Mazda5 Likely Sporting Few Changes for 2010

2010 Mazda Premacy (Japan)

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Mazda has announced equipment details for the Premacy, its Japan-market compact minivan that closely parallels the Mazda5.

Based on this, it's likely that the 2010 Mazda5 will return with just a few minor equipment changes.

In Japan, the Premacy gets a new fuel economy gauge and a newly redesigned glossy piano black center panel, plus new fabric and door trim for some models. Also for the first time rearview and sideview cameras are offered as a dealer-installed option, so we might also see this show up as an option in the 2010 Mazda5.

Several new colors have been added, including this attention-getting Dark Plum Mica.

In TheCarConnection.com's Bottom Line on the 2009 Mazda Mazda5, we list the Mazda5's compact size, seating for six, space-saving sliding doors, and rare-for-the-class manual transmission as positives, but note that the Mazda5 lacks electronic stability control at a time when every other minivan and crossover rival we can think of has it. We wouldn't mind a little more power or more supportive front seats either, but overall the Mazda5 is an editors' favorite among small people movers.

We'll update you if equipment changes for the U.S. 2010 Mazda5 end up being any more extensive than anticipated.