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:

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  Great except for two defects... - 2009 Mazda Mazda5
  By brammer - September 19 - 8:03 pm

  The vehicle is fun to drive and has versatile seating / storage configurations. Mileage is reasonable. Two big drawbacks though, the rear suspension and the rear bushings. At 50000 km of mostly single passenger commuting, we are already on our third set of rear shocks. The bushings (at least thats what I think they are) creak very loudly in warm weather. It sounds like a horse drawn wagon lumbering down a dirt road.

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  Great, but not a Road Car - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By DGF - September 16 - 5:00 pm

  I have a base model manual with no options. I’ve had it for 2 weeks & 2675 mostly road trip miles. Great value, but one major negative: unsupportive driver’s seat caused back pain after a few hours, despite adjustable lumbar support. Never had the problem in my recent road cars (Civics & a VW Golf).

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  Mazda5 Touring with Auto Transmission - 2007 Mazda Mazda5
  By victor_arch - September 14 - 1:30 pm

  Mazda5 is a good car for the price. We are family of three + a small dog. This car is the only one practical choice for us as a family car. Good compromise between convenience of a minivan and sporty ride. Mazda5 is a replacement for our Honda Civic EX 4 door 2001. I find interior materials are good enough for the price of this car. I would be happy if it lasts 5-6 years without serious issues. We will see.

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  M.A.V. elous - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By islandreamer - August 24 - 4:03 am

  Liked it the first time I saw it. Knowing that underneath its skin it comes from the popular Mazda 3 just reinforced my eagerness to drive and own one. Great looks inside/out. Excellent driving position with available tilt/telescopic steering. Much needed gas mileage rating. This one gets heads turning.

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  Perfect Car for Young Family - 2008 Mazda Mazda5
  By memazda - August 24 - 2:43 am

  In our opinion there is no better car for a family with young kids and realistic size needs. This is a fun, well thought out and economical car. We love having a manual which is just not an option with most minivans/small SUVs. Also fun to have a car that turns peoples heads! We consider this a station wagon with the added bonuses of seating for six and sliding doors versus thinking of it as a mini-minivan. We have the base model with no added options and it is amazing how much Mazda has packed into this car for such a good price. It is a hard to beat combination.

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  Wow!! A sport sedan with extra seats! - 2007 Mazda Mazda5
  By Raymond - August 11 - 8:16 pm

  Boy, was I hooked once behind the wheel and test-drove it. Unlike others who say its noisy and underpowered, I find it quiet on the freeway at 65 mph. Power is also adequate, get to 90+mph pretty easy. Boy, it has incredible handling ability, tight and sharp turns, takes any turns. Excellent braking ability and comes standard with side curtain airbags for all passengers. Boy, a lot of storage and storage for 2 laptops under the 2nd row seats! I am loving it! Turning circle is also small, parking lots parking is extremely easy. Fit my 26" road bicycle too!!!

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  roaring noise - 2010 Mazda Mazda5
  By Dwight Goldstorm - August 8 - 12:10 pm

  Constant roaring noise in the front of the car,which resulted after an accident a month ago. After repairs,which included replacement of one tire, the collision center was unable to find the cause of the roaring noise. As per recommendation by the insurance company took the car to the Mazda dealer where the care was purchased. They replaced a front bearing and an additional tire, but the noise still remains. The tires have been rotated and balanced. The noise is louder at speeds of 65 to 70 mph. The 2010 Mazda 5 was purchased September, 2009. Mileage is 8.739.

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  Watch out for bad paint on Mazda5 and no warranty coverage! - 2014 Mazda Mazda5
  By stowevter - August 7 - 4:06 am

  We have a Mazda5 Sport with only 22,000 miles. The paint around both front wheel wells has flaked off to bare metal. And, the paint along the rocker panels on both sides and up the doors 12-18 inches has also flaked off, ruining the finish. Mazda refuses to cover the repair of this and says that something on the roads "back east" used for snow removal caused the paint to fail. Unbelievable but they wont cover a fix. I have filed an arbitration claim with the Better Business Bureau. Beware of Mazda cars "back east" -- they have a paint adhesion problem! see site: my mazda sucks dot com

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  No Really, its a Wagon - 2012 Mazda Mazda5
  By landric - July 31 - 10:20 pm

  I just purchased my 5 this past weekend, so my impressions are limited to recent experience. I do plan to update my experiences as time goes on. I traded a 2009 Kia Sedona in on the 5 Sport with a manual transmission. The Sedona, while a fantastic vehicle for trips was more than my family needs for day to day use. I wanted something smaller, more economical, and more fun that could still haul my family of five as needed. The 5 is perfect for that, I love how it drives and handles and after several years stuck driving an automatic mini-van I love the six speed manual. I owned a 2002 Mazda Protege ES 5-speed for four years and 115k and had a great experience, the 5 is just as much fun.

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  tremble - 2009 Mazda Mazda5
  By Cap - July 27 - 11:13 am

  Couple months into my purchase i noticed the car starts to shake. The rear shock then went so i got it replaced but the shaking has continued. Its nothing violent but just noticeable enough to be really annoying, especially for a brand new car. I took it in again and they said i had tar on the tire..Well i have since had the tires rebalanced and rotated but it still shakes..It may even be the engine cause it shakes a little bit at idle..I dont know if its just my mazda or if this is just how the car drives. What i do know is that once the warranty is up, i am getting rid of it cause i dont trust it. It gets about 24-26 mpg btw..