2009 Mazda MAZDA5

Review

I've heard the 2009 Mazda5 called a lot of names, all good ones of course! I've heard it being called the “Mazda mini minivan,”

the Mazda “wagon-van”, a sport crossover, compact "micro-van" and more. Since people have been name-calling, I decided to join in on the fun. Despite its large and bubbly stature, sliding rear doors and easy accessibility to the second and third row seats, the 2009 Mazda5 is what I call an un-minivan. After all, according to Juliet, “What's in a name?” No matter what name you choose to use when talking about one of Mazda's most affordable and versatile vehicles, it won't change the fact that this un-minivan is a fun and unique car to drive, which is very un-minivan-like.

For the 2009 model year, the Mazda5 essentially remains unchanged since its introduction in 2006, although it underwent a mild refresh last year. As luck would have it, my Mazda5 Grand Touring (we'll just call it a GT) came equipped with almost all the luxuries. I definitely benefited from the heated seats since the winter weather is still very crisp on the Northwest Coast. I've become completely addicted to toasty cushions because they feel so nice on the tush. I also thoroughly enjoyed the convenience of the 6-disc in-dash CD player. I had temporarily misplaced my auxiliary chord and was left with no other option than to listen to my CDs. I know, how awful, but it was easy enough to insert my favorite music with no fuss and go. I later found my chord which I then plugged into the aux

jack connected to the quad-speaker, dual-tweeter system and enjoyed limitless hours of music on my iPod.

Another piece of optional equipment on my Mazda5 was the 5-speed automatic transmission. This smooth-shifting gearbox came linked to a quick-revving 16-valve, DOHC, 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine which produces 153 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 148 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. It proved to be plenty powerful for running around town, going to and from work and shuttling co-workers around for the lunch run! The 5 also felt good underneath me, with its front independent strut type and rear independent multi-link suspension. It's not what I would call an über-sporty setup, but it had a nice balance of firmness and comfort for daily driving. My GT model also came equipped with a set of P205/50R17 all season tires wrapped around 17-inch

alloy wheels, so whether I was driving in the rain, sleet or sunshine I had good traction all around.

Along with the sufficient day-to-day power the Mazda5 provided, another hot topic of conversation was the sliding rear doors. It was not only me who loved this feature, but quite a few of my passengers. I happen to appreciate rear sliders when putting items inside and taking them out as I never needed much room beside me. It was especially handy when I needed to access the rear seats and two larger cars were parked on either side of me. My passengers liked it for most of the same reasons, basically usability and accessibility. Hmmm... why are minivans out of style again?

Fortunately the Mazda5 is an un-minivan, so whether I was carrying five people along for the  ride or flying solo, the fuel consumption was pretty good, and with fuel prices still high, but not as high as six months ago, it's reassuring that a 6-passenger vehicle can deliver such good fuel economy. On average,

the Mazda5 uses an estimated 22 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway. I had an opportunity to put the 5's highway fuel consumption to the test. My friend Daria and I ended up driving between Seattle and Vancouver, to and from (over 250 miles), for a little shopping and ended up paying just under $20 in fuel. We were pretty excited that the bill was so cheap!

This un-minivan sounds ideal, doesn't it? Well, yes and no. What's quite un-minivan-like about the Mazda5 is cargo space. With the third row seats up there is only 4.0 cubic feet of luggage volume. That's only enough room for a few bags of groceries and couple of other random items. However, with the third row seats folded, and they fold down 50/50, there is a full 15 cubic feet of space to use to your heart's content, which is about the same trunk volume as a midsize sedan. Then again, I wasn't too willing to leave anything back there anyway, as the GT model Mazda gave me didn't have a cover to keep things hidden. I guess tinting the windows might be another solution to the problem.

My few quibbles aside, the 2009 Mazda5 Grand Touring wagon, mini minivan or whatever name you'd like to call it has a spacious interior, well-manicured cabin and great fuel economy. Plus it's extremely unique in composition and is very versatile. Whether I was fitting tall people or little old me inside, the atmosphere was cool and collected. It's no wonder this crossover-like un-minivan is so appealing to individuals with a taste for the outdoors, those with young families or anyone who wants a comfortable ride without paying a premium.