2008 Mazda MAZDA5 Review

PROS  Nearly as large and useful as a minivan, Good fuel economy, Fun to drive

CONS  Not quite as large and useful as a minivan, Too much engine noise, Lacking a few minivan features 

Mazda unashamedly calls its 5 the most-forgotten vehicle in its lineup, but with fuel prices above $3.50 per gallon, it's quickly becoming one of the most popular. Sales have increased to record levels and they show no sign of leveling off.

For those unfamiliar, the Mazda 5 is a 3/4-scale minivan, complete with sliding side doors, a one-piece rear liftgate, and fold-down seats. It rides on a stretched version of the Mazda 3 chassis.

With a wheelbase of 108.3 inches and an overall length of 181.5 inches, the 5 is considerably shorter than a typical minivan. The Dodge Grand Caravan, for example, has a wheelbase of 121.2 inches and is 202.5 inches long overall. Still, the Mazda 5 seats six on front- and second-row buckets and a third-row, split-folding two-place bench seat.

The 5 comes in Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring trim levels. All are powered by a 153-horsepower 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual transmission is standard on the Sport. Optional on the Sport and standard on other models is a five-speed automatic that has a separate shift-gate for manual operation. All models are front-drive as all-wheel-drive is not available.

Standard safety features include antilock four-wheel disc brakes with brake assist, tire-pressure monitor, and dual-front, front-side, and three-row curtain-side airbags. Stability control, park assist, and rearview monitor are not available.

The $17,995 Sport model comes with air conditioning, tilt-telescope steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, cloth upholstery, driver-seat height and lumbar adjustment, center console, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, AM/FM/CD player with digital-media player connection, rear defogger, floormats, theft-deterrent system, roof rack, 205/50VR17 tires, and alloy wheels.

Touring lists for $20,760 and adds automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power sunroof, AM/FM radio with in-dash six-disc CD changer, second-row fold-out table, fog lights, side-sill extensions, and rear spoiler. The $22,515 Grand Touring adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, heated power mirrors, Bluetooth cell-phone link, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic HID headlights.

Key options include navigation system, DVD entertainment system, satellite radio, and remote start. All models have a $650 destination charge and are built in Japan.

Get Up and Go  The Mazda 5 is the only minivan on the market with a four-cylinder engine and it shows. Press the accelerator to the floor from a standstill and 60 mph comes up in a few ticks short of ten seconds. Compared to other vehicles in the class, that's a second or two slow.

Still, the 5 only feels underpowered with a full load of passengers or cargo. In typical light-duty commuting the smooth-shifting automatic transmission willingly downshifts and the engine makes plenty of torque for quick passing bursts.

The plus side of having a four-cylinder engine is good fuel economy. The Mazda 5 with automatic is EPA rated at 21 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, and that's on regular-grade gasoline. Those numbers compare favorably to most minivan ratings of 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. In routine driving, expect to average close to 23 mpg. If your commute includes a fair amount of highway cruising, it's easy to broach the 26 mpg mark.

On the Road  The 5 rides with more firmness than a typical minivan. Thankfully, it never feels tippy or bouncy. Sharp bumps intrude with more suddenness than is appreciated, but, for the most part, the ride is composed and relaxed. 

Compared to a typical minivan the Mazda 5 feels downright sporty. Occasionally, the 5 becomes unsettled when traversing bumpy high-speed expressway cloverleaves, but overall its attitude is more sport than family sedan. There's moderate body lean in quick turns, the steering is responsive, and the turning circle is tight. Brakes have good stopping power and the pedal is very easy to modulate.

The four-cylinder engine is markedly nosier than most V6s in the class. There's more vibration at idle a coarse growl in hard acceleration. Wind rush is modest, but tire noise can annoy on rough or grooved roads.

Behind the Wheel  The 5's interior is minivan standard. That means sturdy and attractive materials and a straightforward design. Gauges are clearly marked and well lit at night. Controls are simple and close at hand. Especially nice are the simple climate controls, too bad a separate rear-seat climate control is not available.

The optional navigation system is much improved for 2008. Its now located in the center of the dashboard instead of the old popup located at the top of the dash. Audio and navigation controls are integrated into the touch-screen design, but they are simple and easy to use. One really neat feature is incorporation of the satellite radio system. Using the touch screen, you can select up to ten of your favorite artists and songs and have the system notify you any time one of those choices is available on one 100-plus stations. In addition, you can scan through by artist and song without changing your current selection. Kudos to Mazda for this integration!

Front-seat passengers make due with adequate leg room and good head room. The seats are comfortable and minimally supportive. The driver seat does feature a height adjustment, and, in conjunction with the standard tilt-telescope steering wheel, makes it easy to find a comfortable driving position.

The 5 isn't as tall as a typical minivan, but it does ride higher than a conventional sedan. That leads to a good view of the road ahead. Visibility to the sides and rear is somewhat blocked by the array of side pillars and smallish back window.

Second-row passengers are treated to good leg room, excellent head room, and firm, full-size seats. Also, the windows on the sliding doors power down, which is a feature that just became available on most other full-size minivans. The back seats are best suited for children as leg room and foot space is quite tight--even with the second-row seats pushed well forward.

Access to the second-row seats is a snap thanks to the sliding doors, but third-row passengers have to slide through a narrow pass through between the bucket seats. One nice feature is a pop out tray that is positioned between the second-row seats.

If the third-row seats are in place, cargo space is limited to a row or two of grocery bags. Thankfully that row folds flat in a snap, creating a large and level cargo area. The second-row seats also fold flat, but there are some gaps in the floor because they are bucket seats. Interior storage is good, but not up to usual minivan standards. There are a couple of covered and open storage bins and the appropriate cup holders, but other than small bins beneath the second-row seats, there are no in-floor storage bins and the map pockets are tiny.

Bottom Line  Though it looks somewhat similar, the Mazda 5 should never be confused with a traditional minivan. That would be doing disservice to both sides of the equation. The 5 is fun to drive, nimble, and fuel efficient. Three things you might never say about a full-size minivan.

On the other hand, the 5 doesn't have the cargo space, the rear-seat room, or some of the features of a traditional van--most notably a separate rear-seat climate control system, rearview camera, and stability control. What's great about the 5 is it does offer families are more affordable and fuel efficient choice. Just what the doctor prescribed in these trying times.