2006 Mazda 5 Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

This new compact wagon bows for 2006 with front-wheel drive, six-passenger seating, and minivanlike sliding side doors. The Mazda 5 is a longer, taller spinoff of the Mazda 3 compact cars. It comes in Sport and uplevel Touring trim, both with a 157-hp 4-cyl engine and 5-speed manual transmission or optional 4-speed automatic with manual shift gate. It has sliding rear side doors, a one-piece liftgate, and three rows of two seats. The 2nd-row seats recline and slide fore and aft to adjust cargo or passenger space. Along with the 3rd-row seats, they fold to create a flat load floor. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes and 17-inch wheels are standard. So are front side airbags and curtain side airbags that cover all seating rows. A sunroof and aero body addenda are standard for Touring, available on Sport. Options include DVD entertainment and, for the Touring, a navigation system.

Competition

Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. Compact Cars comprise the smallest passengers cars. These vehicles range from tiny economy models to slightly larger, popularly priced sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons.

Our Best Buys include Chrysler PT Cruiser, Honda Civic, Mazda 3, and Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix twins. Our Recommended picks include Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Spectra, and Toyota Corolla.

New or significantly redesigned models include Chevrolet HHR, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, and Volkswagen Golf and Jetta.

News

No significant near-term changes are likely for this compact people-mover.

2006 Mazda 5 Road Test

Pros	Cons

Build quality	Acceleration (automatic transmission)

Ride/handling	3rd-row passenger room

Interior storage space

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

Touring w/nav. sys., man.	Touring, auto.	Class Average
5	4	4.4

Responsive with manual transmission, which has slick shift and smooth clutch action. Adequate with automatic transmission though passing maneuvers require careful planning; using manual shift gate compensates some.

Fuel Economy

Touring w/nav. sys., man.	Touring, auto.	Class Average
6	6	6.7

Test Tourings with automatic transmission averaged 21.8-22.0 mpg. No opportunity to measure with manual transmission.

Ride Quality

Touring w/nav. sys., man.	Touring, auto.	Class Average
5	5	4.9

Firm but never unpleasant, despite some jolting over sharp bumps and pavement seams. Nicely settled on undulating surfaces.

Steering/Handling/Braking

Touring w/nav. sys., man.	Touring, auto.	Class Average
6	6	5.6

Surprisingly sporty. Good grip, modest body lean in corners. Tight turning circle. Responsive steering with plenty of road feel. Takes very strong crosswind or extremely severe large-truck wake to affect directional stability.

Quietness

Touring w/nav. sys., man.	Touring, auto.	Class Average
4	4	4.2

Engine throbs at idle, a bit noisy at full throttle, but cruises quietly. Wind rush modest at highway speeds, but coarse pavement induces audible tire thrum that resonates through large, open cabin space.

Controls

Touring w/nav. sys., man.	Touring, auto.	Class Average
7	7	5.9

Stylish cabin belies Mazda 5's modest pricing with upscale soft-touch surfaces, metal-look accents, sturdy fabrics. Gauges hard to read in some daylight conditions. Ditto pop-up dashboard screen for optional navigation system, which works well otherwise. Switchgear simple, handy. Transmission gear lever sprouts from lower middle of dashboard; takes some acclimation, and some testers hit climate controls while shifting.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Touring w/nav. sys., man.	Touring, auto.	Class Average
7	7	5.5

Seats elevated more than in most cars, but visibility not the best to right-rear and dead astern. Broad dashtop imparts minivan feel. Standard tilt/telescope steering wheel, pump-handle seat-height adjuster help situate driver. Firm seats have just enough lateral support, but very tall drivers wanted longer cushions, more rearward travel. Head room good for all.

Room/Comfort (rear)

Touring w/nav. sys., man.	Touring, auto.	Class Average
7	7	3.9

Terrific head, leg room in 2nd row, aided by ability to slide seats, recline backrests. Some testers say seats too firm for best comfort. All agree 3rd row suits only small children, and even they will pine for more foot space. Sliding doors provide outstanding entry/exit to 2nd-row seats. Getting in or out of 3rd row demands serious contortions.

Cargo Room

Touring w/nav. sys., man.	Touring, auto.	Class Average
7	7	4.7

Easy loading through sliding side doors, large liftgate, though open liftgate just clears six-footer heads. Only grocery-bag space in far aft with 3rd row in passenger position. But 2nd- and 3rd-row seatbacks drop easily to near flat and can be arranged for variety of spacious passenger/cargo loads. Abundant small-item storage includes hidden trays beneath 2nd-row seats and rear cargo floor.

Value within Class

Touring w/nav. sys., man.	Touring, auto.	Class Average
6	7	6.2

Families who have outgrown their compact sedan are just one of a long list of potential customers for this difficult-to-pigeonhole new vehicle. Mazda 5 combines sporty-wagon flair with minivanlike versatility in a well-made, sensibly sized, attractively priced package. Its range of attributes includes good fuel economy, engaging drivability, outstanding room for four adults and lots of luggage, or the ability to a haul a sliver of cargo and six people--as long as the two in the 3rd-row seats are tikes.

Total Score

Touring w/nav. sys., man.	Touring, auto.	Class Average
60	60	52

Scores for all Compact Cars

Low Score		37
Average Score		52
High Score		64

2006 Mazda 5 Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 04/27/2006

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

Sport 4-door wagon	$17,435	$16,326	$560

Touring 4-door wagon	$18,950	$17,739	$560

Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.

NA = price note available, NC = no charge.

Rebates and Incentives

There are no rebates or incentives at this time.

Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.

Standard Equipment

Sport

Powertrain

2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual transmission.

Safety

Dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain side airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, brake assist.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Air conditioning, interior air filter, power steering, tilt/telescope steering wheel w/radio controls, cruise control, cloth upholstery, 6-passenger seating, front bucket seats, height-adjustable driver seat, center console, cupholders, 2nd-row adjustable bucket seats, 3rd-row split folding seat, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD player, digital clock, tachometer, intermittent wipers, map lights, visor mirrors, rear defogger, intermittent rear wiper/washer, floormats.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Theft-deterrent system, 205/50VR17 tires, alloy wheels.

Touring adds to Sport:

Comfort and Convenience Features

Automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power sunroof, AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer, 2nd-row fold-out table, outside-temperature indicator.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Fog lights, side-sill extensions, rear spoiler.

Optional Equipment

Major Packages	Retail Price	Invoice Price
Popular Equipment Pkg.
Sport	$490	$421
AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer, side-sill extensions, rear spoiler. Std. Touring.

Powertrain
4-speed automatic transmission w/manual-shift capability
Sport, Touring	$900	$810


Comfort and Convenience Features
Navigation system
Touring	$2,000	$1,720


Power sunroof
Sport	$700	$602


DVD entertainment system
Sport, Touring	$1,200	$960


AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD/MP3 changer
Sport	$500	$400


Cargo cover
Sport, Touring	$150	$120


Automatic day/night rearview mirror
Sport, Touring	$300	$240
Includes compass, outside-temperature indicator, universal garage door opener.

Rubber floormats
Sport, Touring	$60	$48


Appearance and Miscellaneous
Fog lights
Sport	$300	$240


Door edge guards
Sport, Touring	$75	$60


Bumper pad
Sport, Touring	$50	$40


Special paint
Sport, Touring	$200	$172

2006 Mazda 5 Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	Mazda 5 4-door wagon

Wheelbase, in.	108.3

Overall Length, in.	181.5

Overall Width, in.	69.1

Overall Height, in.	64.2

Curb Weight, lbs.	3333

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	44.4

Standard Payload, lbs.	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	15.9

Seating Capacity	6

Front Head Room, in.	40.7

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	40.7

Rear Head Room, in.	39.4

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	35.2

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Engines

	dohc I4

Size, liters/cu. in.	2.3 /138

Horsepower @ rpm.	157 @ 6500

Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.	148 @ 3500

Availability	Standard

EPA City / highway mpg

5-speed manual	22/27

4-speed automatic	21/26

Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Safety Features

Antilock Brakes

Traction Control

Antiskid System

Front Side Airbags

Curtain Side Airbags

Rear Side Airbags

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test

Mazda 5 4-door wagon

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Manufacturer's Warranty

Class	Years/Miles	Comments

Powertrain	None/--	--

Bumper-to-bumper	4/50,000	--

Corrosion	5/Unlimited	--

Free roadside assistance	4/50,000	--

Free scheduled maintenance	None/--	--

Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.

Built in: Japan

Drivewheels: front-wheel drive

< 2006 Mazda 5 Photos

Also in the 2006 Mazda 5 Review:

Mazda 5

Mazda 5 Road Test

Mazda 5 Prices & Equipment

Mazda 5 Specs & Safety

Mazda 5 Photos

Mazda 5 Full Review

All Mazda 5s

All Mazdas