Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Oh no! :surprise:
Good luck.
We've ordered a '5 and can't wait. Had we had 3 kids, our choice might have been different.
My experience (with no children yet) is that I drive around 10% of the time with both 3rd row seats up, 80% of the time with one of the 3rd row seats folded down, and 10% of the time with both of the 3rd row seats folded down.
This event is moving around the country for the next few months and you can sign up at www.zoomzoomlive.com. It's a flash site so be patient. And my suggestion for those interested would be to sign up as early in the day as possible to avoid the long lines. It took us nearly 6 hours to complete the 4 events once each. You And popcorn and pretzels are the only food although water is plentiful. Sticks and automatics are available in the RX-8s and MX-5s and all of the Mazda product line is on display as well.
The first event I would suggest trying is the School of Zoom which gives you a quick chalkboard lesson and then ride-along coaching in an RX-8. Next is a timed event that teaches smooth driving by using golf balls in a large bowl affixed to the hood of an MX-5. You also have a chance to drive a 3, 6, or 5 in another timed event that requires you to match the posted time EXACTLY. And finally, there is the all-out speed blitz in the new MX-5. Workers are there giving demonstrations and tips for each event. A lot of fun but bring some extra patience.
http://4a.mazda.com/product/mazda5/
I think the doors opening by themselves was staged. I base this opinion on the fact that every page I could find touts how easy it is to slide open the doors, and further, there's no information about how much power sliding doors would cost.
I've seen some discussion about features available on the M5 elsewhere and not available in Canada or the US. But most other places don't have the 2.3L engine, only a 1.8L or a 2.0L. And that "middle seat" is pretty skimpy. The only advantage for me is it would fill the gap when both middle seats are folded flat.
I've noticed it because my wife complains that you can't even fit a small map into the passenger side door of our Mazda5. In past cars, she's always kept some maps in the side passenger door...but nothing really fits in that space in our Mazda5...it only seems to be useful as a cupholder. The Mazda5 already has more cupholders than it needs, I would have preferred a slot for papers and maps. Except for the glove box, there's no good storage space for maps in our Mazda5. Yup, a picky little thing, but yet another way in which the North American versions underperform the rest of the world
Seriously though, the map pocket on the back of the driver's seat is plenty big for such items and easy to reach from either front seat.
People who don't really need 6 seats (i.e., the type who can say "6 seats are nice, but I don't need them") might be more likely to downsize to the Mazda3 Hatch or (dare I say it?) a Toyota Matrix if they've got no taste in cars.
On the flip size, people who are considering larger vehicles like minivans or small SUVs, might be more likely to consider downsizing to the Mazda5. Give the Mazda5 2 MPG more than it has now, and I think it's steal away a TON of potential minivan sales. As it is, lots of people seem to be saying "the Mazda5 isn't EPA-rated much better than minivans, so it's not worth the size sacrifice". The real-world numbers on the Mazda5, however, do seem to be much better than minivans...a bigger difference than the EPA ratings imply.
Who knows what'll happen. But I hope the Mazda5 sells well
The window split into two? only the front part rows down, non?
2. i was disappointed that i could not get the steering wheel in a fully vertical position; i like to tilt the wheel so that the top of the wheel is as close to me as the bottom. no big deal or anything, but it adds to the driving experience because you can pretend you're in a go cart...
Why do you want to feel like in a go cart when you in a mini-VAN? You should try MIATA, that is a go CART....
3. in response to some other posts about being able to get a fifth or sixth passenger into the backseat if carseats were present in the 2nd row: yeah, it would be a little difficult, but you can still use the fore / aft slide bar on the front of the 2nd row seat to slide it forward (since the side lever requires that you tilt the seat before sliding). this works okay for getting in, but once someone is back there, they can't reach that slide bar on the front of the 2nd row seat, so they either squeeze in between the 2nd row seats or wait for help! this probably isn't too big a deal either because as many others have stated this vehicle is not for someone wanting to fit 6 people in it on a regular basis.
baby seats should be in third row, if there are people in second row, third row is not that soft and comfortable, but chubby babies in babyseats wouldn't know the difference....
4. i was disappointed with the cargo space when using the 3rd row. i don't think that we could even fit our evenflo stroller back there if we were going to dinner with the grandparents! however, i haven't tried this yet so maybe it's possible. i don't know what the spec for the luggage volume is, but it certainly looks much smaller than i expected. i saw an old 95-98 odyssey today and in looking at the luggage space behind the 3rd row, the tailgate glass was still fairly close to the seatback, but there was a lowered well at the floor which increased the usability greatly (i would suspect). i don't know what the luggage volume spec for the old odyssey is, however. anybody know these figures?
Try MacLaren stroller, they are very foldable and slim, if I were MAZDA, I would design and sell stroller spefically design for 5's trunk space..Odyssey is a entire different animal, people love 5 are people get caught in the middle of having to have those chubby babies and still like to zoom zoom at the same time...
I'm kinda thinking that Mazda might do a midyear change a put a 5speed auto in the car in a few monthes. I just test drove the 4 speed auto today and its fine. But if a 5 speed comes out soon i'd rather have the 5 speed as it probably gives it better fuel economy.
I know that the EPA estimates are usually about 20% higher than reality, so I'm wondering what some of Mazda5 owners out there are getting in terms of gas mileage. I'd be using it for driving around the city here in CT 90% of the time, to ferry my two kids (4yrs and 4 months). A larger minivan (MPV, Odyssey, Sienna) certainly offers more room and amenities, but also might be more than I need (and being heavier, I figure not as good mileage).
Any MPG input would be most welcome. I'd most likely buy the 5-speed manual Touring and put in leather seats (easier to clean up the juice boxes and other child's messes)
rideyourbike, "Mazda5 Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers" #38, 1 Sep 2005 9:35 pm!make=Mazda&model=MAZDA5&ed_makeindex=.ef90f62
One of my neighbors who bought a huge GM SUV that probably gets about 10 mpg city said that he felt like a dupe for getting that SUV with GM's "employee price" when he saw the legroom in my xB.
On the Mazda5, the 4-speed auto only does 1 MPG worse than the 5-speed manual (21/26 auto vs. 22/27 manual). So, realistically, a 5-speed auto in a Mazda5 will likely only add a small improvement to its gas mileage. Because of this, and the fact that a 5-speed auto will cost more, Mazda may decide not to add a 5-speed auto to the Mazda5...I hope they do though, even a 1 MPG improvement is better than nothing.
Steve
We also drove the car to a friend's Labor Day party and was surprised by the huge positive reactions to the car. Everyone loved it. They loved the color, the styling, the wheels, the interior. They were getting inside of it, moving the seats, etc. just like they'd never seen a car before. I think that's what's so great about the Mazda5...there's really not much on the market like it...especially for the price!
I found this link, is this the accessory you saw in the brochure?
http://www.mazdastuff.com/product.cfm?ProductID=2294
I don't care for the look of this roof rack. I like the way the factory installed racks look much better.
Does anyone else worry about what would happen if the car is hit from behind? My Passat was rear ended a few months ago (I was stopped and was hit at about 15 MPH), and the trunk collapsed really protected the rear seats.
We always hear about front and side impact crash ratings...I'm just wondering if the lack of "collapsing" room in the back is a concern. Maybe it's no worse here than any other vehicle with a third row...
Thanks!
On your Passat, the trunk is probably a "crumple zone"...in other words, it's meant to crumple to absorb impacts. This improves safety for the passengers, but it also means that the trunk crumples REALLY easily so it'll need to be repaired/replaced even in the smallest of collisions. In the Mazda5, nothing in the back is made to crumple...it's all sturdy and reinforced.
On the following web page, towards the bottom, is a pretty good description of the safety features in the Mazda5 (look under the heading "Passive Safety")*:
http://www.japanesecarfans.com/print.cfm/ID/2050823.006/lang/eng
* Note: I had originally quoted the paragraphs here, but the post was too long so I put up this link instead.
Meade
Bert
I'd love to get one of these! 140 horse, 265 lbs./ft, 6-speed manual. Hopefully they can get the emissions clean enough for the U.S. and hopefully CA!
I would definitely bring in my 02 MPV for one of these babies.
Thanks for the prove, I should carry this around every time the local Mazda salesmen says it is never going to happen.
6 speed. Yowsa.
John
http://www.japanesecarfans.com/photos.cfm/photoid/3041124.001/pageview/photo/photo/1057/si- ze/large/mazda/1.html
John
Hope everyone noticed that this link is to page 5 of a 6 page article about the M5 Diesel...
we just got out Sport Automatic (my wife won't drive a stick unfortunately), and how true is it that you have to take it slow for the first 500 miles, how fast can you go on the highway?
thanks.
http://www.mercola.com/2002/mar/13/car_seats.htm
I knew whenever you decide to take a car out to the road , you are in potential harzard situation, you couldn't worry about eveything in life, otherwise we would do crazy. So it does adds some comfort to know MAZDA 5 comes with airbags in every possible way.
BUT, given close to 22% of all accidents are rear end ones, has anyone thought about adding a rear end airbag FOR vehicles offering third row seats, they could easily embedded in the back of the seats???
Hope everyone noticed that this link is to page 5 of a 6 page article about the M5 Diesel...
************************************
Yes, I did that intentionally, since that was the page with the details of the engine.
An early oil change (at 1 or 2 thousand miles) might not be needed, but certainly can't hurt.
Best wishes and enjoy the car! We're having to wait for ours... 5-speeds are oversold here in Canada.
we are taking a long 400 miles trip right away, so I'll have to avoid using the cruise thanks again.
I agree that 3rd row of any such vehicle is not the best place to be in a crash (is there any good place to be?) but it should be noted that the Mazda5 already exceeds upcoming 50mph rear-end collision standards that will be phased in for 2007. :sick: