The new seven-seat Mazda5 has gone on sale in the UK with the option of 1.8-litre 115ps and 2.0-litre 150ps petrol engines, with a 1.6-litre 115ps 138 g/km turbo diesel unit completing the powertrain line-up in January 2011.

Mazda Fleet and Remarketing Director Peter Allibon said: “With the arrival of the Mazda5 diesel we will be offering fleets a complete five-model range - Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda5, Mazda6 and CX-7 topped by the iconic MX-5.

“It is a huge step forward from where Mazda was just four years ago when only the Mazda6 could be described as meeting the demands of fleet operators and company car drivers.

“Now, rather than a single car Mazda is able to offer businesses a complete fleet solution from an urban super mini through to load-carriers required by high-mileage reps and on to lifestyle vehicles for user-choosers.”

The Mazda5 range, includes the 1.8 TS priced at £17,695 on the road, the 2.0 TS² £18,895, the 2.0 Sport £20,195, the 1.6D TS² £20,195 and the 1.6D Sport £21,495.

The model enters showrooms with Mazda’s core fleet sales to outright purchase end-user fleets and contract hire and leasing companies.  For the first nine-months of the year sales are up 13 percent up year-on-year totalling 4,956 compared to 4,388 for the nine months to the end of September 2009.