Roomy Enough For Santa’s Sack

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There is something flawed with the male ego in that so much of it gets tied up in the perception of how their associates (and the world at large) interprets their manhood. For this reason they obsess over a car’s appearance and image-enhancement capabilities, regardless of whether or not said transport makes sense for them from a practical standpoint. This is a shame on many fronts, because getting the right vehicle for your real-world needs can be a beautiful thing, all while providing a satisfying companion for your day-to-day transportation chores.

I say all this because minivans are routinely being trashed by individuals who don’t appreciate their utility, versatility and unique persona. I’m not saying anybody has to like anything, nor do I claim to be a champion for van-based motoring that the masses seem too dim to appreciate. I just hate to see something being excluded purely for reasons of perceived image. Minivans are rockin’ good vehicles for moving surprising amounts of people and kit, and can be a veritable base camp on wheels for when you need it. And here we have (as I mentioned on this fine forum a year or two ago) a true mini-minivan in the Mazda5 that is brilliantly useful and surprisingly affordable.

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This clever busette is not only a genuine study in efficient interior space utilization, it is really easy to live with even in urban environments. A tight exterior makes parking a simple affair even in a smaller garages, and a sliding door on each side makes access to the second and third row seats a breeze regardless of which side of the road you park on. The third row is kind of tight but certainly serviceable for munchkins and pets, and these seats easily fold flat into the floor to open up the cargo area (44 cubic feet worth of space with the 3rd folded; expanding to 97 with the 2nd row folded. That’s nearly enough room for a lame reindeer).  Seat comfort is good and my test mule had heated leather-trimmed seats up front that were much appreciated in these winter months. Our second row featured Captains Chairs, while the third had the 50/50 third row seats. 

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The engine is new for 2012; a smooth-idling 2.5-liter Inline Four with 157 horsepower mated to a 5-speed automatic gearbox. As you might surmise this is no drag racer, but it gets the 5 around fine as long as you’re not climbing grades with a load of Sumos (and in return, it’s very stingy in the fuel consumption department). Features and storage are generous, including numerous cubbies and an unusually deep glove box.

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There is room for a lot in this modestly-sized vehicle, but despite it’s clear mission of hauling efficiently it’s actually a lot of fun to drive. Steering is light, and it’s no RX-8 but it can be entertaining once you learn its tendencies. And check this out: the Grand Touring model we enjoyed had the optional rear-seat DVD Entertainment System and we still had a sticker that was barely over $26K. This is with an already very nicely-equipped trim level, which included Automatic Climate Control and a very serviceable standard audio system. Of course, the big thing about this little minivan is how they’ve built so much room in such a small package. EPA numbers are 21 MPG city/28 highway, which are pretty great when you consider how much caboodle you can cram in the sucker. Real Men, and Real Women, appreciate such things.

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