As one of the most affordable seven-seaters in this year’s tests, we were looking forward to testing the Mazda 5. It turned out to be an okay tow car rather than a really good one, with a disappointing towing limit.

Stability at 60mph was acceptable, and the sensitive steering helped the driver make small corrections easily. However, the Mazda was out of sorts in the lane-change test, noticeably pushed around by the van.

The 1.6-litre engine may be small, but with 199lb.ft of torque it was strong enough to pull the outfit from 30-60mph in 20.4 seconds. Most judges found acceleration to be acceptable up to 60mph, but the Mazda struggled to go much quicker, especially into a headwind.

So long as the handbrake was pulled firmly, it stopped the Mazda rolling back on the test hill. However, it took a careful balance of clutch and throttle to reach the top. The smell from the clutch showed just how hard the 5 found reversing back up the other side of the hill.

Inside, the flexible cabin offers a variety of seating arrangements with no need to remove the seats first, although the centre seat in the second row is hard and uncomfortable.
Fold the third row away and there
is plenty of luggage space.

2019
Category Winners
2019 Up to 1400kg

Škoda Octavia

Hatch 1.5 TSI 150PS SE L DSG

2019 1400-1549kg

Seat Ateca

2.0 TSI 190PS FR DSG

2019 1550-1699kg

Volkswagen Arteon

2.0 TDI 150PS Elegance DSG

2019 1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2019 1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 SDV6 HSE

2019 Best Budget 4x4

Dacia Duster

1.5 dCi Ambiance 4x4

2019 Best Plug-In Hybrid

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

P400e HSE Dynamic

2019 Best Ultralight Tow Car

Seat Arona

1.0 TSI 115 FR

2019 Fuel Economy Award

Ford Focus Estate

1.5 EcoBlue 120PS Titanium X

Previous Winners
2018
1700-1899kg

BMW 520d

Touring xDrive M Sport

2017
1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery

3.0 Td6 HSE*

2016
1400-1549kg

Skoda Superb Hatch

2.0 TDI 150PS SE Business

2015
1400-1549kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI BMT 150PS SE Business DSG

2014
1400-1549kg

Nissan Qashqai

1.6 dCi (130PS) Stop/Start System Acenta Premium

2013
Up to 1424kg

Skoda Octavia

2.0 TDI CR 150PS Elegance

2012
1725–1899kg

Jaguar XF

2.2D Premium Luxury

2011
1425-1574kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI 170 Bluemotion Sport

2010
1900kg+

Land Rover Discovery 4

3.0 TDV6 XS

2009
1900kg+

Volvo XC60

D5 SE Geartronic

2008
1575-1724kg

Ford Mondeo Estate

2.0 TDCi Titanium auto

2007
1575-1724kg

Volkswagen Passat Estate

2.0 TDI Sport 4Motion

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