My 10,000 mile 2013 Mazda5 Grand Touring review

[tanstaafl]

Bottom line: a fun to drive economy car, but don't expect miracles

I bought my 2013 Mazda 5 Grand Touring on October 4, 2013 (got a great end-of-model-year deal) and I now have 10,200 accumulated miles.

Pros:
1. Sliding doors. I have two kids, ages 3 and 9, and these sliding doors are the greatest things ever. No worrying about cars parked next to you. You can leave them open for a few minutes while loading/unloading, with no problems. Easy for kids to operate.
2. No mechanical problems at all (unless you count a balky seat belt tensioner).
3. Fun to drive (as long as you don't want to pass anyone).
4. The bluetooth phone connection works perfectly with my LG L9 phone.
5. Can carry six people in a pinch (though you won't want to do this regularly, because the third row is a bit cramped with a bumpy ride back there).

Ok:
1. Gas mileage is 22.9 mpg for 50/50 city/highway driving. (But Mazda needs a better algorithm to calculate "miles to empty" because it overestimates range when the tank is nearly full and underestimates range with 1/2 tank or less. My Hyundai Sonata had a much more accurate range estimate.)
2. Leather upholstery is comfortable and holding out fine.
3. Sunroof works, but very small.
4. I'm 6'0" 175 lbs and fit in the driver's seat fine with it all the way back.

Cons:
1. Very noisy. Engine noise, wind noise, road noise (especially on concrete roads). Not good for my long commutes.
2. Too many squeaks/rattles for a relatively new car.
3. Too much cheap plastic.
4a. Audio system is subpar. (I replaced the front speakers--pretty easy, and this improved things a bit.)
4b. Sirius satellite tuner is the worst piece of junk in history--makes Sirius sound like an AM radio (worse than the FM radio, way worse than the USB, way way worse than the CD). (I have heard Sirius sound great in my pal's Dodge Durango.)
5. Rain sensing wipers have a (warped) mind of their own. I wish I had regular interval wipers.
6. The AC is weak. (This has me worried about the upcoming Texas summer.) The ventilation system is loud.
7. Not enough storage areas. A covered storage area in front, between the seats, would be very nice. Why don't they have this?

You have to expect compromises in a car this cheap. If you can live with this, then you will find the car useful and fun to drive.

 

[KiddyCarrier]

Bottom line: a fun to drive economy car, but don't expect miracles

I bought my 2013 Mazda 5 Grand Touring on October 4, 2013 (got a great end-of-model-year deal) and I now have 10,200 accumulated miles.

Pros:
1. Sliding doors. I have two kids, ages 3 and 9, and these sliding doors are the greatest things ever. No worrying about cars parked next to you. You can leave them open for a few minutes while loading/unloading, with no problems. Easy for kids to operate.
2. No mechanical problems at all (unless you count a balky seat belt tensioner).
3. Fun to drive (as long as you don't want to pass anyone).
4. The bluetooth phone connection works perfectly with my LG L9 phone.
5. Can carry six people in a pinch (though you won't want to do this regularly, because the third row is a bit cramped with a bumpy ride back there).

Ok:
1. Gas mileage is 22.9 mpg for 50/50 city/highway driving. (But Mazda needs a better algorithm to calculate "miles to empty" because it overestimates range when the tank is nearly full and underestimates range with 1/2 tank or less. My Hyundai Sonata had a much more accurate range estimate.)
2. Leather upholstery is comfortable and holding out fine.
3. Sunroof works, but very small.
4. I'm 6'0" 175 lbs and fit in the driver's seat fine with it all the way back.

Cons:
1. Very noisy. Engine noise, wind noise, road noise (especially on concrete roads). Not good for my long commutes.
2. Too many squeaks/rattles for a relatively new car.
3. Too much cheap plastic.
4a. Audio system is subpar. (I replaced the front speakers--pretty easy, and this improved things a bit.)
4b. Sirius satellite tuner is the worst piece of junk in history--makes Sirius sound like an AM radio (worse than the FM radio, way worse than the USB, way way worse than the CD). (I have heard Sirius sound great in my pal's Dodge Durango.)
5. Rain sensing wipers have a (warped) mind of their own. I wish I had regular interval wipers.
6. The AC is weak. (This has me worried about the upcoming Texas summer.) The ventilation system is loud.
7. Not enough storage areas. A covered storage area in front, between the seats, would be very nice. Why don't they have this?

You have to expect compromises in a car this cheap. If you can live with this, then you will find the car useful and fun to drive.

Wow I'm surprised you think the AC is weak. I thought it was comparable to my 335i coupe, overall gets cool very quick. I set mine for 65 degrees and sometimes turn it off because it's too cold. Then again, you do live in an area where the heat probably gets a bit more uncomfortable so that could explain the difference in perception.

 

[torquelover]

Tint the windows, makes a huge difference.

 

[Orangutan]

I agree on many of your points but not all. I don't have leather, rain-sensing wipers, a moonroof, bluetooth, or satellite radio so I can't comment on those. It's definitely a loud vehicle, as it's cheap, but I've been in louder, new cars. I completely agree on the AC being too weak to handle Texas heat. Mine is black, though, so it is extra hot, even with deeply tinted windows. While I would like a better audio system, I think it's pretty good generally and significantly better than in the main vehicle I was cross-shopping against: the Ford Focus. I completely disagree on the squeaks/rattles: I really don't have any. The steering wheel squeaks sometimes when it's really cold but otherwise that's it. My main complaints are related to the powertrain, and only to say that I wish it was more powerful and efficient. After that, I would focus on an improved interior with slightly more room in the front row.

 

[Colin09]

Tanstaafl,

Try going to Autozone or somewhere similar and picking up something like a can of ac-pro or the like and fill your 5 up. That could be the problem. As far as satellite radio, replace your head unit to something aftermarket and purchase a SiriusXm tuner. I have a Pioneer Avic-X920BT and I'm about to get the new Pioneer 8000NEX and SiriusXm sounds excellent even with all the stock speakers (haven't made any audio mods yet)

 

[90210]

I bought my 2012 new in 2011 July and have 30k miles as of today.

Interior is plasticky and cheap, but I expect that for a cheap car. I don't compare it to my Lexus or a $40,000 Odyssey.

AC works perfect in mine. It isn't GM Escalade Cold, or My LEXUS AC Cold (best Japanese AC I ever had), but in PHX heat, Mexico Heat, LA heat, my AC front and rear has been perfect.

30k miles, don't have a single squeak or rattle. We have had 9 miatas (have 4 now), one Mazdasspeed3, Mazda5, and a 04 Mazda3.

The Mazdaspeed3 has been the best build quality of the Mazdas. Mazda 5 has been right up there.

No complaints here.

I knew what I was getting into when I bought the car. Could use less front overhang.