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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  Best Mini-Mini Van (and it seats 6!) - 2007 Mazda Mazda5
  By artemaria - September 5 - 7:33 am

  We were going to buy a Honda Odyssey, then we test drove the Mazda5. Once we test drove the Mazda5, we never made it back to the Honda dealership. The Mazda5 is a great value for a three row seating car. It looks great (better in person than in the pictures), is compact and is an absolute blast to drive. Ive driven it 75 mph with 5 adults and a kid in it and it still zoomed. The leather seats are great and have held up well to the punishment our kids dish out. The fuel economy is okay, but I thought that it would be better (the fuel economy is about the same as a current CR-V which is about the same size).

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  Great Value - 2012 Mazda Mazda5
  By ivanch - September 2 - 8:06 pm

  The Mazda 5 offers great value for the money. I purchased a brand new 2012 model in March 2013 with a nice discount where the price was comparable to a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. At that price, the extra room of the Mazda 5 made it an unbeatable deal. The Mazda 5 touring is a great vehicle because it fits 6 passengers, it is fun to drive, it is the perfect size for a person who either wants a smaller minivan or a larger car. This vehicle can take kids around but also serves as a nice commuter car with ample room and height when compared to other cars.

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  Who Needs a Minivan? Not me. - 2009 Mazda Mazda5
  By JRod - August 28 - 9:13 pm

  Test drove a KIA Sedona first - roomy, good engine, plenty of utility, but the seats KILLED my lower back, more road noise than expected, drove a little wide, and the fuel consumption turned me off. Tried a KIA Rondo. Its more comfy, but the 3rd row is a joke. Tried the Mazda5 - QUIETER than Sedona, comfy seats, handling is WOW, took the road bumps well, mileage saves me $1200+/yr in gas compared to minivan. Highway is little noisy, but better with whole family. 3rd row is decent with LEGROOM + 2nd row adjusts. Perfect for small family and grandpa can tag along inside. Rides nicer than Mazda3. Kids love the windows. Brakes VERY well. I hear it eats tires, so inflate and rotate!

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  Great concept and execution! - 2008 Mazda Mazda5
  By OC - August 21 - 11:50 am

  Have been driving this car for almost a week - very pleased so far! Some highlights: Performance is more than adequate (no gas thirsty V6 needed). Freeway driving/merging is a breeze. Very comfortable and roomy interior despite its compact exterior dimensions. Perfect for my family of 4. Gas mileage - still on my first tank of gas! And it can only get better from now. Build quality is flawless. Materials used are top notch (and I have the base Sport model). Stereo sounds good. Great handling at low and high speeds. Short turning radius for easy parking! I highly recommed this car! It is the perfect car for small families (2 kids or less). Go buy one!

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  Expected better gas mileage. - 2009 Mazda Mazda5
  By starbright - August 4 - 7:27 pm

  We have had our Mazda 5 for 2 yrs now. We arent happy with the car. The gas mileage is very poor-only 23 mpg highway and we live in the Canadian Prairies so dont have alot of hills. The cable for the manual shift went out on me right before I went on the highway-scarey!! It was covered and we were told it was "unusual". Then, my power steering pump went as I was driving into the Mazda car lot to find out about a strange noise I had. The service center was very kind and replaced it right away at no charge since there was a recall (get yours replaced!). I love the concept of the car. But we must have a dud and are looking at replacing it soon.

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  Love It ZOOM - ZOOM! - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By lkverse - July 28 - 10:36 am

  Got the manual transmission. Love it. Handles great. I have 2 teenagers and they love the room that it gives them, not to mention the reclining back seats. Wont need the 3rd row much but will be perfect for that extra kid every now & then. Only complaint, I had the car in my possession for 10 hours and woke up to frozen door latches. 3 of 4 doors wouldnt latch shut. Mazda gave me a free loaner for the weekend and I picked it up Monday early afternoon. Steering wheel mounted audio and cruise controls are a nice perk that youd pay for in most other vehicles. Has all the bells and whistles standard that I would want. Passenger front seat should have an armrest.

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  The Mazda5 = Fun to Drive! - 2010 Mazda Mazda5
  By eml5150 - July 27 - 2:16 pm

  Bought for a family of four replacing an 02 Ford Explorer. We leave the third row seats down 95% of the time and there is plenty of room. The 2.3 is powerful enough to zoom-zoom and acceleration is not as bad as some automotive reviews state; unless you pack it with 6 adults regularly or youre addicted to the throttle it will do just fine. Driving the automatic in sport mode provides better throttle response. Its fun to drive and its handling is impressive. The dynamic stability control and traction control are a safety feature finally available this year. Braking is very good. It stops quick. Dont spend more and settle for less. Mazda5 quality and features are a great buy for the money.

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  The best 3 row 6 seater in the USA! - 2008 Mazda Mazda5
  By tacoman1 - July 20 - 8:23 pm

  We looked at all competitors. Hands down the best vehicle for the price. Lots of standard features, and we bought a sport (base) model. Rondo was weird looking. Others were nice, but much more expensive. Car handles extremely well and is very fun to drive.

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  Perfect fit! - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By Rhatt - July 19 - 10:53 pm

  I just picked up my new 5 so I havent put very many miles on it yet. To my knowledge it is the first one sold in my area. I was looking at the Mazda 3 and Toyota Matrix when I saw the 5 on the lot. The Mazda 5 is much larger inside and out. While I was impressed with both the Matrix and Mazda 3 (I need the cargo space of a small wagon) the 5 has greater space in the passenger and cargos areas. At 64" headroom is always an important measurement for me. And even with the moonroof the 5 had 2 to 3 inches more headroom than the smaller wagons. The ride, steering and braking are wonderfully smooth. The engine pulls strong with no vibration. The 3 and the Matrix feel harsh by comparison.

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  My New Mini- MiniVan ! - 2008 Mazda Mazda5
  By NAA - July 6 - 4:13 pm

  We were looking for good gas mileage, the right price with optional 6 passenger seating when we spotted a 2008 Mazda 5. It is easy for the kids to open the sliding doors to get in and out. The second row seating is comfortable and has a great bin for toys and cups. Now I can pick up my friends kids or transport family when I need to. The Mazda 5 third row folds down so easily when not in use. I cant believe the ergonomic storage room . I bought a snow blower for my husband and there was no problem sliding it in the back of the car with room to spare. My 64 husband fits in the drivers seat but the glove box in the pass is tight. We are pleased with the overall performance of the 5.