MotorTrend tests the 2014 Mazda5 Sport 6M

[socialcarpet]

I just hate how they complaint about "tech". The way I see it, more gadgets are more things to go wrong.

Agreed.

I don't know how most people feel, but personally I have yet to find a touch screen system in a car that wasn't terrible, slow and unresponsive. I'm shopping for a new car right now and I am going out of my way to avoid those things. Until Apple gets CarPlay in a lot of cars, or maybe the Android system, I'm not even considering one. I've used many and they are all awful IMO.

Further, I am not interested in unncessary tech, like back up cameras for example. Don't drive an aircraft carrier and don't build cars with ridiculous blind spots and you won't need a backup camera in the first place! Don't really want much of anything else that will just fail outside of warranty either.

I'm about 95% settled on the Mazda5 now. It's ideal for me, lots of room, brilliant handling and the tech is just right. It has a NORMAL stereo and climate controls without a dopey lagging touchscreen with everything buried 4 menus deep. I also prefer a multiport injected engine for now. I'm aware of the advantages of direct injection, but I don't want it until I see a lot of these Skyactiv engines hitting 100k and we see how well the high pressure fuel pumps hold up and if there are issues with carbon fouling over that much time. The MZR is already proven so I have total confidence in it.

As for Motor Trends gripes about the ABS system, I'm not sure what they are on about. I've had ABS on lots of cars and none of them have done anything wrong. They stop the car without locking up the brakes. That's all ABS is supposed to do as far as I'm concerned. I don't drive on a slalom on the way to work, I just need ABS to stop the car safely and I'm sure it will do that just fine, even if it's not the bleeding edge ABS technology.

I understand where they are coming from though, the Mazda5 is getting a little long in the tooth, especially for the impatient customers these days and short product cycles. It's not the 1970-80s anymore where you could engineer a car really well and then make it the same for 10 years with just minor improvements like a Volvo 240. Just can't get away with that any longer.

That said, there isn't much I would change about the Mazda5 as it is. I would have liked to have seen a redesigned Kodo front end instead of the silly Nagare crazy Prozac grin grille, but I can live with that. The rest seems just fine to me. I don't want the newer stereo and HVAC controls and I want to wait and see on Skyactiv-G until there are lots of 100k examples out there and I have a picture of how the longevity is on them.

 

[socialcarpet]

I beg to differ in your last sentence brother. It is NOT a loosing proposition for Mazda. It is simply one that they don't care to spend money on. Since Mazda knows that the micro-van sector is solely a small niche. They choose not to invest developing and advertising money on it and they don't. However, it is certainly not a loosing proposition when all they have done is just piece our US version Mazda5s together from an already existing parts bin (Mazda3 chassis, the global Mazda5 body, an old MZR power plant, etc) at no cost to enhance or even promote it. So essentially even with the small amount of units sold they are still making money because no extra money is being utilized to R&D a new improved version nor advertise it. So why not make a little chump change on the side to help with their other mainstream offerings such as the the entire line up minus the Mazda5? Now whether they continue to offer it to us here in the States is yet to be seen.

I think Mazda could sell more 5's if they brought it up to par with new Kodo styling and made it a bit more crossover and less minivan, butMazda is a small car company and they have to pick their battles wisely. As much as I would like to see a new 5 here for selfish reasons, I definitely see why they would want to phase it out and just direct people to the CX-5 and CX-9. There are also strong rumors of a CX-3 coming which will be based on the new Mazda2 platform. That will occupy another spot in their lineup making a new 5 even less likely or feasible. Now.. I AGREE that a CX-5/9/3 is not a complete substitute for a Mazda5, none of them offer the same kind of flexibility, room or value for money. As much as I don't like it though, Mazda is probably right in that it doesn't make sense to continue to sell the 5 in the U.S. Then again they do commit to unconventional and sometimes impractical decisions. Rotary engines being the prime example. So who knows. But I will be very surprised if the the Mazda5 continues beyond 2015 in the U.S.

 

[socialcarpet]

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...

Exactly.

Most Americans are not practical, tend to want MORE of everything and are overly concerned with image. All of those characteristics are the death knell for a vehicle like the Mazda5.

It's not cool or macho looking. It's not massively wide and roomy. It doesn't have a 295 hp V6 and a 55" television in the back. It has a manual transmission and it's actually fun to drive and sensibly sized for God's sake. It couldn't be more out of sync with American values.

It's tragic, but it's no surprise to me that it's far more popular in Europe and Asia and places were people aren't so dense.

I'm just glad they made it while they did and thank goodness they had the nerve to put a manual transmission in it!

 

[Clicky]

Agreed.

I don't know how most people feel, but personally I have yet to find a touch screen system in a car that wasn't terrible, slow and unresponsive. I'm shopping for a new car right now and I am going out of my way to avoid those things. Until Apple gets CarPlay in a lot of cars, or maybe the Android system, I'm not even considering one. I've used many and they are all awful IMO.

Further, I am not interested in unncessary tech, like back up cameras for example. Don't drive an aircraft carrier and don't build cars with ridiculous blind spots and you won't need a backup camera in the first place! Don't really want much of anything else that will just fail outside of warranty either.

I'm about 95% settled on the Mazda5 now. It's ideal for me, lots of room, brilliant handling and the tech is just right. It has a NORMAL stereo and climate controls without a dopey lagging touchscreen with everything buried 4 menus deep. I also prefer a multiport injected engine for now. I'm aware of the advantages of direct injection, but I don't want it until I see a lot of these Skyactiv engines hitting 100k and we see how well the high pressure fuel pumps hold up and if there are issues with carbon fouling over that much time. The MZR is already proven so I have total confidence in it.

As for Motor Trends gripes about the ABS system, I'm not sure what they are on about. I've had ABS on lots of cars and none of them have done anything wrong. They stop the car without locking up the brakes. That's all ABS is supposed to do as far as I'm concerned. I don't drive on a slalom on the way to work, I just need ABS to stop the car safely and I'm sure it will do that just fine, even if it's not the bleeding edge ABS technology.

I understand where they are coming from though, the Mazda5 is getting a little long in the tooth, especially for the impatient customers these days and short product cycles. It's not the 1970-80s anymore where you could engineer a car really well and then make it the same for 10 years with just minor improvements like a Volvo 240. Just can't get away with that any longer.

That said, there isn't much I would change about the Mazda5 as it is. I would have liked to have seen a redesigned Kodo front end instead of the silly Nagare crazy Prozac grin grille, but I can live with that. The rest seems just fine to me. I don't want the newer stereo and HVAC controls and I want to wait and see on Skyactiv-G until there are lots of 100k examples out there and I have a picture of how the longevity is on them.

I don't agree on the backup camera. I would love to have one as it is a safety feature. And regardless will be mandatory in 2018 in all cars. I would prefer things like 3-flash turn signal and auto lock which should be very minimal in cost and backup camera, which isn't a large cost anyway over things like painted lowers, spoiler, and 17" alloys. Power seats with memory would be nice too, at least as an option. Automatic off lights when the key is removed from the ignition on the base package would be nice, though the gt does offer auto lights.

Sent from my LG G Pad 8.3

 

[90210]

I am a luddite and hate tech. My reason for my Elise purchase was because the 911/GTR type of cars have too much tech (I know, I am a moron). My next sports car will be a Morgan or Atom, so go figure.

THat said, TECH does have its perks.

My Lexus CT for example, EXCELLENt nav, computer sytem. Bluetooth is fantastic. It reads texts messages to me from my phone. Voice nav is amazing. Back up camera (in such asmall car) is AMAZING and very helpful.

Smart key is great. Heated and cooled seats great. Touch the door handle to lock and unlock is great.

With kids/groceries...the tech helps.

Do I want those tech on my Mazda5? NO. But just saying not all tech is bad.

 

[socialcarpet]

I don't agree on the backup camera. I would love to have one as it is a safety feature. And regardless will be mandatory in 2018 in all cars. I would prefer things like 3-flash turn signal and auto lock which should be very minimal in cost and backup camera, which isn't a large cost anyway over things like painted lowers, spoiler, and 17" alloys. Power seats with memory would be nice too, at least as an option. Automatic off lights when the key is removed from the ignition on the base package would be nice, though the gt does offer auto lights.

Sent from my LG G Pad 8.3

I'm not opposed to those things as options. But I don't want to pay for a backup camera and power seats if I don't have to. A car that's designed well and isn't a giant SUV will have mirrors that can easily cover every area you need to see. Backup cameras are a prime example of a rube goldberg machine. The mirror as worked fine for more than 100 years. Backup cameras just provide more excuses for people not to develop their driving skills and be more aware and for car companies to build more cars with 36" wide C-pillars that create massive blind spots.

Like I said though, if they were optional, that'd be fine.

Power seats, well I don't find it to be too much effort to move my own seat and I'd rather not pay $100's in repair bills when the power seat fails down the road, or have the extra weight for the motor and mechanism and the extra cost in the MSRP. Again, make it optional and that's just fine by me.

Personally I thought one of the things that made the Mazda 5 great was the fact that they kept it small and light and kept the price low by avoiding most of the needless bloat that is piled into other minivan like vehicles. That's a slippery slope. You start with a backup camera and a few more luxuries and before you know it, the car weighs 4600 lbs and costs $38,000. If that's what people want, they can buy an Odyssey or one of the others. The 5 is/was one of a kind. It's a damn shame more Americans don't see the beauty in the whole less is more philosophy here.

 

[maykelcj]

^Agree. I think much of the tech offered is just to lure people. I have seen already some people baking up into incoming traffic because all they are looking at its the darn camera. All the tech in the world won't fix stupid.

 

[90210]

^Agree. I think much of the tech offered is just to lure people. I have seen already some people baking up into incoming traffic because all they are looking at its the darn camera. All the tech in the world won't fix stupid.

Obviously they need their eyes checked. As somoene who has cars with backup camera..there is NO way to back up in traffic, as my Lexus cameras show the side angles....much better than if I turned my shoulder left AND right...

 

[monotone]

Tech probably won't fix stupid, but it'll help you avoid the stupid bastards speeding in the parking lot while you're trying to back out.

 

[maykelcj]

Yeah 90210. Some cameras are better than others, some displays are also better than others. This guy I saw baking up into traffic. Almost got hit. Cause by the time he saw it on the camera the car was really close. Simple matter of looking down the road on your windows while banking up. Maybe parked cars obstructed the camera as it sits lower? I do not know.

 

[socialcarpet]

Right? I'd rather see them make the car less expensive, or put the money from useless gadgetry into better quality paint, more soundproofing, nicer upolstery, thicker carpet, engine improvements, bigger brakes. You know, things that matter.

 

[Clicky]

Right? I'd rather see them make the car less expensive, or put the money from useless gadgetry into better quality paint, more soundproofing, nicer upolstery, thicker carpet, engine improvements, bigger brakes. You know, things that matter.

Well, the government doesn't agree with you, and will force manufacturers to install backup cameras as standard equipment in a few years.

Sent from my LG G Pad 8.3

 

[90210]

Right? I'd rather see them make the car less expensive, or put the money from useless gadgetry into better quality paint, more soundproofing, nicer upolstery, thicker carpet, engine improvements, bigger brakes. You know, things that matter.

A camera costs a lot less than good paint and nicer upholstery and thicker carpet.

I have had 3 Lexus LS. Probably one of the best paint in the world. 9 Mazdas. Aside from Hyundai, Mazda has the worst paint.

I don't expect my 19K Mazda5 to have good paint and nice upholstery. I expect my 120K Lexus to have that.

Been driving a long time, excellent record. I also track two sports cars during the year and ride bikes.

The reverse camera in my cars, are MUCH better than turning your shoulder around. It just is, brotha.

Example: Many a times in shopping center, no camera car, I look over shoulder, scan everything, back out, bam from DIFF side car speeds up.

Reverse camera captures side angles, NEVER had an issue. It can show you both sides at once. I can't look over both of my shoulder at once.

Some technology is a good thing. We are not luddites.

If my Mazda5 had great paint, great uhpolstery, better NVH, it wouldn't cost 19K. It would cost 28-38K. At which point, I wouldn't be buying a Mazda5.

 

[Davicho]

A camera costs a lot less than good paint and nicer upholstery and thicker carpet.

I have had 3 Lexus LS. Probably one of the best paint in the world. 9 Mazdas. Aside from Hyundai, Mazda has the worst paint.

I don't expect my 19K Mazda5 to have good paint and nice upholstery. I expect my 120K Lexus to have that.

Been driving a long time, excellent record. I also track two sports cars during the year and ride bikes.

The reverse camera in my cars, are MUCH better than turning your shoulder around. It just is, brotha.

Example: Many a times in shopping center, no camera car, I look over shoulder, scan everything, back out, bam from DIFF side car speeds up.

Reverse camera captures side angles, NEVER had an issue. It can show you both sides at once. I can't look over both of my shoulder at once.

Some technology is a good thing. We are not luddites.

If my Mazda5 had great paint, great uhpolstery, better NVH, it wouldn't cost 19K. It would cost 28-38K. At which point, I wouldn't be buying a Mazda5.

I agree 100% my wife's new CX-5 GT/Tech has the back up camera as well as the back up sensors and it is truly a very safe and usable gadget. Now that we have this in her CX-5 it makes me want add it to my MZ5 something I never thought I would desire. I also agree that the wide angle view that the camera provides is way more efficient then your typical look over your left and right shoulder method. i honestly think that the members here that are being critical about this feature is because they've never had it and used it on a daily basis to change their minds about it.

 

[90210]

I agree 100% my wife's new CX-5 GT/Tech has the back up camera as well as the back up sensors and it is truly a very safe and usable gadget. Now that we have this in her CX-5 it makes me want add it to my MZ5 something I never thought I would desire. I also agree that the wide angle view that the camera provides is way more efficient then your typical look over your left and right shoulder method. i honestly think that the members here that are being critical about this feature is because they've never had it and used it on a daily basis to change their minds about it.

Agee with your agreement of me. I need to buy you a beer.

People grow up. People mature. People see the light. Being able to say you are wrong, is the best feeling.

I bought a 2006 Exige new. No rear view, no nothing. Laughed at morons with rear view camera (that time my Lexus LS rear view wasn't very good).

Traded in for a 08 Elise. Has rear glass. Took out my rear view mirror..who needs it..less weight.

2012+ the rear view cameras has become SO amazIng, as you said.

I can live without power seats (as much as I enjoy them)... because of weight blah blah..as someone mentioned.

But a camera doesn't really add that much cost.and it is really helpful.

I am all about helpful things.

Is my Lexus reading me nasty x rated texts from my mistress helpful as I drive? Sure! Is it fun! Hell ya. Do I want it on all my cars, no need.

Back up camera has helped me. As you said. I wish all my cars had as good as camera as some of cars have.

I am willing to look at new technology. I learned not to bash things I Haven't tried.

SIgn of growing up.

Beer is on me!

 

[torquelover]

Is my Lexus reading me nasty x rated texts from my mistress helpful as I drive? Sure! Is it fun! Hell ya. Do I want it on all my cars, no need.

Back up camera has helped me. As you said. I wish all my cars had as good as camera as some of cars have.

I am willing to look at new technology. I learned not to bash things I Haven't tried.

SIgn of growing up.

Beer is on me!

My wife's MZ5 reads texts to her, I dunno about nasty ones, though.

Ask anyone that has accidentally backed over a child or pet, and they'll tell you a backup camera is a great idea. These will be required in the US soon on every car, just as stability control is now required.

 

[90210]

My wife's MZ5 reads texts to her, I dunno about nasty ones, though.

Ask anyone that has accidentally backed over a child or pet, and they'll tell you a backup camera is a great idea. These will be required in the US soon on every car, just as stability control is now required.

My MZ5 doesn't read texts, and I am glad for that. Don't need wife looking at mistress texts.

 

[tuanies]

Mine does but I use Windows Phone and Cortana works with any Bluetooth setup