There is so far no word of DSC or traction control on the mazda.ca or mazdausa.com sites or the scans of the brochure from the US auto shows, or other forums (mazdav.com, mazda5club.com) I've seen. Major bummer in my book as DSC appears to be standard at least in the Czech republic from the brochure I saw (can't read Czech).
On the mazdausa.com site there appears to be a small console between the front seats that you could probably hop over, but not the flat floor that the Japanese market Premacy has.
Here is a bit of info on the trim levels for Canadian models from the Mazda Canada site;
2006MY Mazda5 GS includes: 5-Speed Manual Transmission 2.3L 4 cylinder inline engine with 157 hp and 148 lb./ft of torque 16" Alloy wheels All-season 205/55 R16 tires ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) Brake assist 4-wheel disc brakes Front and rear stabilizer bars Power windows, locks, and mirrors AM/FM/CD player with 4 speakers Body coloured bumpers and door handles Tilt & telescopic steering wheel Side marker lights Adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support Smart air bags Engine immobilizer theft deterrent system Microfilter 3rd row flexible seating with 50:50 fold-down split Steering-wheel mounted audio controls Cold spec package Keyless entry Front rain sensor wipers Jacknife key Sporty side sills
2006MY Mazda5 GT includes: GS equipment plus: 17" Alloy wheels All-season 205/50 R17 tires Power Moonroof Side & Curtain Air Bags Sporty Fog lights 6 Speakers (vs. 4 speakers) Leather steering wheel Burglar alarm system Easy close sliding door system Cruise control Center row, fold-out table/cargo bin Heated body coloured door mirrors Rear roof spoiler
Optional Equipment on both models 4AT w/ sport mode A/C w/ climate control
In response to Dudleyr about the sedan, our current car is a Civic, and with two child seats in the back it is nearly impossible to squeeze someone between them, not the most comfortable way to travel. Also, a change in child seat laws in Ontario Canada this fall will mandate child seats until 8yrs of age or 80lbs, so with a five and two year old those things are not leaving my vehicle any time soon.
I still have this concern that Mazda will blow it by not having DSC on the MZ5 in North America. It appears to be available as an option on the Mazda3 WORLDWIDE - except North America! I remember when the 3 came out, most people were thinking it would have stability control and then "surprise!" we didn't get it. As you know, the MZ5 is mechanically the same car. So they can and might very well exclude North America again. As with others in this forum, this is the deal-breaker for me and I am lining up an alternate vehicle purchase if we don't get DSC.
Sorry Bodble2 I really did not look close enough at walk thru space between the seats, but I do recall reading somewhere about accessing the rear seats by either sliding the middle row seat forward or walking between the two middle seats.
The US will get the uplevel Touring trim which will have just about everything the Canadian GT will plus a 6 CD changer. The base Sport is similar to the GS but I think it has standard side and curtain airbags, AC, 17" alloy wheels.
Jazvan - I'm in agreement, the NA Mazda marketing folks are in need of a reality check in regards to not offering DSC on any US model save the RX-8. And Mazda is wondering why their sales aren't going anywhere in the US, they need to pull an Avis and try harder.
I can probably afford to wait a year or two, though - that opens up room for the currently nonexistent competition.
My Mazda 3 has directional stability control...it's called a driver.
Ok, seriously, I know overseas the sucker has both traction control and DSC...as I recall the Focus currently has traction control too....but the 2.3l engine is gone on all but the ST. And it had it on the previous model....so long as you didn't get the 2.3l engine. And the Mazda3 doesn't get the 2.3l engine in most of the world, except the US and Canada, right? SO it's all the other engines, including the non-NA ones, that get TCS/DSC.
It's possible that the TCS/DSC system for some reason doesn't work properly with the 2.3l engine. And if all the Mazda5 is getting is the 2.3l engine...guess what?
I know what you are talking about with no TC on the 2.3 Focus. I could never figure that one out except some mind-set at Ford.
It doesn't seem there is any physical limitation keeping DSC off of the 2.3 - it's just a stroked 2.0. I noticed that there is traction control on the 2.3 Mazda6 i-Touring Sedan - but it's not DSC.
The Japanese Mazda site leaves me with the impression that DSC is available with the 2.3 Premacy and the 2.3 Axela (Mazda3), but I can't say that with 100% certainty.
They do make a big deal about the superiority of DSC with a graphic showing the no-DSC (read USA?) car spinning off the road.
They were popular among the small group of cult-like owners, which really loved them, but not popular in terms of sales and market size.
Mitsu had the Expo and the Expo LRV. The 3 door had a sliding door on the passenger side, but the 4 door had 4 conventional doors like the original Honda Odyssey, except it was smaller.
Traction control was available with DSC on the either the 2003 or 2004 Focus ZX5 with 2.3 (in either manual or AT I believe). DSC was dropped for 2004 & TC was still an option on packaged w engine block heater & heated seats for $395. Neither are available on 2005 Focus So to answer the question: the 2.3 engine doesn't limit TC or DSC. My guess it that both Ford & Mazda do not offer DSC & TC on their "lower end" cars to keep costs down & the public must not have bought it when it was available). $395 does not seem unreasonable for a "winter package", but Foci are in a very price sensitive zone.
I too believe Ford/Mazda is missing the boat, but they have the numbers, not I. Frankly, I am looking at the Focus & would probably buy an O5 ZX5 if TC & DSC were available w the 2.3. Ford also canned the 2.3 for 05 except on the Focus ST. As it is I am searching for a used one & think I may have a very hard time finding one.
Unveiled in Geneva is Ford's new SAV Concept. It is built on the same C-1 platform underpining the Mazda5. It's quite striking, with Peugeot design cues. According to Autoweek, it has a 5+2 seating configuration.
Ford: Bring this to North America/Canada WITH the 7 seats!
Wrong. You'll find that in 2004, Traction Control was unavailable on the ZX3 Premium and ZX5 Premium...the two trims where the 2.3L engine was standard rather than an option. It was available on the ZX5 base, and both the ZX5 Comfort and ZX3 Comfort trims only.
I'd say where I got the information, but it's an Edmunds competitor, so I hesitate to do so for fear if a giant red rubber stamp crushing me.
Honestly, the 2.3L implementation on the Mazda6 is the FIRST and ONLY time I've seen TC implemented on that powertrain, and I seriously wonder if there are technical issues, such as the engine being too torquey or something.
I picked up a nice brochure on the 5 at my dealership last week. It's mostly glitz and lacking a lot of info, but it does say -- and my sales manager confirmed -- that here in the U.S. there will be two models, a standard and a "touring" model. The touring model will get the larger wheels, extra accoutrements inside, and those gawd-awful plastic side-sill extensions for that "sporty" look.
Believe me, after three years looking after my wife's WHITE 2002 Protege5 with those plastic sill extensions, I say, never again!!! They make the car harder to enter and exit, and they just love to hold trash, debris, etc. Plus (and I know this is personal), I think they look cheesy.
I do want the touring version of the 5, however. I wonder how hard it'll be to rip those sill extensions off so I can sell them to some standard-5 owner on ebay?
Npalladin, you are correct that the 2.3 Focus never saw TC. The Focus drag racers don't like TC because it actually slows down 0-60 times (at least on dry pavement). There is a bit of programming and testing involved for TC on a new engine, so my guess is Ford brass said "why bother" especially when we are just going to get slower 0-60 at additional expense and we're dropping the 2.3 on most Foci anyways. Again, that is my guess.
Looking at the Japanese Premacy site and the option boxes under each engine it appears to me the Japanese Premacy (MZ5) 2.3 does get DSC. Ditto for the Axela (MZ3) 2.3. A Japnese-literate person could probably say this with more certainty.
we think alike. I just wish I didn't buy an '05 Ody for the wife a couple of months back. Just the thought of trying to convince her to get a smaller van, and go back to a stick, is making me all giddy.
I personally am really interested in the A3. If it drives as nice as it looks, and the interior is as comfy as it looks, might be a real winner if it really comes in at 25Kish.
If I had to replace the fleet, I might get a 5 for me, and a sport sedan for the wife, and then swap back and forth. Don't think we really need 2 minivan style vehicles though.
I'm with you on those side sills, buddy! Hated them on the Matrix (esp. the mid trim model with plain front & rear valances but side sills that stuck out like a sore thumb), don't like them on our Aerio and hate them on the Mazda5 as well. I'd take the silver Euro version sans side sills and Altezza style lights anyday over the North-Americanized "tuner" version.
The Ford SAV looks ok...wheels are a bit overdone, but then it's a "concept". Bet you're lovin' the 5+2, eh odman!? Posted a link awhile back about an updated Honda Stream/Latitude and now have found a (very small) pic of what looks like a Toyota mini-minivan...possibly an updated Wish? Seems to have sliders like the Mazda5. Think it may be a Toyota because of the Sienna-like triangular piece in the grill. Anyway...Mazda may have started something and it could be getting interesting. https://gateway.nifty.com/service/g-way/MAGX/nifty/free/images/05- 02_3.jpg
Looks nice, but will this cousin of the 5 ever make it to NA? So far, FoMoCo doesn't think the US market will pay for a C1 platform product with the Ford name.
There are a whole bunch of MPV's out there, just not in the US. Most don't have sliding doors, but the Toyota Isis came out in Japan last fall and also has dual sliders with a 2-3-2 configuration, but it's not terribly sleek.
BTW, there's a lively discussion going on today on an outside forum about the specifics of the US market Mazda5 (club dot com).
I hope it isn't true. I have been the biggest advocate of this type of vehicle and the MZ3/MZ5 chasis is terrific but that MPG is about the same as an Odyssey or Sienna! Between this and apparent confirmation of no DSC offered I am losing interest fast.
That is pretty dissapointing mpg wise. That is worse than the larger and heavier first gen Odyssey did 7 years ago - without the benefit of the new and more efficient 2.4 cyl engine.
I would hope to see 23-31 for the MT and 22-29 for the AT.
The strange thing is that if Mazda used the exact same engine and tranny as the 6 has, then they can use the same EPA numbers since the two vehicles are within 500 lbs of each other. GM does this all the time. Look at the data on the EPA website and you will see Pontiacs and Chevy's with the exact same mileage to .001 in city and highway. Not a coincidence.
Is what wil kill the ratings, but might not mean as much in the real world
My Scion (tC) has the same basic drvetrain as a 4 cyl 5 speed camry, and weighs a few hundred pounds less. But, the tC is rated at 21/29 (iirc), but the Camry is more like 24/32 or better. Mostly because the Scion is geared real short (too short really) so it buzzs along much faster on the highway than it needs to.
...Is the 5 going to be a buzzmachine on the highway? In my single days, I would routinely be taching 3-4,000 rpm in my old Integra on the highway...if the 5 is the same way, there's no way I'll be using it to haul the family on long car trips! I guess I'll just have to wait and see...we're really diving into the realm of speculation at this point.
Traction control is standard on the 2005 Focus ZX4 ST which does have the 2.3L engine. The only technical problem might be component availability, which seems to be a major problem with some models at Ford.
Traction Control is great, but DSC, ESP, ESC, whatever you call stability control is in a whole other league in the safety and control dep't. Yes, the 2002-2004 Focus theoretically offerred "Advancetrac", but I bet you'll never find one. The option was (get this!) $1600. A Ford mouthpiece stated "Less than 2% of our customers ordered it, so we dropped it on the 2005 Focus". If the bean counters at Mazda/Ford don't allow DSC on the Mazda5, I'm leaving.
I will get stability control on my next car. The Scion xB is in the lead, with the 2006 Hyundai Sonata also a possibility.
Wheelz4 - the link you posted a few posts ago didn't work. I've been away a couple of days and wanted to see this. I enjoyed the Stream link very much too -- very different looking than the current one.
Hi Odman.........yeah, the link was messed. Don't know if that was on my end or Edmunds but I'll try another one....it's the pale green vehicle that I was referring to. http://www.mag-x.com/index_ie_j.html
"AdvanceTrac with ABS is not cheap at $1625, but it could help you avoid an accident. Available as a standalone option for 2003 is traction control ($115), which improves stability in wintry conditions but does not offer the sophisticated accident-avoidance enhancements of AdvanceTrac."
On VW's it's about $300, Toyota's about $600, maybe that $400 is on another Ford, but not the Focus.
This should be standard. Hopefully the reports indicating standard DSC on the M5 I previously posted turn out correct.
I own a 1996 Honda Odyssey with Rear Air. The older model mini-van is about the size of the Mazda5. I plan on replacing this vehicle with the Mazda5, but the only thing that's holding me back is that it doesn't have rear air. In the summer it reaches about 100 degrees and the rear air in the Honda is a 'cool' blessing to my kids. I have read "All" the articles on the vehicle and it doesn't mention rear air at all. Does anyone know if 'rear air' will be an option?
I'll keep tabs, but that mpg rating does dampen my interest level a lot, even though they are about what I expected. I was hoping they'd have a couple of over-drive gears to improve overall fuel efficiency.
Wish they'd brought over the MX-Micro. That'd be just the ticket for me, with a few modifications, of course. I'm on the look-out for a 5-door, 4-5 passenger vehicle that's reliable, safe, fun-to-drive and fuel-efficient (equal to or better than my current car) for my next car (not SUV, not minivan).
I think mpg will be relatively low because that engine is going to be over-taxed. Mazda should put in a small V6, coupled to a 5-speed auto. That way, the car would run more relaxed, there'll be more power, and mpg may even improve.
A few interesting comparo's between Focus ZW and MZ5 (5-sp MT)
Cargo volume. ZW 73.7 cu ft MZ5 73.0 MPG ZW 26-35 MZ5 21-28 Weight ZW 2759 MZ5 3333 DSC/TC ZW - Traction Control MZ5 - Nothing!! Distance between interior wheel wells: ZW = 45 inches MZ5 = 41 inches (same as MZ3)
(above stats based on presumably reliable source)
Note the engine is basically the same but the MZ5 is a stroked verion with Variable valves. Given the weight difference I would bet the Focus would at least tie the MZ5 0-60
OK, some of these are biased parameters. MZ5 no doubt has way stiffer/stronger structure and the suspension is new improved, more travel, and the car is no doubt safer, but...
There is another row of seats but the MZ5 is only gaining 1 passenger seat and 2 of those are crammed into 41" width. So personally, I would prefer 2+3 seating (OK, one of those is crammed too) and leave the 3rd row out, but I can live with the extra seat and I do understand that the extra seat is critical and versatile for many folks.
I am not advocating the ZXW as a better choice because it has it's own shortcomings and is inferior in several ways. But with 7 more mpg, the same cargo volume, availability of traction control, and probably a better 0-60 for thousands less, it does demonstrate the MZ5's shortfallings. Mazda can remedy some of this easily. The NA MZ5 will be made right along the Japanese 2.3 MZ5's on the same assembly line and yet the Japanese MZ5 2.3's get DSC and the NA ones don't. It is just a bad decision Mazda has made and nothing more.
MPG is a tougher fix. This is a heavier car then the MZ3 and they need to utilize their direct injection, which would gain a few mpg and hp at the same time, or put in the Mazdspeed turbo 2.3, and then we are getting something for our mediocre MPG, or give us the Turbo Diesel in MY07 when we get low Sulfur Diesel.
I have not given up on the MZ5 yet and hope these preliminary numbers are wrong, especially the absence of DSC and the MPG numbers. Just waiting for confirmation from another source.
It does appear to be geared fairly aggressively (something like a 4.4x final drive in both AT and MT form). Mazda seems to like more sportiness as well. So, while it does appear that it's not going to be a lightweight, I bet it will accelerate fine. Maybe rear world MPG numbers will be closer (or higher) to the highway estimates?
Comments
Still hoping for a 7 seat version - sigh!
Is there a walk-thru space between the seats?
On the mazdausa.com site there appears to be a small console between the front seats that you could probably hop over, but not the flat floor that the Japanese market Premacy has.
2006MY Mazda5 GS includes:
5-Speed Manual Transmission
2.3L 4 cylinder inline engine with 157 hp and 148 lb./ft of torque
16" Alloy wheels
All-season 205/55 R16 tires
ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)
Brake assist
4-wheel disc brakes
Front and rear stabilizer bars
Power windows, locks, and mirrors
AM/FM/CD player with 4 speakers
Body coloured bumpers and door handles
Tilt & telescopic steering wheel
Side marker lights
Adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support
Smart air bags
Engine immobilizer theft deterrent system
Microfilter
3rd row flexible seating with 50:50 fold-down split
Steering-wheel mounted audio controls
Cold spec package
Keyless entry
Front rain sensor wipers
Jacknife key
Sporty side sills
2006MY Mazda5 GT includes:
GS equipment plus:
17" Alloy wheels
All-season 205/50 R17 tires
Power Moonroof
Side & Curtain Air Bags
Sporty Fog lights
6 Speakers (vs. 4 speakers)
Leather steering wheel
Burglar alarm system
Easy close sliding door system
Cruise control
Center row, fold-out table/cargo bin
Heated body coloured door mirrors
Rear roof spoiler
Optional Equipment on both models
4AT w/ sport mode
A/C w/ climate control
In response to Dudleyr about the sedan, our current car is a Civic, and with two child seats in the back it is nearly impossible to squeeze someone between them, not the most comfortable way to travel. Also, a change in child seat laws in Ontario Canada this fall will mandate child seats until 8yrs of age or 80lbs, so with a five and two year old those things are not leaving my vehicle any time soon.
Jaz
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Jazvan - I'm in agreement, the NA Mazda marketing folks are in need of a reality check in regards to not offering DSC on any US model save the RX-8. And Mazda is wondering why their sales aren't going anywhere in the US, they need to pull an Avis and try harder.
I can probably afford to wait a year or two, though - that opens up room for the currently nonexistent competition.
Ok, seriously, I know overseas the sucker has both traction control and DSC...as I recall the Focus currently has traction control too....but the 2.3l engine is gone on all but the ST. And it had it on the previous model....so long as you didn't get the 2.3l engine. And the Mazda3 doesn't get the 2.3l engine in most of the world, except the US and Canada, right? SO it's all the other engines, including the non-NA ones, that get TCS/DSC.
It's possible that the TCS/DSC system for some reason doesn't work properly with the 2.3l engine. And if all the Mazda5 is getting is the 2.3l engine...guess what?
I know what you are talking about with no TC on the 2.3 Focus. I could never figure that one out except some mind-set at Ford.
It doesn't seem there is any physical limitation keeping DSC off of the 2.3 - it's just a stroked 2.0. I noticed that there is traction control on the 2.3 Mazda6 i-Touring Sedan - but it's not DSC.
The Japanese Mazda site leaves me with the impression that DSC is available with the 2.3 Premacy and the 2.3 Axela (Mazda3), but I can't say that with 100% certainty.
They do make a big deal about the superiority of DSC with a graphic showing the no-DSC (read USA?) car spinning off the road.
Jaz
-juice
Mitsu had the Expo and the Expo LRV. The 3 door had a sliding door on the passenger side, but the 4 door had 4 conventional doors like the original Honda Odyssey, except it was smaller.
Remember the Civic Wagovan?
-juice
-juice
I too believe Ford/Mazda is missing the boat, but they have the numbers, not I. Frankly, I am looking at the Focus & would probably buy an O5 ZX5 if TC & DSC were available w the 2.3. Ford also canned the 2.3 for 05 except on the Focus ST. As it is I am searching for a used one & think I may have a very hard time finding one.
Ford: Bring this to North America/Canada WITH the 7 seats!
http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0503/01/B02-103794.htm
xB has great passenger space, but it's basically an Echo wagon, with humble underpinnings.
The 5 has a much better chassis and engine.
-juice
I'd say where I got the information, but it's an Edmunds competitor, so I hesitate to do so for fear if a giant red rubber stamp crushing me.
Honestly, the 2.3L implementation on the Mazda6 is the FIRST and ONLY time I've seen TC implemented on that powertrain, and I seriously wonder if there are technical issues, such as the engine being too torquey or something.
I picked up a nice brochure on the 5 at my dealership last week. It's mostly glitz and lacking a lot of info, but it does say -- and my sales manager confirmed -- that here in the U.S. there will be two models, a standard and a "touring" model. The touring model will get the larger wheels, extra accoutrements inside, and those gawd-awful plastic side-sill extensions for that "sporty" look.
Believe me, after three years looking after my wife's WHITE 2002 Protege5 with those plastic sill extensions, I say, never again!!! They make the car harder to enter and exit, and they just love to hold trash, debris, etc. Plus (and I know this is personal), I think they look cheesy.
I do want the touring version of the 5, however. I wonder how hard it'll be to rip those sill extensions off so I can sell them to some standard-5 owner on ebay?
Meade
-juice
Looking at the Japanese Premacy site and the option boxes under each engine it appears to me the Japanese Premacy (MZ5) 2.3 does get DSC. Ditto for the Axela (MZ3) 2.3. A Japnese-literate person could probably say this with more certainty.
Jaz
I personally am really interested in the A3. If it drives as nice as it looks, and the interior is as comfy as it looks, might be a real winner if it really comes in at 25Kish.
If I had to replace the fleet, I might get a 5 for me, and a sport sedan for the wife, and then swap back and forth. Don't think we really need 2 minivan style vehicles though.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I would pay more for a vehicle without them.
https://gateway.nifty.com/service/g-way/MAGX/nifty/free/images/05- 02_3.jpg
There are a whole bunch of MPV's out there, just not in the US. Most don't have sliding doors, but the Toyota Isis came out in Japan last fall and also has dual sliders with a 2-3-2 configuration, but it's not terribly sleek.
BTW, there's a lively discussion going on today on an outside forum about the specifics of the US market Mazda5 (club dot com).
Weight w/MT = 3333 lbs
EPA MPG MT = 21-28
AT = 20-26
I hope it isn't true. I have been the biggest advocate of this type of vehicle and the MZ3/MZ5 chasis is terrific but that MPG is about the same as an Odyssey or Sienna! Between this and apparent confirmation of no DSC offered I am losing interest fast.
Jaz
I would hope to see 23-31 for the MT and 22-29 for the AT.
The strange thing is that if Mazda used the exact same engine and tranny as the 6 has, then they can use the same EPA numbers since the two vehicles are within 500 lbs of each other. GM does this all the time. Look at the data on the EPA website and you will see Pontiacs and Chevy's with the exact same mileage to .001 in city and highway. Not a coincidence.
I think the "3" and "6" engines are identical with the "5" engine being reprogrammed.
Mazda3 2826 lbs 25-32
Mazda6 3102 lbs 23-31
Mazda5 3333 lbs 21-28 (insider info?)
Mazda does not have the Honda/Toyota EPA magic.
Ok, I am bummed. I am going to go hang out at some other car for a while.
Jaz
-Brian
My Scion (tC) has the same basic drvetrain as a 4 cyl 5 speed camry, and weighs a few hundred pounds less. But, the tC is rated at 21/29 (iirc), but the Camry is more like 24/32 or better. Mostly because the Scion is geared real short (too short really) so it buzzs along much faster on the highway than it needs to.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I will get stability control on my next car. The Scion xB is in the lead, with the 2006 Hyundai Sonata also a possibility.
I wish VW's didn't suck........
http://www.mag-x.com/index_ie_j.html
-juice
http://www.nctd.com/review-intro.cfm?Vehicle=2003_Ford_Focus&ReviewID=1212
"AdvanceTrac with ABS is not cheap at $1625, but it could help you avoid an accident. Available as a standalone option for 2003 is traction control ($115), which improves stability in wintry conditions but does not offer the sophisticated accident-avoidance enhancements of AdvanceTrac."
On VW's it's about $300, Toyota's about $600, maybe that $400 is on another Ford, but not the Focus.
This should be standard. Hopefully the reports indicating standard DSC on the M5 I previously posted turn out correct.
It kinda reminds me of a cross between the Wish and the Honda Elyson. Hard to see the size.
Surfing these sites makes me wish I could read Japanese
-juice
Does anyone know if 'rear air' will be an option?
Wish they'd brought over the MX-Micro. That'd be just the ticket for me, with a few modifications, of course. I'm on the look-out for a 5-door, 4-5 passenger vehicle that's reliable, safe, fun-to-drive and fuel-efficient (equal to or better than my current car) for my next car (not SUV, not minivan).
Cargo volume. ZW 73.7 cu ft MZ5 73.0
MPG ZW 26-35 MZ5 21-28
Weight ZW 2759 MZ5 3333
DSC/TC ZW - Traction Control MZ5 - Nothing!!
Distance between interior wheel wells:
ZW = 45 inches MZ5 = 41 inches (same as MZ3)
(above stats based on presumably reliable source)
Note the engine is basically the same but the MZ5 is a stroked verion with Variable valves. Given the weight difference I would bet the Focus would at least tie the MZ5 0-60
OK, some of these are biased parameters. MZ5 no doubt has way stiffer/stronger structure and the suspension is new improved, more travel, and the car is no doubt safer, but...
What Happened?
Jaz
If so, it only has 2 rows of seats, so it doesn't have the versatility of the 5.
-juice
There is another row of seats but the MZ5 is only gaining 1 passenger seat and 2 of those are crammed into 41" width. So personally, I would prefer 2+3 seating (OK, one of those is crammed too) and leave the 3rd row out, but I can live with the extra seat and I do understand that the extra seat is critical and versatile for many folks.
I am not advocating the ZXW as a better choice because it has it's own shortcomings and is inferior in several ways. But with 7 more mpg, the same cargo volume, availability of traction control, and probably a better 0-60 for thousands less, it does demonstrate the MZ5's shortfallings. Mazda can remedy some of this easily. The NA MZ5 will be made right along the Japanese 2.3 MZ5's on the same assembly line and yet the Japanese MZ5 2.3's get DSC and the NA ones don't. It is just a bad decision Mazda has made and nothing more.
MPG is a tougher fix. This is a heavier car then the MZ3 and they need to utilize their direct injection, which would gain a few mpg and hp at the same time, or put in the Mazdspeed turbo 2.3, and then we are getting something for our mediocre MPG, or give us the Turbo Diesel in MY07 when we get low Sulfur Diesel.
I have not given up on the MZ5 yet and hope these preliminary numbers are wrong, especially the absence of DSC and the MPG numbers. Just waiting
for confirmation from another source.
Jaz
-Brian