Mazda5

Proclaimed as the first-ever application of the 'Nagare Flow' design language in a Mazda production car, we unfortunately expect the new Mazda5 to be the final one too, now that former design chief Laurens van den Acker has departed to Renault.

Nevertheless, the composition of the flow lines is very elegantly resolved when studied in detail. There's a rising feature line under the door handles, below which are two flow lines that lead your eye towards the black guide rail slot for the vast sliding rear doors. The uppermost line indexes neatly as an extension of the flowing front fender line, which itself flows outwards and upwards from the front grille. The arrangement is completed with a complimentary lower bodyside flow line. As a styling device it is somewhat whimsical, but it gives the car a uniquely elegant character that sets it apart from mainstream competitors such as the Peugeot 5008 or Focus Grand C-Max. Indeed, it's unusual to see such decorative lines on cars these days, not least because it is so difficult to press in steel, so we applaud this achievement for the Hiroshima design team.

The Mazda5 builds on the themes set by the successful outgoing model, which sold over 470,000 in four years. It continues the fully glazed DLO look and vee-shaped rear window of the previous model but adds horizontal tail lamps and a bolder front end. The large five-point grille has a diamond texture that fades out as it reaches the 'boxers gum shield' licence plate mounting, a theme that's repeated in the big dummy side grilles that reach up to the top of the front tire.

The interior retains the clever seven-seat Karakuri-Functionality from the outgoing model but adds sporty wraparound front seats and use of higher quality materials throughout. The IP is a more elegant design with a pair of deeply-set instruments mounted under an unusual peaked binnacle hood. In view of the size of those rear doors, we're glad to see there's a power-door option too.