Mazda5 Gets All-Wheel-Drive

The Mazda5, which is also known as the Mazda Premacy in certain markets, has managed to claim the top of its segment in terms of media coverage ever since it was introduced earlier in the year at the Geneva Auto Show, mainly thanks to the fact that is uses the special Nagare design language.

Now, Mazda is introducing a tech upgrade option for the seven-seater MPV, offering all-wheel-drive. Mazda’s AWD system allows the driver to switch between 2WD and 4WD by pushing a button.

The AWD option is offered on the Japanese Domestic Market for now, but the feature is expected to make its way to other markets in the future. In Japan, it can be ordered for the 2.0E and 2.0S models. These use a naturally aspirated 2.0 liter DOHC four-cylinder gasoline engine that delivers 150 hp and a maximum torque of 191 Nm. The engine is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.

The Mazda5 AWD has a starting price of 2,109,000 yen (approximately $24,500), with the top of the range AWD model costing 2,314,000 yen (the equivalent of $26,850 at the current exchange rate).

As we said, the Mazda5 is the first production vehicle coming from the Japanese automaker to use the Nagare (this means “flow”) design language. This means that the MPV gets a side profile with four distinctive lines, and that it features design elements that are inspired by the movement of nature.

The Nagare design trend will probably be used for other Mazda production vehicles, but won’t be found on the company’s future concepts. This is because the design language will be replaced by a new one at the Paris Auto Show in September.