2011 All-New Mazda 5 Launched In Malaysia

The 2011 all-new Mazda5 has been launched in Malaysia for RM 150,000 (OTR without insurance). The prompt launch of the latest Mazda5, which made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, means that Malaysians have one of the most complete lineup of Mazda models to shop from—including the Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda6, Mazda8, MX-5, RX-8, CX-7, CX-9 and BT-50—thanks to Bermaz Motor, the official local distributor of Mazda cars.

The Mazda5 wears a styling according to the Nagare design language, which mimics the flows of wind and water in nature. Along with the creases on the body supposedly creating the impression of motion, there is the familiar “smiling face” borrowed from fellow Mazda models. The cabin has a driver-oriented feel as you might expect of a car designed by the proponents of the Zoom-Zoom philosophy.

The seven-seater interior retains the 6+One seating arrangement, which allows for walk-through from the first row to the third row. Bigger than before and now able to accommodate a child-seat, the seventh seat is folded up between two second-row seats. Electrically-operated sliding doors provide convenient access to the rear rows of seats, both of which fold flat to increase the luggage capacity.

Equipped with Sequential Valve Timing (S-VT) and an electronic throttle, the 2.0-litre MZR engine now produces 142 bhp at 6500 rpm and 180 Nm at 4500 rpm—slightly more than the 136 bhp and 175 Nm which powered the previous-generation Mazda5. The five-speed automatic gearbox gets Active Adaptive Shift (AAS), a feature that automatically determines the gradient of the road and selects the optimal gear to best handle the situation.

The carried-over chassis soldiers on with a familiar suspension setup of MacPherson struts at the front and multi-link at the back. Standard items include an electric glass sunroof, automatic headlamps, leather steering wheel with audio controls, automatic climate control, 4-speaker audio system with 6-disc in-dash CD-changer, dual front airbags, and traction and stability control systems.