Usually, seating more than 5 passengers and getting decent fuel economy are mutually exclusive. Most midsize or larger 3-row SUVs can’t even manage 20mpg combined, usually much less around town. If you don’t mind a minivan, they do get a little better fuel economy than the midsize SUVs and much better than full-size SUVs. Minivans also tend to be roomier and more flexible for seating lots of kids, but they’re really not-so-mini these days. Many parents lament that they are too big for the garage, too big for parking spaces and too big for the pocketbook, too.
Some compact SUVs get a little above 20mpg combined. Hybrids like the Escape and Highlander do much better than that, but the Escape only seats five and the Highlander is all but priced out of the market. So what’s left if you want something a little bigger than a compact SUV and don’t want to spend a bundle of cash? The Kia Sorento LX is one option. With front wheel drive and the fuel efficient GDI 4-cylinder engine new for 2012, it gets 22 city, 32 highway and 25 combined. The Sorento LX isn’t cheap, at just over $26k sticker price with the third row option package it rivals the cost of some full size minivans. The upcoming Ford C-Max may be another contender in 2012. For now, the most economical option is the 2012 Mazda 5. It gets a very respectable 21 city, 28 highway, 24 mpg combined. Room for 6 is standard and it starts under $20k MSRP in Sport trim with a manual transmission. A nicely equipped Touring version lists around $22k with an automatic and sells for closer to $20k street price! My review Touring model added the Moonroof & Audio package and a rear bumper guard for a total of $23,180 MSRP.
Does it live up to expections? It does in regard to fuel economy. On the highway, I got a hair under 30mpg on two tanks of gas from Chicago to Louisville and back with 3 adults and luggage. That’s not only above the EPA estimate, but also about 5 miles per gallon more than the Honda Odyssey Touring Elite on the same trip, even though they have the same EPA highway rating. Certainly not a scientific test by any means, but still impressive.
Now onto kids and safety! Let’s start with a video review:
Perhaps the biggest disadvantage for safety-conscious buyers is that there is still no crash test information from the IIHS or the NHTSA. In fact, in response to my inquiry, I found the NTHSA doesn’t even have it scheduled to test in their 2012 program. You do get side curtain airbags for all three rows of seating and stability control is now standard as well. Crash avoidance should also be good, with the nimble handling and above average visibility. Unfortunately, there is no backup camera; a major omission for a car marketed to families with kids.
As you can see in the video, the Mazda 5 is all about compromise. You simply don’t get the legroom, cargo space or general roominess of a typical minivan that seats 7 or 8 passengers. It’s even a bit smaller than many midsize SUVs with a third row. On the plus side, it drives and handles far better and, as I mentioned, it gets better fuel economy and it costs a lot less, too! Even though it’s shorter than full size minivans and most midsize SUVs, you can still make it work for a family, as I demonstrate in the video below.
As for carseats, the news is generally good. Most will install well in any rear seating position! The second row has LATCH and the lower anchors are not difficult to find or use. The third row doesn’t have LATCH, but it does have a top tether anchor on the back of each seat (thank you Mazda!). You also get head restraints and [removeable] shoulder belts all around. There is plenty of width so kids can buckle themselves easily in a booster and the short seatbelt buckle stalks make carseat installation somewhat easier than average. The bad news mostly comes from limited cabin length. 
This is compounded by the owner’s manual that requires you to move the second row seats all the way back when installing a child restraint there. In addition, due to the front passenger seat airbag sensors, the manual also states that objects (like a rear-facing carseat) should not be touching/pushing the front passenger seat.
What this all means is that legroom can be at a premium, depending on the type and location of the carseats. 
You can put a carseat, booster or adult in the third row, but there will be no legroom at all if there is a carseat installed in the second row seat that must then be moved all the way back (photo, left). Also, some taller rear facing seats may not fit in the third row, especially when the second row seat is all the way back. So, if you have a family with three or four kids, the arrangement can be tricky and may require careful selection and placement.
On the plus side, even some of the biggest combination seats will fit side-by-side in the third row. Unlike some other minivans and SUVs, you get top tether anchors to more safely secure those big-kid carseats in the third row as well. As long as you don’t have a carseat in the second row and can move it forward a few notches, there’s adequate legroom for older kids, too. You can see this below with a Recaro ProSport (left) and a Britax Frontier 85 SICT (right):
The second row seats will accommodate almost any child seat and width is not an issue. Aside from the restrictions mentioned already, you should be able to fit most convertibles and infant seats there. Below are a Graco SnugRide 30 and Cosco Scenera (left) and a Sunshine Kids Radian XTSL (right). There is also a good location around the front seat leg for a rear-facing tether accessory strap.
Access is good overall. The low stance makes climbing into the Mazda 5 easy compared to most minivans and SUVs, especially for kids. The sliding doors are not powered, but they operate easily enough for most kids to operate (unless you’re on a hill perhaps!). Getting into the third row is no problem for kids, but can take some contortion for larger adults.
I had a lot of fun driving the Mazda 5, especially compared to the minivans and SUVs I’ve driven lately. It really does drive like a car, as it basically is a Mazda 3 at heart. Even the auto-stick is fun, letting you rev up the engine like you would if you opted for the manual transmission. It rides low and never gives the feeling you’re going to tip over around curves like many SUVs and some minivans do! Perhaps the only drawback is that it doesn’t accelerate like a sports car. That’s fine, because it still has enough power for a family vehicle and the smaller engine gives it better fuel economy! We had only a couple real complaints on a long road trip. All three adults found the seat cushions to be too firm after a couple hours. Also, the ventilation to the second and third rows is not very good.
Unlike the Buick Enclave I reviewed that was substantially “Made in USA”, the Mazda 5 claims only 5% domestic content with engine, transmission and assembly in Japan. Overall, the quality of the vehicle seems to be quite good. Other than the selection of cheaper looking interior materials, it seemed like you get a very solid vehicle for the money. Everything fit together well and I observed no rattles or other related concerns.
Top 10 Likes:
- Fun to drive!
- Car-like handling, braking and the auto-stick make it more fun to drive!
- Adequate power with relatively good fuel economy
- Top tethers for the third row, a feature missing in some SUVs
- Stability control finally standard
- Nice folding 2nd row tray and seat cushion storage
- Plenty of room for most child seats to fit by width in the 2nd or 3rd row
- Better visibility than most SUVs and minivans, even though it rides low
- Sliding rear doors great for kiddos!
- A bargain for a 6-seater that can be had for around $20k in lower trims!
Top 10 Dislikes:
- No crash test results from the IIHS and none coming from NHTSA, either
- A carseat in the 2nd row results in no legroom for the 3rd row behind it
- Shoulder belt in 3rd row mounted too far forward for many kids in boosters
- Spartan looking interior and economy-car cloth seat fabric
- Legroom is limited for tall adults, especially in front of rear-facing carseats
- Seats cushions are quite firm, borderline hard after a long trip
- Minimal cargo space behind 3rd row, similar to compact SUVs
- Road, wind and engine noise. Not bad, but not very quiet, either.
- Poor ventilation to the 2nd and 3rd rows
- Quirks? Bluetooth pairing was cumbersome. Amber displays are funky and distracting. Lack of a 2nd row center seat may be a drawback. Swirly/smiley styling may not appeal to some.
Conclusion:
The 2012 Mazda 5 is a great family hauler, especially for smaller families. It provides a ton of convenience for two or three kids, gets relatively high fuel economy and offers something fun to drive at a bargain price! You can fit a family of six with careful selection and arrangement of child seats, but you’ll probably need a hitch or rooftop cargo solution for longer trips. Other than that, it’s a great alternative to SUVs and minivans when you find that a midsize sedan or wagon just doesn’t have enough room for an increasing number of kids!
Thank you to Mazda and DriveSTI for providing the vehicle used in this review!
First thank you for this! We love our Mazda 5. We have two Diono car seats installed, and wanted to meantion that you can get a bunch more room with the Diono angle aduster whe installed rear facing. Would you mind explaining how you tethered it to the seat tracks. I’m afraid to pull off and break the plastic piece that covers the tracks.
The second row seats will accommodate almost any child seat and width is not an issue. Aside from the restrictions mentioned already, you should be able to fit most convertibles and infant seats there. Below are a Graco SnugRide 30 and Cosco Scenera (left) and a Sunshine Kids Radian XTSL (right). There is also a good location around the front seat leg for a rear-facing tether accessory strap.
question: is the rear-facing tether accesory strap something you purchase from Mazda or does it come with all carseats?
I liked my old 2007 Mazda 5. We kept our infant in a rear facing travel system seat behind the driver’s seat. I’m 6’1″ and was able to find a comfortable driving position with me behind me. Absolutely no leg room in the 3rd row behind the infant though.
Thanks for the review of the Mazda 5 with carseats. We live in the city so it looks like the Mazda 5 would be good. My big concern is we have a rear facing carseat and when I watched your video review, I noticed that seems to be touching the back of the driver’s seat. With rear facing carseats, you need to have an arm’s width between the back of the entire car seat and the seat it’s behind. This allows the carseat to move unobstructed in an accident assuring that the carseat takes the force of impact, and not the child in the carseat. Is there enough room to move the driver’s or passenger’s seat up to allow the carseat to be unobstructed? My husband is about 5’11 and I’m 5’1.
Hi — what backless booster is that in the first video? That seatbelt latching system looks interesting. Thanks!
It is a Britax Parkway SGL in backless mode.
I currently have a Honda Odyssey but am looking to downgrade so my husband can afford a new car. I have two kids (2 and 4), I just put my 4 year old in a Graco Nautilis and my 2 year old is in a Britax Boulevard, so they are on the larger side. I was originally looking at a sedan but I’m not really comfortable going with a 4 seater car when I might end up needing the extra seating space later on down the road. I found your review really helpful when considering my options. Have you tried putting a car seat in the third row and a second car seat directly in front of that one in the second row? Right now we have two car seats across the middle which makes it pretty impossible to access the third row and I’m not sure if both of my car seats would sit side by side in the back of the Mazda 5. If I can put them on one side of the car (2nd and 3rd row) that leaves a spot for an adult in the 2nd row and can fold down half the 3rd for extra storage.
As far as safety, I’m trying to steer away from the big vans/SUVS. So the fact that is a “car minivan” makes me really like it! Although honestly I think it would be a hard sell to my husband with it having such limited space. I don’t see it bothering me though.
Also I did have a Mazda3 in my pre-baby days, so it may be a little nostalgia too. 🙂
Hi Amy,
It will be very difficult to install a car seat in the third row with a second car seat directly in front of it in the second row, especially if you follow the letter of the owner’s manual advice regarding the second row seat adjustment. I think you will find the space very limiting compared to an Odyssey, but a lot of families make it work. We downgraded from an Odyssey to a Highlander Hybrid with a third row. We lost a lost a lot of room but it still works!
We’ve reviewed the Kia Sorento that is similar in size to the Mazda5. The Toyota Highlander is slightly bigger. Both have a full set of crash safety results and did fairly well, too. Most of the other SUVs we have reviewed are among the larger models in the midsize crossover category.
Thanks good to know! Any other cars you can think of that you can recommend for more than 3 in back? I have always rejected the full-size mini-vans and SUVs as too big for me as I am on the small side myself, but definitely appreciate the appeal of having extra passenger room for the kids to bring friends along.
Any thoughts on the safety of the Mazda 5 for tweens and teenagers? We are a family of 4 who occasionally have 1-2 extra kids to haul around. I’ve always driven a sedan that seats only 5 and will put a teenager in the front seat if necessary, but would love to have seating for 4 in back. I noticed the comment about the kids in booster seats in the 3rd row being an issue, but what about kids who are just using the car’s belts, is it safe for them?
The main problem was the shoulder belts that are slightly forward mounted in the third row. It wasn’t a problem for my teen, but wasn’t ideal for my younger son when using a backless booster. So, teens and tweens should be fine for the third row, as long as they aren’t so tall that legroom becomes an issue. If you don’t have a child in a harnessed carseat in front of them in the second row, that may not be an issue, either.
My parents just bought a mazda 5 and the carseats are too tight, with no legroom for all. We want to put my 4 year old in the back and my 1 year old rear facing in the 2nd row. Is there a better seat, in your opinion, for the 2nd row. We were thinking about a combi coccoro or a maxi-cosi priori. Any thoughts?
From the mazda owners manual of a 2010 Mazda 5 in the child seat installation section.
“1. If the seat in which you install a child restraint
system has a seat slide function, slide the seat as far back as possible.” pg 2-29
My response to that if I were trying to install more than 2 car seats would be to install row #3 first, then slide row 2 as far back as possible (which would probably be a couple of clicks forward from the furthest back position). If the car seat allowed I would brace against row 2 if installed in row 3.
We only carry two adults and 2 children on a regular basis.
I love mine, but make an educated decision to move the second row up a notch when necessary if there is a seat in it. However, I’ve been able to safely and comfortably transport two children (third row) and four adults on a regular basis.
Thanks! I’ll keep my fingers crossed–I’d love a Mazda 5 but the Grand C-Max 7-seater (hybrid or no) would be a wonderful alternative. 🙂 Your review totally sold my husband!
I had read that Ford will only be releasing the hybrid C-Max and not the 7-seater Grand C-Max. Is that still true? It would be wonderful for us if they did; we’re overseas and can buy Fords through base.
That is my understanding, too. The Grand C-Max 5+2 seat version will not be available in hybrid trim in the USA. It is supposedly going to come with the newer 1.6L EcoBoost turbo that is used in the C-Max in Europe. This engine is also relatively fuel efficient and maybe will get better EPA fuel economy numbers than the Mazda5, but no way to be sure.
The Mazda5’s distant cousin from the same global platform, the Ford Grand C-Max, is supposed to arrive in the USA next year. If it gets the Ford 1.6L Ecoboost engine as some speculate, perhaps it will offer a great alternative with similar or better fuel economy. It’s called a “5+2” seater, so it’s hard to say if that means more or less child seat friendly.
Thanks for the great review! We love our 08, but it’s nice to see a few new features added. Interestingly enough, my husband prefers the “old” styling, but if they ever offer it in a diesel he’ll get over it really quick!
That’s my next car…someday…someday…
I love my 2012 Mazda5. I have it with the manual transmission, and the pick up and go from stopped can be pretty zippy, which I like.
I keep my third row up most of the time, and the trunk (with cargo bag) is still enough for me to keep my carseat tote, pool noodle, towel, demonstration baby doll, folding potty seat, and a Harmony Lite Rider back there. However, when traveling, I do fold down the third row to fit our suitcase and Coccoro back there.
Yes, that requirement in the manual really limits what would otherwise be a pretty flexible family hauler. As is, it can be quite tricky with four young kids if you follow the restrictions from Mazda.
For example, you could put a pair of smaller, rear-facing seats in the third row like a Britax convertible, Combi Coccoro or Cosco Scenera. Loading the kids back there would be a bit of a hassle, but toddlers can squeeze through and climb in from the front or get a boost and climb into the seat from the hatch where mom or dad can help buckle them. This would leave room in the 2nd row for most any infant, convertible, combination seat, booster or adult.
I am sure it’s all about head and knee excursion limits that require the 2nd row seats going all the back when kid seats are installed, but for those with 3-4 kids in carseats/boosters, they should have thought of this and made the vehicle a little bigger to leave room for the legs of those in the 3rd row
totally off topic, but I love Jonathon… totally rocking out and ignoring you talking about the features behind him… lol.