Mazda MX-Flexa / Mazda5

mdaffron

Have you seen the current version of that Odyssey?

Well, I have now! Who stepped on it?

It looks like Honda took its styling cues from that squashed Dodge station wagon ... what's it called, Magnumb or something?

:shades:

Meade

bwaters

"Price it below 24k (hybrid powertrains are expensive after all) and you'll be stealing sales from the prius and other similar cars."

I'd seriously consider a Mazda5 hybrid Vanlet if it were below 24k and had a manual transmission. The Prius is only offered with an automatic CVT. We like our Civic Hybrid with manual transmission. It has averaged 39.7 mpg, mostly in city, over the course of 32k miles. (I've read postings where people were disapointed with the low mileage from the Civic Hybrid, Automatic getting 36 mpg) So... I don't know if the Mazda5 would get 40 mpg even with the better mileage from Toyota Hybrid technology. I'd also want the keycard entry but not the zenon headlamps, leather and navi...

perfectofc

Mazda has stated on a number of occasions that hybrids do not fit into their "Zoom Zoom" image.

smaria

"Price it below 24k (hybrid powertrains are expensive after all) and you'll be stealing sales from the prius and other similar cars"

That's actually a great idea. Give me a Mazda 5 that has MUCH better fuel economy than any mini-van, and I'd buy it in a heartbeat if it cost $22k or less. It'd be a harder decision for me at $24k (more than I'd like to spend right now), but still not out of the question.

Steve

smaria

I don't know much about engine technology, but I've read that electric engines have more torque than gasoline engines. I guess that after hearing that I've assumed that, if tuned properly, a hybrid system could be very "zoom zoom"-y. Maybe that's not true though. Anyone have any clue as to whether a hybrid Mazda 5 would have more or less "zoom zoom" than the current 157hp version?

Anyways, the Mazda 5 is what it is, and it's not a hybrid. It's at a very competitive price point, and I think it's got a lot going for it as it is.

Steve

smaria

perfectofc:

did you get to test drive the Mazda 5 yet? If you did, I'm curious to hear what your thoughts were.

robr2

Let me preface by saying I don't mean to offend anyone, but when I read comparisons between the Mazda5 and 1st generation Honda Odyssey, I cringe.

Don't take it so personally. I think folks are comparing concept and function - not design. Remember, the original Odyssey came out about 10 years ago.

perfectofc

I had to postpone until Thursday, but will be sure to post impressions here when I do. I've heard that there are different colours at all the dealerships, so I'm going to try and find some more to take pictures of.

rlawrence

"Don't take it so personally. I think folks are comparing concept and function - not design. Remember, the original Odyssey came out about 10 years ago."

No, I realize what you are saying and you're right. However, I would feel more comfortable looking at the Mazda5 as a reincarnation of the Mitsubishi Expo which I thought was sporty back then. Unfortunately it wasn't perceived as cool.

I know a number of recent posters have inquired about how this car will function for small families. If any of you have seen the literature produced by Mazda, you will notice they are NOT targeting families with small children. They are purposely targeting this vehicle as an anti-minivan for young people on the go who want utility, but don't want an SUV.

isda65

Got to drive the Mazda5 yesterday. There were 5 of us in the car. Space wise we all fitted nicely. No issues with legroom at all. My wife (5'2") though who was sitting behind me complained that she couldn't seem to find a comfortable position with the headrest. Wonder why because besides the seats being generally flat they seem to be ok to me (5'8")-I tested all of them. The car was quite responsive. It takes off quickly and the engine was ultra quiet. I took the car to the big hills. This little engine could take them. No doubt about it. I tried pressing hard on the accelerator just for kicks going up the hills and man this little car just shoots up. I had to let go of the pedal because it seemed like it wanted to take off. The engine sounded substantial too. Not like my 2003 CRV which whines. Not the Mazda5. The revving engine sounded solid and muscular not a tinny whinny sound that you would expect from a small car. All this with 4 passengers which is more than what I needed considering that there's only 4 of us and we rarely have passengers and we don't load up except when we do our groceries once every 2 weeks. So there goes my concern about the engine being underpowered. BTW I tested the GT and I did two big hills with the air conditioner running. Also compared to my CRV on normal driving speeds 60km/hr or less I didn't see the rpm going more than 2500. Most of the time it hovers on the 2000rpm mark. The highest it went to was 4000rpm when I rocketed up the hill which I thought for a moment there was "fun".

The car also absorbed road imperfections admirably. No complaints there. Handling? The car felt very solid. Steering tracked very well but it was soft enough to do the turns and the u-turn that I tried. It's a very friendly car. I did notice some road noise but not enough to cause concern. Certainly not in the vicinity of my CRV.

Final verdict: there's nothing that should stop me from buying. If I get a good trade then it's bye bye CRV.

perfectofc

"If any of you have seen the literature produced by Mazda, you will notice they are NOT targeting families with small children. They are purposely targeting this vehicle as an anti-minivan for young people on the go who want utility, but don't want an SUV."

Say what? I hate to disagree with you here but this is the perfect car for young families with small children. Have you sat in or driven one yet? Seen the room in the back?

perfectofc

Were you driving an automatic or a standard?

mdaffron

Say what? I hate to disagree with you here but this is the perfect car for young families with small children. Have you sat in or driven one yet? Seen the room in the back?

I think you misread what he was saying. He was telling you how Mazda is marketing the vehicle -- not his own opinion of it.

Meade

perfectofc

I read it, but I disagree - I haven't seen any marketing here at all. All I have seen is the Japanese marketing which clearly includes children in the vehicle.

rlawrence

"Say what? I hate to disagree with you here but this is the perfect car for young families with small children. Have you sat in or driven one yet? Seen the room in the back?"

I didn't say it isn't a great car for small families (because obviously it is). However, Mazda is not marketing the vehicle that way (at least not in the US). I am sure their thinking is that it will turn off those who do not want a car with "family" image.

rlawrence

"I read it, but I disagree - I haven't seen any marketing here at all. All I have seen is the Japanese marketing which clearly includes children in the vehicle."

The difference is this car is not unique to the Japanese (or European) markets. It is also very possible that the more robust brochure that will be available at vehicle launch may show images of families with children. However, that is not the case right now.

ateixeira

The Mazda5 buyer will have 1-2 kids, and occasionally take along a friend of theirs.

I don't think it's ideal for a family of 6, and that's fine, there are bigger vans for that.

-juice

perfectofc

Canadian 5 in what looks like Carbon Grey :

http://img236.echo.cx/my.php?image=mazda5097fq.jpg
http://img236.echo.cx/my.php?image=mazda5080gm.jpg
http://img236.echo.cx/my.php?image=mazda5026sc.jpg

ateixeira

Looks like that's also a Subaru dealer, am I right? )

-juice ('93 Miata, '98 Forester)

mdaffron

The rear wiper (in your second photo) is the same one from the Mazda3 hatch I have, which has a much smaller rear windshield. It doesn't appear that that wiper will wipe much of the Mazda5's rear window -- and won't reach anywhere near the top of the glass. That wiper would be the first thing I'd replace (with a longer arm) if I were in the market for a 5.

Meade

isda65

Oh a very important info that I forgot. Yes it was an AUTOMATIC!

bwaters

"That wiper would be the first thing I'd replace (with a longer arm)."

Thanks Meade,

I'm taking notes...

Bert

perfectofc

Yep, I'm taking notes too ... wonder how one would do that. :-)

BTW - I've seen two colours so far, Carbon Grey and Platinum Silver... on Monday I'm going to go see (and shoot pictures of) Strato Blue and Cardinal Red. Woo!

amosanon1

:confuse:

The Mazda5 has a full page glossy ad in this month's Parents magazine. If this isn't marketing to families with young children, I don't know what is.

nowakj66

Any update on US dealer availability?

rlawrence

"The Mazda5 has a full page glossy ad in this month's Parents magazine. If this isn't marketing to families with young children, I don't know what is."

That's why I said we'll see what they do at launch. However, the early brochures they produced at the beginning of the year only showed young, good-looking people... like me

rlawrence

The dealer I have been corresponding with told me a shipment should be arriving next week.

Although I won't be making my purchase until the end of July, I wonder how difficult it will be to get a manual transmission model at the outset given the fact in overall US sales manuals are outnumbered by automatics by ratio of 9 to 1. I also wonder if the fiasco of many more models being delivered with the navigation system will hurt sales significantly at the outset.

perfectofc

All the Canadian Mazda 5's I've seen thusfar are full load GT's with an Automatic transmission.

neuropix

perfectofc, where do you live?? I'm a Canadian Mazda dealer and the Mazda 5 in not arrived. Where do you take the pictures???

rlawrence

"All the Canadian Mazda 5's I've seen thusfar are full load GT's with an Automatic transmission."

That is what I am afraid of and that is not a good sign. :mad:

perfectofc

Vancouver. Mazda 5's are available to view at all dealerships in the Vancouver area.

bobw3

What's the big deal about just ordering from the factory to get the manual and every other option you want? Granted it will take a couple of months, but I'd rather wait a 2 months than have a car I wasn't satisfied with for 5 years

drspongklong

That's an encouraging review of this vanlet. The feature I wished it had is the flat folding front passenger seat my Toyota Matrix has. This feature is very convenient for changing diapers for babies. This feature was what sold me with the Matrix. My wife just gave birth to our first son when we bought it. And it came in handy whenever we are out and we needed to change our baby's diaper.

bwaters

I stopped by our dealer in Richmond VA today and a sales person said they expect four M5's to arrive in two weeks. They will receive two with manual transmissions, (50%, not 1 in 9 thank goodness), two will be touring models, and as I remember from glancing at the sales person's spread sheet, the colors are the silver, the gray and the pearl white. I don't have the color chart in front of me so I can't remember the names except cardinal red and phantom blue... I did get the brochure!

mdaffron

Which dealership, bwaters?

Meade

wheelz4

in the Globe & Mail this morning. The link's not up yet but I'll post it when it is. Only dislikes are that it needs a 5 or 6 speed automatic, but other than that, very positive.

vcarreras

The first thing I want to know is how many rpm the engine is turning at both 60 and 70mph? Is the engine buzzy at those speeds?? Also does it have the torque to pull with the occassional 4 adults + the AC on? The Globe & Mail review may have hit the nail on the head for the need of a 5 or 6 speed automatic. Better MPG also. Maybe get it up into the low to mid 30's.

bwaters

Whitten Brothers. I was met by a saleswoman with a Brittish accent and since she wasn't your salesman, I didn't give her my name or number. I couldn't find the message you sent with your salesman's name but noticed from your description that he wasn't in the showroom. I almost said "Meade sent me" to see if they would respond with "Oh you are looking for..."

Bert

mdaffron

You should've. Just go to the sales manager (I won't use names here, but he looks like a New York City cab driver -- don't tell him I said that!) and say I sent you. I don't mind you using my name -- they really do know me there!

Better yet, drop me an e-mail.

Meade

smaria

I think I found the Globe and Mail review that you mentioned:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050623/WHMAZDA23/TPEntert- ainment/?query=mazda5

Here's what they say about the car's power:

"It's a good thing the 5 gets the company's 2.3-litre four, found under the hood of a number of other Ford family products (remember that Ford controls Mazda). This is no sports car and with the four-speed automatic you'll call on all 157 horsepower more frequently than the lighter Mazda3. But there is adequate power for all but the most extreme conditions."

I'm not sure exactly what the point of their first sentence is. Do they really mean to say that "it's a good thing that it doesn't have less than 157-hp"?

rlawrence

"I'm not sure exactly what the point of their first sentence is. Do they really mean to say that 'it's a good thing that it doesn't have less than 157-hp'?"

First, thanks for the link. It was a very positive article. Yes, the reviewer is saying that it is good that Mazda chose to go with the 2.3-litre engine because while the Mazda5 is definitely sporty, it is not a sports car per se and the expectation is that you will be carrying a heavier load than you would in the Mazda3.

wheelz4

for posting the link, smaria.
Pretty decent review and even though some aspects of the vehicle disappoint (side sills and "tuner" taillights, dark interior, mediocre fuel economy, no diesel and the aforementioned lack of a 5 or 6 speed automatic), it's still on my short list, though my wife now seems set on the much larger (& expensive) but almost as fuel efficient Sienna. Maybe by next year, Mazda might upgrade the transmission & give us another(lighter) interior colour option. Put it this way...If the 5 had absolutely compelling fuel economy (30+ city, 40+ hwy), the decision to buy now would be a no-brainer. But it doesn't, so right now, I'm in a wait-and-see mode.

ateixeira

http://www.triplezoom.com/news/publish/article_364.shtml

Not too many minivans has these offered before they were even sold! :-)

-juice

stickguy

still, to me, might be the achilles heel. If the 5 speed is buzzing along worse than my tC (which would be approaching Miata levels) it would be a non-starter as any kind of family transport.

Even stretch out the 5 ratios, or add the 6 speed with a real overdrive.

I don't understand the fad of sticks with super short top gearing. If I wasn't willing to down shift to pass on the highway (or pull a steep hill), I wouldn't have bought the stick in the first place!

coaster

I am now in the process of deciding between three vehicles - Mazda 5, Subaru Tribeca, and Nissan Murano. I have driven the latter two and prefer the Tribeca for its handling and smoothness but I really don't need more space than the Mazda provides and I definitely want to sit high. I have always liked the way Mazda automobiles drive and eagerly look forward to my test drive next week and hope the car will sit high enough.. With any of these vehicles I will lose the memory seating and auto lighting of my present car and that is no major problem, but I think the auto dimming mirror and home link are major conveniences, the former actually helping safer driving at night. Are either of these two features options that can be added in some fashion? I think without the wiring required at the factory the chances are slim. If I opt for the Mazda I am also stuck with the dark interior which is not a happy choice in Arizona's heat. Both Murano and Tribeca have very handsome light interiors.
The dealer suggested replacing the seats with lighter fabric but the surround (dashboard, door panels, etc.) would still be dark so that seems to not be a practical option. But the gas mileage and handling of the Mazda are very enticing. The choice will be hard.

isda65

In my last test drive (Automatic) I tried about 5k of highway. The first leg started with a long incline about a kilometer of it. This is the part where my 2003 Honda CRV 5spd manual transmission struggles. In 4th gear my CRV gasps for air at 80km/h. The engine noise is down but not the ones that pass me by. If I have to go over 80 I'd have to do it in 3rd in which case the engine would be screaming. The Mazda 5 on the other hand uses the 3rd gear but the engine/rev noise seems to be only loud enough to take notice of but not to be bothered about. Buzzy is the word that I would apply to the Toyota Matrix in 1st gear. And it does this all the time regardless of how fast or slow you want to take off from a stop. After that part of the highway the Mazda 5 was simply smooth all the way. I went up to a 100km/h and the car was just cruisin'.

ateixeira

I like both of these, also.

It comes down to AWD, one is a vanlet and the other an SUV/crossover/wagon thing-a-ma-jig. Plus the Tribeca only comes with an automatic, and it has more equipment along with a much higher price.

Ironically, Subaru is supposed to work on a small people mover based on the Impreza and it might compete with the Mazda5.

Meanwhile, Mazda's CX-7 will likely compete with the Tribeca.

LOL

So pick a class of vehicle, then decide if you want to wait. Either way it's Mazda vs. Subaru. I own one of each so I'll get a bag of popcorn and watch this from the sidelines. )

-juice

robr2

I own one of each so I'll get a bag of popcorn and watch this from the sidelines. )

No you won't!!

dudleyr

"I don't understand the fad of sticks with super short top gearing. If I wasn't willing to down shift to pass on the highway (or pull a steep hill), I wouldn't have bought the stick in the first place! "

Ditto!

coaster

For me it is not SUV vs. Vanlet. I almost always just carry one passenger and it is how I emotionally and physically respond to a car that counts.
I want comfort and handling and some sort of emotional response. The Tribeca gave me two of three. It is not a vehicle to get rhapsodic about but it seems to do everything so well and the interior design and color combinations are excellent..But I am still hoping for that little emotional jolt from the Mazda 5. We'll see. The four year warranty on my current car expires in October so I have time to make my decision. I am in the minority of buyers that would rather just have two rows of seats. The Tribeca does have that option as well and the Murano only comes with two rows. I think if the Mazda CX-7 were available now it would probably beat out all of the above.