Mazda Mazda5 1.8 TS 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The 1.8 litre engine produces 115bhp with a torque figure of 122 lb-ft making it a fairly strong performer. The Mazda5 1.8 TS gets from 0-62mph in 12.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 113mph.

The Mazda5 1.8 TS has good handling and road presence, with strong grip and light steering creating a responsive and fun drive. The suspension works well and imperfections in the road are barely noticeable with even larger bumps cushioned and disguised. The gear change is smooth and fluid thanks to an ergonomic gear lever and the car performs well on all road surfaces.

This car comes with a good range of basic equipment including 16-inch alloy wheels, front and rear electric windows, electric heated door mirrors, air conditioning, folding seats, steering wheel mounted audio controls and a CD/radio with six speakers all as standard fittings.

On top of this, the car benefits from a high quality design both inside and out, with a distinctive 'water' theme used in the car's design. This gives it wave-like lines across the exterior whilst the grille and headlights take inspiration from the popular Mazda3.

Mazda is considered one of the most reliable car manufacturers and this means customer satisfaction should be high. The Mazda5 feels well built and this means owners can expect years of trouble free service.

Safety levels are also high and the car comes with a range of great safety features fitted as standard. An electronic stability programme, traction control, anti-lock brakes and Isofix child seat mounting points are just a few examples and are fitted alongside a number of airbags which protect all three rows of passengers.

In terms of practicality, whilst the model offers plenty of movement and adjustment within the cabin, there are restrictions which lower its effectiveness. For example, the middle row of seats has the ability to slide back and forth whilst the middle seat offers a range of movement designed to offer ultimate control over the balance between occupant and cargo capacity. Unfortunately the middle row of seats are not comfortable and adults looking to sit here for long journeys will suffer high levels of discomfort. The two rear seats offer similar problems and are only really suitable for children.

The boot capacity stands at 112 litres when all the seats are up and 1,485 litres when the seats are folded down. Whilst this is impressive it fails to match the 1,742 litres offered by the Ford Grand C-Max.

Priced at £18,165, this model is cheaper than the diesel model in the range and offers good performance and a good selection of features within the car. The car is good to drive but the Mazda5 1.8 TS is neither as comfortable nor as practical as its competitors, namely the Ford Grand C-Max.

You'll get 39.2mpg on the combined cycle which is pretty mediocre by today's standards. CO2 emissions of 168g/km also place the Mazda5 1.8 TS into a fairly high VED band: H.