Mazda 5 (2005 – 2010) Review
Mazda 5 (2005 – 2010) At A Glance
The Mazda5 is a people carrier that ticks nearly every box on the compact MPV wishlist and is still affordable and stylish. It's certainly one of the better looking MPVs around and far less boxy than many alternatives the same size. However, it's real selling point is the sliding rear side doors, making getting in and out - even in tight sports such as multi-storey car parks - easy and dent-free.
Mazda has created a 6+1 seating system and it’s the middle row which differentiates it from the others. There are two individual chairs that slide, recline and fold flat, while both have lift-up bases which conceal extra storage. To create the all important seventh seat, the left-hand chair also contains an extra flip-up cushion, while the central armrest doubles as the back support. It's clever stuff and it works well.
Build quality is good in the 5 and the interior feels strong and robust, evident in the folding seat mechanism. There's plenty of space inside and the third row offers considerably more space than most other people carriers this size with really impressive headroom. And it's equally as good on the move. The Mazda is based on the same platform as the Ford Focus and it shows – turn in is sharp and the handling is agile while body control is very good indeed.
It was facelifted in 2008 with a slightly different nose while all the engines were made more efficient while a revised version of the 2.0-litre petrol engine was launched. However, the best engine remains the 2.0-litre diesel with 143PS and a positive six-speed manual gearbox.
Real MPG average for a Mazda 5 (2005 – 2010)
![RealMPG](/images/realmpg-logo.png)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
85%
Real MPG
23–49 mpg
MPGs submitted
112
Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.
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