FOR me, the Mazda5 is the best driving midi-MPV of them all. It really shows that you don’t have to give up enjoyment when your family grows.
It uses the excellent 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines from the Mazda6, and will take seven adults over short distances.
There are three rows of seats, with two in the middle. But when another seat is needed, a narrower centre seat folds out ingeniously.
The rearmost seats fold up out of the flat boot floor in one very light and easy movement.
The rear doors slide easily open with one hand and close just as easily – something which cannot be said of all.
And the space they leave is better than most others when it comes to accessing the rear seats.
It has very good, well balanced handling, fluid road holding and peppy engines which, while they do have to be revved for best effect, do so beautifully.
Interior
A very practical six or seven seat MPV and it’s such a good all rounder, I put it best in class.
Equipment in all models includes air conditioning, four electric windows, electric mirrors and central locking, plus much more.
FAST FACTS
Mazda5
Price: Pay £6,000 for an ’05 05-reg TS or £10,000 for an ’08 08-reg TS2
Mechanical: 113bhp, 1,798cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5-speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 113mph
0-62mph: 10.9 seconds
Combined mpg: 37
Insurance group: 6
CO2 emissions: 179g/km
BIK rating: 21%
Marks: 10/10
Main rival: Ford C-Max