Mazda Premacy

The Premacy (called Mazda5 in some markets) is a small (C-class) minivan from Mazda. The first generation Premacy was built in Japan and exported to Europe and Asia. A badge-engineered version was sold by Ford in a few Asian market (including Japan) as the Ford Ixion or Ford MAV. The second-generation is sold worldwide as the Mazda5. As of March 31, 2005, 285,258 Premacy and Mazda5 models had been sold worldwide since introduction.

The first-generation Premacy was a 2-row, 4- or 5-passenger vehicle, while the second-generation adds a third row of seats for up to 6 passengers. Both generations were true vans with flat floors and folding/removable second (and third) row seating.

First Generation (1999-2005)

The 1999 Premacy used Mazda's CP platform. It was available with either front or all wheel drive and was equipped with an automatic transmission. As the Premacy had only five seats, it was less modular than some if its adversaries such as the Opel Zafira and Honda Stream. The second-row seats could be folded and removed as on many other minivans.

This generation Premacy was also sold in some Asian markets as the Ford Ixion.

It was powered by a number of engines:

• 1.8L FP-DE I4
• 2.0L FS-DE/FS-ZE I4
• 2.0L Diesel

2006-Present

The 2006 model has been on sale since Summer 2005. It is based on Ford's global C1 platform, meaning it shares many parts with the Mazda Mazda3. Its closest relative is the European Ford Focus C-Max, though the Mazda5 uses minivan-style sliding doors in the rear while the Ford has four conventional front-hinged doors. This version of the vehicle was also introduced for sale in the United States, making it the first compact minivan in that market since the discontinuation of the Isuzu Oasis in 1999, along with its twin, which was the first-generation Honda Odyssey.

The Mazda5 fits six passengers using three rows of seats. The middle row of seats recline and slide front-to-rear, and fold flat to ease cargo loading. The rear row also folds flat.