Mazda classifies the 5 a "minivan" in the States, but how do you describe it? Here's my rambling that Autoweek published in this week's issue:
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In the 10/19 issue, I saw BMW's X6 M ad, and did a double-take thinking it was the 5-series GT from the "A Driver's Alternative" article in the 10/5 issue. Four-door hatches are everywhere! In the 1980s the four-door with rear liftgate 'non-hatchback' vehicles were called Minivans, then in the 1990s they were called SUVs. Now they are called crossovers.
I just picked up a new Mazda5 with a manual transmission. It's a functional four-door with rear liftgate 'non-hatchback' classified as a Minivan, smaller than a compact SUV, and looks more like a sports-compact than a Crossover. What should I call it?
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In the 10/19 issue, I saw BMW's X6 M ad, and did a double-take thinking it was the 5-series GT from the "A Driver's Alternative" article in the 10/5 issue. Four-door hatches are everywhere! In the 1980s the four-door with rear liftgate 'non-hatchback' vehicles were called Minivans, then in the 1990s they were called SUVs. Now they are called crossovers.
I just picked up a new Mazda5 with a manual transmission. It's a functional four-door with rear liftgate 'non-hatchback' classified as a Minivan, smaller than a compact SUV, and looks more like a sports-compact than a Crossover. What should I call it?
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