The 2008 Mazda5 is an efficient, affordable people mover that comes with either manual or automatic transmission.

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Sound an all-points bulletin: We've lost the "mini" in our minivans.

The original 1984 Dodge Caravan was 175 inches long. The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, Toyota Sienna, Nissan Quest and Honda Odyssey are all between 201 and 204.1 inches long. Nothing mini about them, given the fact that, say, a Cadillac Escalade is 202.5 inches long.

Mazda, and a few other manufacturers, identified a niche: a vanlike vehicle that is large enough for three rows of seats but small enough to remain affordable, get good fuel mileage and be maneuverable around town. Mazda's answer is the Mazda5, based on the Mazda3 platform. It's 181.5 inches long, and rear side doors slide open, like a minivan's.

With the priority being substance over style, the Mazda5 is not particularly pretty, but a mild restyling for 2008 has made it at least attractive.

The new grille, headlights and taillights don't hurt, as the test model came with handsome five-spoke, 17-inch alloy wheels and Toyo radial tires that helped handling, too.

Under the hood of all Mazda5s is a 2.3-liter, 153-horsepower four-cylinder engine used in the Mazda3's "S" model.

Transmission is either a five-speed manual or, as in the Grand Touring, a five-speed automatic. Mileage for the automatic is an EPA-rated 21 miles per gallon city, 27 mpg highway, and 22/28 for the manual.

By six-passenger, you've figured out that the Mazda5's three rows of seats are two people each.

The two middle-row seats slide far forward to make surprisingly easy access to the third row, and those middle seats adjust forward and rear to leave a little legroom for the rearmost unfortunates.

If you need to carry six adults regularly, you probably need something bigger.

That said, four people fit very well, and with that rear seat down there's 44.4 cubic feet of cargo room back there.

The Mazda5 feels like a car, which is a compliment. Handling is quite good, with minimal body roll, and the ride is smooth on all but the worst roads. More sound insulation would be nice.