Thom Blackett’s 2006 Mazda 5 Driving Impressions:
Apparently, just because something looks like a minivan doesn’t mean it drives like one. Case in point: the 2006 Mazda 5 mini-minivan. Under the aerodynamic, albeit a bit boxy, shape is a nimble little hauler that offers decent handling, even when piloting down winding country roads. Understeer rears its ugly head in hard-core corners, but this is a six-passenger wagon, so extreme lateral stick isn’t exactly a required quality. Thus, the squealing tires, doing their best to maintain grip, can’t be complained about too much. Keep the speeds reasonable, and back road slaloming can be quite entertaining in the Mazda 5.

From the driver’s seat, there’s the sporty steering wheel to enjoy, a leather-wrapped unit that provides plenty of feedback and sufficient heft when the speedometer needle climbs. Razor-sharp handling is left for the RX-8, but the Mazda 5 is dialed in nicely for a people-hauler. Braking is a non-issue thanks to the antilock disc setup, though the pedal can be a tad touchy as it’s first depressed. The same can be said of the throttle, which is tied to an eager, yet ultimately underpowered, little four-banger that revs for all it’s worth. Mash the pedal on the highway for a quick pass, and the Mazda 5 will indeed pass, though screams of protest come from under the hood. But don’t blame the engine entirely – the four-speed automatic transmission is slow to decide on the proper gear, continuously hunting for the right answer, and often settling for a deep dig into second or third gear for a wild spin on the ol’ tachometer. Call it the “Spinning Tachometer Game” – it’ll keep the kids amused for hours, or until they get a mild case of whiplash from the sudden and repeated downshifts.

Except for that confused tranny, the 2006 Mazda 5 packs a good bit of fun for an affordable, six-passenger wagon, er, van, kinda thing. But that’s with one 165-lb. driver on board. Add in five more bodies of average weight, and one can only imagine how outmatched the powertrain would be.

Brian Chee’s 2006 Mazda 5 Driving Impressions:
It kept yelling at me, this car that wouldn’t shut up. Over and over again, it hollered with the most irritating beep, and I failed to figure out what it was I was doing wrong, or what was amiss with this weird little vehicle. Doors were shut tight, seatbelts were on, and the parking brake was off. Yet still, it beeped.

Then I lifted my briefcase off the passenger seat, and the clamor stopped. Turns out that the weight sensor on the passenger seat is set low enough to activate the fasten seatbelt warning for items no heavier than a healthy sack of groceries, or, in this case, a briefcase. The solution is simple enough, true – either put your belongings somewhere else, or fasten a belt around your bag. I must confess, though, that I forgot this simple rule several times during two days with the vehicle.

Other than the bark of a seatbelt buzzer, the 2006 Mazda 5 is a pretty smooth and quiet car, with just small amounts of wind and road noise. The engine purrs along, emitting neither a happy note nor an agonizing squeal, and the tires keep their composure during sedate driving maneuvers. It’s essentially a mini-minivan, remember, with a strange Euro-centric design. Driving such a thing elicits a number of stares at stoplights, so you’ll have a great urge to motor away as quickly as possible. The engine is peppy, but barely so – if that briefcase is heavy, or you have a few occupants aboard, you may have some trouble during the getaway especially if the getaway is uphill.

You get the last laugh, however. When it comes to parking and changing lanes, making U-turns and doing the types of things that give the typically bloated SUVs on our roads fits, the Mazda 5 is nimble and responsive, a pleasure to pilot along city streets and in and out of traffic. You get a really tight turning radius, a nice high view and great visibility, though the Mazda 5 rocks like a toy boat in a bathtub during harder-than-usual cornering, and braking is only adequate. All in all, the 2006 Mazda 5 feels designed for a different road and a different driver than what we have here in America, and, indeed, it is quite a popular car in Europe. With a more powerful engine and perhaps a wider stance, this would also be a big hit in America.

Ron Perry’s 2006 Mazda 5 Driving Impressions:
My driving experience in the 2006 Mazda 5 wasn’t what I was expecting…it was better. Crossover, minivan, whatever you want to call them, vehicles like these are not my favorite to drive, so when I saw the Mazda 5 on the schedule I was less than enthusiastic about spending much seat time in it. However, the Mazda 5 won me over. The engine, though sluggish off the line, delivers surprisingly well once under way. Loaded with adults, the engine might need a few more seconds to get up to speed but freeway lane changes and passing were not an issue and I had confidence that the Mazda 5 would accomplish these tasks without issue. The steering is a little light for me, but considering the type vehicle it is I would give it a passing grade. My biggest surprise was how smooth and quiet the Mazda 5 was. It tracks well and handles the bumps and washboard textures of the freeway with grace and poise. Great brakes and a quiet interior void of much wind or tire noise rounded out my experience.

Christian Wardlaw’s 2006 Mazda 5 Driving Impressions:
Given the Mazda badges front and rear, perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised to find the 2006 Mazda 5 immensely fun to drive. Like a Mazda 3, this mini-minivan isn’t speedy but makes up for its lack of punch with entertaining handling, quick reflexes, and refined responses to driver inputs.

Except for throttle tip-in, which is abrupt enough to cause the front tires to lay a patch until you get your right foot calibrated to its sensitivity. The 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine delivers smooth power and likes to rev. Its 157 ponies are enough when one person is aboard; load the Mazda 5 up with people or gear and it’s easy to conclude that the four-banger would be taxed. Mid-range response is adequate for passing, but no more, and the Mazda 5 can maintain a steady cruising speed of 80 mph on the flat lands. Add extra weight, altitude, hill climbs, and performance is likely to degrade quickly. Great for city driving, the Mazda 5 is equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission that shifts well under normal circumstances, but lags a bit for passing. Manual shifts are crisp, and set up like a BMW or Formula One racing car – counter-intuitively. You tap up for a downshift and tap down for an upshift. I greatly dislike that.

The Mazda 5’s steering is linear and a tad overassisted, but with excellent road feel. The brake pedal is sensitive and responsive without being grabby, making it easy to complete quick and smooth stops. The suspension communicates most nuances of the road surface, and since this is not a quiet vehicle inside, you get to hear every little change in the topography, from the rifle shots of expansion joints to the harmonic thrum of grooved pavement. The Mazda 5 is an impressive handling machine for what it is – a mini-minivan. There’s not as much roll and pitch as I expected, though it exists. The 17-inch tires grip well and are quiet when abused. Ride quality is surprisingly good for a vehicle that communicates so much of what the tires and suspension are up to. Like most European vehicles, the Mazda 5 rides a bit on the stiff side, yet filters out the worst road anomalies. Body motion is kept nicely in check. The Mazda 5 also has a very tight turning circle and is quite easy to park. Visibility is terrific all around.