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2012 Mazda5 strikes a balance between space and efficiencyThe middle-row chairs also slide fore and aft to allow forcomputer, leather-wrapped steering wheel and anti-theft system.Ford Expedition and the like. Or you can opt for a minivan.more knee room in back. And to access the rear, a one-Move up to the GT, and in addition, you get 17-inch alloys; fogBut if you have a couple of kids, but occasionally want to bring alongtouch lever automatically tips the seatback forward andlights; heated mirrors; rear spoiler; side sills; Xenon headlights; antheir grandparents, vehicles like the Mazda5 are just the ticket. Sameslides the cushion to its front-most position.upgraded audio system with six speakers, six-CD changer and satel-goes if you need to pick up the odd appliance, table or loveseat, butWith the mid-row seats moved up a little, theres justlite radio; Bluetooth and heated seats.dont want a gas-guzzling behemoth as your daily driver.enough room in the third-row for two shorter adults. MyFor large families in the habit of carrying a full load of passengersIndeed, the Mazda5 seems to have the right balance of comfort,kids, however, loved sitting there.and hockey bags, the Mazda5 may not be enough. Neither will mostspace and flexibility, in a compact package that is agile, responsiveGot stuff to carry? Heres where the Mazda5 really shines.SUVs, unless you move up to the school-bus-size Chevy Suburban,and easy on fuel.The back seats drop individually in a single motion to pro-vide a flat cargo floor. Lift a rear panel, and theres anunderfloor storage tray, with the compact spare below.Also in back are a cargo light and 12-volt powerpoint.The second-row seats can also be dropped without remov-ing the headrests just pull a strap and they flop forward.Another strap brings the seatpan forward, revealing morehidden storage. From here, you can fold the seatbacks for-ward to create a level cargo floor from front to back.Mazda rates the carrying capacity as follows: 112 litresbehind the third row, 426 litres behind the second row anda maximum 857 litres behind the front seats (with bothrows folded).Those figures didnt seem to do justice to the cavernouscargo area, so I pulled out my tape measure to size things up. Being somewhat conservative and taking into account cur-vature and intrusions, I measured roughly 66 inches(1,676 mm) of cargo length behind the first row, a mini-mum of 41 inches (1041 mm) between the wheel wells andbetween 32 inches (813 mm) and 35 inches (889 mm)high. You do the math, keeping in mind that a cubic metreis equal to 1,000 litres.I found enough space in theory to slide in my full-sizedrefrigerator, with the hatch slightly ajar. Not bad for a com-pact vehicle of any kind.On the other hand, with six people seated, there isnt muchroom for their stuff. You can, however, still slide in a fewbags of groceries behind the third row.The 2012 Mazda5 is available in two trim levels: the GS,which starts at $21,795 and the GT at $24,395. Both arepowered by the same engine and start with a six-speedmanual. The five-speed automatic adds $1,200.For a base vehicle, the GS is surprisingly well equipped.You get 16-inch alloy wheels, power mirrors, windows andlocks, four-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with auxinput and steering wheel controls, air conditioning withfiltration, outside temperature display, and more.Unexpected at this price point are standard rain-sensingwipers, automatic dusk-sensing headlights, automatic cli-mate control and rear HVAC controls for the second row.All Mazda5s get a full suite of safety and handling featuresthat include four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, brake assistand electronic brakeforce distribution, dynamic stabilitycontrol, traction control, and a full complement of airbags:front, side and side curtain.The Convenience Package, for another $845, adds aBluetooth hands-free phone system, cruise control, tripThe Mazda5s abundant black plastic is nicely accented bychrome and metallic trim,fabric inserts and attractive,easy-to-read gauges and displays.25 Wednesday, January 19, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.oakvillebeaver.com