2015 Mazda MAZDA5 vs. Its Competition

Bengt Halvorson Senior Editor

The 2015 Mazda 5 manages to evade direct competition, as it's really the only smaller-than-a-minivan van on the market.

Closest in size is Ford's new longer Transit Connect Wagon; the Transit uses forward-swinging rear doors instead of the Mazda's sliders, but in all other aspects it's very similar, as it's also car-based and drives nicely for it.

Ford also offers the C-Max, which shares some its architectural roots with the Mazda 5, but is offered only in hybrid and Energi plug-in hybrid forms.

It's also a bit stubbier than the Mazda 5, offering just two rows of seats.

The C-Max has an almost direct analog in Toyota's Prius V, a taller, wagon-like version of the Prius liftback; the Toyota aims for economy over enjoyment, though, so it's a trade-off compared to the Mazda.

And of course there are still full-size minivans, the leader among them still being the Dodge Grand Caravan in terms of value and packaging efficiency.

The Dodge also has its Chrysler own & Country sibling and there are good vans from Honda and Toyota these days as well.