Cargo capacity vs others

[wongpres]

Sneak across the northern border and get one from Canada. You can get automatic doors on the Canadian Mazda5. Auto sensing wipers too...

It's not a fully-automatic door closer like other minivans though.

All the Canadian-spec Mazda5 GT does is automatically slide the door completely shut if it was closed but not shut completely. We're all familiar with closing a car door (or sliding door) very gently where it just latches but is not shut. Typically we'd just open and close the door again, but the Mazda5 one will automatically shut it completely in this scenario.

 

[Zoom5Zoom]

Auto Latching is better as opposed to Auto closing (poke)

 

[protosaab]

With a little one already here and a second on ythe way you must consider safty ratings as well. The 5 got great ratings in Europe and Japan. Of the ones you mentioned none are "5 star" except for the Legacy. Other than the new Civic you cannot do better for the money. If you have the bucks a new Saab 9-3 Sport Combi would fit the bill for 28k. I plan on getting one within the next month. Here in New Jersey I have only seen 1 and I love the fact that it comes in a stick.

 

[screaminglion]

another in jersey?

With a little one already here and a second on ythe way you must consider safty ratings as well. The 5 got great ratings in Europe and Japan. Of the ones you mentioned none are "5 star" except for the Legacy. Other than the new Civic you cannot do better for the money. If you have the bucks a new Saab 9-3 Sport Combi would fit the bill for 28k. I plan on getting one within the next month. Here in New Jersey I have only seen 1 and I love the fact that it comes in a stick.

Are you a mazda 5 owner in jersey? so am I... where in jersey?

 

[paging_drburgos]

I understand what you are saying, but by that logic we should all drive Class A RVs for maximum protection. I see so many Excursions, Expeditions, Yukons, Suburbans on the road with just 1 person commuting into RTP (Research Triangle Park, NC) where I work, it just makes me sick. Half the time they're so busy slurping down their Starbucks, with a scone in the one hand and a cell phone in the other. I'm not saying that if you drive a large vehicle you are a bad driver. My point is if you drive a large vehicle you have a duty the rest of the public to drive it more responsibly as these vehicles are not as nimble as smaller cars. However most drivers of these land yachts do not drive them differently than a small sedan.



It's not just about your safety; it's about everyone's safety in the road. There should be a lot more regulation with regards to issuing licenses and tags for owners of large SUVs, heck really any SUV!

-Mike

Amen! I personally dont have anything against those big boats if you need them and have 1000 kids but i too get upset when i see one person in the car. On top of that most of them drive like they own the road. Oh and even worse here in Irvine/Newport (im at work) lots of kids end up behind mom or dad's Excursion/Expedition/Yukon etc and they drive like maniacs.
Smart For Two anyone?