Surprisingly, the giant and happy grin on the front of the 2011 Mazda5 might not be the most controversial styling element on the new six-passenger minivan.
Instead, we'd direct you to the profile view that has more swoopy character lines than any recent production vehicle we can remember. It's Mazda's attempt to relieve the slab-sided boring design that inevitably afflicts larger family vans like the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Town & Country. So it's certainly bold, but is it better than the 2010 Mazda5?
We'd like to see the 2011 Mazda5 in-person first, but that won't stop us from providing initial impressions. The Nagare design theme spreading its way through Mazda's lineup does, if nothing else, certainly set the Mazda5 apart from its competitors. The large grille, pulled-back headlights, and exaggerated foglight surrounds are instantly recognizable as similar to the 2010 Mazda3 sedan and hatchback.
The design of the new Mazda5's profile, Mazda says, helps the vehicle slip through the air easier, thus increasing fuel efficiency. The sliding door tracks on 2010 and 2011 Mazda5s aren't slickly hidden at the bottom of the rear quarter window as on the 2011 Toyota Sienna, but on the 2011 model, the tracks continue the line set by the rear taillights.
Stand behind a 2010 and 2011 Mazda5 parked side-by-side and there's no question you'll notice a difference. We're prefer the 2010 Mazda5's brighter and vertical LED taillights than the low-set horizontal taillights on the new 2011 Mazda5.
Inside, however, there's little doubt we'd pick the 2011 Mazda5. The layout is cleaner and more modern. Plus, the information display (in red on the 2011 car) is larger and, we would guess, easier to read. Regardless of whether you appreciate the 2011 Mazda5's styling, it's hard not to give Mazda credit for trying to make the styling of a van interesting.
What do you think: is this Mazda minivan an improvement over the 2010 model?
Last week, the 2011 Lincoln MKX met mixed reviews. "They ruined Lincoln's only decent-looking vehicle," said lbc2003. "Other than the back end, to me, it's a step or two back."
IBx1 appreciated the 2011 MKX's cockpit: "The new interior blows the old one away, especially those sloppy square gauges."
"Refreshing," said Sam338 in a comment that Ford would probably love to hear. "Finally the MKX looks different than the Edge."
Photo order from top to bottom: 2011 Mazda5 front view, 2010 Mazda5 front view, 2011 Mazda5 rear view, 2010 Mazda5 rear view, 2011 Mazda5 interior, 2010 Mazda5 interior.
I’ve come a long way since I drove sugar packets across restaurant tables as a kid, pretending they were cars. With more than 17 years of experience, I'm passionate about demystifying the new car market for shoppers and enthusiasts. My expertise comes from thoughtfully reviewing countless vehicles across the automotive spectrum. The greatest thrill I get isn’t just from behind the wheel of an exotic car but from a well-executed car that’s affordable, entertaining, and well-made. Since about the time I learned to walk I’ve been fascinated by cars of all shapes and sizes, but it wasn’t until I struggled through a summer high school class at the Pasadena Art Center College of Design that I realized writing was my ticket into the automotive industry. My drive to high school was magical, taking me through a beautiful and winding canyon; I've never lost the excited feeling some 16-year-olds get when they first set out on the road. The automotive industry, singing, and writing have always been my passions, but because no one seeks a writer who sings about the automotive industry, I honed my writing and editing skills at UC Irvine (zot zot!), serving as an editor of the official campus newspaper and writing stories as a literary journalism major. At USC, I developed a much greater appreciation for broadcast journalists and became acquainted with copy editing rules such as why the Oxford comma is so important. Though my beloved 1996 Audi A4 didn’t survive my college years, my career with MotorTrend did. I started at the company in 2007 building articles for motorcycle magazines, soon transitioning to writing news posts for MotorTrend’s budding online department. I spent some valuable time in the copy editing department, as an online news director, and as a senior production editor. Today, MotorTrend keeps me busy as the Buyer's Guide Director. Not everyone has a career centered on one of their passions, and I remind myself all the time how lucky I am.
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