First Glance

Okay, it doesn't look like a minivan. Not so much, anyway. Mazda is a company with a strong brand identity. Mazda's cars don't look like everyone else's -- which is either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you like their choices. I happen to like the punky, modern Mazda aesthetic. Big, feline headlights stretch around the front corners of the car, drawing attention away from the minivan-like wedge nose. The body has more of a crossover shape than minivan, and the high-mounted taillights lend a unique modern air, as well as great visibility. The 17" alloy wheels look great -- I'll bet 18s would look even better. A close look at the door handles reveals something different about the Mazda5 -- the rear door handles are at the leading edge of the doors. Could these be suicide doors? No, they're sliding minivan doors, with the telltale door tracks well-camouflaged on the rear quarter panels. A handy set of features, as any parent with a stroller will tell you. The sliding doors also make accessing the back seat easier for adult passengers, especially in those "compact" spaces. The Mazda5 isn't going to win any beauty contests, but it doesn't scream out "Soccer Mom" like a full-sized minivan does. It hardly screams at all.

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