2012 Mazda Mazda5 Sport

The Mazda5 really does look just like a small minivan, though technically it’s a crossover. I saw it on the lot at CarMax and had to give it a look – would it be a good smaller option with the flexibility of a van’s cargo space?!

Not exactly. The interior is quite small, and the second row appears to only slide forward, vs. folding or being removable as in most actual minivans.  It is a nifty crossover, however, and it might be a good option for smaller or fewer dogs.

Width between wheel wells (narrowest part of the vehicle): 40.25″

Cargo depth with all rows up: negligible

Cargo depth with the third row down: 37″ on the floor, 28.5″ deep at the narrowest point (seat back, 18″ above floor level)

It started to sprinkle, so I did miss a few dimensions unfortunately. Visually, it would appear that the hatch is about 38-40″ wide at the widest point.

MPG city: 21 mpg

MPG highway: 28 mpg

The captain’s chairs for the second row seems to be unique – I haven’t seen this layout in other third row vehicles, *except* for minivans – and while it does cut down seating when the third row is folded, it may provide a better riding experience for passengers in the second row. The downside to this layout is that items can slide from the cargo area, between the second row of seats, and into the driver’s row, so you may need to do some creative packing to prevent that.

There is an additional outlet in the cargo area and extra vents for AC/heat on the back of the console, providing better airflow to the back. There’s also an extra cargo light next to the fuse panel at the rear of the vehicle, which is handy for finding things in the way back at night.

The Mazda5 does lack flexibility in cargo arrangement due to the absence of removable or foldable second row seating.  Gas mileage is nice, and there are some nice add ons to make working in the cargo area easier, but it’s certainly not the best option in this category.