Overview

The Mazda5 may not be the first car that springs to mind when thinking of a people carrier, but it is one of the best. We’d recommend it over alternatives including the Vauxhall Zafira or Toyota Verso – due mainly to family-friendly features such as rear sliding doors along with simple folding rear seats and easy access. It’s also good value and all models come very well equipped.

It should be thought of as a ‘6+1’ seater though – it does have seven seats but the central seat in the second row is narrow and uncomfortable. However solid build quality and typical Mazda reliability complete a strong package and make this an unsung hero among people carriers.