The Mazda MAZDA5 is part minivan, part wagon, and a good part Mazda 3, with the result being a funny kind of mix of nippy performance, seating for six, and retro minivan style reminiscent of a baby Toyota Previa. However strange, overall the combination works, and this may just be the car of the future given the trend towards more economical and versatile family vehicles. The Mazda MAZDA5 is not intended to be a sporty number, and is by no means powerful, but it handles well and does the job of carrying the family comfortably with admirable willingness and pretty neat fuel economy.

2009 Mazda MAZDA5 Performance

Unlike the MAZDA3 which sports a mind-boggling range of trims, the Mazda MAZDA5 keeps it simple with just one engine type and three trims. The 2.3-liter four cylinder engine is borrowed from the Mazda 3, and produces 153hp with 148lb-ft of torque. That does not sound particularly powerful, yet somehow it manages to produce enough power to cruise around happily in the city. Get it out on the open road with a full load of passengers and its inadequacies become painfully apparent, but if you want power, this is probably not the class to look in.
The Mazda MAZDA5 has a standard five-speed automatic transmission which changes gears smoothly and without fuss, but for our money we would choose the five-speed manual that comes standard with the Sport trim for extra responsiveness and for milking the little bit of fun that ...

Thanks to its sporty Mazda 3 platform, the Mazda MAZDA5 drives far more like a small sedan or hatchback than the strange crossbred creature that it is, and this means a super-tight turning circle, solid feel on the road and direct steering. Suspension seems a bit softer than the sports-tuned firmness of the Mazda 3, but still body lean in the corners is surprisingly minimal given the higher center of gravity. It is worth noting it in case of emergency situations however, when sudden braking or swerving could easily cause the tall vehicle to tip. Fuel economy is 21/27mpg city/highway driving for the automatic, which is pretty much the same as other mid-sized wagons.

2009 Mazda MAZDA5 Interior and Features

The 2009 Mazda MAZDA5 seats six passengers in three rows of bucket seats, and is the only wagon/minivan or even SUV crossover of this size to achieve such a feat. This is made possible by the sliding back doors which allow reasonably easy access to even the squashed-in third row of seats. The first row offers good leg and headroom although possibly a bit cramped for extra-tall passengers, the second row is a little tight on legroom especially with the front seats pushed back, and the third row of seating is strictly only for children, with little legroom and less headroom thanks to the theatre-style raised second and third seats. Seats have gained plenty of accolades for their comfort however, compared to much of what is on offer in this price range.

Standard features on the Sport trim include 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, six-speaker stereo system with digital media connection, full power accessories, cruise control, tilt/telescoping steering wheel with audio controls, remote keyless entry and defogger. The Touring trim features all this plus a rear spoiler and fog lights, 6-disc CD changer, power sunroof and leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Grand Touring is the top-of-the-line in features, offering leather upholstery, heated front seats, heated power mirrors, xenon headlights, Bluetooth and rain-sensing windscreen wipers. Options for the Grand Touring include a touchscreen navigation system, satellite radio cargo cover and universal garage door opener.

It is a remarkably impressive list of features for a small vehicle, and shows how much effort Mazda has put into making their Mazda MAZDA5 the family-friendly success story that it is.

Cargo space is limited behind the third-row of seating, but the Mazda MAZDA5 offers plenty of cargo options with the split folding third-row. With it folded down there is nearly 45 cubic feet of storage behind the second-row, which is plenty for a family holiday, and with both the second and third rows folded down there is the versatility of a van with enough space to carry full-length surfboards, bikes and skis.

2009 Mazda MAZDA5 Safety

The Mazda MAZDA5 scored much better than its Mazda 3 sibling in government crash tests, achieving a perfect five stars for front impact situations and side impact on the driver’s side. Four stars were scored for side impact at the rear and rollover resistance. Four-wheel ABS brakes come standard with all Mazda MAZDA5s, plus front side and full-length side curtain airbags. Electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist are included, but the tire pressure monitor is optional. Given that it is a family vehicle, LATCH seatbelts are included, which stands for lower anchors and tethers for children.

Safety features:

• ABS, Brakeforce distribution, brake assist
• Front side and full-length curtain airbags
• LATCH

Overall the 2009 Mazda MAZDA5 is a great value family vehicle with the features and handling of a much bigger and more expensive car. It successfully crosses the minivan and wagon formulas to create a practical and versatile vehicle that is perfect in these times of economic difficulty.