Now driving shall not be in van

LITTLE IS MUCH: Certainly not a mini minivan, the “pretty cool” Mazda5’s fuel economy and price make it a great choice for young families, reviewer says.

By MATHIEU YUILL

Some people call it the mini minivan. But to label it such is an injustice, because the Mazda5 isn’t often found loaded up with a full team of pint-size hockey players and you don’t find a plethora of them at the Starbucks parking lot while soccer moms are inside getting their double tall skinny latte.

If minivans are the motor vehicle icon of suburbia, the Mazda5 should be the family car of choice for city dwellers.

There is a lot going for it, especially for young families. Mazda put a lot of thought into exterior styling in particular, so making the move from a sporty two-door coupe into a car better suited for baby seats isn’t as shocking.

Starting at $21,795, some of the standard equipment has whiffs of “pretty cool” all over it. The 16-inch wheels are second only to Kia’s youthful and edgy design, the interior centre stack and dashboard mimics that of the sporty RX-8 and Mazda6, and the speedy lines molded into the exterior side panels keep it closer to Mini than van on the youthful scale.

The base model is equipped with keyless entry, side airbags, ABS brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, power mirrors and more. The GT model, priced at $24,395, adds 17-inch wheels, easy-close sliding doors, heated side mirrors, AC with automatic climate control, Bluetooth, cruise control, a centre row fold-out cargo bin and other goodies.

Both models are equipped with a manual transmission. Adding a five-speed automatic with sport mode is an additional $1,200, and a luxury package with leather seating and a power moon roof is $1,790.

The 5’s 2.5L 4-cylinder inline engine, with 157 hp and 163 lb-ft torque, won’t impress your friends with V-6s that have more power, but it does the job in the city and on the highway. In addition, the 9.5/6.8 L/100 kms city/highway consumption is something to celebrate with gas prices seemingly always on the rise.

But most importantly, with Honda ending production of the Element this year, the Mazda5 is the single best vehicle for families of four. From baby car seats through booster seats, no vehicle is easier to get your children into and out of. With the rear seats folded down you can pack a whole weekend’s worth of family stuff and still be comfortable all around.

Fuel economy and low entry price makes it a perfect choice for young families and it works just as well as bigger, more expensive vehicles.