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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  Kool station wagon - 2008 Mazda Mazda5
  By sandmantech - August 23 - 7:50 am

  I have a MPV and love it. Now, I just got this Mazda 5. It is also a good vehicle. I want to have another vehicle that can sit a family of 4 and cargo space for the trips to costco. This is a perfect vehicle and save gas. The price is about the same as Toyota Matrix but can sit more.

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  Amazing Vehicle for the Money ! - 2010 Mazda Mazda5
  By Sammy - August 16 - 10:26 pm

  Bought a new 2010 Mazda 5 SPORT Automatic this weekend and I love the car! My wife and I have a 3 1/2 year old daughter and another due in September and we only need 1 car, so I added the "Popular Equipment Package" and "Fog Lights" to give it a "sporty" look and feel and I think the "car" looks and drives that way! The car handles very well in the city and has ample pickup for me. The seating/storage configurations are amazing and I marvel at the interior space that has been designed, its just "smart". I am not worried about having 2 kids and lots a cargo for long trips in this beauty. If you are considering this car, not concerned about having AWD, its an amazing vehicle for the price !

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  compromise for big rewards - 2009 Mazda Mazda5
  By vicenac - August 14 - 11:30 pm

  To fit 3 rows of seats in this little vehicle, some corners, or knees have to be cut. Make sure you fit in, take full advantage of the telescoping steering wheel and youll get an exciting vehicle. Its easy to park, VERY nimble and accelerates quickly with the 5 gear transmission. I see it as a Swiss Army Knife. Small and versatile. How many times did I say small? Not enough! I am 6.1 and my wife is 5.7. The driver seat is all the way back. We have an infant carrier behind us, which is way longer than a car seat or regular person, so that seat is also all the way back. There would not be much leg room left in the third row seat. But there are 3 people seating on the right side of the car

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  Madza5 Workhorse - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By Tom - August 11 - 3:20 pm

  I use my Mazda for hauling my Arts and Crafts booth and products. With the seats down, there is about as much room as a normal minivan. The one major complaint I have about the vehicle is the fact it gets extremely hot in the summer and the air conditioning takes a long time to cool off the back of the vehicle. Another issue is the door locks. My son has a 2002 Focus, a much less expensive vehicle, and the doors lock automatically after putting the vehicle in gear. Last issue is the remote entry system... terrible, terrible, terrible.

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  Our First Brand New Car - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By clownthebobo - August 8 - 9:10 pm

  We were looking around for a new car to replace the Expedition for about 1 month. We looked at a few different cars (Pacifica, Maxima, etc.) until we found the 5. It has exactly what we are looking for! Sporty, good looking, easy on gas, safe (a lot of air bags) and room for family of 4 crammed with luggage. We recently did a 100 mile trip to Victoria, BC. and had no complaints. The handling is so wonderful, understeer is very, very minor. The Navigation works great on major roads and highways, but not in rural areas. Easy in and out of the second row via sliding doors are a blessing. We currently have 900 miles on the 5 and are averaging around 400 miles per tank.

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  Best car out there for the price - 2008 Mazda Mazda5
  By AntosMom - July 13 - 8:33 am

  I normally have a family of four, sometimes its a family of 6. Also, have a dog we like to take sometimes. This car meets ALL our needs, fits 6, gets good gas mileage because of that. Typical vans and SUVs just cant compete. I am an avid Honda, Toyota lover though a couple years ago decided to also love MAZDA. Started w/a Mazda 3 went right into a 5. Im all about the ZOOM, ZOOM!!!

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  Lilttle Bit Of everything - 2010 Mazda Mazda5
  By CJ Boothe - July 10 - 3:50 am

  Ive had a Mazda Protege5 for 6 yrs with virtually no problems. Wanted a bigger, roomier, smoother car with all the nicies hence the Mazda5. Great interior room, very roomy rear captains sets, tight but usable 3rd row, leather heated seats, heated mirrors, moonroof, sport tip-tronic auto trans, fog lights, Incredible Xenon headlights, flawless bluetooth for handsfree phone calls, auto rain sensing wipers, Rear sliding doors, traction control and Dynamic Stability control now added. Excellent features all around in the GT version for 21 grand. After 6 wks mixed driving getting 28 mpg

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  Good all purpose vehicle - 2010 Mazda Mazda5
  By Guy Guytone - July 7 - 1:26 am

  Just bought this car at the end of June to replace a Honda Civic 4dr because we needed more room. We are a 3 person family and didnt need a larger car. This is a nice alternative because it doesnt look like a mini van, it looks more like a cross-over, but you get sliding rear doors. It has a lot of room inside, but appears kind of small on the outside. It has 44 cu ft of cargo space with the 3rd row folded, which is how we use it 95% of the time. But its nice to have the 3rd row option if needed, but the 3rd row is best suited for kids. The layout inside is good, very functional, with a lot of nooks to store things. Some reviews complain about the cars power, but I find just fine.

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  Excellent Choice! - 2008 Mazda Mazda5
  By henrob - July 6 - 7:50 am

  When my daughter decided to go to college in-state, we had enough funds to get her a new car for school. We decided the car should last her 10 years, so tried to figure out the car that she would love now as well as 10 years from now. Looked at 2009 Matrix, 2008 RAV-4, 2008 CR-V. Choice was RAV-4 UNTIL she drove Mazda 5. Fun to drive, seat layout, and cargo space won her over. The after-thought car became the obvious choice. She absolutely loves everything about it. About $2000 cheaper than the RAV-4 made me happy. She made a great choice.

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  Tickled Green - 2008 Mazda Mazda5
  By Stapes - July 3 - 11:33 pm

  Regrettably traded in my Acura RDX for a better gas mileage Mazda 5 Grand Touring, Golden Sand color. The 5 is no Acura but its a pretty darn good substitution. The interior quality is very good. The acceleration is very smooth and the drive quality is outstanding. First tank with combo city/hwy got 26 MPG, which is what I was hoping for. Im very pleased with my purchase.