2008 Mazda MAZDA5 Review

The Mazda5 fits nicely into the growing number of popular car-based crossover vehicles -- those that provide SUV-style roominess with an auto's responsive handling. It provides a hatchback's convenience with the easy access of a minivan and a small SUV's utility.

The Japanese-built Mazda5 could be called a minivan because it has two rear sliding side doors for easy entry and exit. But its carlike manners, roominess and versatility easily put it in the crossover vehicle camp.

Second-row seats recline and slide fore and aft for more passenger or cargo room, and third-row seatbacks fold forward. The cargo area is impressive with second- and third-row seats flipped forward for a flat floor.

Versatility? Even second-row seat bottoms fold forward, along with their backs. And there are hidden cargo areas beneath the second-row seats and rear cargo floor. However, there's only room for a few grocery bags or soft luggage pieces when seatbacks of the split/folding third seat are upright.

Also, while front- and second-row seat areas offer lots of room, the hard-to-reach tight third-seat area is best left to children.

The Mazda5 arrived in America as a 2006 model. The 2008 version has a carryover 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine. It produces 153 horsepower with dual overhead camshafts and 16 valves.

There's a new front-end look, different taillights and an updated interior with easily read gauges, console, second-row air vents and fan speed control -- and additional armrests.

The front-wheel-drive Mazda5 is based on the sporty Mazda3 compact car, but its body is longer and taller. There are base Sport and more upscale Touring and Grand Touring versions.

Prices are reasonable because Mazda is after a young crowd with the Mazda5: $17,995 to $22,365. I tested a Grand Touring.

Vehicles such as the Mazda5 are a hit in Europe and Japan, with their narrow roads and high fuel prices. Indeed, friends with whom we stayed in Italy last summer rented a Mazda5-style vehicle that had the Ford nameplate. No surprise, because Ford controls Mazda.

Mazda was gambling that the Mazda5 would be successful in America, where vehicles resembling it hadn't been sold for years. Happily for Mazda (and Ford), the Mazda5 has been well-received here, partly because gasoline costs a lot more now.

The Mazda5 provides an estimated 22 mpg in the city and 28 on highways with the manual gearbox and 21 and 27 with the automatic. Only regular grade fuel is needed.

The Ford rented by friends in Italy had a five-speed manual gearbox, as do many rental vehicles in Europe, where an automatic transmission is a luxury. My vehicle -- a Saab station wagon with a 1.9-liter turbocharged diesel engine -- had an automatic, which led the friends to say, "Bet you paid an extra $50 a day for that transmission!"

The entry Mazda5 Sport comes with a standard five-speed manual, although the automatic is available in a $490 option package that includes an AM/FM radio with a 6-disc CD changer, side sill extensions to give the vehicle a lower look and a rear spoiler. (The automatic and those items are standard for the Touring and Grand Touring.)

The manual shifts nicely, but the new automatic makes the Mazda5 more responsive and quicker than the four-speed automatic in a 2006 Mazda5 I tested (June 25, 2006, AutoTimes). The automatic also has an easily used manual shift feature, although it's not really needed in the Chicago area.

Many should be happy with the base Sport model. Standard are air conditioning, tilt/telescope wheel with radio controls, cruise control, AM/FM/CD sound system and power mirrors, windows and door locks with remote keyless entry.

Wide 50-series tires on rather large 17-inch alloy wheels enhance handling.

Besides the automatic transmission, the Touring adds items including automatic climate control, power sunroof and second-row fold-out table.

The Grand Touring goes one better by adding leather upholstery, heated front seats, heated power mirrors, wireless cell-phone link, rain-sensing wipers and powerful automatic xenon headlights.

Safety items for all Mazda5s include front-side and curtain-side air bags, anti-lock all-disc brakes with a brake assist feature for surer stops and a tire pressure monitor.

Options include a $700 power sunroof for the Sport with the automatic transmission, $1,200 DVD entertainment system, $2,000 navigation system (for the Grand Touring) and a $350 remote engine start for automatic-transmission models.

The engine provides decent 65-75 mph passing, at least with just a driver and one passenger aboard. A larger engine would be better for a heavier load but would add to the price and lower fuel economy. While rather noisy during hard acceleration, the engine is smooth and quiet during cruising.

So what makes the Mazda5 fun to drive? For one thing, steering is quick and accurate, while providing decent road feedback and a tight turning circle. The ride is firm, but supple and well-controlled. Handling is adroit and cornering is flat. Brakes provide confident stops, with a linear-acting, although rather soft, pedal.

My test Mazda5's front seats provided excellent grip when streaking through curves, and a large windshield allows excellent forward visibility from the quiet interior. Backlit gauges, once found only on cars such as a Lexus, allowed quick reads during all lighting conditions.

The driver's door-mounted power window controls weren't put too far forward or too far back, and most of the precise-feeling controls were large enough for easy use. However, front console cupholders were a little too low.

Europeans like driving more than Americans, if only because most of their roads are more challenging. Many overseas can afford only one vehicle, so they want one that has both above-average versatility and roadability. Just like the Mazda5.

2008 MAZDA5

PRICES: $17,995-$22,365

LIKES: Nicely sized. Roomy. Versatile. Fun to drive. Sharper styling. Updated interior. New automatic transmission. Decent fuel economy. Reasonably priced.

DISLIKES: Third-row seat mostly for kids. Difficult third-row access. Larger engine would help for heavy loads.