2010 Mazda 5 vs 2012 Mazda 5 interior

[cburrell]

I know most of you despise the exterior design of the 2012, but what about the interior re-design, does it look more modern than the first generation? what do you guys think?

 

[Harveys]

Don't know about interior but I think the exterior is bogging'....no new 5 for us, shame as we do like the 2008 one we currently have.

 

[cburrell]

Yeah, if they would just have toughened up that ugly smiling grin, and kept the vertical taillights, it would have helped a lot. I could even tolerate the waves on the side, if the face and taillights didn't look so over the top.

 

[Orangutan]

While still not great, the interior of the 2012+ is definitely improved over the first generation.

 

[cburrell]

Yeah that is my sentiment also, it looks like a cheaper version of my Mazda 3 interior, but it still looks classier to me than the first generation.

 

[Robotazky]

I think the interior looks really good on the '12, but the seat on the GT was not as comfortable as our '09 GT. It was so firm that it seemed hard.

 

[phunky.buddha]

Shifter in the same place?

 

[cburrell]

That is definitely true about the seats on the 2012 vs the first generation. I have taken both my 5 and my 2012 3 on long trips, and there is no doubt that the seats in the 3 are firmer than in my 2010 5. I don't notice it as much on short trips, but after traveling for 8 hours the 5 seats fell a lot better.

 

[Robotazky]

Shifter in the same place?

I remember them being identical.

 

[phunky.buddha]

I remember them being identical.

I need to see if the shifter box on the 06-10 will work with the 12+ transmission...

 

[Silentnoise713]

I am fairly certain it is identical. I am also fairly certain you can rip out the whole interior from a '12 and mount it onto a <'10 model with little modification; engine bay too. Mazda spent very little to no effort on changing the new model, other than the redesign to make it more polarizing and updated, and updating to the next engine/tranny in its catalog to stay relevant. I'm fairly certain they have anticipated the SKY series coming. IMO, the <10 interior/dash looks very dated (not necessarily a bad thing), even during the production years. The evolution (not revolution) of the Mz5 is exactly the same as the Miata. I'm not familiar with other Mazda products but I would assume the same holds true.

 

[qcoffey]

I don't mind the interior on my '10, especially in the black. I blacked out the silver around the radio and shifter which was a big improvement to me.

BTW Silentnoise, your list of cars you want is proper. I'd take anyone of those. I could definitely see a MGB Gt with a Mazdaspeed Miata drivetrain.

 

[Silentnoise713]

I don't mind the interior on my '10, especially in the black. I blacked out the silver around the radio and shifter which was a big improvement to me.

Flat black or high gloss black? I though about doing high gloss black, or as Mazda like to call "piano black". Looks nice in the NC Miata but not very practical due to finger prints and various marks and stains that magically appear. Still looks nice! Have a pic of yours? I’m generally not a fan of all black interior but it’s not bad.

BTW Silentnoise, your list of cars you want is proper. I'd take anyone of those. I could definitely see a MGB Gt with a Mazdaspeed Miata drivetrain.

Awesome. Glad we still appreciate classics but I would want all of these cars stock maybe expect the Swift, which I REALLY want. I was hoping Suzuki will reconsider and bring it over but now that their auto division is pulling out of the US, that’s not gonna happen anytime soon I still secretly check craigslist for a diamond in the rough deal. Did come across a really nice MGB-GT barn find but was too late.

 

[phunky.buddha]

I am fairly certain it is identical. I am also fairly certain you can rip out the whole interior from a '12 and mount it onto a <'10 model with little modification; engine bay too. Mazda spent very little to no effort on changing the new model, other than the redesign to make it more polarizing and updated, and updating to the next engine/tranny in its catalog to stay relevant. I'm fairly certain they have anticipated the SKY series coming. IMO, the <’10 interior/dash looks very dated (not necessarily a bad thing), even during the production years. The evolution (not revolution) of the Mz5 is exactly the same as the Miata. I'm not familiar with other Mazda products but I would assume the same holds true.

No, more wondering if the physical mechanism in the shifter box for the 06-10 will allow for 6 gears or not. Most of the times when you change the number of speeds you have to change the gearshift box too. I guess (hopefully one day) I'll just have to find out.

 

[Silentnoise713]

No, more wondering if the physical mechanism in the shifter box for the 06-10 will allow for 6 gears or not. Most of the times when you change the number of speeds you have to change the gearshift box too. I guess (hopefully one day) I'll just have to find out.

Ah ok. That is a good question and I’m not sure if anyone would know until they try (my hunch is it will fit). Maybe try looking for good pics to get an eagle eye visual compare? Good luck on the swap. Look forward to hearing about your results!

 

[phunky.buddha]

Ah ok. That is a good question and I’m not sure if anyone would know until they try (my hunch is it will fit). Maybe try looking for good pics to get an eagle eye visual compare? Good luck on the swap. Look forward to hearing about your results!

Thanks! Probably won't happen unless I just have a spare $1000 sitting around and a week to tear back into the car... and I need shots inside the dash and shifter assembly, not just interior car shots.

 

[Robotazky]

Thanks! Probably won't happen unless I just have a spare $1000 sitting around and a week to tear back into the car... and I need shots inside the dash and shifter assembly, not just interior car shots.

Are you guys talking about the side-to-side width that might not allow the extra room required for reverse on the 6 speed?

 

[phunky.buddha]

Partly

 

[golftango]

The shift bezel is the exact same. Actually I didn't like the silver finish (scratched too easily) of my '09s and swapped for a '12 shift bezel.

 

[phunky.buddha]

The shift bezel is the exact same. Actually I didn't like the silver finish (scratched too easily) of my '09s and swapped for a '12 shift bezel.

Thanks- that's a start! What's under the bezel is what really matters though...