I have been privileged for more years than I care to remember to test numerous different vehicles from all sorts of manufacturers and one lesson I have learnt is that if my wife uses or volunteers to drive the particular test vehicle
then it is a good one and it is a good sign writes Bob Hickman.

This is what happened with the arrival of Mazda’s 5. She borrowed it to take a friend to play golf and then volunteered to drive for a nice long weekend break at Hayon-Wye.

This suggests that this Mazda 5 is a vehicle that really will be a joy to both own and drive and to my surprise that is exactly the situation.

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The Mazda 5 is a multi-activity vehicle, a MAV – a new one on me. It can seat seven quite easily. Mazda has suggested that it drives like a dream and I really can’t disagree with that sentiment.

The packaging of this vehicle is extremely good: it has seven seats but more importantly it has huge functionality.

The rear side-doors slide back, allowing easy access to both rows of rear seats. More importantly, because the vehicle is on the large size it means narrow car park spaces are usable because you don’t have big doors to open to get in or out of the vehicle.

It is also a huge bonus when loading or getting in and out if you have mobility problems.

One of the big features of the Mazda 5 is its driving dynamics. You look at the vehicle and think van-like in shape, big and unwieldy. Surely this cannot translate to a decent handling vehicle but it does and the 5 drives very much like a car.

There is no rock and roll: the aerodynamics are such that there is no interference from cross winds. The design team has done a superb job in this vehicle and the details show strong brand DNA. The V-section bonnet and the 5-pointed grille say make no mistake, this is a Mazda.

The specifications are very high and Mazda have continued with their chosen TS, TS2 and Sport derivatives. I like the body-line: its high roofline gives an immediate impression of the interior being roomy and spacious and of course it is.

The rear doors have a huge 700mm of opening space; this giving superb access to the third row of seats and even easier access to the conventional back seats.

One feature Mazda has shown other manufacturers is a one-lever operation to lower the seat. The second row of seats is multi-adjustable and the rear section is very strong. It has reinforcement in the roof so that in the event of a rear accident shunt the vehicle is safer and thepeople in the back seats would be cocooned in safety.

I like the fact that the rear seats have integrated head restraints and I also like the wonderful system Mazda uses which allows the seats to fold completely flat into the floor.

With the last row of seats folded it is possible to place a mat over all of those for a huge boot area. So often with multi-seated vehicles the last rows of seats are rarely used and occupy considerable luggage space.

The Mazda 5 has unique seating arrangements and this really does benefit a large family. The front seats are slightly lower than what we would normally call the rear seats which in turn are slightly lower than the very back row.

The first row seats the driver and passenger; the second row has two standard seats and an extra fold-away seat; and the very back row has two seats, so it is possible to walk from the very back through to the second row and that is quite a neat feature.

Mazda 5’s are available with a choice of three powertrains: a 1.6-litre diesel, and two petrol engines – a 1.8-litre and a 2- litre.

My particular test vehicle was the 2-litre Sport. This produces 150bhp, has a 159g/km CO2 emission which puts it in to tax band G at £155 per year.

It was capable of a top speed, where legal, of 120mph and a suggested combined figure of 40.9mpg on the fuel cycle.

The computer told me that we were achieving 33 mpg – well below the official figure.

The six-speed gearbox was an absolute delight. For once we had a vehicle that fifth and sixth gears were usable in and around town, but we did find, surprisingly, that in and around the hills of Herefordshire it was necessary to work the box in second and third to maintain reasonable progress on some of the inclines.

Mazda has equipped the vehicle with a stop and go system and this takes a little bit of getting used to. When you come to a halt and put the vehicle into neutral the engine cuts out but as soon as you depress your foot on the clutch pedal it starts – of course this is a big economy feature.

The new Mazda 5 is a fine-handling family car with a high level of driver appeal. Thanks to the dynamics and the ability to carry seven people in comfort with a bit of luggage I think Mazda will continue to find a buying public who are happy.