MotorTrend tests the 2014 Mazda5 Sport 6M

[TonyC]

It really is an excellent vehicle. The problem is, this target market is shrinking in North America, and the 5 seems to be neither here or there.

after owning (and now trying to sell) this car, I really do not understand this comment. shrinking target market? are there less 2 parent, 2 toddler family in North American than say, the last 2 decades? obviously not.

there is simply no better vehicle for a 2 parent, 2 toddler/infant family (with grand parents who hardly visit). none.

 

[90210]

after owning (and now trying to sell) this car, I really do not understand this comment. shrinking target market? are there less 2 parent, 2 toddler family in North American than say, the last 2 decades? obviously not.

there is simply no better vehicle for a 2 parent, 2 toddler/infant family (with grand parents who hardly visit). none.

Agree 100%. However, America is the land of want, not need.

Mazda 5 is all I need (as you described), but people I know rather have Sienna/Odyssey even though they don't need it.

Same as needing a 1500 sq feet house but living in a 8500 sq feet house...

 

[tuanies]

One of my FAVORITE things about the Caravan rental we had in 2012 was the Stow and go in the middle. It allowed us to have 7 adults, and put luggage in the stow and go area behind the driver seat.

The storage is still there, the seats just don't fold up. We got comfier seats. However, we may trade it in for a Nissan Leaf since we have the 5 now.

 

[maykelcj]

There is no real market in the states for the 5 cause the is no real marketing toward consumers. I'm in the marketing field and I see it everyday. People will buy s*** if properly marketed. The reason SUVs are so popular is not because they are so good, it's because they found a way to make a truck pass for a luxury vehicle. Then they marketed it to the soccer moms in the suburbs and bingo! Sales spread like fire! Now people associate SUVs with family and do to this association there is no need to spend much marketing resources to "educate" the buyers on the product. That is the slimed-down version, there are other factors at play, but I'm tired of writing on this pad.

 

[tuanies]

Even if marketed properly, the 5 has a very niche purpose. People don't find minivans sexy and one that is pretty plain inside without the fancy gadgetry of the crossovers and much bigger minivans, it simply doesn't stand a chance. People usually only buy minivans when the third child comes and they need it. However, they probably could have marketed the hell out of the the convenience of sliding doors and fun driving factor, but that costs money and they didn't want to spend it.

 

[maykelcj]

Exactly, good marketing is expensive, but all they needed was to get the ball rolling. After enough families buy them others will follow. I would avoid the word "minivan" like a rabid dog. Instead market it as a car with sliding doors.

 

[90210]

To people sliding doors=minivan

 

[maykelcj]

Perseptions can be "adjusted". I totally agree with you on the van thing. Marketers need to come up with a good way too twist that into an advantage.

 

[90210]

The storage is still there, the seats just don't fold up. We got comfier seats. However, we may trade it in for a Nissan Leaf since we have the 5 now.

Had a nissan leaf for 2 years, before replacing it with a CT200. Good car.

 

[90210]

Perseptions can be "adjusted". I totally agree with you on the van thing. Marketers need to come up with a good way too twist that into an advantage.

Size is the key issue, as silent noise pointed out in the other thread...

Been a long time Mazda owner. It is a small company. They can't throw marketing dollars out the window.

THeir bread and butter is the 3 and cx5.

I am fine with that.

It means, when I go to a parking lot, I can find my Mazda5, in a sea of 5 gazillion oddy/sienna.

I am ok with it being on the rarer side.

Then again we had a 1987 Toyota Van LE dual sunroof, ice box, back in the day....

 

[tuanies]

Had a nissan leaf for 2 years, before replacing it with a CT200. Good car.

I'm in the press car right now. The charging infrastructure in WA has gotten significantly better than when I had it last year. We have a bunch of Level 3 / DCFast Chargers around enough for me to go on 120 mile round trips without any hesitation. Wife really wants one.

 

[90210]

I'm in the press car right now. The charging infrastructure in WA has gotten significantly better than when I had it last year. We have a bunch of Level 3 / DCFast Chargers around enough for me to go on 120 mile round trips without any hesitation. Wife really wants one.

Yeah no charging station issues where I am. Charge at work, home, park, restuarants, airport...

Put 45K miles on it. Was looking at the Fit EV (but it was last gen model), didn't like the Rav4 EV.

CT is a place holder, till the Tesla X comes out.

 

[tuanies]

I got a Level 2 charger from Bosch. It makes the car for me, but I also live an hour south of Seattle so when I need a full charge to go into the city.

 

[90210]

^^
Makes sense.

If I lived that far from the city, wouldn't make sense for me. My cousin lives in Bremerton

 

[torquelover]

The leatherette on the VW is easier to clean and the middle row seats aren't stow and go so they are bigger with more support.

One of my FAVORITE things about the Caravan rental we had in 2012 was the Stow and go in the middle. It allowed us to have 7 adults, and put luggage in the stow and go area behind the driver seat.

I like the full size 2nd row seats. We came out of an Oddy Touring and went with a used Town and Country without the folding seats in the newer ones just for that reason. The most current Chrysler vans have better seats in the second row, but still nowhere near as nice as the current Oddy's. If it was just the kids back there no problem, but I actually sit in the second row a lot too.

We are outgrowing our MZ5 pretty quickly. Worked great when the kids (and their friends/cousins) were smaller. The last trip really pounded this home for us. The proper thing to do next spring is get a new Oddy for the wife (She wants a Suburban, not gonna happen) and I will use the MZ5 as my daily driver/work car. I'd rather get something fun to drive and add a roof cage and tow hitch/load carrier for the MZ5.

 

[90210]

I like the full size 2nd row seats. We came out of an Oddy Touring and went with a used Town and Country without the folding seats in the newer ones just for that reason. The most current Chrysler vans have better seats in the second row, but still nowhere near as nice as the current Oddy's. If it was just the kids back there no problem, but I actually sit in the second row a lot too.

We are outgrowing our MZ5 pretty quickly. Worked great when the kids (and their friends/cousins) were smaller. The last trip really pounded this home for us. The proper thing to do next spring is get a new Oddy for the wife (She wants a Suburban, not gonna happen) and I will use the MZ5 as my daily driver/work car. I'd rather get something fun to drive and add a roof cage and tow hitch/load carrier for the MZ5.

I don't know anything about the Caravan. All I know is our 2012 had the stowaway thing on the floor. It really worked out for us.

Agree with you 100%, that Oddy seats are amazing. It drives great too (for what it is-am not comparing it to a MZ5).

That said, I can see most people who outgrow the MZ5, will go into the Oddy/Sienna.

For me once the stroller are done with the kids, we are going back to a coupe. No more vans for us. And we are not a SUV/CUV type of people

 

[maykelcj]

The way I see it, if I have to make a trip, I rent a car or van. Beats putting miles in your own vehicle. Plus you don't have to drive around on a huge vehicle all year for those 2-3 travels. I'm also happy to see I'm not the only SUV hater.

 

[Clicky]

The way I see it, if I have to make a trip, I rent a car or van. Beats putting miles in your own vehicle. Plus you don't have to drive around on a huge vehicle all year for those 2-3 travels. I'm also happy to see I'm not the only SUV hater.

Not only that, but insurance cost. Adding 1000 miles increases my insurance by about $200 a year. So I would rather rent a vehicle for long road trips. Told my wife the same. Not only that but if you get stuck a thousand miles from home, the rental company will just send you another car. In your own car, it would be a hassle.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3

 

[90210]

^^

Interesting. IN the SE Asian community it is very common to "Save miles" and rent car for trips.

I rent cars when my trips require it (recently rented a Expedition long wheel base, and a Escalade ESV few months prior).

Total yearly mileage has no impact on my insurance rates. Same company for over 15 years.

 

[Clicky]

^^

Interesting. IN the SE Asian community it is very common to "Save miles" and rent car for trips.

I rent cars when my trips require it (recently rented a Expedition long wheel base, and a Escalade ESV few months prior).

Total yearly mileage has no impact on my insurance rates. Same company for over 15 years.

I don't care about the miles much since I don't drive much normally, but insurance definitely goes up quite a bit for me at higher usage. And because I claim low mileage (2-3k a year), they ask occasionally the odometer reading. Though I have mercury which is known to be the cheapest(in more ways than just price) . I prefer farmers or something but they cost like twice as much, if not more.

Sent from my LG G Pad 8.3