Not content with producing yet another sharp-looking , well priced motor, the Japanese car maker has even added its own moniker to the MPV sector. The Mazda5 isn’t an MPV as such, says the company, it’s a C-MAV (Compact-Multi Activity Vehicle)

Whatever the company chooses to call it, this is a medium sized people carrier that thinks its a full-size model and features a smart design, legendary Mazda reliability and a bargain-basement price.

It’s nominally a seven-seater, but three of those seats would only suit children, particularly in the third row, and the middle seat barely warrants that description.

But this is still the kind of car that will appeal to a medium sized family, who occasionally want to take nan and grandad along as well.

The ‘theatre-style’ seating has each row of seats mounted a little higher than the row in front to give passengers better vision.

The two main second row seats, which slide and recline, can be double-folded without removing their headrests to create a flat load area. They feature a one-touch lever which automatically tips the seatback forward and slides the cushion to its front-most position to allow access to the third row.

The third row seats are split 50:50, can be tipped forward individually and drop onto the cushion to form a flat load surface.

With all seats in place, boot space is limited to 112-litres, but this increases to 426-litres with the rearmost seats removed and up to a maximum of 857-litres – depending on the number of seats in use

Extra stowage comes via a total of 40 storage compartments, including 10 cupholders, providing maximum convenience and practicality.

Access to the rear seats comes via manual sliding doors which are also a boon in tight parking spaces, but as with all cars with sliding doors, care needs to be taken when exiting the vehicle roadside.

It feels big and roomy and perhaps most importantly of all, it is cheap with a starting price of £14,415.

It comes with a choice of three engines, two petrol and a diesel. The test model featured the 1.8 litre 115 bhp petrol engine, but a two litre petrol and two-litre diesel are both available.

I thought the 1.8 would be underpowered, but it is surprisingly sprightly, mated to a precise six speed gearbox, and only really struggles when fully laden.

This does make the car thirsty though and I struggled to get anywhere near the official combined figures of 35.8 mpg. A better option, although more expensive, would be the diesel which comes tuned to either 110 or 143 bhp, the latter providing extra power and better economy.

The ride is on the firm side and bumps and potholes can take their toll on a lengthy drive.

But a real plus is in the handling department, where the Mazda is surprisingly agile for this type of vehicle and it feels stable, even when entering corners a little too zealously.

The driving position is also good with excellent all-round vision and decent headroom.

The instrument cluster is typical Mazda. Minimalist yet effective with burnished aluminium trim. Instrumentation feels sturdy and everything is placed within easy reach of the driver.

Another key feature for families is safety with six airbags protecting all passengers and ABS anti-lock braking, and electronic braking assistance providing added peace of mind.

FAST FACTS

Mazda5 1.8 TS2

Price: £15,380

Mechanical: 113bhp, 1,798cc, 4-cyl, petrol engine driving front wheels via 5-spd manual transmission

Max speed: 113mph

0-62mph: 11.4 secs

Combined mpg: 35.8 mpg

Insurance group: 6

CO2 emissions: 190g/km

BiK Rating: 24%

Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles, 12yrs body protection.

For instance, advanced electronics mean that the finicky old fashioned ignition points that could stop a car at their whim are a thing of the past.

Temperamental carburettors are overtaken by advanced electronic injection systems. Modern chassis technology gives an everyday motor the sort of handling you used to expect from a sports car and the latest safety engineering gives maximum protection in a crash.

But the problem is that the ultra-reliable, ultra-safe car of today can be much of a muchness and be taken for granted.

But there are cars with the latest features that still give you a buzz in the under £20,000 class. One such is the Mazda6, a saloon in the Mondeo mould which has been a pivotal model in the revival of the Mazda marque in recent years.

The Mazda advertising jingle ‘Zoom Zoom’ is very appropriate for this particular 6 model, the 2.0 diesel, because this car has tremendous low end performance.

It is easy to see why the 6, seen as a refreshing change from the norm is gaining new friends every day.

It has scooped armfuls of awards since launch in 2002 and there is a programe of new variations.

The turbo-charged two-litre 143bhp diesel features a 0-62mph time of 9.5 seconds, combined with average fuel consumption of 47.1mpg. But this is one of those cars that feels so positive that paper figures just do not put over what a fabulous drive it is.

Since its launch, the 6 has been treated to additional stiffening of the bodyshell which adds to its dynamic capabilities.

The interior is all high quality efficiency rather than gimmickry but the TS model as tested is very well equipped with aircon, six airbags, ABS with EBD, remote central locking, alarm, alloys and much more as standard. The TS specification gives more with items such as cruise control.

The Mazda6 2.0 TS diesel tips the price scale at just over £16,000, which is excellent value for a car that is on a popularity roll and is performing well on resididual values.

FAST FACTS

Mazda6 2.0 TS Diesel 4dr

Price: £16,750

Mechanical: 143bhp, 1,998cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox

Max speed: 127mph

0-62mph: 9.5 secs

Combined mpg: 47.1

CO2 emissions: 165g/km

BiK rating: 23%

Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 3yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust

Was it an estate car, a people carrier, or just a curious designer approach to introduce a little light relief into the segment? And, I kept asking myself, what does Demio actually mean?

In the event I needn’t have concerned myself, as this year it has been replaced by Mazda’s very latest supermini offering which comes with a name which doesn’t require rocket science to translate – the Mazda2.

And, surprise, surprise, the Mazda2 boldy goes where its predecessor went before, with a high roofline topping a light and airy cabin which doesn’t disappoint in the provision of usable interior space.

Sharing a platform with the latest Ford Fiesta, the Mazda2 is extremely accommodating for this class. Head, shoulder and legroom are pretty generous in all parts of a quite stylishly appointed cabin.

There are a number of places on board in which to “lose” your bits and bobs, while the luggage bay, too, is deeply generous, boasting a slide-in loading lip and retractable cover, while providing even more load-carrying capacity with the rear seats down.

The 2 comes with a quartet of engine options – three petrol – 1.25-litre, 1.4 and 1.6 – plus a 1.4-litre second generation common rail diesel power plant and there are four trim levels from which to choose – S, TS, TS2 and Sport.

My test car was the Mazda2 1.6 Sport, a model which has a generous standard spec which includes electric windows all round, including one-shot driver’s side, air con and a six-speaker stereo radio/CD sound system.

Safety, too, has been well addressed on board with dual front airbags plus side airbags for those in the front seats.

The steering wheel adjusts only for height, but it should provide a comfortable driving position for most, but, while the driver’s seat does have ratchet height adjust, the facility doesn’t extend to the front passenger seat, so you may find yourself “talking down” to your companion.

You sit behind a leather -trimmed steering wheel with silver inserts, and, although the dash instrumentation is user friendly, perhaps the designers could have used different colour control buttons than silver on the aluminiumesque centre console?

You get quite a high command driving position on board this five-door supermini and, with plenty of glass, the result is extremely good all-round vision for the driver.

Mounted on 15-inch alloys, with security locking wheelnuts, the Mazda2 exhibits good manners on the tarmac and sharp driving dynamics which benefit from the introduction of modified Fiesta suspension and steering. At low speeds, the tight turning circle is capable of getting you into one of those supermarket spaces which appear to have been designed for nothing bigger than a mini.

Roadway progress is neat with good torsional rigidity and the electrically powered steering provides an accurate and positive response when called upon to string together a series of B road bends. Ride, while a little on the firm side, provides good entertainment for the driver.

The 1.6 petrol engine does its work in agreeable fashion with no pretentions to breaking any records. The100bhp 16-valver will take you pretty sedately from 0-62mph in 11.4 seconds, en route to a maximum, where legally allowable, of 112mph, while ABS braking with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) are on hand to assist the unwise and the unwary.

Overall, this is not a bad effort as Mazda’s contribution to the supermini league, bringing generous room, good kit level and family style performance and value in a car which is well put together.

FAST FACTS

Mazda2 1.6 Sport

Price: £11,995

Mechanical: 100bhp, 1,596cc 4 cyl 16-valve petrol engine driving front wheels via 5-spd manual gearbox

Max speed: 112mph

0-62mph: 11.4 secs

Combined mpg: 39.8

Insurance group: 6

CO2 emissions: 168g/km

BiK rating: 16%

Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 6yrs anti-rust

Some emerge as official announcements, others are so-called scoops that are snapped during secret testing, and the rest are the subject of the sort of speculation that has a habit of soon becoming fact.

Here is a round-up of recent developments.

SO America is now officially the so-called Fat Capital of the world, with the obese now re-categorised as super-obese.

These are folk who refer to blokes weighing just 20 stones as Slim Jims, whilst they themselves top the scales at over 30.

The private health centres are earning a fortune from it all, with 100,000 operations a year to wire their stomachs so they can not eat too much. One guy boasted that, as a result, he had miraculously lost 15 stones in seven months.

Which begs the question, why didn’t he just eat less himself, without having nine tenths of his stomach stapled, so he was left with nothing more than the size of a golf ball.

It seems to me that there is a parallel with the latest in-car invention announced this week, which will detect when drivers have been drinking and automatically bring the vehicle to a stop.

The drivers will pay handsomely for the equipment to be installed.

It consists of a black box “hidden” beneath the bonnet, controlling a couple of cameras within the car. They monitor the driver’s eye movements and corresponding hand co-ordination, then calculate whether or not there is a time delay.

If there is, the car assumes that the driver’s reactions have been slowed by alcohol and the black box brings the vehicle to a halt via the electronic engine management system.

Surely I cannot be the only person to find it crazy that people are prepared to spend such vast sums of money to persuade them to achieve what they can so easily do themselves.

It’s dead simple. If you intend to drive a car, then don’t drink. It’s hardly rocket science. Only an idiot would need to invest in such a device, and there may even be a case of “intent to commit a crime” by having one installed, because by its very nature the driver is admitting the possibility of drink driving.

Happily, there are still many millions who enjoy the exhilaration of the art of driving for its own sake, without breaking the law.

It does not even involve speeding, simply investing in a nice car and enjoying the performance when conditions allow.

This is epitomised by Mazda’s brilliant little MX-5, which is still so popular after all these years.

With prices from £15,000, it has been given an improved specification and three new colours. There are striking new 16-inch alloy wheels, and a clever new windblocker to keep out the winter chill with the roof down, incorporating a pair of powerful speakers.

Inside, there is a new aluminium centre console and new cloth seat material, plus three new exterior colours of dark aubergine, strato blue and titanium grey.

Indeed, when it comes to sporty cars it seems that we simply cannot get enough of them, as illustrated by this week’s announcement that Mitsubishi’s hugely powerful Lancer Evolution VIII range is to be expanded for 2004.

It will launch the new Lancer Evolution VIII MR in April next year with prices starting at £28,000 for the standard 280 model. Then there will be the FQ-300 and FQ-330 models for those who want supercar power at mainstream prices.

Joining the range in April will also be a new Evolution VIII, expected to cost from £24,000. Called the Lancer Evolution VIII 260. This is the model that will tackle Subaru’s similar Impreza head on, with a sub five-second 0-60mph acceleration time and a top speed nudging 155mph.

In the right hands, driven sensibly, there do not have to be any safety issues here.

Today things are very different indeed – while sporty drivers can still enjoy the thrill of open-air, high performance motoring, the cars they drive have to meet rigorous safety regulations and are, in fact, in many cases even safer and stronger than more mundane family cars.

Take the Mazda MX-5 – an iconic sports car which has earned its stripes by not just being tremendous fun to drive but also because of the way in which it protects its driver and front seat passenger in the event of an accident.

First launched in 1989, the MX-5 was put through Euro NCAP’s rigorous crash testing procedures in 2002 and emerged with a highly creditable four star rating.

At the time, the testers observed: ‘The MX-5 has had a recent facelift but the body and chassis remains much as it was when introduced in 1989. That being so, the car still proved safe enough to gain four stars, giving a well balanced performance in the frontal and side impact.’

Although the latest, third generation MX-5 has not yet been tested by Euro NCAP, the Japanese manufacturer will have every confidence that it will exceed the crash-test performance of the original.

The third-generation MX-5 comes in both soft top and Roadster Coupe models and is the first Mazda roadster to have side airbags as standard. These are installed in the outer section of the seatbacks and protect the head and thorax.

They consist of two chambers. Each chamber is activated at the same time by a common gas generator and a single inflator. This single inflation process delivers a decisive time advantage over conventional dual-stage airbag systems, in which both chambers are filled with gas one after the other.

Furthermore, the upper and slightly larger chamber that protects the head inflates firmer and for a longer time than the lower chamber. In this way, Mazda achieves a similar effect to vehicles with a permanent hard top equipped with curtain airbags.

Other passive safety features include ISOFIX anchors for securing a child safety seat in the passenger seat and the front passenger seat airbag can be deactivated with the ignition key.

Both the steering column and the brake pedals are designed to reduce the risk of lower body injury to the driver in a serious front impact and both seats have three-point seat belts with pretensioners and load-limiters.

In the unlikely event that the MX-5 Roadster Coupe could ever roll over, protection is provided to the passengers by bracing bars integrated into the A-pillars made of ultra-high-strength steel, a massive windshield frame and reinforcements behind the seats. Also, large body shell cross members protect passengers in case of side impact.

Some 58 per cent of the body shell is made of either ultra-high-strength or high-strength steel, both of which are three times stronger than normal types of steel and this allows for an ideal combination of thin, lightweight material that is extremely strong.

The bonnet is made of aluminium and has been optimized for pedestrian protection. Its inner bonnet panel is made of a shock-cone structure that effectively absorbs impact energy applied to the outside of the bonnet from above.

Given all that, Mazda will be hoping that the new, third generation MX-5 could become the first ever sports roadster from any manufacturer to achieve Euro NCAP’s coveted five star rating. Watch this space

Mazda MX-5 Mk 2 EURO CAP RATING

Adult occupant ****

Child occupant N/A

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Mazda Approved Used

Economy has improved by more than seven miles per gallon and CO2 emissions have fallen from 150g/km to 129g/km with a reduction in company car tax liability from 17 per cent to just 15 per cent.

The retained value of the car after three years has risen from 45 per cent to 52 per cent and it has gained electric windows and an MP3-compatible compact disc system.

The same is true of the diesel versions, which now cost from just £8,900 in comparison to £9,730 despite an improvement in economy to 65mpg and a reduction in CO2 emissions to 114g/km, which lowers the tax liability from 18 per cent to just 13 per cent.

The Mazda2 is typical of small cars that encompass large car benefits, with more than a dozen models in the range offering a choice of three or five doors, four different power outputs from two petrol engines and a high-efficiency diesel with performance of up to 115mph.

The 1.4 D TS2 five-door model costs under £12,000 and comes with air conditioning, alloy wheels, front, side and curtain air bags, electric windows and an MPS-compatible CD player.

In addition to half a dozen air bags there is a big-car safety rating of a maximum five stars for adult protection from EuroNCAP and four stars for child safety.

The latest incarnation of the Mazda3, which has found more than two million buyers in five years, has been designed specifically to embody big-car features within its compact dimensions.

Completely redesigned and with new engines, it comes in a choice of hatchback and saloon body styles plus a new i-stop version geared towards outstanding economy and ultra-low emissions.

In its current guise the Mazda3 costs from £11,200 for the 1.4 S hatchback and from £13,310 for the 1.6 Takara saloon.

The best-selling hatchback comes with a choice of three petrol engines of 1.4, 1.6, 2.0 and 2.3-litre capacity plus diesel options of 1.6-litres and 2.0-litres.

The new engines, including a 2.2-litre turbodiesel, improve economy significantly whilst reducing CO2 emissions. The i-Stop version with Mazda’s 2.0-litre direct injection spark engine improves economy by a further 12 per cent.

A direct rival for the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, the multi-award-winning Mazda3 comes with virtually all of the traditional big-car features including CD sound system, electric windows and front and side air bags.

Most models also have multi-disc CD players, full climate control and sophisticated safety features including traction control, electronic stability programme and curtain airbags.

There are top marks for safety and residual values are among the best in the compact class.

I’m not a car designer, but of a pair of cars, I can tell you which one excites and which does not within the first quarter mile down a straight road.

It’s not necessarily anything specific, just a feeling in the seat of the pants which many drivers would not get, because they are not attuned to it.

And so it is – yet again – with my large family ‘Car of the Year’ last year, the superb Mazda 6 two-litre hatch.

But the revised Nissan Primera I have also been driving, although very good in most ways, does not leave me wanting more every time I get out.

Mazda almost achieved a miracle with the “6″ when it first came out. So good was it that it immediately went to the top of the class.

And as far as I am concerned it is still there, despite new models coming out from other manufacturers.

The 6 drives virtually as well as a BMW 3-series, even though it is front wheel drive and the BeeEmm is rear wheel drive.

Both have the same intuitive feel for someone who enjoys driving, who enjoys handling a good car. Both instil confidence in the driver, and because of their excellent chassis, always feel tremendously safe even when pressed right to the limits.

The Mazda seems to blend with the road surface, hugging its contours and flowing over every dip and ripple.

It handles superbly, with excellent power steering feeding surface and grip information back to the hands, and wonderful balance aiding brilliant roadholding.

The seats hold in all the right places, and comfort is up with the very best in class, matching that available in the BMW – as long as it does not have sports suspension!

I drove the two-litre TS2, which has a marvellously smooth and tuneful engine that loves to be revved, and is always willing and punchy.

Performance is brilliant at all times, and although main power is higher up the rev range, there is enough for good acceleration lower down.

This Mazda is a beautiful car too, with great style both front and rear, and lovely lines from the side.

The Primera is also a good car, but it doesn’t shine in the same way as the Mazda. It offers as much power from the same size of engine, with good acceleration and plenty of verve.

But the chassis and steering are stodgy and uninvolving by comparison, even with the front suspension revisions which were carried out at the end of last year.

The steering is over light at times, and although the suspension allows fast, flat cornering, it seems too soft in a straight line, allowing slightly unexpected body movements.

Part of the reason why the Mazda feels more nippy is that it is over 40kg lighter than the Nissan – that’s 40 bags of sugar – and its economy is also better, averaging 35 to the Nissan’s 31.

But the Nissan does have a lot going for it. Acceleration is on a par with the Mazda’s, and it has more toys than you can shake a stick at, including in this SVE form, satellite navigation – £2,500 extra on the Mazda – and a rearview TV camera which is not available on any of the competition.

The single control centre for navigation, stereo, trip computer and climate control works well once one is used to it, but is a little daunting at first sight.

And the high quality interior and exterior matches that in the Mazda.

Equipment is on a par except for the Nissan’s sat nav, built-in ‘phone and leather upholstery, but if the Mazda has those items added from the extras list, it is £2,650 more expensive.

That said, the “6″ is so much more fun to drive, and to my eyes, better looking, that I would have it without those extras for a little less than the Primera.

FAST FACTS

Mazda6 2.0 TS2 5dr

Price: £16,900

Mechanical: 141bhp, 1,999cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox

Max speed: 128mph

0-62mph: 9.9 secs

Combined mpg: 34.9

Insurance group: 9

CO2 emissions: 192g/km

BiK rating: 24%

Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 3yrs paint; 12yrs anti-rust

CAR STARS

How does it compare with the rest?

****** = Best * = Worst.

Comfort *****

Performance ******

Thirst *****

Handling ******

Safety ******

Equipment ****

Value *****

Fun Factor ******

Overall Rating: *****

FAST FACTS

Nissan Primera 2.0 SVE 5dr

Price: £17,750

Mechanical: 140bhp, 1,998cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox

Max speed: 124mph

0-62mph: 9.8 secs

Combined mpg: 32.5

Insurance group: 11

CO2 emissions: 208g/km

BiK rating: 27%

Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 3yrs paint; 6yrs anti-rust

CAR STARS

How does it compare with the rest?

****** = Best * = Worst.

Comfort ***

Performance ******

Thirst ***

Handling ***

Safety ******

Equipment ******

Value ******

Fun Factor **

Overall Rating: ****

It came second only to Ford’s Puma, which is no longer on sale, and just ahead of the Nissan 200SX, Hyundai Coupe and Porsche Boxster.

In the survey, by internet consumer guide Ciao.com, Hyundai’s relatively inexpensive Coupe was perhaps the biggest surprise.

One comment on the website reads: “If you are looking for a car which moves, is good looking and a little bit different to the rest of the crowd, but don’t want to spend a fortune, then this is the car for you.”

Another said: “At this price it really is unbeatable value and it turns heads whenever I drive it.”

The UK has proved to be the biggest market for the Hyundai Coupe in Europe, with 6,213 having been bought here since its launch at the end of January 2002.

The Coupe, especially the top of the range 2.7 V6, has been hailed as one of the best value for money sports cars available, providing impressive performance at a sensible price.

The 2.7 V6 sells for £18,495 on the road, is capable of 136 mph and can accelerate to 60mph in eight seconds.

Standard equipment for all Coupes includes driver, passenger and side airbags, anti-lock brakes, six speaker radio/CD player and air conditioning. The SE and V6 are also equipped with leather seats and cruise control.

Used Mazdas

New Mazda Discounts

Mazda Approved Used

Named the Senku, a Japanese term meaning pioneer, this eyecatcher from the Ford-owned company features an ultra-long wheelbase, minimal overhangs, a unique ‘floating’ appearance supported by large tyres, a smoothly dignified shape, and large flying wing electric-powered sliding doors.

And they all come together as part of an elegant coupe format in which personal space is designed to give priority to the people seated in the front, while the interior trim is finished in supple leather.

Between the front and rear axles is the next-generation direct injection gasoline rotary engine with a hybrid unit which achieves high power output and lower fuel consumption.

The Senku also boasts perfect 50:50 front/rear weight distribution and a low centre of gravity – a well-known characteristic of Mazda sports cars.

Also making its global debut in Tokyo will be the Mazda5 Hydrogen RE Hybrid concept vehicle, expected to offer typical Mazda Zoom-Zoom driving pleasure combined with outstanding eco-friendliness.

It comes equipped with the next-generation MZR 2.3-litre DISI Turbo engine and Advanced Driver-Support Technologies.

Joining the new concept cars will be the Japanese debut of the Mazda MX-Crossport concept, previously shown at the Detroit and Frankfurt shows.

The Crossport – a new breed of vehicle that combines the merits of a sports car and an SUV – indicates a direction that Mazda’s future products could take and further expands the line-up of new generation products with production already confirmed for the North American market next year.

It is modelled on the entry-level 1.8-litre Mazda6 S, but costs £12,995 instead of £13,500.

The additional equipment includes a six-disc CD player, rear spoiler and two new colours of Strato Blue and Velocity Red.

The five door 1.8-litre model achieves 0-60mph acceleration in 11 seconds, has a top speed of 121mph and 37mpg economy. The insurance group at 7E is the same as that of the standard Mazda6 S model. Just 500 Sakatas will be on offer from March.

New Mazda Discounts

Mazda Approved Used