The model is priced from £17,695 to £21,495 OTR and has been designed for optimised flexibility and generous space. Key to this is its seven-seater layout, which uses three rows of seats, which can be flipped and folded to create a variety of load-carrying configurations. The 112-litre loadbay in seven-seater mode can be enlarged to 426 litres in four-seat configuration, while folding all five rear seats flat creates a vast loadbay of 857 litres (floor to belt-height) or ceiling loadbay of 1,566 litres (floor to roof).

The Mazda5 features "first in class" large, twin sliding rear doors, which open to a wide 686mm and extend just 160mm beyond the bodywork when open, providing exceptional access in even the tightest spaces. Access is enhanced by a broad 130mm foot step and low 439mm step-up into the cabin. Sport models come with power sliding doors as standard.

The Mazda5 range debuts with the choice of three engines. The two petrol-powered MZR units – a 115bhp 1.8-litre and a 150bhp 2.0-litre DISI with emissions-busting stop/start i-stop technologies – are joined by a 115bhp 1.6-litre MZ-CD turbo diesel unit. The three powertrains are all Euro Stage 5 compliant and feature six-speed manual transmissions.

The Mazda5 will be available in Mazda's TS, TS2 and Sport trim levels. Standard equipment levels include six airbags, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Traction Control System (TCS), two ISOFIX child seat anchor points, air-conditioning, cruise control, a six-speaker CD audio unit and alloy wheels across the range.