Autoblog

Nissan offers rebadged Mazda5 in Japan as Lafesta Highway Star [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Japan, Mazda, Nissan

2012 Nissan Lafesta Highway Star - Click above for high-res image gallery

When is a Mazda5 not a Mazda5? When it's a Nissan. Only it's still a Mazda5 even when it's wearing a different badge.

The two Japanese automakers have entered into an arrangement whereby the latter supplies the former with lightly facelifted versions of its latest minivan, and presto! We've got the new Nissan Lafesta. Actually, it's full name is the Lafesta Highway Star, and is not to be confused with the Lafesta Joy, a separate model that will continue production at Nissan's own Kyushu plant.

The Lafesta Highway Star, then, is produced by Mazda for Nissan, and receives some slightly different styling touches to set it apart. Okay, it pretty much comes down to a new three-bar grille. Otherwise it's essentially the same as the Mazda5. And like the Mazda5, the Lafesta Highway Star offers flexible three-row seating, dual sliding doors and stop-start ignition.

One notable departure, however, is the availability of all-wheel drive on the Nissan, which Mazda offered for a time in the Japanese Domestic Market but has since discontinued. Of course, the Nissan is being offered only for Japanese domestic market consumption, so if you live anywhere else, don't go pestering your local Nissan dealer for an AWD Mazda5, because the closest you're gonna get is the high-resolution images in our gallery and the JDM launch video with press release after the jump.

Continue reading Nissan offers rebadged Mazda5 in Japan as Lafesta Highway Star [w/video]

Nissan offers rebadged Mazda5 in Japan as Lafesta Highway Star [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 2007-2009 Mazda3 and Mazda5 models face power steering recall

Chris Shunk — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Sedan, Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, Mazda

2007 Mazda3 (above) and 2009 Mazda5 (below, right) - Click on either image for high-res gallery

Automotive News is reporting that Mazda has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it will recall over 200,000 2007 to 2009 Mazda3 and Mazda5 models due to faulty power-assist steering pumps and pipes. The recall announcement comes two months after NHTSA launched an investigation into 33 complaints of power steering failures. In three cases, the loss of steering control led to an accident.

Robert Davis, Mazda's senior vice president of product development and quality has told AN that the power steering system can shut down because sensors in the pump can be contaminated with rust from pipes that connect the pump to the steering rack. The contamination could cause the power steering pump to shut itself down to prevent further damage. When the power steering shuts down, affected vehicles will still be steerable, but the loss of power assist will make steering effort markedly heavier than what drivers are used to.

Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified by Mazda to bring their Mazda3 or Mazda5 to the nearest dealership for a new steering pump and pipes. This recall notice has yet to be added to be made official by NHTSA on its website.

Gallery: 2007 Mazda3

Gallery: 2009 Mazda5

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: 2007-2009 Mazda3 and Mazda5 models face power steering recall originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Mazda5 Touring

Chris Tutor — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Minivan/Van, Mazda

The Tutors have been waiting months to get a Mazda5 in the Autoblog Garage. The car-like minivan has been on the our family shopping list since we knew we were adding an extra person to the house. Based on the Mazda3 platform, the 5 promised a sedan ride with family-size space for parents on a budget. That, in my mind, is the perfect vehicle.

Our strato blue tester was a Touring model with 17" wheels, cloth seats, automatic climate control, and moonroof. The only optional equipment was satellite radio. The sticker on the window listed a base price of $19,780 with a $430 charge for the Sirius receiver and a delivery charge of $595, for a grand total of $20,375.

Continue reading about the Mazda5 Touring after the jump.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Mazda5 Touring

Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Mazda5 Touring

In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Mazda5 Touring originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crossover Crazy: Mazda has five people-haulers from which to choose

Chris Shunk — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Mazda

The well-known zoom-zoom tag-line in every Mazda commercial is being tested by a flood of crossover vehicles that don't exactly fit the company's sporty persona. To complicate things further, all five vehicles are close in price, with the difference from bottom to top being a mere $11,400.

CX-9: Minivan replacement, seats seven

CX-7: Sporty and quick, seats five

Tribute: Seats five, SUV looks

Mazda5: Seats six, minivan-like

Mazda6 Sport Wagon: Not a crossover, but definitely a people and stuff-hauler

Of course Mazda tells anyone willing to listen that the vehicles all have specific demographic targets. The new CX-9, for example, replaces the slow-selling MPV minivan. The CX-7 has drawn rave reviews for its sporty styling and direct inject turbo engine. In addition, we've yet to come by anyone with bad things to say about the Mazda5. The point, though, is how many people movers in a single lineup constitutes too many?

[Source: AutoWeek]

Continue reading Crossover Crazy: Mazda has five people-haulers from which to choose

Crossover Crazy: Mazda has five people-haulers from which to choose originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Feb 2007 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia shows off next Carens at Madrid Auto Show

Chris Paukert — Fri, 26 May 2006 21:34:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Kia, Misc. Auto Shows

More details on Kia's new Carens have surfaced, now that the mini MPV has debuted in Madrid. The five-to-seven seater is widely expected to show up in U.S. dealers as the 'Rondo' where it will mix it up with everything from the Mazda 5 to Chevrolet HHR and Toyota Matrix.

A marked improvement in the visuals over the previous iteration will help the Carens case, as will the fact that it's bigger in virtually every dimension: length, width and height. For the Europeans, at least, a 142 brake horsepower 2.0-liter gasoline engine will be available paired with a five-speed manual, along with a turbodiesel of identical displacement latched to a six-speeder. A four-speed slushbox will be available with either transmission. U.S. consumers can dream, but if the Carens crosses the pond, we imagine expecting the derv-burner would be a stretch.

The Carens is expected to base at around £12,000 ($22,300 USD).

A U.S. on-sale date has not been announced, but the model is slated to hit UK dealers this August.

[Sources: Reuters; Kia]

Kia shows off next Carens at Madrid Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 May 2006 21:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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