New Mazda5 Geneva-Bound

The Mazda5 gets absolutely no press these days. Having been out for what feels like eons, it’s still a solid performer on the sales floor thanks to its diminutive size and peppy performance. For those who need a minivan but despise them, it’s a great alternative to the full-size soccer mom-mobiles roaming our school zones. But, as we mentioned, it’s getting a little tired. Although once sleek and shapely, its simple wedge shape is downright bland by modern standards, and no longer fits in with the organically styled shapes found on Mazda’s sales floor.

Which is precisely why Mazda will be unveiling their new Mazda5 at this year’s Geneva auto show. Lifting more than a few styling details from the recent Mazda3, the new Mazda5 looks expectedly happy to see the revisions. With sculpted flanks that lean heavily on the Nagare and Furai concept cars, the new car is sufficiently revised below as well. Using start-stop and direct injection, the new Mazda5 will debut in Europe with 1.8L and 2.0L four cylinders, with the North American market expected to receive the familiar 2.5L from the Mazda3.