KARAKURI is the Japanese word for “surprise” - and it was first used by Mazda to describe their innovative rear seat arrangement in the 6 saloon introduced a couple of years ago.

Now, it’s a major selling point of the recently introduced 5 multi-purpose vehicle Ordinarily in 5 there are six seats but “the system“ here enables the owner to take out a seventh seat from beneath one of the two in the middle row and position it in the space between them. This item can also be used as a central armrest.

All of the seats can be folded flat to increase the amount of conventional stowage space from 112 litres to a massive 857 - but with all of the seats in place there’s still room for the obligatory golf bag beneath the easy to open plastic tailgate.

Interestingly, none of the seats can be removed altogether. The fore and aft adjustment is good but the amount of legroom in the middle row is somewhat restricted. Access and egress presents no difficulty, however, thanks to side sliding door functionality.

The wide-opening doors on each side of the vehicle (the line on the panels shows where the mechanism is accepted) are automatically locked when they are open while a sensor prevents them from accidentally hitting a fuel filler cap should it have been left open.

There’s more driving dynamics enhanced by a six speed gearbox with the diesel variants and good looks promoted by a sporting latticed grille and fastback styling have given 5 a flying start in the new C-segment multi activity vehicle market sector.

Sportiness and MPVs aren’t supposed to go together but they certainly did in the two litre petrol Sport provided for appraisal. The 5 is now available as a TS or TS2, with a 1.8 litre petrol unit or a 2.0 litre diesel, as a Sport also with a 2.0 litre diesel option with two tunes and what’s called a Sport Nav which adds satellite navigation and a rear parking camera. Prices range from £14,300 to £19,550; the test car retails at £16,300.

The 5 was, say Mazda, designed from the inside out so that it wasn’t a question of fitting into what is anyway a good looking, wedge shaped shell everything that’s required by the genre but with compromise.

Manoeuvrability of the 5 is fully acceptable, a fact discovered on launch after wrong-slotting along one of those narrow tracks that count as roads up in the north Scotland. Large exterior mirrors are great help while visibility is also enhanced when the head restraints are lowered into the cushions; a better idea than having to remove and stow them. But it’s not a good idea to position a coat hook right over one of the side rear windows.

There are many useful innovations on 5 - there’s also a rubber compound sheet that can be rolled from out of the boot area to cover the rear bumper. The tailgate has two-stage opening positions to suit both six footers and people like me. There are 10 cupholders (don’t ask me why!) and a single ashtray fits into them all. This is the only C-MAV so far to have curtain airbags covering all three rows of seats. The spare wheel is a space-saver.

The 2.0 litre petrol engine fitted to the test car generates 144 horsepower and can reach 60 mph from standing in just under 11 seconds. Top speed is 122 mph but the big impression is made at 60 mph when, on an open road, you can take your hands from the steering wheel and the vehicle stays on an absolutely straight course.

The TS specification includes manual air conditioning, a radio with a single CD player and four speakers, electric front windows, 15 inch wheels and electrically heated door mirrors. TS2 adds electric windows at the rear, leather trim and audio controls on the steering wheel, adjustable lumbar support on the driving seat, fold-up picnic tables, 16 inch wheels and roof rails. Sport, with 17 inch wheels, throws in dynamic stability control, traction control, a climate control AC system, a rear spoiler, privacy glass, a six-CD autochanger with two more speakers, a trip computer and aluminium interior surrounds.