Review
Don't let it's slightly bland design put you off - the Mazda 5 is one of the best of the current crop of mid-sized people carriers. Sliding rear doors and seven seats means plenty of practicality, while a sharp chassis makes it surprisingly good fun to drive, too.
Not that the aesthetics are likely to set too many pulses racing. The 5's looks are similar to those of the mid-sized US-spec "minivans" which it competes with on the other side of the Atlantic, and it looks a bit bland next to European rivals like the Vauxhall Zafira and Citroen C4 Picasso.
The cabin is spacious and finished to a high standard with tough-feeling materials. Space is decent for four occupants, although tight for three sitting across the middle-row seat, but the rearmost seats are only really suited for small children and they are awkward to fold away. And with the third row upright there is only very limited luggage space available.
On the road the 5 is a revelation, driving with far more aplomb than you would expect for a vehicle of this type. The steering is great, grip levels are impressively high and corners are dispatched cleanly. The downside is a distinct lack of refinement, lots of road noise gets into the cabin at motorway speeds and the ride is sometimes harsh.
Neither the 1.8 litre or the 2.0 litre petrol engines feel particularly rapid, and need to be thrashed for rapid performance. Most buyers will opt for one of the impressively strong diesel engines, with the 141 bhp 2.0 litre unit particularly impressive.