Mazda5: It's strange how quickly you become accustomed to something. Even though they are not that long on the road, it's difficult to recall a time when school car parks weren't crowded with people carriers.
It does beg the question as to how families with more than three offspring managed to get around before the people carrier was conceived? Did the children go to school on alternate days?
One wag suggested they used to walk or cycle, but we don't believe a word of it. Children walking to school: it sounds positively Dickensian. These days parents seem to believe that more than two children warrants the purchase of a glorified mini-bus.
Regardless of what the advent of the people carrier says about our society, they are here to stay and car firms know that if they want to stay in the market they need to feed public demand.
The only question is how many seats you want: five, six, seven or even eight? All combinations are now on offer in the market.
Various car firms have made a call on this numbers game, but Mazda is playing it safe, officially offering a seven-seater, but one that works best in six-seat format with the middle booster seat folded away.
It's no surprise that Mazda has upgraded its people carrier model, bringing it into line with its 'zoom-zoom' image first unveiled several years ago in the Mazda6. The only surprise has been that it has taken so long. After all, the 6 is already going through its mid-life facelift.
So what's the 5 got that others don't? Well, the most obvious difference is the rear sliding doors, ridding us of the awkward c-pillar that usually hinders entry and exit in a three-row car.
Then there's the middle row seats, which are more comfortable than the bench format in the likes of the Zafira.
Admittedly, there's a price to be paid for this: the middle seat in the second row is more of a booster seat than something an adult will find comfortable for anything other than a quick run to the shops.
It's strong point is that it folds away under one of the other seats - an impressive trick the first few times you do it - and there's a host of handy cubby spaces.
There's also enough legroom for a medium-sized adult in the very back row. The small rear windows, however, make it a slightly claustrophobic space.
Finally, you can fold the seats flat into the floor by simply pulling on a plastic toggle. The movement is simple and easy, so even the most delicate of us can flick the seats up and down without breaking into a sweat.
Admittedly none of these are exactly revolutionary and all have their limitations. As we said, the small middle seat is really only for small children while even the sliding door features a lower hinge that's too easy to step on, thereby damaging the door.
Then there's the eternal concern with these seven-seater vehicles: rear seat safety. In the driveway it makes complete sense to load the smallest in your crew into the rear-most seats.
Yet as you head up the motorway at 120km/h, you can't help harbouring a little twinge of concern when the usual lunatics creep up on your back bumper.
If things were to go wrong, where exactly will they come to a halt? There's not much room between the very rear passengers and the back door. That's not an issue only for the Mazda5, but it's something that undoubtedly plays on the minds of parents.
Away from the various seating issues, the undoubted highlight of the Mazda5 is its handling.
Both steering and handling are very impressive, the result no doubt of its Ford links (the Mazda5 is based on the same underpinnings as the Focus C-Max, inheriting its multi-link rear suspension). The end result is that the Mazda 5's handling is second only to the Ford in terms of dynamics.
The Mazda5 is also well powered, coming as it does with the 1.8-litre 115bhp four-cylinder engine it shares with others in the Ford stable. This pushes it along without complaint. While other countries are getting a wider range of engines, including diesels, just one version is on offer here for now.
Another feature worthy of merit is the cabin layout and controls, which make you feel like you're driving a regular saloon. In terms of quality look and finish, it's superior to most of its rivals, both European and Asian.
With only one version on offer the specification does include air-conditioning but sadly leaves out traction control. Other features common to the class such as cruise control, leather interior and even climate control are omitted from the options list, which is as short as it can be: metallic paint for €510.
Nevertheless the Mazda5 is well-priced at just under €27,000. The 1.8-litre version comes in at an equivalent price to the 1.6-litre rivals from Opel and Renault. That means more puff for your euro.
The omission of traction control throws some cold water on our enthusiasm for the Mazda5. It's a very important feature for keeping you on the road when the surface is slippy or wet and the car gets out of control. Given that people carriers are by their very nature used to carry the valued future generations of your family, Mazda should have followed competitors like Renault and Opel in fitting it as standard at this level.
The lack of engine options - or indeed specification options - means the Mazda5 is unlikely to become a major player in the market.
It's well-equipped - apart from the omission of traction control - and is both enjoyable and even entertaining to drive. The flexible seating is impressive, if increasingly commonplace on the likes of the Zafira and Toyota Corolla Verso.
For the relatively small number of buyers interested in getting a 1.8-litre people carrier, the Mazda5 is well worth a look. It's just a pity the Japanese marque didn't think of including a 1.6-litre version in the range.