It is a sad day for a sports car owner when they have to make the move to a family vehicle. Easing the pain of owning a family-friendly car is the Mazda5. Part minivan, part sport wagon, the 5 makes owning a family car actually fun!
The 5's front-end shares design cues with the rest of Mazda's sporty lineup. The raised canopy and twin sliding doors show that the 5 is more than JUST a wagon, as it handles as well, if not better than, many performance sedans!
The 2009 Mazda5 is powered by a 2.3-liter inline-4 cylinder engine. It puts out 153 horsepower and 148 pound feet of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels through a 5-speed automatic transmission. The base Sport model gets the option of a 5-speed manual as well.
Fuel economy for the Mazda5 ranges from 21 miles per gallon city with the automatic, up to 28 miles per gallon highway with the standard.
The interior of the 5 is the best of both worlds, with a sporty cockpit and spacious well-lit greenhouse. All Mazda5's come with standard equipment such as multifunction steering wheel, second row captains' chairs with under seat storage and fold out center console, and 50/50 split fold 3rd row seats. With the second row collapsed and the 3rd row flat, the 5 has over 70 cubic feet of cargo space.
Our Grand Touring model came standard with leather seating, front heated seats, and AM/FM 6-disc in-dash stereo system with 6-speakers and auxiliary jack. The power sliding moon roof and available touch screen navigation system are recommended optional features.
Standard safety equipment includes antilock braking system with brake assist, a full array of front and side impact airbags, collapsible accelerator and brake pedal assembly, and side impact door beams.
Base MSRP for the 2009 Mazda5 is $17,995. A fully loaded Grand Touring model can cost as much as $27,000. The 5 is backed by a 5-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
With sporty styling and good handling to boot, shoppers considering a crossover wagon can count on the Mazda5 to deliver both family-friendly versatility and fun-to-drive performance.