Mazda5 comfortable, pleasing

This week we test drive the 2006 Mazda5 Touring, a new, one-of-a-kind vehicle whose “soul of a sports car” has been exchanged for what we’ll term a sedan-SUV-mini-van mutant.

And we mean that in a nice way.

Mazda has been told it is taking a risk in introducing the “5” in America markets, despite its success in Europe and Asia. The outcome likely will ride on how buyers respond to its unique combination of van-envying function (including slide-open rear doors), SUV looks and sedan-like performance.

This rare combination of vehicles seats six in three rows — but don’t expect to easily put two adults in that cramped third row. Unlike a minivan, it’s simply tough to get back there, even with the slide-open rear doors.

On the combination theme, you can do plenty with the second and third rows, depending on how you want your “5” to function on a particular day. The second row seats fold flat, for example, and the third row is 50/50 split and fold. There is second-row under-seat storage and second-row foldout storage. Hey, it does sound like a van, so load up the people, get the groceries, or haul the lumber. The choice is yours.

Of course, part of the appeal of the “5” is that you get that extra row of seating and storage, but you’re still driving a vehicle that gets 22 mpg city and 27 highway fuel mileage. Indeed, the “zoom-zoom” of Mazda’s engine theory has been tamed to achieve these numbers, but it’s certainly not eliminated. The 2.3-liter, double-overhead cam, 16-valve I-4 (four cylinder) engine puts out a plentiful 157 horsepower. We found it surprisingly quick, particularly for a … van. (Right, a van).

The front-wheel drive Mazda5 Touring features a five-speed manual transmission with overdrive. Other performance features include independent front and rear suspension; four-wheel disc, anti-lock brakes; front and rear stabilizer bars; variable-assist power steering; 17-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires; and fog lamps.

Inside Mazda5, beyond the issues of space, it’s a comfortable and pleasing experience. The navigation system that added $2,000 to our tester’s price (the only extra fee besides $560 for delivery) had its screen positioned at a lower, closer location than we’ve seen for navigation video in a variety of other vehicles. Also, Mazda has some of the navigation and entertainment buttons on a remote-control-like pad built into the base of the console to the left of the gearshift lever. While looking down and away from the road is never good for the driver, it was certainly easier to reach the buttons, and we found ourselves pushing the right ones without looking down in a matter of a few days.

Also of note are a power moonroof, floor mats, “lift” and adjustable lumbar driver’s seat, three-spoke leather steering wheel with tilt and telescopic features, steering-wheel mounted cruise and audio controls, driver and passenger vanity mirrors, automatic climate control, power windows and door locks, AM/FM with six-CD changer and clock, variable intermittent wipers and rear wiper with fixed intermittent function.

Safety features on the Mazda5 include driver and front passenger side and front air bag systems, and three-row side air curtains.

Other important numbers include 3,333-pound curb weight (not much more than an average sedan, yet 400-plus-pounds lighter than Mazda’s 3,772-pound MPV minivan), 5.5-inch ground clearance, 3,000-pound maximum towing capacity, 15.9-gallon fuel tank and 108.3-inch wheel base.

We can envision a buying market that ranges from frenzied families to relaxing retirees finding value in the versatile Mazda5. The question some may be left with, however, is, “Should I have paid a little more and got a van?” or, “Should I have paid a little less and stuck with a sedan?” If too many people ask those questions before they buy, Mazda engineers may have some questions of their own to answer.

In the end, we’re still not sure what to call this vehicle, but we certainly won’t call it anything negative. We liked its appealing combination and give it an 8.5 on a scale of 1 to 10.

Likes: Performance, versatility (and the neighbors won’t know what to call your new wheels).

Dislikes: Is there value in a third row of seating that’s so small?