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| Lending validity to the "mini" in minivan, the 2007 Mazda 5 offers a nimble and practical solution for smaller families who are realistic about their space and performance needs. Low price, generous features list, nimble handling, excellent fuel economy for a minivan. In Europe and Japan, small minivans (called space wagons) have been popular for years due to their impressive space efficiency and fuel mileage. Offering a lot of cabin space within a reasonably small footprint, these family shuttles never quite made it in the U.S. Nissan and Mitsubishi tried in the early '90s with their Axxess and Expo, but here, where "bigger is better" is the overriding philosophy, they were soundly snubbed. With the ever-increasing size of the minivan offerings here in the states, Mazda decided the time was right to reintroduce the idea of the space wagon, and did so with the 2006 Mazda 5. Based on the platform of the compact Mazda 3, the 5 is larger than the 3 but much smaller than every other minivan on the market. At 181.5 inches long and 69.1 inches wide, it's 2 feet shorter and 8 inches narrower than a Honda Odyssey. And at 3400 pounds, it's about 1000 pounds lighter. In spite of its relatively diminutive size, the 2007 Mazda 5 is a real minivan. Twin sliding rear doors are so easy to open that one can do so with one finger. The second-row seats fold as well as recline and there's a third seat as well, allowing for up to six passengers. A major benefit of both its smaller size and Mazda breeding is the 5's surprisingly competent road manners, making this people mover entertaining for the folks behind the wheel. The sacrifice made for the mileage estimates of 21 city/26 highway (automatic transmission) is rather tepid performance at higher speeds from the 5's four-cylinder engine. In addition to its maneuverable size, sporty dynamics and the promise of good fuel economy, the 5 offers a third-row seat and available luxury features that include a navigation system. With gas prices at all-time highs and people getting more realistic about their vehicle choices, the 2007 Mazda 5 is a true minivan that makes perfect sense for smaller families. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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