2006 Mazda MAZDA5 Review

Mazda's all-new minivan might appear especially "mini" compared to others touting van-like qualities, but at a time when fuel economy and optimal function can certainly outweigh form, the Mazda 5 delivers great expectations in a slightly scaled down variation of a wagon.

Truth be told, Mazda 5 is a crossover vehicle, courtesy of the Mazda 3 platform it extols upon the very best qualities of the compact segment by delivering outstanding fuel economy (26/34) and ample interior storage and people mover capacity. It does not take a rocket scientist (nor an auto editor) to understand where Mazda 5 fills a key niche. Those families in the budget range of $17,435 for base and $18,950 for Touring will get their monies worth with Mazda 5.


My Mazda 5 tester was an interesting sight at a first glance. Sporting a deep blue metallic hue, 17-inch alloy rims and big fog lamps, my tester had a spicy youthful flair on the outside while sporting a highly functional yet stylish interior.

The really good news about Mazda 5 rests in the interior. While it has memorable and distinctive exterior cues, inside is where it delivers the storage and seating capacity you might expect from a crossover. One of the things so many of the crossovers do well is storage. Mazda 5 offers several convenient utility storage compartments along with six-passenger seating in a two-by-two-by-two format.

Interior design is family friendly with the second and third rows offering plenty of configurations and flip down options. My tester had power locks and windows with child settings as well as the essential front and rear power outlets for the myriad games and DVD players your passengers will bring aboard.

I was a big fan of the ample headroom and the oversized moonroof, which further opened up the cabin. Likewise, the three-spoke leather steering wheel and faux metallic accents offered a sporty twist to an otherwise neutral interior decor. I was pleasantly surprised to see cruise and audio controls conveniently mounted at thumbs reach on the steering wheel. This is a feature which is not usually found on this segment and i consider as much a safety feature as it is about convenience.

Cabin noise is apparent, especially when the 2.3-liter DOHC I-4 engine needs to gasp for fuel intake and searches for another gear. This crossover, offering 157 horsepower, has a 5-speed manual gearbox, though I suspect manual operation is not on the wish lists of multi-tasking parents operating Mazda 5's with a full capacity of whipper-snappers. I found the 4-speed transmission to be competent, though it had some struggles accelerating quickly from dead stops while fully loaded. Unfortunately, there is no six-cylinder option available.

Driving the Mazda 5 delivers a sportier experience than the exterior looks might imply. The high roofline does lend itself to some lean in tight turns, but I found the suspension to be rigid and encouraging for any maneuvers on the highway or in traffic. Not your typical minivan experience, this is still the Mazda 3 architecture - a compact car platform - and with that great fuel economy there is fun driving characteristics and reasonable stability at every level.

I had mixed feelings about the dash controls. The stalks on the steering column, and their multi functions were convenient though I inadvertently snagged the climate controls a couple times while operating them. Six-speakers delivered outstanding audio quality for the 6-CD changer. This can be used to drown out the wind noise in the cabin or to suppress the youthful cacophony from a full boat.

Given the interior capacity and especially sporty exterior styling, Mazda 5 will find lots of takers who do not want a minivan experience - but want the room. Add to that the fuel economy and highly functional interior design and you have a winner with the average American family.