I was looking for a car that would have an extra row of seats to be able to drive my kids and their friends around, comfortably, and did not want to get a mini-van. The Mazda 5 fit the bill perfectly. It has plenty of room in the back for big Costco runs, and can also fit extra kids in the back if needed. It's quite compact from the outside and surprising to see how many people can actually fit in it, however in the inside it is roomy and handles beautifully. Gas mileage is great, sound system is great, never had any major issues with the car at all. I love that the radio, cruise control, and car stats can be controlled via the steering wheel. There are plenty of cup holders and spaces to hold drinks and cell phones in the front row. The sliding side doors are one of my favorite features because kids have a tendency to throw the doors open and you don't have to worry about being too close to another car and them accidentally dinging the car next to you. It's especially nice having captains chairs in the middle row with kids because they can be separated from each other!

It's a mini minivan. It's a blast to drive Gets great fuel economy. Has a lot of nice options. Not many of them on the road.