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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  Perfect Solution Vehicle - 2012 Mazda Mazda5
  By ruddyduck67 - December 8 - 8:26 am

  With a newborn and 4 year old we ran into the issue that you have NO ROOM for a 5th passenger in a standard car with the 2 car seats, (we had a Civic and a Outback Wagon). Looked around for somthing to carry the occasional 5-6 passengers and found a limited market. Considered the standard Odessey/Sienna and even the RAV4 with tiny back bench. Anyway...the full size vans seemed to be overkill and were reaching 40K so I looked at the 5. Wow! We love it. Comfortably fits six, drives like a sporty sedan and fits in the tightest spots. Looks small on the outside but is roomy inside.

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  Zoom Zoom with Room - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By Grant - November 25 - 4:10 am

  I purchased our Mazda5 with 30,000 miles on it. A year and a half and 50,000 miles later, I am as pleased with it as the day I drove it home. I traded in a Ford Windstar in hopes of finding something more reliable and fuel efficient for our 5 member family. The Mazda5 handles well and musters a bunch of zip out of its 4cyl engine. It is much more of a sport wagon than a minivan and is enjoyable to drive.

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  watch out for electrical gremlins! - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By nslimm - November 18 - 11:50 pm

  Bought new 06 GT 5 speed manual. I really enjoy driving this van and I get great mileage. But during cold weather the e-brake doesnt work all the time and the dealership has tried to fix this 6 times. They have now replaced the calipers on one side only. Also, the headlights flash on and off on their own. I live outside the city so it really is noticeable on the highway when the headlights turn off for two seconds or more. They cycle through 9 or 10 times on and off so it looks like I am warning of a police radar trap ahead! NOT FUNNY! My last trip through the mountains the headlights turned off 34 times over 300 miles.

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  A Very Nice Van/SUV/Wagon/Crossover - 2007 Mazda Mazda5
  By Ward - November 17 - 9:56 pm

  I am not sure what to call this vehicle (I try to avoid van as much as possible. God help me, did I buy a van?). Whatever it is, it does many things well. I like the exterior design if the door handles just were not next to each other. Seating for 6, if you need it (small people are best for the third row), or lots of space for stuff if you dont. Its best feature, I believe, is value. Mazda has put in some nice standard features for a vehicle in this price range. Its worst feature is zoom, zoom. The vehicle needs more power from a stand still. Once it gets going, it is fine and even fun to drive. It handles very well.

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  The Perfect car for us! - 2009 Mazda Mazda5
  By roughntumble - November 13 - 5:20 am

  We were getting around in a compact car, but when we bought our own house and adopted a 90 pound dog, our compact wasnt working anymore. We are also outdoor people who love to go camping, so we needed a car with room for all our rig and our dog that could put up with some rough terrain. The Mazda5 was the perfect choice for us and we dont have any regrets. We paid $17,500 for it.

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  Best Compromise - 2007 Mazda Mazda5
  By Ben Elkins - October 30 - 11:56 pm

  This car is great! We have had ours for 3 months now, and have no regrets. We have the manual transmission and get 27/32 MPG. I am 25 with a wife and 9 month old, and my wife and I both love the car. I love the big horsepower 4 cylinder, great on gas but still plenty of pickup. Very versatile.

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  Still love the little guy but - 2008 Mazda Mazda5
  By ajl - October 25 - 2:00 am

  An update to the previous review. Id still buy this vehicle again. But I will echo previous reviewers comments. Still the original Toyos, but I have 4 snow tires for the winter,which I highly recommend (Low profile all seasons are not good for snow). The original Toyos might have 9000 miles on them and are half worn out.We have a suspension noise in the back that keeps coming back. Dealer has been great,even though we didnt buy it there. No steering issues, but there is a recall. A great little vehicle, but it does have its flaws (all cars do, they are complex machines) There is no such thing as a perfect car.

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  Not Bad for the Price - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By baanderson - October 23 - 7:23 pm

  Just purchased the Mazda5. So far so good. I went from a Mercury Mountaineer fully loaded to a wagon/van. More out of the want to spend less on gas. Plus I needed the extra space. I love the third row seating! I love the fact that my kids ( still in booster/car seats) cant kick each other. I love that even though it is considered slightly minivan-ish, the car doesnt make me feel old.

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  No compromise - 2006 Mazda Mazda5
  By AdamC - October 13 - 12:50 pm

  After agonizing over a new car for our family of 4 (we still love our 89 Saab 900) for about 2 years, we finally bought the Canadian GT version of the Mazda5, 5 speed manual. The car is a delight to drive in most ways, if you like a responsive, tight car with good road feel. If you want a jiggly machine that is divorced from the road, then this is the wrong car - it is too zippy and hard-riding. The steering is a highlight, as the car feels beautiful through twisty roads or city streets and the turning radius is small. It also goes quite nicely, despite all of the grumbling about low HP for its curb weight.

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  Not recommended - 2007 Mazda Mazda5
  By krizzam - October 9 - 2:50 pm

  This is my 5th Mazda & until this car, Id consider myself a huge fan. Now, Im not sure Ill ever buy a Mazda again. In less than 3 yrs. & 30k, I needed new tires, a new battery, numerous broken interior features, horrible loud noises when I back out of the driveway. The low profile tires drive terribly in the winter and are extremely expensive to replace. The body is shoddy - bumper popped out which then made a large piece of plastic hang underneath. Believe it or not, I notice this plastic hanging on other passing Mazda5s. Even worse, I leased this car. What a nightmare.