September 29, 2008 5:00 PM PDT
Review: 2009 Mazda MAZDA5, the mini minivan
Read the full 2009 Mazda Mazda5 Grand Touring review.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)It seemed as if everyone who we spoke to about Mazda's Mazda5 said the same thing: "It's a mini-minivan." As cheesy as that sounds, there isn't really a better way to describe what Mazda has created with the Mazda5. As fuel prices soar and its full-size MPV minivan continues to grow, Mazda hopes to do for the van market what crossovers have done for the SUV market. Based on the compact Mazda3, the Mazda5 inherits performance that comes very close to Mazda's promise of "zoom-zoom." The Mazda5 isn't really a vehicle that should be judged on performance, however, but rather by its unique combination of sedan-like economy and van-like utility.
