We're driving North America's best kept secret

[OldGreyMike]

I still can't understand why Mazda puts zero effort into marketing the Mazda5 in NA. There is really nothing else like it here (the rather fugly Rondo aside) and it is the ideal combination of size, flexible utility, and driving fun.

Europe and the rest of the world is full of similar people-movers; for example, I had fun driving an Opel Zafira when I was in Germany a few years ago (although loaded with adults it was certainly no match for all of the Audis and BMWs on the Autobahn!). Ever since then, I was on the lookout for something similar in the US.

If I hadn't spent more than a year exhaustively researching replacement vehicles for the now-defunct short wheelbase Dodge Caravan, I never would have known about the 5, and I had to go hunting for it.

I guess we bright people are just ahead of the curve here. This is one great little car, and I kind of enjoy driving something that gets a bit of the "what the heck is that?" reaction once in a while.

I do seem to be seeing a few more of them on the road, actually found myself behind another 5 for several miles a few days ago, and was thinking, "Two 5s in a row - amazing!".

[Zoom5Zoom]

I hear you on this one...some day everyone will wake up and say ...

I WANT A 5

[Antonio DiMarco]

I still can't understand why Mazda puts zero effort into marketing the Mazda5 in NA. There is really nothing else like it here (the rather fugly Rondo aside) and it is the ideal combination of size, flexible utility, and driving fun.

Europe and the rest of the world is full of similar people-movers; for example, I had fun driving an Opel Zafira when I was in Germany a few years ago (although loaded with adults it was certainly no match for all of the Audis and BMWs on the Autobahn!). Ever since then, I was on the lookout for something similar in the US.

If I hadn't spent more than a year exhaustively researching replacement vehicles for the now-defunct short wheelbase Dodge Caravan, I never would have known about the 5, and I had to go hunting for it.

I guess we bright people are just ahead of the curve here. This is one great little car, and I kind of enjoy driving something that gets a bit of the "what the heck is that?" reaction once in a while.

I do seem to be seeing a few more of them on the road, actually found myself behind another 5 for several miles a few days ago, and was thinking, "Two 5s in a row - amazing!".

"Driving Americas best kept secret." I got one of the first ones off the boat in 2006 and still love it. Everytime I think that it maybe time to change cars (I get bored easily) I drive it and realize that it's a wonderful car and would be at a loss as to what would replace it.

[Fiji Mazda3]

Honestly, they don't need to do any advertising because these vehicles sell. They do some Internet advertising, although it's rare, but the vehicles sell themselves. That's why you rarely ever see a commercial/ad for the 5.

[offset_98]

You know...I had one for 8 days on vacation and I just couldn't seem to get comfortable. It needs like 2 more inches of rearward travel to the driver's seat. FYI, I'm 6' 1" Also, w/ 5 people in the car the rear passenger had to keep the stroller and the rest of our crap from falling on them because there isn't enough room behind the 3rd seat for anything larger than a diaper bag.

Additionally, mileage in my opinion wasn't great. 21 mpg in 70% city, 30% hwy didn't impress. I thought pickup and power was just fine and the A/C cooled the car down nicely (85 degrees and sunny where we were). I liked the under seat storage of the center seats and the roll down windows of the center seats. Sometimes the gauges were hard to read in direct sunlight and my polarized lenses.

I had to swallow my pride a little because I'd been raving about this car to my wife for quite some time but after having had it on vacation w/ the family, its too small :( I suppose now I'll have to go back to the Honda vs Toyota decision for a minivan or a *slightly* used R-class.

[was98strat]

Actually I'd say the 5 isn't much of a secret anymore!!! I can't drive down a street without seeing at least 2 others drive by. Even the Sharkfin isn't very unique any longer!!! They're everywhere Amazing considering the lack of advertising!!

[rweatherford]

Additionally, mileage in my opinion wasn't great. 21 mpg in 70% city, 30% hwy didn't impress.


I want you to read what you wrote.

21 MPG mainly city with 5 people, luggage and A/C.

How many other cars do that? It's pretty good I think.

[offset_98]

I want you to read what you wrote.

21 MPG mainly city with 5 people, luggage and A/C.

How many other cars do that? It's pretty good I think.

I had 5 people in the car 2 times for less than 3 miles each direction. I guess I should have been more specific.

Generally, it was me and my daughter (21 lbs) and my wife came along the final 3 days. Considering I get 22 mpg in our CX-7 commuting and slightly more on trips to So. Cal., I just wasn't that impressed.

[Antonio DiMarco]

You know...I had one for 8 days on vacation and I just couldn't seem to get comfortable. It needs like 2 more inches of rearward travel to the driver's seat. FYI, I'm 6' 1" Also, w/ 5 people in the car the rear passenger had to keep the stroller and the rest of our crap from falling on them because there isn't enough room behind the 3rd seat for anything larger than a diaper bag.

Additionally, mileage in my opinion wasn't great. 21 mpg in 70% city, 30% hwy didn't impress. I thought pickup and power was just fine and the A/C cooled the car down nicely (85 degrees and sunny where we were). I liked the under seat storage of the center seats and the roll down windows of the center seats. Sometimes the gauges were hard to read in direct sunlight and my polarized lenses.

I had to swallow my pride a little because I'd been raving about this car to my wife for quite some time but after having had it on vacation w/ the family, its too small :( I suppose now I'll have to go back to the Honda vs Toyota decision for a minivan or a *slightly* used R-class.

It sounds like you want a Minivan. FYI the 5 is not suppose to be a minivan. It also wasn't designed to carry 5 or 6 people all the time AND a lot of luggage. I believe most people who own 5's, like myself, have one or two kids and use the rear seats in a pinch, e.g. carting my sons friends around.

I'm 6'3 and I will say that your right about front set travel, and it being a littel tight but again it's all about judging the car on it's primary goal and function.

It's also a Mazda and Mazda will always favor perfromance over fuel economy. Our 5 consistently get's 23-26 mpg and its fun to drive. It's also a great road trip car. But you can't overload it.

To be honest your post irritates me because you aren't judging the 5 fairly in the correct context. Sounds like you should have done a bit more research.

[Bennett5]

If you look at it as a car for North America, than most people will say it's too small, under powered, cant tow with it etc. But when you look at it on the world stage its a mid to large size people mover. In every conuntry I've been to outside of NA it is considered to be a larger vehicle. Cars like the 3, the 2, Ford Focus, Opel vectra's, Peugot 200....are the norm. I guess all I'm trying to say is anywhere else in the world other than here in North America this is a larger vehicle, for the masses. Not many vehicles can carry 6 (North America) or 7 people (every where else in the world!!!), have the cargo capacity, get respectable fuel economy, have good looks and, a spirited driving feel and yet cost under $30 loaded. I've travelled around quite a bit (mostly Western Europe), and have driven all types of vehicles, and so far nothing comes close to what the 5 has to offer in versatility. There will be a vehicle out there that can do one of those things way better than the 5 but when you look at the whole package.... forget it, nothing in North America and few anywhere can compare. Attached are a few pics from a typical small German town. In pic #1, The third vehicle parked on the right is a 5, I think? Just so happens I took these pic's the same week we bought our 5 here in NA. Compare it in size to the rest of the vehicles, and for the rest of the world it kinda puts it into perspective. Now try driving something larger than that around some of these other streets? In Pic #3, find the Parking lot sign and look at the entrance to the parking lot? A VW Golf had trouble pulling in there. The point I'm trying to make is, it's a vehicle Mazda is able to sell around the world with very few changes from region to region and does everything it supposed to do well. Good Job Mazda...
Can't wait for the Diesel to make it to North America.......

[offset_98]

It's also a great road trip car. But you can't overload it.

Read my second post...if that's overloading it then Mazda should have kept it the 3 and not put a larger body on the 3 and call it the 5.


To be honest your post irritates me because you aren't judging the 5 fairly in the correct context. Sounds like you should have done a bit more research.

Then you don't know me at all on here. I've been talking about this car, researching it and driving its competitors for over 3 years. Maybe you need to research me and my posts before shooting one off the hip like that.

Listen guys, some of you are taking it like a personal attack over the vehicle you chose. It's not like that. I have ONE child and a wife. I thought the 5 would be perfect for us and in a pinch seat 5 or 6. In my opinion, it doesn't fulfill that need--especially when you need to hike a stroller along with those 5 or 6 people. I rented it because I wanted to see how it would perform in my life. I didn't overload it, it was fine for the 3 of us. This wasn't a road trip so we didn't have it stuffed either. We landed in Chicago, I got the 5 we drove to our destination and took day trips from there.

I was all for the 5, believe me. But now I see, perhaps I might need something a tad larger. I'm sorry if anyone got butthurt over my comments, that wasn't my intention. My intention was to simply give feedback on the 5 just like I have on the Rondo and many others.

[Antonio DiMarco]

Read my second post...if that's overloading it then Mazda should have kept it the 3 and not put a larger body on the 3 and call it the 5.



Then you don't know me at all on here. I've been talking about this car, researching it and driving its competitors for over 3 years. Maybe you need to research me and my posts before shooting one off the hip like that.

Listen guys, some of you are taking it like a personal attack over the vehicle you chose. It's not like that. I have ONE child and a wife. I thought the 5 would be perfect for us and in a pinch seat 5 or 6. In my opinion, it doesn't fulfill that need--especially when you need to hike a stroller along with those 5 or 6 people. I rented it because I wanted to see how it would perform in my life. I didn't overload it, it was fine for the 3 of us. This wasn't a road trip so we didn't have it stuffed either. We landed in Chicago, I got the 5 we drove to our destination and took day trips from there.

I was all for the 5, believe me. But now I see, perhaps I might need something a tad larger. I'm sorry if anyone got butthurt over my comments, that wasn't my intention. My intention was to simply give feedback on the 5 just like I have on the Rondo and many others.

I don't take it as a personal attack. I simply believe your expectations match a traditional minivan and not a smaller car like the 5. IOW your expectations of the the 5 are flawed. I'm also not questioning your history in the forums either just your logic and expectations.

[OldGreyMike]

Different strokes for different folks. I was happy driving the short wheelbase Caravans for years, until they grew into the behemoths they have become today. If you need something bigger, or you don't fit comfortably, that's your privilege. I'm just saying that it works for me.

I'm 6' 1" and shrinking, BTW. Oddly enough, I had trouble with my last 3 Caravans due to the height of the door opening, I was forever banging my head getting in. One of the reasons I bought the 5 was that I didn't hit my head getting in. It was one of my requirements.

Planning a trip to Canada with 4 adults and luggage next month, will see how it goes. But based on a recent vacation excursion fully loaded with gear and 2 kayaks, I think it will be just fine.

[doctorz]

The first time I sat in a 5 I thought it felt like someone shrunk a minivan, particularly compared to the MPV we had at the time. Now that I have a Honda Fit, the 5 seems enormous. :)

I find people who think the 5 will act like a (not)minivan are sorely disappointed. But the 5 is not designed for people who think bigger = better.

offset_98, the 5 will fit an umbrella stroller fine with six people. I agree, it does not fit any of the enormous strollers very well if the third seat is used. But it raises the question of how much does one child really need. Without passing any judgment on your hauling needs (big dogs? future children? work needs?)...isn't it kind of mind-boggling that a family of three would need an Odyssey?

[offset_98]

offset_98, the 5 will fit an umbrella stroller fine with six people. I agree, it does not fit any of the enormous strollers very well if the third seat is used. But it raises the question of how much does one child really need. Without passing any judgment on your hauling needs (big dogs? future children? work needs?)...isn't it kind of mind-boggling that a family of three would need an Odyssey?

I agree with you...3 people don't need an Odyssey. That's why I don't have one. Our family is still growing however. Right now we fit fine in my Impala but I think that has to do more with the huge trunk. In a pinch, we can fit 6 in it as well and don't have any of the issues of luggage falling on people b/c of the trunk. Also, the reason I didn't take our smaller stroller is b/c we were going to a fair one of the days and the bigger strollers wheels were required for grassy travels :) If we had not met up with more of my family and didn't have a need for the rear seats, the 5 would have been great aside from needing more seat travel for the driver's seat. Even if I had 2 children, with the back seats down, we'd have been fine. I'm just saying, in this instance of needing extra seats while still hauling stuff, it didn't fit my need. In this situation, my Impala would have been better.

[x10dude]

R
Listen guys, some of you are taking it like a personal attack over the vehicle you chose. .. .

That could be true... but honestly I think you are also taking the responses a bit personal too. I actually agree with others in saying that perhaps the Mazda5 is NOT the vehicle for you. If you think it is too small, then you need something different.

I guess what others are saying is that it doesn't make much sense to complain about a car that isn't really designed for your particular needs. I mean you can complain all you want about the 5 but it won't make the it any better suited for your family. That's why there are choices out there.

I don't think anyone would fault you if you traded your 5 in for something larger like full sized minivan. That seems like the most sensible thing to do.

[offset_98]

I wasn't trying to come off as complaining about it. I was trying to come off as someone who does not own a 5 (read my prior posts above and read my signature), someone who has always wanted a 5, someone who then tested a 5 and someone who decided the 5 wasn't for him followed by the reasons why. Don't read to far into my comments, they are just that. Comments on the 5...both positive and negative.

[x10dude]

I wasn't trying to come off as complaining about it. I was trying to come off as someone who does not own a 5 (read my prior posts above and read my signature), someone who has always wanted a 5, someone who then tested a 5 and someone who decided the 5 wasn't for him followed by the reasons why. Don't read to far into my comments, they are just that. Comments on the 5...both positive and negative.


Sorry about that. But I still think you'd be much better off with a larger vehicle. But I think it's important to keep in mind that what might be small for your situation, might be fine for many others.

[doctorz]

I'm just saying, in this instance of needing extra seats while still hauling stuff, it didn't fit my need. In this situation, my Impala would have been better.

That's totally fine...just two comments:

(1) When compared to other minivans for carrying capacity, the 5 will never win. It's a smaller vehicle and it can't be expected it to haul six plus large cargo. I see comparisons against Odyssey/Sienna et al and people complain about the lack of cargo room. That's not the point of the 5.

(2) People seem to buy vehicles based on what they think they need, or might need a couple of times a year, rather than what is practical for everyday use. The 5 wasn't big enough for your one isolated situation. By the same token, there have been a couple of times when our old MPV could have come in handy over our 5. Then I remember how we hated driving something that big on a regular basis and I come to my senses.

I think these two things are partly responsible for why the 5 is still a "niche" vehicle in the US. If people could get over the fact that they may not need something the size of an Odyssey or a Yukon for a family of three or four, perhaps the market would increase further. Or if gas went back to $4 a gallon. This is not inherently a criticism of your comment - everyone has their own needs to judge by. One could make the same argument that our Honda Fit, which has a trunk as big as your Impala, is big enough for our family of four. (We took it on a 900 mile road trip last week!) We do have a dog, we car pool, and we have visiting relatives, all of which puts the 5's third seat in use fairly frequently.

[offset_98]

That's totally fine...just two comments:

(1) When compared to other minivans for carrying capacity, the 5 will never win. It's a smaller vehicle and it can't be expected it to haul six plus large cargo. I see comparisons against Odyssey/Sienna et al and people complain about the lack of cargo room. That's not the point of the 5.

Well, i've never directly compared it to any other minivan...I've never even driven an Odyssey or Sienna. I knew they'd be a lot roomier to begin with than the 5, hence why I chose the 5 on the rental lot over the Grand Caravan sitting down a few spots from it -- so I could get a 'true' feel.


(2) People seem to buy vehicles based on what they think they need, or might need a couple of times a year, rather than what is practical for everyday use. The 5 wasn't big enough for your one isolated situation. By the same token, there have been a couple of times when our old MPV could have come in handy over our 5. Then I remember how we hated driving something that big on a regular basis and I come to my senses.

I completely agree.


I think these two things are partly responsible for why the 5 is still a "niche" vehicle in the US. If people could get over the fact that they may not need something the size of an Odyssey or a Yukon for a family of three or four, perhaps the market would increase further. Or if gas went back to $4 a gallon. This is not inherently a criticism of your comment - everyone has their own needs to judge by. One could make the same argument that our Honda Fit, which has a trunk as big as your Impala, is big enough for our family of four. (We took it on a 900 mile road trip last week!) We do have a dog, we car pool, and we have visiting relatives, all of which puts the 5's third seat in use fairly frequently.

I agree w/ this as well. I really like your Fit too! If my company would let me get a Fit as a company car, I'd be all over it...same holds true for a 5. I've told my fleet department the 5 would be a great company car. I'd love to have one but I know I'm still of the old adage that its nice to have a larger family car for road trips and when more family visits if your financial needs permit and a smaller commuter for everyday stuff. I thought the 5 might fit that role but didn't know until I drove it. I drove it, I rested my own case.

[rweatherford]

I had 5 people in the car 2 times for less than 3 miles each direction. I guess I should have been more specific.

Generally, it was me and my daughter (21 lbs) and my wife came along the final 3 days. Considering I get 22 mpg in our CX-7 commuting and slightly more on trips to So. Cal., I just wasn't that impressed.

Ok. Yea that seems pretty poor. To be honest I have never gotten that low and we have 5-6 people in ours all the time. (I have 4 kids)

We have taken many trips of over 1000 miles, we just pack light.

I went to the airport in STL yesterday. Drove back roads on the way down and had fun. Pulled into the airport with 33 MPG. The car showed a max speed of 77 MPH and a max RPM of 5400. This car loves corners. :)

On the way back we got about 30 MPG and the tank right now stands at 31 + MPG.

But I'm the wierdo that runs 50 PSI in my tires....

[Antonio DiMarco]

That's totally fine...just two comments:


(2) People seem to buy vehicles based on what they think they need, or might need a couple of times a year, rather than what is practical for everyday use. The 5 wasn't big enough for your one isolated situation. By the same token, there have been a couple of times when our old MPV could have come in handy over our 5. Then I remember how we hated driving something that big on a regular basis and I come to my senses.

I think these two things are partly responsible for why the 5 is still a "niche" vehicle in the US. If people could get over the fact that they may not need something the size of an Odyssey or a Yukon for a family of three or four, perhaps the market would increase further. Or if gas went back to $4 a gallon. This is not inherently a criticism of your comment - everyone has their own needs to judge by. One could make the same argument that our Honda Fit, which has a trunk as big as your Impala, is big enough for our family of four. (We took it on a 900 mile road trip last week!) We do have a dog, we car pool, and we have visiting relatives, all of which puts the 5's third seat in use fairly frequently.

This was exactly our situation when we got the 5. I kept thinking we needed a larger car and I think I looked at the 5 about 20 times before we took the leap. The luggage space even with the rearmost seats down seemed small and I questioned whether our family of four would have enough room. Well 4 years later and we still find it to be a great car. The only complaint my wife has that it doesn't have enough storage space like the huge center console area our Pilot had. Still it swallows more stuff than you'd expect and is comfortable for long trips. Reliability has also been fantastic.

[DKaz]

offset_98, the 5 will fit an umbrella stroller fine with six people. I agree, it does not fit any of the enormous strollers very well if the third seat is used. But it raises the question of how much does one child really need. Without passing any judgment on your hauling needs (big dogs? future children? work needs?)...isn't it kind of mind-boggling that a family of three would need an Odyssey?

I bought a used Graco Mosaic travel system for standby in case we needed to carry 6 people like the past few days when we had family over (although we find that we use it VERY often). It's one of the only umbrella strollers that fits a car seat for our infant yet folds down to less than half the bulk of our regular stroller easily fitting in behind the third row. It has small 4" wheels and no shocks so it's a very light duty stroller and it's not as small as a more compact umbrella stroller but for trips around town, it's been great and our regular stroller is really only used for taking walks on rougher surfaces now.


Actually I'd say the 5 isn't much of a secret anymore!!! I can't drive down a street without seeing at least 2 others drive by. Even the Sharkfin isn't very unique any longer!!! They're everywhere Amazing considering the lack of advertising!!

My record was seeing over 20 Mazda 5s parked in 5 different park and rides in one day when i was on the commuter bus, as well as countless others on the street. On a typical day I'll see 5 to 10 on the streets. It's just a great car.


(1) When compared to other minivans for carrying capacity, the 5 will never win. It's a smaller vehicle and it can't be expected it to haul six plus large cargo. I see comparisons against Odyssey/Sienna et al and people complain about the lack of cargo room. That's not the point of the 5.

Mazda 5 + roof rack = road trip for 6!!!

[Katner]

I guess I agree with those who say the 5 isn't for everyone. But (go ahead and flame me for this) I think a lot of people write-off the 5 because of it's size (in that it's smaller than their Yukon that they love so much) and it's stigma (in that they believe it's a minivan). With out really thinking it out.

Yes, it's all opinion, but there is also something called 'sense' and the 5 makes a whole lot of it. Unless you're towing, the 5 provides most everything a 5-passenger SUV does, with better mileage. And it's fun-to-drive to boot.

My bro-in-law and sister just bought an '04 MDX with 80k miles and now get 16mpg around town (on premium fuel), hold slightly more cargo than us, and still have useless 3rd row seats for adults. But hey, they wanted a black SUV because they are "good in the snow" and "it looks cool." They paid the same as we did for our Grand Touring with 12k miles.

Our last road trip they got about 19.5mpg. We got 28.5mpg and passed them in some canyon twisties.

[MD5]

When I bought my 5 my wife had a diesel Excursion. I could almost park my 5 in the back of it.

Sure, the Excursion was the King of the road trip, but when diesel hit $5/gal, it took $200 to fill it up (it had a 44 gallon tank). The best I ever got out of one tank was 673 miles (from Colby, Kansas to my home in Dallas/Fort Worth).

But, the 5 is very capable also. I took the wife and 2 kids with the back loaded down with luggage on a 7 day Disney cruise out of Port Canaveral. It's over 1,100 miles from DFW to Port Canaveral and the 5 did just great.