The Mazda Premacy is sold across all markets except Japan as the Mazda 5.
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Pros
More nimble and maneuverable than full-size minivans, convenient dual sliding doors, manageable size for small families, low price.
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Cons
Stability control not available, kids-only third row, no second-row bench option, engine can run out of steam when fully loaded.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2009 Mazda Premacy is a small six-passenger minivan available in Sport, Touring and Grand Touring trim levels. The Sport comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, rear-seat air-conditioning vents and controls, full power accessories, cruise control, fold-flat second- and third-row seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with audio controls, a trip computer, electroluminescent gauges, and a six-speaker stereo with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack. Stepping up to the Touring adds foglights, a rear spoiler, a sunroof, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and an in-dash six-CD changer (optional on the Sport). The Grand Touring adds automatic xenon headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, leather upholstery, heated front seats and Bluetooth. The Touring and the Grand Touring can be equipped with a touchscreen navigation system, and all Mazda Premacy’s are pre-wired for satellite radio.
Powertrains and Performance
The 2009 Mazda Premacy is available with only one engine, a 2.3-liter four-cylinder that produces 153 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic is standard on the Touring and Grand Touring but optional on the Sport, which has a five-speed manual standard. In performance testing, a Mazda Premacy Grand Touring went from zero to 60 mph in 10 seconds. Fuel economy for automatic-equipped 5s is 21 mpg city/27 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined.
Safety
Standard safety equipment on the 2009 Mazda Premacy includes four-wheel antilock disc brakes, front side airbags and three-row side curtain airbags. Stability control is not available. In government crash tests, the 5 scored a perfect five stars for frontal crash protection and front side crash protection for front occupants. It got four stars for rear side protection.
Interior Design and Special Features
Some might find sliding rear doors to be the epitome of minivan uncoolness, but there’s no denying that the Mazda Premacy’s sliders make loading passengers in tight parking spaces easy. Plus, you’ll never have to worry about the kids flinging the doors open into the innocent sheet metal of a neighboring vehicle. Once inside, you’ll find that the sliding second-row seats are a tad short on legroom, but they can definitely accommodate small-to-average-height teens and adults. The third row is really just for children who don’t require child safety seats. Six-foot-plus drivers will also find space a tad pinched, even if driver seat comfort and steering-wheel adjustment are commendable. Families with a child who still requires a car seat will find it easy to install in the second-row captain’s chairs, but Mazda loses points for not offering a bench seat with the center seating position for maximum safety. With the third-row seat folded flat, 44.4 cubic feet of luggage space are available.
Driving Impressions
The 2009 Mazda Premacy’s four-cylinder engine is adequately powerful with a driver and youngster aboard, but when fully loaded, the Mazda Premacy can start to wheeze. However, since it shares much of its underpinnings with the athletic Mazda 3, the Premacy exhibits a nimble nature that will have it running tight little circles around conventional minivans, which behave like battleships by comparison. The sharp, communicative steering is particularly impressive. However, this is still a tallish vehicle, and it certainly feels more top-heavy and tippy than the compact sedan on which it’s based. The Premacy also shows some instability in high-speed accident avoidance maneuvers; which might be of minor concern as no stability control is available.