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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