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Mazda Mazda5 - What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 Mazda Mazda5 ranks 3 out of 7 Affordable Full Size Wagons. This ranking is based on our analysis of 49 published reviews and test drives of the Mazda Mazda5, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

For those of you wary of purchasing a minivan, the 2010 Mazda5 gives you a lot of the same functionality in a wagon package. With three rows of seating, sporty handling and excellent safety scores, the Mazda5 is definitely worth a look.

With the Mazda5, Mazda has delivered a vehicle that works for families as well individuals who want their ride to have some flexibility for carrying passengers and cargo. It's a difficult car to make heads or tails of -- a minivan compressed into the smaller (and some say cuter) shape of a wagon.

However, there are two major drawbacks. In order to get access to the substantial cargo space, you have to start folding down some rows. And the engine could use more oomph to make life a little more comfortable on the highways. For more power and cargo, consider the VW Passat Wagon.

The 5 is available in three trims, the Sport, Touring and Grand Touring, all of which have the same four-cylinder engine. It's part of Ford's C1 platform, along with the Mazda3. 

• "Mazda 5 deserves consideration as a well-made, sensibly sized wagon that's sedan sporty, minivan versatile, and priced right. This solid choice also offers good fuel economy and outstanding room for four plus lots of stuff -- four adults, a little cargo and, in the 3rd-row seats, two tykes." -- Consumer Guide
• "This sporty van combines the ride of a sedan, the convenience of a hatchback, the easy access of a minivan, and the utility of a small SUV. Inside, seating for six in three rows offers great flexibility, with a flat-floor design for maximum legroom." -- Car and Driver
• "We recommend it to small families with kids under five or six years old, with the caveat that we'd like it better if traction control and electronic stability control were available." -- New Car Test Drive
• "It fits neatly into tight spaces. It presents no visual obstruction to other drivers. But it can carry six passengers and judicious amounts of their stuff." -- Washington Post
• "The 5 has an unmistakably road-friendly character apparent in its responses and ease of parking, and the edge in visibility doesn't hurt." -- Automotive.com
• "As small vehicles go, this one's big. And as minivans go, this one's cool." -- USA Today

 

Mazda5 Performance - 7.7 (Good)

Consumer Guide says the "Mazda 5 is surprisingly sporty," though many agree that the powertrain could use some extra zoom-zoom. Though, in a class not known for performance, it gets the job done. Read More

Mazda5 Exterior - 7.5 (Good)

Caught somewhere between being a minivan and being a wagon, the 2010 Mazda5 has a bit of an identity crisis. Its polarizing looks insure that most people will have an opinion on it, one way or the other. Its distinctive sliding doors make life a little easier for families and for those occasions where you have to squeeze into a tight parking spot. Read More

Mazda5 Interior - 7.6 (Good)

The 2010 Mazda 5 sports an efficient, functional interior. Three rows of seating sets it apart from other wagons. Read More

Mazda5 Safety - 9.6 (Excellent)

The 2010 Mazda5 gets solid scores across the board in government crash tests. Read More

Mazda5 Reliability - NA

Mazda provides a limited warranty for the Mazda5 for three years or 36,000 miles.  Read More