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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  Minivan Meets Sports Car - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By klepto - December 30 - 10:20 am

  If you have a young family, youre hip, you want economy, reliability, something with soul, and dont want to look "tied down", then this is the car for you. My wife drives this thing, and I cant wait to drive around the corners on the weekend. Although this car has a ton of utility, I drive for sport, which speaks tons if you want to avoid the mediocrity out there. With respect to the recall, dont let that scare you. Everything is being recalled nowadays. I have a current generation Honda CRV that was also recalled with a similar fire hazard. It was recalled and fixed. No Big Deal. In fact Mazdas service topped Honda, because, not only did the give us a rental, but $500 on top! WOW!

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  Fun Family Car - 2007 Mazda Mazda5
  By Daisy - December 29 - 1:13 pm

  We looked at everything from the Ford Edge, the Pacifica to the Honda CRV and Toyota Rav4. While each of these models have some cool features the Mazda5 had the basic cool features, PLUS family roominess, fuel economy, sleek looks, and zoom zoom for less money than all the others we looked at. We are so, so pleased with our purchase. Mazda has the quality that provides peace of mind too. The most fun about this vehicle is the fact that we get a fun to drive family car with fuel economy. It only took $31 to fill er up from less than 1/4 of a tank so that is nice and we got about 330 miles out of it. LOVE IT!

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  So far, very happy! - 2008 Mazda Mazda5
  By Nikki32 - December 13 - 1:36 am

  We needed a newer mini-van that would fit our familys needs and stay in budget. The Mazda5 drives great, much sportier than our sedans. Holds the corners very well, feeling very solid on the road. It is very comfortable for a family of 4. Easy to get the car seats in the bucket seats. Sliding doors make it super easy to get kids in and out, and we can park this car in a compact spot. It also fits in the garage easily. Even with our super height difference, my husband and I find it easy to drive and visibility is very good. Other minivans we test drove were bulky. This performs like a car. Even loaded with suitcases, it performs well. And the price was very reasonable.

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  Perfect if you dont want to be typical - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By Cinda - December 2 - 11:43 am

  Its been almost a year and have not come across any problems. I dont have a gas mileage meter, but rough estimates put it at more than advertised. I can drive about 400 mostly city miles before the light comes on. Most problems Ive had with cargo are solved with this car, sandbox, toddler bed, etc., have all fit. Having a manual makes you forget your in a minivan-ish thing, that happens to be the length and width of a typical mid-size sedan. Oh, and its so easy to park, it turns very sharp, like a compact car.

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  Its not a minivan its a SUPER WAGON - 2014 Mazda Mazda5
  By wnull - November 10 - 8:42 pm

  when our 2007 mazda3 was totaled we knew we wanted another mazda. we had that car since new with 130k on it and no issues. We also wanted something for our growing family but yet something kind of fun to drive. My wife refuses to drive anything but a manual transmission. So the mazda5 has fit the bill for everything. we dont usually have more than 4 people in the car at a time but its nice to know we can fit 6 if needed. If you plan on taking this for long vacations using all six seats..BUY the roof rack! MPG so far has averaged 28/ best 32..mostly hwy and long stretches of 40mph roads during my commute. For a young couple that like smaller maneuverable cars this is the way to go!

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  Love my 5!! - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By Julianne - November 6 - 12:00 am

  I have been driving my 5 for 2 years and I still LOVE it. It handles great and is fun to drive. My only complaint is that the a/c is not strong enough for the length of the car. Anyone in the 3rd row will be sweating in the summer.

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  Wish I had gotten it sooner! - 2009 Mazda Mazda5
  By baumer3 - November 1 - 2:16 am

  I am absolutely thrilled with this car! Ive only had it a few days but I wish I had gotten it 2 years ago when my baby was an infant. By far, the best thing about this vehicle is the sliding doors and second row bucket seats. Access to the carseat is perfect and it is so easy to get the baby in and out. Having bucket seats (with armrests) gives plenty of elbow room. The center console in the second row is also great for feeding the baby in the car. Love the storage compartment under the seats too. I drove it on a 4 hour trip and loved the armrest and steering wheel controls. The hatchback allows easy access (already changed the baby back there!). Love this car!

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  Excellent for urban and highway driving - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By Howard - October 22 - 10:30 am

  I have been driving this car for over three years and I am very satisified. It is easy to maneuver and park in city traffic and has an amazingly short turning radius. It is very comfortable for four people traveling long distances. With the manual transmission it gets about 21-22 mpg in the city and 28-30 on the highway. Contrary to some other reports, this car does not seem underpowered to me. It goes through mountains just fine with four passengers, luggage and a bike rack on top. This may be due in part to the manual transmission. However, off-the-line performance is noticeably worse with six in the car. Its not a drag racer, but I have never had any trouble keeping up with traffic.

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  A Revolutionary Vehicle - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By Louisville family - October 18 - 6:00 am

  This is an amazing vehicle that hopefully represents the future of car design! Fuel efficiency, sportiness, family friendliness, wise use of space all converge in the Mazda5. As a small family with one child that loves to take road trips, this is our dream car. If youre committed to being a responsible driver (using less gas), but want comfort, performance, and room; rush to your Mazda dealer now!

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  MAZDA DISAPPOINTS. - 2007 Mazda Mazda5
  By albert36 - October 15 - 5:13 am

  The automatic transmission in our late model Mazda 5 failed at 74,000 km. Needless to say we were both surprised and disappointed to have the transmission fail so pre-maturely. Mazda dealerships claimed it was out of their hands and directed us to Mazda Canada. Mazda’s Head Office in turn said even though the mileage was within warranty, the expiry date had recently passed, therefore no remedy or compensation would be forthcoming. No, not even goodwill. Mazda Canada was unwilling to acknowledge that if a vehicle fails at 74,000 km, its not unreasonable to consider the cause might be a manufacturing defect in that vehicle. How many cars would any auto manufacturer sell if their transmissions have such a short life expectancy? There were various reasons given for lack of help including no service records in the Mazda database, despite our submission of service records. It seems that the service work of licensed mechanics in Canada is not good enough for Mazda. Apparently they need to be employed by Mazda authorized -dealers. As new transmissions are not available from Mazda, the dealerships offer rebuilt transmissions for $2,900.00 with a one year warranty, no extended warranty available. A nationwide transmission company has quoted $2,000 for the same work and will extend the warranty to three years for about $400 more. Despite not employing the service of Mazda mechanics, the national transmission chain is confident enough in their workmanship to offer a non-prorated warranty that’s 3 times longer than Mazda ‘s! We went back to Mazda Canada, requested that they make up the $800 difference and have the work done at one of their dealerships. We believe our request for some compensation was fair and reasonable. The answer back from Mazda was no. We’ve been told that auto manufacturers are only interested in selling new cars. Fair enough. If Mazda had even offered a $1,000 or so rebate on a future purchase of a Mazda vehicle, that would have been acceptable. That purchase of a future Mazda would still net Mazda a profit even after the rebate was applied, the company would retain the loyalty of a Mazda driver while we would have the comfort of knowing that we are dealing with a manufacturer that stands behind their products and values us as long term customers. As it turns they now have a Mazda family that does not have a good story to tell and will likely never purchase a Mazda again.