Mazda5: The Last Manual Minivan Standing

The surprising history of Mazda's third-gen minivan, the last manual transmission family hauler on the US market. Could it be your next ride?

  Car Talk, Autos   Feb 10, 2026   0   12  Add to Reading List
Mazda5: The Last Manual Minivan Standing

The minivan, which only a few years ago was mocked as an old-fashioned, frumpy family hauler, is now making a comeback. This type of vehicle has a very long history, going from the 1930s’ Stout Scarab (widely considered to be the first ever minivan), to a long hiatus in the post-war period, and finally to its heyday of the 80s and 90s. The minivan was a solution to major changes in American family life, which involved more commuting and transporting of children to and from school and extracurricular activities.

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