front row seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters, and standard dual front airbags to offer additional peace of mind. The available curtain airbags (GT model) provide superior protection for all three rows of seats. To minimize driver injury during a severe collision, the steering column collapses horizontally as the driver’s air bag deflates and the crashable brake pedal design prevents the pedal from being pushed toward the rear of the vehicle in a frontal impact.

Building on the proven architecture of the Mazda3 that earned high acclaim worldwide, the suspension of the Mazda5 is optimally tuned to produce a ride that occupants in all seats will find comfortable and particularly well balanced.

Given the family-oriented nature of the Mazda5, the suspension system is modified with a focus on the rigidity and precision necessary for driving pleasure, and with a focus on the stability necessary for a comfortable ride. The Mazda5 has a highly rigid body structure that, combined with its optimally tuned suspension system, helps to provide predictable response to driver efforts and effectively handles input from the road surface.

Although the Mazda5’s suspension system has the same configuration as that of the Mazda3 (MacPherson struts up front and a rear multi-link arrangement), it has been tuned to accommodate the Mazda5’s height, six passenger seating capacity and wide range of possible occupant and luggage combinations to enable people to ride in comfort at all times in all three rows.

The MacPherson-type front suspension system employs a four-point rubber mounting system to provide suspension support while suppressing noise and vibration. Front gas-filled shocks with large diameter pistons feature built-in rebound springs, optimized to suppress wheel bounce when cornering, for stable handling with consistent road holding.

The multi-link rear suspension provides precise control over wheel alignment, keeping the tires on the ground even when the body is leaning into a corner. The separate position of springs and shocks reduces damper friction and maximizes interior space for the third row seat, while maintaining a long coil spring stroke.

The shocks on the Mazda5 are gas-filled single-tube with a great thermal capacity to better accommodate the Mazda5’s additional capacity for passengers and cargo.

Mazda5’s braking system uses ventilated front discs and solid rear discs to deliver responsive, linear braking with excellent controllability.

A 10-inch single vacuum booster enhances brake effectiveness and response by ensuring linear increase in deceleration as pedal travel increases. As a result, braking force always corresponds to the driver’s expectations based on the amount of pedal effort/travel. The Mazda5’s superior brake effectiveness and pedal stiffness translate into control and confidence for the driver.

Four-sensor, three-channel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBFD) is standard on every Mazda5.