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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  Mazda 5 - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By shoolem - November 18 - 10:23 am

  Love the car. Perfect mixture of sporty small car with near-minivan capacity. Handles very nicely and is very easy to parallel park in snug spots!

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  vehicle for todays family - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By Norm Favit - November 6 - 3:46 am

  I have 2300 km on the M5 and Im confident I made the right choice for a long term vehicle. Id recommend the M5 for a growing family that puts a lot of miles on the car as the fuel economy is excellent relative to vehicles of similar seating capacity (just finished a 470km road trip with 7.9 l/100km).

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  Great car (ok, minivan) for the money - 2007 Mazda Mazda5
  By Not your average mom - November 4 - 4:30 am

  I swore Id never drive a minivan but here I am doing so and actually enjoying it. It is versatile and very easy for the kids to get into and out of by themselves. It gets good gas mileage even in the cold winter months. I have never gotten below 22 mpg on a tank of gas. I love the fact that it is getting more popular and that when I first got it, people were asking me what it was. I love all the spaces to hide things in. Ive been accused of having everything but a toilet and sink in it but you wont see any of it. If you live in a really snowy/icy climate you will want to get snow tires. Stock tires perform as expected on the snow but are next to useless on ice.

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  Lots to like, a little to dislike - 2008 Mazda Mazda5
  By Dennis - November 3 - 11:03 am

  I bought the Sport with M/T. Vehicle meets all my needs, lots of room, decent fuel economy, good price. The manual trans takes some getting used to. It has a very light engagement and is very easy to "top" a gear. I definitely will be tinting the rear windows to keep things cooler but the A/C works great. With almost 3,000 miles on it I am averaging about 22 mpg. Since all my driving is around town I find this acceptable but wished for more. Manual adjusting seats required me to get out of the car to raise the seat level. If you are willing to keep the RPMs up, acceleration is good. Overall I am very pleased and hope time will prove me right.

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  Would buy again except for the dealer - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By Chris - October 29 - 3:33 pm

  Im very satisfied with the car. Its the right size, the only problems weve had were early model year problems and though annoying were quickly fixed by Mazda. It is starting to show its age though. Rattles are starting, the suspension does not seem as tight as it once did and fit and finish are being to show some age and the effects of two kids. The tires that Mazda put on the car were terrible and had to be replaced after 20000 miles. Replaced these with a decent set of tires and the wear on them is much better. Though the probably still wearing much more quickly than reasonable. It has enough power and is kinda fun to drive. If the dealership was better I would consider another Mazda

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  Getting Another - 2007 Mazda Mazda5
  By Tricia - October 13 - 10:20 pm

  I loved my 2007 Mazda5! I love it even more now. Unfortunately someone hit me this week and totaled my beloved vehicle. Over $15000 in damage and I feel perfect 3 days after, my 18 mo old son is unhurt. The car did just what it should - protect my family. I called dealer next day and am going to get my 2008 next week. Any car that is this safe as well as fun to drive, nice looking and roomy - what more could you ask for?

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  Best small family vehicle - 2008 Mazda Mazda5
  By KK - September 21 - 1:43 am

  I cannot say enough about this van. We had a Town and Country for four years. We wanted something with better mpg. We were able to get a loaded Grand Touring for under 25K. I am 511 and my husband is 61. We have a 5 year old and a 3 year old and we all fit comfortably. It is just what we need - plenty of room for day to day errands like groceries and extra seats when needed. I would never go back to a full size minivan again. I have owned 6 cars previously and this is, BY FAR, the best purchase decision I ever made for a vehicle. We will save close to $900 per year on gas and with all the little extras like blue tooth, leather, dvd, it is fun too. Go get one!

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  A fun to drive, attractive, practical car - 2007 Mazda Mazda5
  By bob f - August 28 - 3:26 am

  This car is the perfect size for my wife and me. We can carry ourselves and our four grandchildren easily. It has a great deal of storage room when we are alone or traveling with two other people. It is a gas to drive and does not feel like you are driving a minivan . Other minivans are way too big for us but the Mazda is perfect. I would suggest anyone looking for a vehicle that has versatility and is also fun to drive check out the 5. I do not think you will be disappointed.

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  A mini-van that is still mini - 2013 Mazda Mazda5
  By harpoondodger - August 26 - 1:54 pm

  We needed to replace an old 97 Mercury Villager, but did not want to buy a not-so mini Sienna, Odyssey, or Quest. We researched the min-vans, cross-overs, and SUVs, and stumbled on the M5. All the features presented looked good and its was smaller than the Villager, which was fine because it gave better gas mileage. Were fine with the styling (those swoopy body curves), and Im indifferent to the front "smiley" face. With just under 2 months, our overall impression is that it handles well, but the ride is harsh. The interior has lots of hard plastic. Interior space is snug, but is usable and flexible. The ride in the 3rd bench is harsh. Gas economy on highway close to 28 mpg.

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  Our 2nd Mazda5! - 2009 Mazda Mazda5
  By GottaLoveIt! - August 24 - 6:53 pm

  We bought our 2007 Mazda5 afer running into it at the dealership, and not knowing what the heck it was. We were looking at the MPV van. We were amazed at the versitility, my wife was able to take my daughters basket ball high school team members to games in comfort, even tho some were pretty tall. The last row was a bit limited in the leg room area, but smaller girls did fine! It ngot great mileage, loads of cargo room (Christmas trees!) and build quality 2nd to none!