Mazda5 name? No space. Inside? Plenty

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With such Mazda models as the 3, the RX-8 and the MX-5, the Mazda5 tends to get a little overlooked. Perhaps not many will notice that it’s had a little visual tweak for 2008 around the nose and taillights, with a redesigned dash. But then again, it’s one of those sensible forms of family transport, where the excitement quotient is more geared toward the amount of airbags it has than how fast or agile it might be.

Seating up to six people, this machine is like a minivan, only smaller. Perhaps it should be called a nanovan. Nevertheless, headroom and legroom is not found wanting. Fold down the third row seating and the luggage space looks like it might be able to swallow an O’Keefe & Merritt. With those extra seats in place, a couple of briefcases will squeak in. Rear passengers ingress and egress via practical sliding doors on both sides. Where’s Gwyneth Paltrow when you need her?

Power comes from a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, making 153 horsepower and 148 pounds-feet of torque. A model with the manual transmission gets 22/28 mpg city/highway, while an auto version is only thirstier by one mile in each category. Being a tall car, it has that feeling of a high center of gravity and rides and comfortable rather than taut and precise. Which should keep the family happy.

The Mazda5 starts at $17,995. And airbags? Six.

-- Colin Ryan