Mazda Premacy

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Mazda MAZDA5

Manufacturer	Mazda
Production	1999–present
Assembly	Hiroshima, Japan
Class	Compact MPV
Similar	Volkswagen Touran Opel Zafira Renault Scénic Kia Carens/Rondo

First generation

Also called	Ford Ixion
Production	1999–2005
Body style	4-door 2-row minivan
Layout	FF layout/All wheel drive
Platform	Mazda CP

Second generation

Also called	MAZDA5
Production	2006–present
Predecessor	Mazda MPV (For Europe & North America)
Body style	4-door 3-row minivan
Layout	FF layout
Platform	Ford C1 platform
Engine	1.8 L MZR I4 2.0 L MZR I4 2.3 L MZR I4 2.0 L MZ-CD Diesel I4
Transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	108.3 in
Length	181.5 in
Width	69.1 in
Height	64.2 in
Related	Mazda MAZDA3 Ford Focus (Euro Mk.2) Ford Focus C-MAX Volvo S40

The MAZDA5 (formerly called Mazda Premacy in its home market and in Europe) is a compact MPV built by the Japanese manufacturer Mazda since 1999. The first generation Premacy was built in Japan and exported to Europe and Asia. A rebadged version was sold by Ford in a few Asian markets (including Japan) as the Ford Ixion or Ford MAV. The second generation is sold worldwide as the MAZDA5. As of March 31, 2005, 285,258 Premacy and MAZDA5 models had been sold worldwide.

The first generation Premacy was a 2-row, 4 or 5-passenger vehicle, while the second generation adds a third row of seats for up to 6 passengers in American form, and 7 passengers outside the United States. Both generations were true vans with near-flat floors, folding/removable 2nd row, and fold-flat rear seats.

1 First generation (1999-2005)
2 Second generation (2006-present)
3 Mazda Keeps It Simple for the US and Canada (2006 model year)
4 External links

[edit] First generation (1999-2005)

The 1999 Premacy used Mazda's CP platform. It was available with either front or all wheel drive and was equipped with automatic transmission. As the Premacy had only five seats, it was less modular than some if its adversaries such as the Opel Zafira and Honda Stream. The second-row seats could be folded and removed as on many other minivans.

This generation Premacy was also sold in some Asian markets as the Ford Ixion.

It was powered by a number of engines:

1.8 L FP-DE I4
2.0 L FS-DE/FS-ZE I4
2.0 L diesel I4

[edit] Second generation (2006-present)

The new 2006 model has been on sale since summer 2005. It is now sold as the MAZDA5 in all markets and is considered a much better car than the old Premacy model. While actually classified by Mazda and the EPA as a Mid-Sized Wagon, it is generally perceived as a mini-minivan in the United States because of its car-like size and sliding doors. It is based on Ford's global C1 platform, meaning it shares many parts with the Mazda3. Its closest relative is the European compact MPV Ford Focus C-MAX, though the MAZDA5 uses minivan-style sliding doors in the rear while the Ford has four conventional front-hinged doors. This version of the vehicle was also introduced for sale in the United States, making it the first compact minivan in that market since the discontinuation of the Mitsubishi Expo in 1995, along with its twins, the Dodge/Plymouth Colt Vista and the Eagle Summit Wagon. It replaces the MPV in both Europe and North America. The Mazda5 is marginally larger than the 1984-89 Toyota Van.

In the US market the MAZDA5 fits six passengers using three rows of seats, with 2 seats per row. In the European market it is sold as a seven seater using Mazda's 'Karakuri Seating System', which means the car has three rows of two seats, with the seventh seat a clever fold away jump seat in the centre of the middle row. Mazda has managed to use proper three point seat belts on all seven seats and avoided resorting to a lap only belt on the seventh seat.

The middle row of seats recline and slide front-to-rear, and fold flat to ease cargo loading. The rear row also folds flat.

[edit] Mazda Keeps It Simple for the US and Canada (2006 model year)

Mazda gambled on how popular a "mini-minivan" platform might fare in the US and in Canada. For the 2006 model year Mazda chose to keep things simple and sporty for North American customers, offering fewer MAZDA5 options than in other markets. The North American version lacked the front-to-back roof rails (common to most all minivans) that were included as standard in other markets. Other notable MAZDA5 options not offered in North America included a back-up camera, power-assist side doors and even a choice of engine (2.3L only). A second-row DVD entertainment system was eventually offered as a dealer installed add-on. Mazda produced a limited number of Mazda 5 units featuring all-wheel-drive but this version was not made available outside of Japan for the 2006 model year.

[edit] Specifications

The wheelbase is 2740 mm (108 in) with an overall length of 4505 mm (177 in).

Engine options:

1.8 L MZR I4, 85 kW (116 PS/114 hp)
2.0 L MZR I4, 110 kW (150 PS/148 hp)
2.3 L MZR I4, 117 or 119 kW (159-162 PS/157-159 hp)
2.0 L MZ-CD I4 Diesel, 77 or 105 kW (105-143 PS/103-141 hp)

[edit] Recall

Mazda was forced to recall the MAZDA5 in the United States shortly after production began due to a risk of exhaust system fires. Owners that were not made aware of the manual shifting mode ("sport mode") of the 4-speed automatic transmission would mistakenly leave the shifter in that position, resulting in high temperatures as the car would remain in second gear. Mazda's solution was to add a heat shield around the muffler and to alter the vehicle's software to not allow excessively high RPMs beyond a short period of time when in "sport mode". Although the 5-speed manual transmission equipped cars would seemingly not need to be recalled, Mazda chose to retrofit all MAZDA5 versions with the new parts and/or software. The company also gave customers $500 (For Canadian owners, it is C$500) plus a loaner car while the problem was mitigated. 2,700 vehicles were affected.

[edit] Awards

The MAZDA5 was named "Best New Multipurpose Family Vehicle" in the 2006 Canadian Car of the Year awards. Consumer Reports ranked the MAZDA5 as the best "tall wagon" in their test, though the car failed to gain a "recommended" rating due to unknown reliability.

In April, 2006, the Japan New Car Assessment Program (J-NCAP) awarded the MAZDA5 a maximum 6-star rating for front-occupant crash worthiness. In Europe, the MAZDA5 was awarded a maximum 5-star "adult occupant" safety rating in September 2005 by the Euro-NCAP.