The 2010 Mazda5: The Mini Minivan That's So Much More

When it comes to automobiles, few conjure up such feelings of derision as the much maligned minivan. Created to address the needs of a burgeoning middle class in the mid eighties, the minivan became the ride of choice for the third generation of baby boomers. Pairing the fuel economy of a mid-size sedan with the capacity of a far larger vehicle, the minivan soared to sales success, much to the chagrin of testicles all across the continent.

But there is, within the minivan market, a single vehicle that refused to accept the traditional minivan mantle. Trading the vast expanses of slab-sided sheetmetal and ponderous road manners for a smaller, more stylish, lithe design, the Mazda5 has remained a viable alternative to the conventional minivan; a pleasant surprise given the Mazda5’s design has gone almost unchanged since its debut in 2006.
Powered by the same 2.3 litre four cylinder that permeated the Mazda product line for years, the 2010 Mazda5 has again earned Canada’s ecoENERGY award as the most fuel efficient vehicle in its class, but sacrifices none of Mazda’s zoom-zoom attitude in doing so. Although the 153 horsepower and 148 pound feet of torque produced by the smaller engine may pale in comparison to the massive numbers put up by the V6 powerplants of Dodge, Chrysler, and Toyota, the Mazda’ significantly smaller footprint and the availability of a five speed manual transmission really help liven the driving experience up. Equipped with the GT package’s 17” wheels and 205-series tires, grip is excellent under acceleration and braking, although it is possible to get some wheelspin on exuberant corner exits. Then again, that wheelspin and corner exit speeds are even a concern in a vehicle with dual sliding rear doors is something of a testament to just how convincing the Mazda5’s argument is.

But although the smaller stature definitely helps the accelerative properties of Mazda’s mini-minivan, its effects are much more evident in the vehicle’s handling. Feeling downright spritely during the morning commute, its smaller size, upright seating position, and excellent visibility make it a real treat to thread through traffic. Parking, parallel and otherwise, is equally easy and the shorter wheelbase and quick steering ratio gives the car great slow-speed maneuverability. On the highway, the more engaging suspension makes it ride far more confidently than other minivans, and there’s no sense of disconnection between front and rear suspensions intrinsic in most full-size minivans. Due largely to the adoption of a multi-link rear suspension that has more in common with Mazda’s excellent line of sedans than the torsion-beam rear suspension found beneath most minivans, the Mazda5 handles bumps both large and small with the greatest of ease. Plowing through a particularly speed-bump infested neighborhood with aplomb, the little minivan surprised me with a level of composure that’s usually reserved for far more expensive vehicles.

But sadly, there’s one area in which the Mazda5 reveals its age: the interior. Although still as easy to operate and usefully laid-out as it was on day one, the materials and assemblies that populate the interior do look a little last-generation, especially in contrast to some of the newer designs from Mazda’s rivals. The leather, although nice looking, isn’t the most convincing to the touch, and the spartan console area and lack of storage nooks is a bit of a bummer for those that carry a lot of stuff. That said, the steering wheel (which should look familiar to owners of older Mazda3s) is still excellent and upholstered in a nicely dimpled material, and the soft-touch plastics that adorn the dashboard and door panels are absolutely first-rate. The controls are well laid-out and give good, solid feedback, but don’t  quite represent the tactile tour-de-force that most newer designs possess.

However, regardless of its age, the interior’s fantastic layout hasn’t suffered. With great seating for four and decent seating for six, the Mazda5’s people-hauling capacity is better than its small footprint would indicate. However, by moving the front seats upward as well as forward, Mazda’s engineers have managed to maintain a modicum of legroom for the driver and passenger while providing more legroom for the middle row. Additionally, my making the rearmost row a pair of independently folding affairs, both of the rearmost seats were able to be moved as far astern as possible without impinging unnecessarily upon on cargo space. This, combined with the folding-flat center seats, allows the mini minivan from Mazda to carry between two and six people, with cargo space being reduced in proportion to the seating arrangement in use. Also, should more cargo space be needed (a situation that might arise when all six seats are in use), there’s a decently sized cargo bin located under each of the center seats, and the rear cargo area’s floor also conceals a convenient hidden storage area.

And it’s precisely that practicality that makes the Mazda5 such an excellent vehicle. Combining the driving experience of a pretty decent family sedan with the capacity of a minivan, it’s a unique vehicle on the market, and one that’s deserving of a healthy amount of respect. There are very few cars that fill so many roles with such grace, and absolutely none that do it at the Mazda5’s price point. Undercutting the cost of a top-end Honda Civic by a significant amount, the Mazda5 offers positively huge amounts of value; a tradition that should continue when the model is resurrected for the 2012 model year. Although still available at your local dealership, the Mazda5 is taking a one year hiatus for 2011 in preparation for the arrival of an all-new, but similarly sized replacement the following year. With early photos showing a lot of promise, the 2012 Mazda5’s adherence to the existing model’s idea is possibly the best testament to the car’s unflappable nature. Proving almost loyal in its inability to disappoint, this is one great minivan, and that’s a phrase I never thought I’d say.