The Mazda5 minivan is fun to drive. That's right: A minivan that's fun to drive. How can this be? The secret's in its size, as the six-person Mazda5 is significantly smaller than traditional minivans. All Mazda5s have a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 153 horsepower and 148 pounds-feet of torque. It's a smooth-revving unit that's strong enough for its purposes, but it doesn't have a whole lot of extra power and can sound buzzy at higher rpm. With a full load of passengers and cargo, it wouldn't be hard for the normally adequately powered Mazda5 to be underpowered.
The Mazda5 is alone in the small-minivan segment, and its closest competitors are likely four-door hatchbacks including the Mazda3 rather than traditional minivans like the Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. That said, the Mazda5 manages to offer surprising utility in a package that's not as mundane as many small cars, and that will appeal to some shoppers.
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