Thom Blackett’s Opinion of the 2006 Mazda 5’s Design:
From a styling perspective, designers have done their best with what they had – a small minivan. To that end, a rakish front end with an egg-crate lower grille and swept headlights has been added, the tall taillights get the clear-lens treatment and sit below a roofline spoiler, wheel arches are a bit flared, and sporty 17-inch alloy wheels meet the road. This may be as good as a little wagon can look, and is a marked improvement over others like the Toyota Matrix.

Silver trim panels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a shifter mounted high on the center panel give the 2006 Mazda 5’s interior a sporty feel, something strongly desired by typical Mazda buyers. Ample glass, including the small pieces forward of the exterior mirrors, accent the car’s looks and allow for good visibility. But the rear seats are the highlight of the Mazda 5’s interior. The third-row split bench folds with a simple tug of a strap on each side, and the second-row buckets fold nearly flat after raising the seat bottoms and tucking in the center tray. It’s an efficient setup that makes the most of the car’s available cargo space.

Brian Chee’s Opinion of the 2006 Mazda 5’s Design:
Aw, shucks. The 2006 Mazda 5 speaks for itself. The thing is, um, different, and the differences are hard to get used to. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course, but those huge rear lights, that squat little body…man, that car has got a great personality.

Inside, the Mazda 5 has some shining-star moments, especially the dash area, which lays everything out for the driver to see, with nice contrasts and a simple approach. Excellent controls also make driving the Mazda 5 a pleasure, especially the large knobs for environmental settings. There are also flip-up trays in the back under the seats, and plenty of storage and cupholders. Call me the vocal minority, but I also liked the placement of the navigation screen, and the navigation controls. Yes, it took a minute to see ‘em parked next to the shifter, but once located, the navi controls were easy to use. The main problem was that its location made it hard for, say, a passenger to assist with programming. Not a bad a thing, if your partner is constantly questioning your driving decisions…

Ron Perry’s Opinion of the 2006 Mazda 5’s Design:
The 2006 Mazda 5 is a well executed design that results in a quality product. It’s full of little things that impress, like fold-down armrests, assist handles for front and rear occupants, that hideaway center console for the rear seats, lots of storage space, and multiple cupholders and water bottle holders. Designers used two textured plastics on the interior that complement one another and add a feeling of quality to the interior. Even the type of material covering the seats feels good and the contrasting inserts really give them a sporty look. Add to that a tailgate with two height options and dual side doors for easy entry and exit, and it’s apparent designers spent time making the small Mazda 5 feel bigger than it really is.

The big miss with me has to be the exterior design. I just can’t warm up to the look, which to my eye is heavily influenced by the Japanese. The Mazda 5 looks odd from every angle, too small to be a minivan and too large to be a compact five-door hatch, which just confuses my sense of what a car should be.

Christian Wardlaw’s Opinion of the 2006 Mazda 5’s Design:
Simple. Basic. Smart. These are the notes I made to sum up the 2006 Mazda 5’s design. Personally, I think this is a good looking vehicle with the exception of the high-mounted, clear-lens taillights. The five-spoke wheels are handsome, and this is a well balanced design. Inside, the Mazda 5 looks and feels more upscale than the price tag might lead you to believe, and outward visibility from the driver’s seat is terrific.

As for control layout, I have no complaints. The stereo and climate control systems are stylish, featuring large controls with clear markings and a quality feel when used. All secondary controls are located exactly where you expect to find them, making the Mazda 5 intuitive to use from the start. Even the navigation system, which pops up from the dashboard and is thankfully separate from the stereo and climate systems, is a breeze to program, zoom, get maps, and go back to the previous screen.