2013 Mazda5 is now live on Mazdausa.com

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2012 Mazda5 Sport AT
Click here:

http://mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsMain&vehicleCode=MZ5

Here are the changes from 2012 that I have found:

  • New color - Meteor Gray Mica replaces Metropolitan Gray
  • New color - Jet Black Mica replaces Brilliant Black Clearcoat
  • New color - Zeal Red Mica replaces Copper Red Mica
  • All trims come with auto-off headlights
  • All trims come with integrated turn signals on the side mirrors
  • New optional rear DVD system available on all trims [late 2012 availability]
  • USB input jack now standard on all trims
  • Rear backup sensors standard on Touring and Grand Touring
  • Remote start now an option on all trims [late 2012 availability]
  • Moonroof + Audio package on Touring no longer has a six-disc changer
  • New automatic transmission shiftknob- resembles those on the Skyactiv models

Anyone see any other changes?
 
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Heated seats and heated mirrors were on the '12 GT I test drove when I bought ours last year. Rear DVD and remote start were also available as dealer installed or as port installed factory options. There were a few with remote start installed at the port when I looked for mine last year.

Moonroof and Audio package on the Touring no longer includes a 6-disc changer, something my dealer told me was coming soon when we picked ours up. We honestly don't use it so no biggie there.

I like the Zeal Red Mica. Looked great on the CX-5 I test drove. Too bad that color is not available on the 6MT Sport CX-5, the most likely one I would buy.

Mazda needs to update the pictures. Only the opening picture of the car shows the changes, everything else shows the '12 car.

Also, Mazda should have the electric side doors and rear hatch available in the US. There were several people just like us looking at these that were stepping down from a full-size minivan with full power equipment that looked elsewhere because they were not available. Gotta tell you, when I had two infants and bags in my arms, it sure was nice having the power sliding doors and hatch available, especially in the rain.
 
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In the market for a 5 when wife's lease is up in April. I sure hope there's a few 2012 GTs left on the lots in Orlando because there is no change of consequence on the '13. I'm a bit disappointed actually, as I thought or hoped the Skyactiv would have made it into the '13. Her lease is up so we have to buy because I am not going to take a loss by buying out her lease. The '12 seems to be a good car, but I was just hoping to see a bit more in the way of advancement out of the '13. At least I'll save several thousand on the previous model year if there's any left by that point.
 
Heated seats and heated mirrors were on the '12 GT I test drove when I bought ours last year. Rear DVD and remote start were also available as dealer installed or as port installed factory options. There were a few with remote start installed at the port when I looked for mine last year.

Moonroof and Audio package on the Touring no longer includes a 6-disc changer, something my dealer told me was coming soon when we picked ours up. We honestly don't use it so no biggie there.

I like the Zeal Red Mica. Looked great on the CX-5 I test drove. Too bad that color is not available on the 6MT Sport CX-5, the most likely one I would buy.

Mazda needs to update the pictures. Only the opening picture of the car shows the changes, everything else shows the '12 car.

Also, Mazda should have the electric side doors and rear hatch available in the US. There were several people just like us looking at these that were stepping down from a full-size minivan with full power equipment that looked elsewhere because they were not available. Gotta tell you, when I had two infants and bags in my arms, it sure was nice having the power sliding doors and hatch available, especially in the rain.

Updated accordingly!

In the market for a 5 when wife's lease is up in April. I sure hope there's a few 2012 GTs left on the lots in Orlando because there is no change of consequence on the '13. I'm a bit disappointed actually, as I thought or hoped the Skyactiv would have made it into the '13. Her lease is up so we have to buy because I am not going to take a loss by buying out her lease. The '12 seems to be a good car, but I was just hoping to see a bit more in the way of advancement out of the '13. At least I'll save several thousand on the previous model year if there's any left by that point.

I figured the 2013 wouldn't get Skyactiv; I'm betting on 2014 getting it with the 2.5 Sky-G. I'm hoping that it'll get the Sky-D in 2016, but I wouldn't count on it.

If you're in the market for one, I'd pick up a lightly used one for cheap. I'm seeing them on Autotrader for like 14k.
 
Might get another one in 2020 (cheers) ...I'm in no rush to see what the next model has.
 
I want a 7 seater MPV with 6 speed manual transmission. I know there's the Chevy Orlando but the thing is just crap. :(
 
I want a 7 seater MPV with 6 speed manual transmission. I know there's the Chevy Orlando but the thing is just crap. :(

If the Mazda 8 was here, it might have been a hard choice between it and the 5. Really liking the 5's size atm. Wondering what the power will be like with 2 adults, 2 kids, fully loaded with camping gear on a 14 day road trip next year.
 
i ripped through to Vernon at speeds I won't mention here with four adults, a toddler, camping gear in the back and roof rack, and two bikes in the back just fine. I think I used 9L/100km (26MPG) on the way there lol.
 
If the Mazda 8 was here, it might have been a hard choice between it and the 5. Really liking the 5's size atm. Wondering what the power will be like with 2 adults, 2 kids, fully loaded with camping gear on a 14 day road trip next year.

I had 4 adults, 2 kids, a wheelchair, and a lot of cargo on a recent trip to IKEA and Whole Foods. I didn't drive (I couldn't, sat in the front passenger side where there is a lot of longitudinal room for legs under the dash) but it seemed the power was just fine. Even loaded down to where the rear suspension was firmly on it's bump stops it was adequate. Sadly, it still felt more peppy loaded down than the Skyactive 2.0 CX-5 Auto AWD I test drove felt like. I really want to like that car, so I am withholding further judgement until the local dealer gets another 6MT in.

My wife had the car with 2 kids, full cargo hold, A/C on full blast in the Adirondacks and said it was just fine. Fun even.

No way I would want that motor in the MZ5. Maybe the larger 2.5 would be fine?
 
This and the backup sensor is what I wish I had now on my 2012 GT.
- All trims come with integrated turn signals on the side mirrors
 
The Skyactiv 2.0 produces the same power as the old 2.3. Pair it with a Skyactiv 6 speed manual or auto and it would've been fine.
 
Updated based on what I saw in a dealer's picture earlier: new automatic transmission shiftknob.

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Anyone here actually willing to shell out more for the 2013? Mazda really didn't put any effort to update it but MCR is just a year away! Mid-cycle refresh is typically the best time to buy a car bc all the kinks are worked out and later revisuons just add more crap to sell the same things without any major improvement. So 2014 is going to be a nice Mz5 or no Mz5 at all! My money is on the former
 
Only change I see you don't have is the the seat color piping change. The 2013 doesn't have red on the black leather, its now purple/mauve colored.
 
Only change I see you don't have is the the seat color piping change. The 2013 doesn't have red on the black leather, its now purple/mauve colored.

I think is the same for the tan color, see the pic from Orangutan above, I sat in one a couple of weeks ago.

Also, it might have been since the 2012 MY, but the sliding door opening/closing is even better than the earlier generation (I know, subjective :))
 
Click here:

http://mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsMain&vehicleCode=MZ5

Here are the changes from 2012 that I have found:

  • New color - Meteor Gray Mica replaces Metropolitan Gray
  • New color - Jet Black Mica replaces Brilliant Black Clearcoat
  • New color - Zeal Red Mica replaces Copper Red Mica
  • All trims come with auto-off headlights
  • All trims come with integrated turn signals on the side mirrors
  • New optional rear DVD system available on all trims [late 2012 availability]
  • USB input jack now standard on all trims
  • Rear backup sensors standard on Touring and Grand Touring
  • Remote start now an option on all trims [late 2012 availability]
  • Moonroof + Audio package on Touring no longer has a six-disc changer
  • New automatic transmission shiftknob- resembles those on the Skyactiv models

Anyone see any other changes?


I hope the USB jack makes the CD changer unnecessary! Bluetooth streaming is convenient in terms of media, but hitting a button to change CDs is 1000% less distracting than fidding with my phone when I want to listen to something different.

Come to think of it, what does the "audio package" offer if there's no changer? I thought the changer was the only difference from the normal radio for '12.
 
Come to think of it, what does the "audio package" offer if there's no changer? I thought the changer was the only difference from the normal radio for '12.

It also includes Sirius Satellite radio with a free 4-month trial subscription.
 
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Sometimes it does seem like Mazda takes along time on certain technologies, like the signals on the side mirrors, but I do like how when they do finally come around, they offer several of those features even on their sport model. Something that many manufacturers don't do. Their sports models come equipped with some pretty nice tech compared to other base models from other manufacturers. Sometimes they are just the last to the party with some of their tech: USB, turn signals on side mirrors, ect.....
 
It also includes Sirius Satellite radio with a free 4-month trial subscription.

Oh, that. The Sirius trial was fun, but then we thought about how many CDs we could buy for the subscription price, especially as there are *maybe* 3-5 stations I would listen to.

Sometimes it does seem like Mazda takes along time on certain technologies, like the signals on the side mirrors, but I do like how when they do finally come around, they offer several of those features even on their sport model. Something that many manufacturers don't do. Their sports models come equipped with some pretty nice tech compared to other base models from other manufacturers. Sometimes they are just the last to the party with some of their tech: USB, turn signals on side mirrors, ect.....

One of the sales managers at our dealer made the same observation when I asked him about USB for '12.

I wonder how feasible it would be to retrofit the USB interface ... assuming, of course, that it does what I think it does (i.e. use the radio's controls to browse music files stored on a thumb drive).
 
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