Mazda 5

• Rating:
• For : Great to drive, well equipped, clever seat layout
• Against : Strange styling, not very efficient, hard plastics

Functional and practical, but also stylish and fun to drive, the Mazda5 is a great all-rounder. Families will love its sliding rear doors, enormous boot and folding seats, while drivers will appreciate the punchy 1.6-litre diesel engine and well-weighted steering. The swoopy styling may divide opinion, but with the same sharp family grille found on the Mazda3 hatchback and Mazda6 saloon the 5 manages to avoid the dowdy look of some seven-seaters. Its reasonably compact dimensions do mean that it will only fit seven at a push, but also mean the Mazda is simple to drive in town and parking is a fuss free affair.

Our pick: Mazda 5 1.6D Sport Manual

Styling

The design was given a thorough overhaul in 2010 – and the Mazda5 looks much more purposeful as a result. The family grille is shared with other models in the range, but the busy flowing lines across the door panels make it stand out from the MPV crowd, even if they won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Even entry-level TS models get alloy wheels, while Sport versions add extras like a roof spoiler, body coloured side-skirts and 17-inch alloy wheels. Equipment levels are very high, and the simple cabin design is easy to use, if a little uninspiring, but build quality is pleasingly robust throughout.

Driving and Performance

Three engines are on offer in the Mazda – two petrol and one diesel, all are front-wheel drive and come with six-speed manual gearboxes. The 1.8-litre petrol comes with a modest 120bhp and feels breathless and short on power. Things improve in the 2.0-litre version, which produces an extra 28bhp but still lacks urgency at low revs. The 1.6-litre diesel is much punchier than either petrol, and despite producing less power feels the quickest in the real world. For an MPV grip levels are really impressive, and the quick steering and accurate gearbox make the Mazda5 rewarding to drive. Ride comfort is good too, although it’s not quite as refined as rivals like the newer Ford C-MAX.

MPG and running costs

This is where the Mazda starts to struggle, as it lacks fuel saving kit of rivals like the Renault Grand Scenic and new Vauxhall Zafira Tourer. The two petrol engines return similar fuel economy - with both averaging around 40mpg combined - but surprisingly the 2.0-litre unit has lower C02 emissions with a figure of 159g/km. The diesel model cuts this down to 138g/km and drops down two Road Tax bands in the process, and should also go 14 miles further on every gallon of fuel. Insurance costs are reasonable though – and resale values are similar to those of its close rivals.

Practicality

The Mazda5 was one of the first MPVs to use sliding rear doors, but they are still a big boost to practicality. You can open them easily in tightly packed car parks, and they give great access to the middle and rearmost seats. The middle row of seats all slide independently, and the middle chair can be removed to make a handy walkway through to the back row. Fold the seats away and bootspace is average rather than class leading. With only the driver and one passenger there’s 1,566-litres of room, and that space shrinks to 426 litres with five seats in place.

Safety and reliability

There should be no question of the Mazda’s mechanical reliability, as the company has a well-deserved reputation for building trouble free cars, and the engines have all proved themselves in other models in the range. Despite not yet being tested by EuroNCAP, but the body shell of the new model is stronger than on the previous version – which received the maximum five-star rating. Traction control and a full complement of air bags are standard fit, and the electric sliding doors on Sport models have a handy function to stop them trapping a child’s hand.