2008 Mazda5
ZOOM! ZOOM! ZOOM! Plenty of ROOM! ROOM! ROOM!
I had the pleasure of test driving the 2008 Mazda5 last week. On the whole I was quite impressed with it. Great interior styling and layout, and a very futuristic exterior. This is a vehicle with character.
Mazda5 is approximately 18 inches shorter and 8 inches narrower than most minivans, which makes it more manageable to drive. Also these smaller dimensions make it sportier, and you can actually fit into parking spots with little effort. I enjoyed driving the Mazda 5 more than the average minivan and couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel.
My test vehicle was painted in Vibrant Copper Red Mica that stands out in traffic and had all the creature comforts you would ever want such as Xeon headlights, keyless entry, 17” alloy wheels, leather seats power windows, power door locks, and Sirius satellite radio, just to name a few. Also the Mazda5 had has a huge LCD color screen in the center of the dash, providing information and functionality for both the navigation system and stereo. An auxiliary port makes hooking up an iPod or other MP3 player super-simple, and touch-screen controls allow easy access to satellite radio or your CDs. My Mazda5 Grand Touring had a sticker of only $25,845.00, including the $650 destination charge.
The general feel of the Mazda5 is sporty and fun and the engine was adequate. It’s a versatile vehicle that is quick and agile around town, with a terrific turning radius that makes U-turns and parking a breeze.
The Mazda can seat six, thought the rear seating area was a bit tight. I did notice that all around there is plenty of headroom.
One of the cool features in the Mazda5, found on any minivan worthy of the name, is the rear sliding doors, which makes hauling kids, pets, friends and stuff around a breeze. The Mazda5 also has plastic storage bins under both of the second-row seats and a table with two cup holders on the passenger side that folds out into the aisle between the seats. Even with the third row up, there was plenty of room in the cargo area. Cargo space is maximized by folding flat the third row seats.
The Mazda 5 is economical as far as gas mileage! For the week I had the vehicle I got about 21mpg city and 27mpg on the highway. Great mileage for a small minivan.
On the whole I was quite impressed with the Mazda 5. The interior styling of this “mini” minivan is impressive, offering creature comforts normally found on its larger brethren. The exterior, while very futuristic with its sloped nose and sleek profile, lacks pizzazz in the rear. I suggest that Mazda hurry up and restyle to ensure that at least the 2009 is up to par design-wise.
All-in-all a very capable, fun-to-drive and versatile vehicle.
Some statistics on the Mazda 5:
Seating Capacity (includes driver): 6
Base price: $20,760
Price as tested: $25,845
Engine: 153-hp, 2.3-liter I-4
Fuel: 21/27 mpg
Length: 181.5”
Width: 69.1”
Ground Clearance: 5.5”
Turning Radius: 17.4’
Cargo space: 4.0-70.9 cu. ft.