Overview & Reviews

Compact minivans have been popular for years in Europe and Japan, where families find them useful for dealing with narrow streets, limited parking and high fuel prices. Attempts by import-label automakers to bring these "super space wagons" to U.S. shores in the early 1990s were largely unsuccessful, however, because Americans were more interested in modern SUVs and large minivans. But once rising gas prices led some buyers to downsize from larger vehicles, Mazda decided that a truly "mini" minivan might again have a chance with U.S. consumers.

The result is the Mazda 5 compact minivan. Although it's significantly smaller than other minivans on the market, the Mazda 5 provides six-passenger capacity along with the distinctive look and sporty handling for which Mazda is known. For buyers who need affordable, relatively fuel-efficient family transportation that's particularly easy to maneuver in traffic and a snap to park, the Mazda 5 is a strong choice.

Current Mazda 5
There are three trim levels of this compact minivan: base Sport, midlevel Touring and high-line Grand Touring. The Sport includes automatic climate control with rear-seat controls, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, full power accessories and a six-speaker stereo with a USB port. The Touring gets you foglights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a trip computer and Bluetooth phone/audio. The Grand Touring adds xenon headlights, automatic wipers, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a sunroof and satellite radio. Options include a navigation system and a rear-seat entertainment system.

For power, the Mazda 5 comes with a 2.5-liter inline-4 engine that produces 157 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the Sport, while a five-speed automatic is optional on the Sport and standard on the other trims.

The 5's front seats are comfortable, though taller folks may wish for more rearward seat travel. The second-row captain's chairs slide and recline, and feature a pop-up center table and storage space that can be stowed away to allow a path to the third row. The smallish third row is best suited for kids but is easier to get into than most any larger crossover's last row. The van's sliding rear doors mean easy access, particularly in parking lots. Even with the second row in use and the third row folded down, there are still 44 cubic feet of cargo capacity available.

In Edmunds testing, we've found that the Mazda 5 can occasionally feel underpowered, such as when climbing steeper grades or while carrying a full load of passengers and cargo. It has the same refined engine we've praised in the past in the Mazda 3, but it's just not powerful enough to move a heavier van around at higher speeds with much authority. Its fuel economy is also unremarkable by four-cylinder standards, though it's still better than any minivan's V6 can manage.

On the bright side, these criticisms are pretty minor. In daily use, the 5 proves comfortable, easy to drive and both more agile and easier to park than a typical minivan, which is something to consider for those who don't really need all the space of a bigger van.

Used Mazda 5 Models
The second-generation Mazda 5 debuted for 2012. Compared to the earlier Mazda 5, it sports swoopier styling, more comfortable seating and a bit more power.

The first-generation Mazda 5 was introduced for the 2006 model year and ran until 2010. This compact minivan offered sliding side doors and seating for six within a relatively small footprint. Powered by a 2.3-liter inline-4 with 153 hp, most versions were fitted with a four- or five-speed automatic, although a five-speed manual was available on lower trims.

Initial trim levels consisted of base Sport and uplevel Touring, with perks of the latter including a sunroof, automatic climate control and an upgraded MP3-compatible stereo with an in-dash CD changer. A navigation system was optional for the Touring. The following year, the range-topping Grand Touring model debuted with its many luxury niceties.

For 2008, the Mazda 5 received revised front and rear styling and a new center control panel. Electroluminescent gauges were also added that year, along with rear seat air vents and controls, additional flip-down armrests and an auxiliary audio jack. Another thing to note is that Mazda 5 models prior to 2008 featured a four-speed automatic rather than the five-speed unit, resulting in lower fuel economy. Lastly, stability control wasn't available until 2010, when it came onboard as standard equipment.

User Reviews:

• 

  A True Multi-Purpose Vehicle - 2007 Mazda Mazda5
  By jimmitime - July 31 - 4:41 am

  Bought it new because it had a lot to offer as our sole family vehicle.Original A/T tires are still fine. Driven it all over northwest USA & west Canada. Has been a good tow vehicle, we pulled a 2000lb trailer through snowy ID Lolo Pass, MT, WA and the rockies no problems. Handles suprisingly well in slippery conditions. Braking is great. Could do with more power but the tradeoff is decent fuel economy. Now at 30k miles. Have had to do nothing but oil changes. Wed definitely buy the 5 again. Has served us well. Our 3 kids have punished it inside and out so the paint does seem to scratch easily which is probably typical of all new vehicles these days with the bare minimum paint used.

• 

  Most Passengers, Cargo & Mileage in Class - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By HomeExchanger - July 17 - 3:43 pm

  With 2 kids our Subaru Forester was too small. The Mazda5 dimensions are about the same as the Forester but the space is used better. Autoclimate, anti-lock brakes, 6 airbags - Im in. Kids have room to spread out. Huge loads fit, even with 4 riders. Clever storage bins abound. Theres even storage under rear bench with seats up. Only RAV4 is this compact with seats for more than 5. But 3rd row is harder to enter & it costs $5,000 more than Mazda5 with the 7-passenger option. Dont be fooled: 1) third row is fine for anyone under 64" tall i.e. most women & kids 2) cargo is 43 cf with 3rd row down but 77 feet with both rows folded 3) mileage reported on forum is high 20s/low 30s in normal driving.

• 

  I was looking for you all this time - 2008 Mazda Mazda5
  By xabo - July 5 - 5:20 pm

  This is "the almost perfect family car". I studied every possibility for our family and couldnt find the right match. I finally discovered the 5 and realized quickly it was the one. Space, quality, price, doors, features, design and MPG, it has it all. Its a pleasure to drive this car. I must admit some jealousy as we found the 5 in Switzerland with dark tinted glass and a sporty luggage rack system. It looks even better. The seating possibilities are endless and easy to play with.

• 

  My Toy - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By Sonia M - June 27 - 5:00 am

  For the first 5 or 6 thousand miles you wont be too impressed with the gas mileage youll get from this little van, but after a while youll start noticing the real potential of this vehicle. Ours already has over 12K miles and we are getting 23 to 25 mpg in city driving and over 33 mpg in highway driving. I love its interior space, fit and finish. Handling and breaking are surprisingly good, and the 2.3 liter engine feels very peppy. Congratulations to Mazda engineers on this very functional design. My wife say this is her Toy, she loves it!

• 

  Warrantys over - 2009 Mazda Mazda5
  By m5indg - June 21 - 5:53 pm

  My wife and I loved this car when we bought it and still love to drive it. 3 years old now with 25k mostly around town miles on it and and experiencing some of the same problems that others have posted. OEM tires need replacing. Right rear shock blew just recently. Clutch engages very high on the pedal and will probably need replacing soon. Plus the car has always pulled to the right even after it was aligned and re-aligned. Other than these issues, we still find the car very functional for carting the kids around and taking family trips. My wife still loves it, but Im starting to think that it may be come a money pit in the next few years.

• 

  Great Commuter car - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By David - June 16 - 12:16 am

  We love ours. Its perfect for commuting. I can drop three kids off to school, drive to work, and still have a fun drive while getting 20+ MPG.

• 

  Best Buy - 2009 Mazda Mazda5
  By LEE - June 14 - 8:30 am

  Just picked up 2009 Touring a week ago. Love the utility for its size. Have 2 children but no longer need to carry baby stuff. Need 3rd row seats once in a while. Drives like a car and is much better looking then a Kia Rondo. Like the rear doors.

• 

  So Much for So Little!! - 2007 Mazda Mazda5
  By karnollege - June 2 - 12:20 pm

  I read 100 international consumer reviews and ordered a Touring 5 speed manual without ever driving one! Sounds nuts, huh! Six months and 11K miles later, Im crazy about this car! I love the way it looks, drives, handles, feels, and it does everything I want it to do! Its versatile, economic, comfortable, sporty, playful, peppy to safe, dependable, workhorse to elegant night out with everything in between! I thank all of you for sharing about this awesome vehicle and its high value and quality. Do get the manual transmission for the extra pep and slightly better MPG. I drive rather fast but still get a solid 27 MPG on the highway.

• 

  Big enough, small enough... - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By Jay - May 24 - 10:03 pm

  We purchased this car 2 years ago because it was the only car of its description sold in this country - smaller than a minivan, but with great space efficiency and the availability of a manual transmission. Pros: Space efficiency, smooth shifting manual transmission, unique exterior, loads of head room, better gas mileage than a minivan. Cons: While weve found it adequate (with tinted windows), AC could be stronger. Engine strains a bit - contrary to report elsewhere, you will NOT get higher than 31 or 32 mpg even under ideal conditions. We average about 28 mpg. Original tires wore out way too quickly (about 20,000 miles).

• 

  We truly love this car! - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By mazda m5 - May 17 - 12:00 am

  The car is full of pep, easy to maneuver, has plenty of room inside for us and our 3 kids and our cargo. It is my favorite car to drive and Ive been driving since 1971 and have owned many cars.