The MX-Flexa took shape in Mazda's Hiroshima design studio, under the skilled penmanship of chief designer Koji Tabata while overseen by Mazda design director Moray Callum.
 |
| Mazda has managed to make the usually dull compact van shape attractive and sporty. (Photo: Mazda Canada) |
"A six-passenger vehicle that looks athletic and dynamic even when standing still is a very unique and exciting concept," said Callum. "This athletic tension in design has been a theme of many recent Mazda products, including the new RX-8 and recently launched Mazda3."
The MX-Flexa is attractive for sure; a stylistic feat considering it's really nothing more than a compact van. And with that status is the flexibility that inspired its name, starting with the dead giveaway of any minivan, sliding side doors. They give access to six stowable seats that either seat a large group of adults comfortably, or tumble under to provide a spacious load floor - again, nothing unusual.
 |
| Not only will the smaller van be good on gas and easy to park, but thanks to its Mazda3 roots it should also be fun to drive. (Photo: Mazda Canada) |
The fact that the MX-Flexa shares architecture with Mazda's compact 3, however, bodes well for its drivability. It's larger than the Mazda3, stretched and widened, and of course much taller, but it's still a microcosm of one of the larger "minivans" currently available. That means that compared to a Dodge Caravan or Ford Freestar, for instance, the Flexa will be a dream to park, while providing a much more enticing handling package. And my guess is that young families would appreciate such an efficient, economical alternative to today's vans, which are getting closer in dimensions to the full-size vans of yesteryear with every update.