Mazda5 (2010) revealed

The new 2010 Mazda5 will debut at the Geneva Motor Show

Mazda are due to debut the new Mazda5 at the Geneva Motor Show in March, but ahead of that they’ve released some details and photos.

Mazdas are really underrated in the UK. They’re almost a hidden secret. The Mazda3 in particular is an exceptionally good car and deserves to have much higher sales than it does. But despite struggling to sell the sort of numbers they should, Mazda are still moving forward and have revealed some details of the Mazda5 for 2010.

The current Mazda5 is a well-built if somewhat uninspiring. It’s a decent drive even if the steering is less than communicative and the suspension a little harsh. It also does the accommodation thing pretty well with some clever seat arrangements for up to seven and sliding doors to make getting in to those seats a lot easier.

The 2010 version of the Mazda5 gets a style makeover to bring it in to line with the rest of the ‘Zoom Zoom’ range. The new design boasts an exceptionally good drag coefficient together with optimal lift and air-flow stability characteristics (which I guess means it slips through the air very well).

In amongst the engine range will be a new 2.0 litre direct injection petrol lump with a six-speed manual which offers a 15% reduction in CO2 emissions. There will also be a 1.8 litre petrol lump with six-speed ‘box in the lineup.

As you’ve probably worked out, Mazda are keeping the meat of the detail on the new Mazda5 until nearer the Geneva launch. But we do know it will be going on sale later this year in the UK and Europe.

More when we get it.