I’m chatting with my sister-in-law, who is getting ready to replace her current vehicle, when she asks the question all auto journalists despise: “What would you buy?” I respond by asking her what kind of vehicle she’s looking for. “Something that can fit the kids (she has two toddlers) and their friends, so it has to have three rows of seats, but not an SUV and I really don’t want a minivan, either,” she answers. I continue quizzing by asking if she has any brand preferences. “Not really,” she says. Finally, the dreaded question: How much do you want to spend? “Not more than about $25,000.” This response causes me almost to spit my water across the table. “Let me get this straight – you want a vehicle that can fit more than five-passengers, with three rows of seats and all the creature comforts for less than $25,000? What are you smoking?”

My mind begins to start sorting through the options audibly, gauging her responses along the way: Buick Rendezvous: “Drove it, didn’t like it.” Chrysler minivans: “I don’t want a minivan. I want something cooler.” Nissan Quest: “Dunno.” I’m stumped. Then I got behind the wheel of the new ’06 Mazda5. This is what traditional minivan and SUV buyers have been waiting for. Here it is: a stylish, 3-row, fuel-efficient vehicle that truly stands out from the crowd. Best of all, the darned thing starts at $18,950. Wow! OK, I know what you’re going to say, small “minivans” have been tried before in the U.S.--remember the original GM vans that were designed for Europe, but never really caught on? But times have changed.

In the era of $2.85+ a gallon gasoline, as SUVs lose their coolness and minivans linger with their “Soccer Mom” stigma, people are looking for something different, but unwilling to sacrifice on functionality. The Mazda5 utilizes all of its available space and does so in a comfortable demeanor. The third row is actually usable for average sized adults, although I wouldn’t recommend sitting in the back for any extended duration. Second row seats are more than ample for 6-ft.+ adults to ride in style, and the overall ambiance of the interior is sporty, yet tasteful and maintains the Mazda tradition set in the Mazda6 and Mazda3. In fact, the Mazda5 is based off a stretched version of the Mazda3 platform, which works to its advantage.

Mazda5’s styling also exudes a sport flare with its overall wedge body shape, which is accentuated by a body line that runs along the side of the vehicle from the front headlamp to the rear. To add further dimension, the body tapers at the rear for a more tailored appearance. It’s the body styling that makes the Mazda5 stand out form the crowd of traditional minivans that seem bulbous and overweight. During a trip to my local Ducati dealer, I was amazed to see a young 20-ish, macho technician make his way across the showroom floor to ask, “Is that a Mazda5? Can I take a look?” Wanting to know why a young guy would ever be interested in such a vehicle, I trotted outside and began quizzing. Turns out he has no kids, no wife, but is looking for something that can fit all of his gear as well as a few friends, but he hates the thought of a traditional minivan or SUV. “You know, these are all the rage in Europe,” he says as he looks around the interior. “This is very cool.” When was the last time you heard the words “cool” used to describe a minivan? Mazda may be on to something here.