Road & Travel Magazine

Auto Advice & Tips
Auto Buyer's Guides
Car Care Maintenance
Climate Views & Videos
Auto Awards Archive
Insurance & Accidents
Legends & Leaders
New Car Reviews
Planet Driven
Road Humor
Road Trips
RV & Camping
Safety & Security
Teens & Tots Tips
Tire Buying Tips
Used Car Buying
Vehicle Model Guide

Travel Channel
Adventure Travel
Advice & Tips
Airline Rules
Bed & Breakfasts
Cruises & Tours
Destination Reviews
Earth Tones
Family Travel Tips
Health Trip
Hotels & Resorts
Luxury Travel
Pet Travel
RV & Camping
Safety & Security
Spa Reviews
Train Vacations
World Travel Directory
Bookmark and Share

Mazda5


by
Martha Hindes

Mazda5
Mazda5

At a time when women usually wore skirts, there were ones known as "mini" and "maxi." Maxi, of course, was longer while its counterpart mini was sometimes barely there. Mini, as in minivan, originally had a similar meaning. But during 20-plus years as an American staple, some have evolved to a more maxi size, leaving smaller scale vans a memory.

Enter the front-drive Mazda5, a two-model minivan on a much smaller level, that promises to deliver a more agile, fun-oriented performance drive (if not heavily loaded) while retaining a minivan's many morphing attributes. Rather than a more standard minivan appearance, Mazda5's wedge-shaped design sports a no-apologies look of fun, riding on 17" alloy wheels. A steep sloping hood flows back over the roofline, and a sharply upward angled beltline screams "speed." Both lines converge at spoiler-topped taillamps that frame the liftgate's upper glass.

The smaller Mazda5 is a six-seater, instead of today's popular seven. It also pales in size compared with Mazda's time-tested, multi-purpose MPV van. In addition to the Sport model features including AM/FM/CD stereo, Touring adds such amenities as power moonroof, spoiler, side skirts and front fog lamps. Despite its diminutive size, Mazda5 yawns with the best of them. Side sliding doors give lots of extra clearance for loading people or things and fold-down seats provide ample flat-floored cargo space. (A hidden second row toy box can keep clutter out of the way.)

Power comes from the same 2.3-liter, inline four (157-HP) with variable valve timing that powers the compact five-door Mazda3. A five-speed manual or four-speed auto with manual mode kick it into gear. Among safety features are brake assist, a rigid safety cage with side-impact door beams and a full contingent of airbags.

Mazda5 is based at $17,435 (manual) or $18,950 (automatic), with the Touring's nav system at $2,000 the priciest option. And as expected, its smaller size equates to better gas mileage at a time North American gas pumps are ratcheting up to unprecedented pricing levels. The manual is rated at 22 city/27 highway, and the automatic gets 21/26. With no sign of cheaper fuel on the horizon, we think Mazda's multi-activity "driver's" van is a very good idea in a small package.

RELATED LINKS