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2008 Mazda MAZDA5 Quality Review

July 14, 2008

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

not a lot of space behind the front bucket seats
Cars.com

The third row isn't terribly roomy and is intended for children only
Edmunds

Headroom is good for all
ConsumerGuide

The rear cargo area...is magically bigger than it looks.
Mother Proof

As a mini-minivan, there's not much room behind the 2008 Mazda5's three seating rows, but clever engineering makes good use of what space is available.

The 2008 Mazda Mazda5 is equipped with two captain's chairs in the first two rows and a 50/50-split bench in the third. As Cars.com reports, "the second-row seats can slide and recline," and the front seats "leave you feeling good even after hours at the wheel [though] they're fairly snug and may not be comfortable for all types." Very tall drivers "wanted longer cushions and more rearward travel," according to ConsumerGuide, who also find the second row to have "good legroom...abetted by the slide and recline adjustments."

Cars.com explains the appeal lies in the Mazda5's ability to "offer surprising utility in a package that's not as mundane as many small cars." They state "there's very limited space behind the third row...when those six seats are occupied," but the "measly cargo area can be expanded to 44 cubic feet by folding the third row down." With the second row folded down, too, the Mazda5 yields 79 cubic feet of cargo room, with enough length to fit a five-foot two-by-four. The rear door is a liftgate, and as such, it "barely clears six-footer heads," but the low floor aids loading. In addition, the sliding doors "provide outstanding entry and exit to the 2nd row but not to the 3rd row, which requires serious contortions," says ConsumerGuide.

In this Mazda, 2008 brings abundant small-item storage hidden beneath seats and below the floor. Mother Proof details them: "plastic storage bins under both of the second-row seats...a table with two cupholders on the passenger side that folds out into the aisle between the seats...the table surface pops out to reveal a [nifty] toy net...[and] there's another bin hiding under the floor of the rear cargo area."

Build quality is a "pro," according to ConsumerGuide, who explain "hard-plastic surfaces are tempered somewhat by rich graining and good overall assemble quality." The windows aft of the front row are tinted.

Cabin noise is an issue in the Mazda5. Cars.com notes that the "cabin gets a bit loud when going [fast], with both wind and road noise contributing to the din." Mother Proof characterizes the noise as "annoying" and "ever-persistent." They surmise the Mazda 2008 warranted no additional noise insulation "[in order] to provide an economic package." ConsumerGuide notes, "coarse pavement induces audible tire thrum that resonates through the large, open interior."

Conclusion

The versatile 2008 Mazda Mazda5 has space for six, but it’s a stretch.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:not a lot of space behind the front bucket seatsCars.comThe third row isn't terribly roomy and is intended for children onlyEdmundsHeadroom is good for allConsumerGuideThe rear cargo area...is magically bigger than it looks.Mother Proof As a mini-minivan, there's not much room behind the 2008 Mazda5's three seating rows, but clever engineering makes good use of what space is available. The 2008 Mazda Mazda5 is equipped with two captain's chairs in the first two rows and a 50/50-split bench in the third. As Cars.com reports, "the second-row seats can slide and recline," and the front seats "leave you feeling good even after hours at the wheel [though] they're fairly snug and may not be comfortable for all types." Very tall drivers "wanted longer cushions and more rearward travel," according to ConsumerGuide, who also find the second row to have "good legroom...abetted by the slide and recline adjustments." Cars.com explains the appeal lies in the Mazda5's ability to "offer surprising utility in a package that's not as mundane as many small cars." They state "there's very limited space behind the third row...when those six seats are occupied," but the "measly cargo area can be expanded to 44 cubic feet by folding the third row down." With the second row folded down, too, the Mazda5 yields 79 cubic feet of cargo room, with enough length to fit a five-foot two-by-four. The rear door is a liftgate, and as such, it "barely clears six-footer heads," but the low floor aids loading. In addition, the sliding doors "provide outstanding entry and exit to the 2nd row but not to the 3rd row, which requires serious contortions," says ConsumerGuide. In this Mazda, 2008 brings abundant small-item storage hidden beneath seats and below the floor. Mother Proof details them: "plastic storage bins under both of the second-row seats...a table with two cupholders on the passenger side that folds out into the aisle between the seats...the table surface pops out to reveal a [nifty] toy net...[and] there's another bin hiding under the floor of the rear cargo area." Build quality is a "pro," according to ConsumerGuide, who explain "hard-plastic surfaces are tempered somewhat by rich graining and good overall assemble quality." The windows aft of the front row are tinted. Cabin noise is an issue in the Mazda5. Cars.com notes that the "cabin gets a bit loud when going [fast], with both wind and road noise contributing to the din." Mother Proof characterizes the noise as "annoying" and "ever-persistent." They surmise the Mazda 2008 warranted no additional noise insulation "[in order] to provide an economic package." ConsumerGuide notes, "coarse pavement induces audible tire thrum that resonates through the large, open interior." ConclusionThe versatile 2008 Mazda Mazda5 has space for six, but it’s a stretch. 2008 MAZDA MAZDA5 STYLING | [7 out of 10] Cars.com: "significantly smaller than traditional minivans " Edmunds: "mildly freshened front and rear styling" ConsumerGuide: "a sensibly sized wagon" The 2008 Mazda Madza5 is variously called a mini-minivan, microvan, vanlette, and tall ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

With a base price of just under $18,000 for the base Sport, the Mazda5 is quite a deal for a sporty, economical people-mover, provided you watch the options; fully loaded, the Mazda5's top Grand Touring model can top $28,000. Kia has a lineup of vehicles that are especially friendly for urban dwellers who want a lot of people-hauling ability and yet need to fit into a compact-only parking space. The Sedona is one of the few remaining minivans sold in a maneuverable short-wheelbase version. But there's also the Rondo, a vehicle that looks a little odd but does everything right in terms of people-hauling and interior comfort. The Rondo has hinged rear doors, however, and only offers an automatic transmission. The Kia doesn't have the Mazda5's tight handling, though with either of the Rondo's four- or six-cylinder engines, it feels peppier and more refined than the Mazda5. Among other offerings, the RAV4 is one of the few compact SUVs to offer a usable third-row seat. The Scion xB might suit those who don't really need a third row of seating, as its stylish, boxy body affords a roomy interior, with perky performance and fuel economy that's as good as the Mazda5's.

Next Steps:

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See the Mazda MAZDA5 in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

Comments (1 total)

  1. By Steve #1, Posted: 7/7/2008

    Mazda5 Owner

    We're actually on our second Mazda5. We had a 2006 Touring with a manual transmission that we really loved. The car held its value really well and we actually decided to sell our car, pocket some cash, and lease a new '08 Grand Touring using some of Mazda's recent incentives. We lowered our payments by about $150/month and got some great new features. Primarily, the Grand Touring model includes standard Bluetooth integration which is very nice given California's new law requiring hands-free cell phone use.
    Anyway, I consider myself a real car nut having owned cars like the Miata, Porsche 911, E320 Cabriolet. The predecessor to the Mazda5 as our family car was a BMW 5-series wagon, also with a manual transmission. In other words, I like fast cars and consider performance an important part of my car purchasing decision and I don't find the Mazda5's engine performance lacking at all. The manual transmission was great but the new (for '08) 5-speed auto doesn't give up any noticeable performance. The power is more than adequate for four passengers and luggage and the fuel economy for us averages about 25 mpg in mixed driving... not Earth shattering economy, but pretty good.
    Other thoughts: road noise is a bit high at freeway speeds but the engine is very smooth and quiet around town. Less agressive tires might help with the noise issue but at a bit of cost to handling.
    The car is much easier to drive and park than "full size" minivans and loading the kids into the back (middle)row is super easy with the sliding doors.
    I really like the car and know at least two others who have bought them after riding in ours. They simply had never heard of the car before but found it to be the perfect solution for a small family after experiencing it.
    If you have only one or two kids and will use it primarily as a four seater with occasional use of the third row, you owe it to yourself to check out this car.

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