The 2010 Mazda5 is kind of an odd vehicle.
It doesn’t seem to fit into any category. Is it a tall wagon or a small minivan? Car, crossover or something else?
The sliding second-row doors leave a minivan taste in some people’s mouths, but when you drive it, it feels more like a car. Technically speaking, it’s classified as midsize wagon — though it lacks both the wagon and midsize feel. Mazda calls it a multi-activity vehicle, which makes it sound like Julie McCoy on the Love Boat.
Perhaps it drifted into one of those magical automotive white spaces where nothing else really hits it head to head. It can carry six passengers, has three rows and just enough quirky personality to scare some buyers away. What do you cross shop it against, the Honda Element or Ford Transit Connect?
But that’s part of the fun of the Mazda5 — it defies expectations because it’s so difficult to actually create a reasonable set of standards to judge it by. Instead, just get in it and drive.
Underpowered, but nimble
Cruising around in the Mazda5, I didn’t find anything scary at all. I liked this little-roller-skate-looking-vehicle thingy with front-wheel drive.
It was a little underpowered. The 2.3-liter pumps out 153 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque, so it didn’t have that highway zoom zoom or noticeably zippy pickup you see on both numerical sides of the Mazda5 — specifically the Mazda 3 and Mazda 6.
But its small stature provides a great riding position and the Mazda5 was surprisingly nimble around town. It’s the kind of vehicle that feels perfect for most daily chores. It parks nicely in tight spaces, is easy to maneuver through traffic — with great lines of sight — and it’s comfortable to ride in. The big profile may cause a little crosswind buffeting, but none of that ever worried me.
Overall, the ride is pretty nice, though there is a lot of road noise seeping into the cabin. The independent suspension glides over bumps. The five-speed automatic transmission is smooth and never races to find fifth gear.
While little has changed for the 2010 model year, the Mazda5 does come with standard electronic stability control and traction control.
The proportions seem a little out of whack with the long wheelbase (108 inches) and shorter overall length (181.5 inches). But it looks stable and seems to favor comfort over flash.
There’s lots of space inside
For the most part, Mazda’s designers and engineers shared those ideals, creating a vehicle with loads of utility. Through some trick engineering, they created a low-profile fuel tank and compact rear suspension over a stepped floor to free up lots of space inside. Sometimes it’s the things you don’t see that make a big difference.
That difference means up to 30.7 inches of legroom in the tiny third row. That’s more than some airlines give you, which any adult will attest, is not great for a long haul.
The captain’s chairs in the second row make it easy for kids to move to the back and let adults sit comfortably in the front two rows. Really, once you’re inside the Mazda5, there’s lots of room.
Furthermore, it’s a good use of space. The captain chairs fold flat, and with just the third row folded down, there more than 44 cubic feet of space to haul stuff.
Then there are those sliders. I love them.
While I do not have children, I do believe anyone transporting a child to a place where other people have new cars should be required by law to have a vehicle with sliding doors. Your kids may be cute, but unless you want to leave $200 under my wiper blade to pay for ding removal, either teach them to open a door slowly or get a vehicle with sliding doors. Some adults should take note, too.
Door bashing aside, the sliding doors create a huge hole to climb into the car, making second-row ingress and egress easy — even for kids. Plus, they make a very cool sound every time they slide out.
Vehicle filled with surprises
Inside the Mazda5 there are lots of little surprises that will please everyone riding in it. There are second-row vents to keep people cooler (or warmer). The seats are comfortable and the controls in the front are easy to use and well laid out.
Throughout, it feels like a well-planned family vehicle, ready for a multitude of activities.
It may not fit the traditional mold of sedan or minivan or even crossover. But nowadays, breaking tradition seems to be the norm. It can haul stuff, carry kids, and handle the traditional commute, hitting 27 miles per gallon on the highway and 21 mpg in the city — both respectable numbers.
For someone looking for flash, there are plenty of Mazdas to choose from, but for someone who’s looking for a good value — my nicely loaded test vehicle was $22,480 — this fits the mold it broke.
That may be the oddest part: For something that doesn’t really fit into a specific category, the Mazda5 can handle just about any task asked of it.
sburgess@detnews.com (313) 223-3217
