Mazda5: A Minivan with Major Sales

The Mazda5 minivan may not offer much in the way of "zoom-zoom," but it does come with best-in-class gas mileage and, for plenty, "room-room"

by Thane Peterson

Editor's Rating:

The Good: Good fuel economy, low price, improved interior

The Bad: Sluggish acceleration, lack of luggage space with all three rows of seats in use

The Bottom Line: An excellent choice for young families on a budget

Reader Reviews

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Up Front

Mazda likes to portray itself as a company that specializes in sporty, fun-to-drive cars, which is why its advertising slogan is "zoom-zoom." So, it must be a little embarrassing that lately the Ford (F) subsidiary's hottest offering is arguably the 2008 Mazda5, a fuel-efficient little minivan that saw its sales rise 29.2% in June and 44.1% (to nearly 12,000 units) in the first half of this year. What's "zoom-zoom" about the Mazda5, other than its sales?

Not much, and that's the point. Consumer tastes shifted dramatically in May, as shoppers started gobbling up the most fuel-efficient and inexpensive models they could find. And in the minivan segment, the Mazda5 is the model that best fits that description. If you have kids and want an inexpensive, carpool-friendly vehicle that doesn't gulp gasoline, there's nothing quite like it on the market. Its toughest competition is probably the Kia (KIMTY) Rondo, which is being heavily discounted right now (more on that later).

The Mazda5, which first came out as a 2006 model but was updated for '08, is a classic front-wheel-drive minivan with sliding rear doors and three rows of seats, yet it's rated to average 24 miles per gallon (22 city and 28 highway with a stick shift, slightly less with an automatic). That's significantly better mileage than bigger rivals such as the Dodge Grand Caravan/Chrysler Town & Country and Toyota's (TM) Sienna, which are both rated to average 19 mpg, and Honda's (HMC) Odyssey, which is rated at 20 mpg. (In 172 miles of mixed driving, I got 22 mpg in my test Mazda5.)

The Mazda5 is also remarkably inexpensive. Its average recent selling price is just $20,289, according to the Power Information Network (PIN), seven grand less than the average midsize van. The entry-level Sport version starts at just $18,630 with a five-speed manual transmission, rising to $21,395 for the midrange Touring model and $23,150 for the fanciest Grand Touring trim line. (Like BusinessWeek, PIN is a unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies (MHP).)

The Mazda5 comes packed with standard equipment, from power windows and other accessories, to cruise control, a tilting and telescoping steering wheel, and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player. But even if you load up the Grand Touring model with navigation ($2,000) and rear-seat entertainment ($1,200) systems, Sirius satellite radio ($430), and an auto-dimming mirror with a compass and Homelink ($275), the Mazda5 still tops out at about $27,000, compared with $35,000 or $40,000 when you load up one of its larger competitors.

Of course, there is a downside to owning a diminutive, European-style vehicle like the Mazda5, which is roughly 20 in. shorter than the Sienna, Odyssey, and Town & Country/Grand Caravan. Sure, the Mazda5 has a third-row seat that gives it a six-passenger capacity, but competitors seat a maximum of seven or eight and are roomier. The Mazda5's third row is mainly for children, and with it in place there's virtually no space in back for luggage. If you're planning a long trip with more than two kids, chances are you're going to have to buy a roof rack to accommodate everyone's baggage.

The Mazda5 earned the top five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for safety in frontal collisions and for rollover protection. Antilock brakes with brake-force distribution, seat belt pretensioners, and front, side, and head-protecting, cabin-length, side curtain airbags are all standard. However, stability control isn't available.