Look at the Mazda5 long and hard, what do you see? It's inherently van-like, with lots of glass space, its wedge-shaped profile and sliding doors reminiscent of bigger people movers. And yet, somehow you know it just isn't normal; the taut yet precise lines that Mazda has graced the 5 with convey the message that this won't be the standard minivan driving experience. It lacks the bloat or boxiness that's visible in minivans like the Odyssey or Sienna. The Mazda5, by comparison, is trim and fit, with its 17-inch wheels and nail polish-thin smear of rubber, which are standard equipment on all models. As far as minivans go, this is the best looking one on the market.
Besides the new instruments, which are white instead of green, the big new addition to the interior is the new navigation system, a $2,000 option on the GT that includes a six-disc changer and an auxiliary input. Previously, in some markets, dash-top navigation could be had, similar to the flip-up system in the Mazda6, which is operated by a quirky removable remote. That's now gone, in favor of a new integrated nav system that doesn't just look better, it works better. The big, bright 7-inch touch screen access allows information to be directly punched in, increasing its ease of use, not to mention that the new screen displays the new refined graphics very very nicely, and includes clear, easy-to-understand directions.
