Mazda5 offers practicality, good handling

What it lacks in stylishness, cabin quietness and open highway performance, the Mazda5 almost makes up for in practicality.

A small minivan with sliding doors on each side and prices starting at about $19,000, the 5 offers six-person capacity (if the last two aren't claustrophobic), second-row legroom rivaling that of midsize sedans; the kind of cargo swallowing capability only a box on wheels can provide; and handling that would be surprising if this weren't designed by Mazda, a carmaker that rarely builds a bad handler no matter what the price range.

Fuel economy should be in the low- to mid-20s mpg, says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, with no need for premium.

The 153-hp. engine delivers sprightly acceleration around town. Car and Driver says zero to 60 mph takes 9.4 seconds. On the highway, though, the prudent driver with family and gear aboard will allow plenty of extra room when merging and extra time in passing.

The 5 is a good commuter and an excellent suburban errand runner, but it's literally and figuratively short on what most American families expect in the main household vehicle.

The frumpy looks result mostly from the tall boxlike shape that enables the 5 to carry so much cargo, and from the 17-inch wheels - small by today's standards and, aesthetically at least, too small for this car.

More-important downsides: excessive engine and tire noise at highway speeds, and a ride that, while usually comfortable, can be harsh when the pavement turns bad.

The five-speed automatic can be shifted manually, though downshifting is done counterintuitively by pushing forward on the stick, rather than pulling backward. A real manual transmission also is available.

The interior is nicely trimmed and ergonomically well thought out. Gauges are clearly readable, and controls are logically arranged and self-explanatory. The second-row captain's seats adjust fore and aft.

Mazda warranties the 5 for three years or 36,000 miles, with five years/60,000 on the powertrain. Consumer Reports deems this vehicle "average" in reliability, based on the magazine's annual reader surveys. But Mazda's performance is spotty and usually poor in the various surveys by market researchers J.D. Power and Associates of vehicle quality and owner satisfaction.

The 5 gets an almost-top rating for crash-worthiness from the federal government: five out of a possible five stars for frontal crash protection and for front seaters' side-impact protection, but four out of five stars for rear seaters' side-impact protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety hasn't tested the 5.

A redesigned model is due early next year either as a 2011 or 2012 model.