Newbie here. How did you settle on the Mazda5?

[burritos]

So, hopefully we'll be having a 2nd child in 7 months. Wife and I are looking for a car that'll carry 3-4 adults(grandparents are often with us) and 2 small children(all the adults are under 5'5"). We don't want a truck based SUV. We want something with as good a gas milleage as possible. It MUST be able to play an Ipod. The cars we are eying are the Mazda5, Toyota RAV 4 cyl., and the Kia Rondo. Some brief advantages I've superficially gleaned is that the Rondo has the stability traction control and can seat 7. Same with the RAV. The Mazda5 on the other hand has airbags that'll protect all the way to the third row, it has the best mileage of all three, and is the least expensive.

I was wondering if these were some of the other cars you all shopped before settling with the Mazda5? If not, what else?

I currently drive a 1997 accord. Wife a 2006 prius. She also has a 350Z which we will be trading in for the new car. The prius was our family wagon, but now we need one that can carry 1-2 persons more. Thank you ahead of time for your input.

 

[straw10]

That is the exact reason we bought the 5...us, granparents, kids. Drives like a car, not a truck, and about 30 mpg if you go easy on it.

 

[Tvar']

Sliding doors!

One big factor for me was the sliding doors, which are unique to the Mazda5 among the cars you mentioned. Sliding doors keep me from worrying about my 5 year old opening the car doors into another car in the parking lot, or into traffic when we park on the street. I know there's a stigma attached to sliding doors these days, since they are "minivan"-esque - but they're extremely functional and I'm really glad to have them.

Despite the lack of sliding doors, I was considering the Kia Rondo until I actually sat in one and discovered how depressingly boring that car is on the inside. Also, the Kia's 3rd row seemed even smaller than the Mazda's and much harder to get to because there's no aisle in the middle.

 

[Mr.Smith]

For all the reasons listed above, plus I wanted a car that feels good to drive. With Mazda 3 underpinnings, this van out handles many cars. Driving dynamics, IMO, are as important, if not more important a safety issue than airbags. If you avoid the accident, you don't need the air bags. Plus it's alot better looking than the other two. My wife now drives an A4 and I drive the 5, but she still likes the 5 better. You mentioned traction control...I live on the hill from he.., and when it snows, I park it at the bottom and walk home. Sometimes, I have a hard time finding a space at the bottom of the hill between all the suvs, etc. that are also there. Otherwise, I can drive it anywhere with winter tires, but I grew up in the snow belt. There's an intangible "goodness" to this car.(yippy)

 

[msp 2212]

i aint gonna lie i drove one it was my aunts but drives good and looks good motified but welcome

 

[skyhawk]

We have MAZDA5. Occupants: myself, wife, 19yr old, 18 yr old, 11 yr old and 1.5 yr-old (in a car seat).

We did a long trip from Saskatchewan to California last summer. some few thousand kilometers. We will do it again next summer.

No problem with keeping up with the 'big suvs and truck' in the winding Montana uphills along I-15.. The sign in the dessert highway said 'Recommended to turn off AC to avoid overheating'... Our AC was going full blast (i.e. baby on board) so far so good... Maybe because its a new car that's why it survived the ordeal... lolz. I will know next summer if it will still be performing the same way.

Also minor detail, In a MAZDA5 (northamerican version) each passenger is assured of a window seat.

First time we saw the MAZDA5 was at the dealership.. We needed to get another 'quote', another 'make' before
we were to decide on a 'lowest-of-the-trims but still expensive' Honda Odyssey. There was no way the Honda can compete with the MAZDA5 in the way it fits our needs and our wallet. It was only later when I realized the odyssey would not have fit in our small garage anyway.

 

[Timotee]

I got a 5 simply because we are a family of 4. My brother in law visits sometimes so it's not a problem when we go out all at once. There are times when the my father in law visits as well, accommodating both of them is not a problem.

 

[burritos]

We have MAZDA5. Occupants: myself, wife, 19yr old, 18 yr old, 11 yr old and 1.5 yr-old (in a car seat).

We did a long trip from Saskatchewan to California last summer. some few thousand kilometers. We will do it again next summer.

No problem with keeping up with the 'big suvs and truck' in the winding Montana uphills along I-15.. The sign in the dessert highway said 'Recommended to turn off AC to avoid overheating'... Our AC was going full blast (i.e. baby on board) so far so good... Maybe because its a new car that's why it survived the ordeal... lolz. I will know next summer if it will still be performing the same way.

Also minor detail, In a MAZDA5 (northamerican version) each passenger is assured of a window seat.

First time we saw the MAZDA5 was at the dealership.. We needed to get another 'quote', another 'make' before
we were to decide on a 'lowest-of-the-trims but still expensive' Honda Odyssey. There was no way the Honda can compete with the MAZDA5 in the way it fits our needs and our wallet. It was only later when I realized the odyssey would not have fit in our small garage anyway.

Where did you put the luggage?

 

[skyhawk]

Where did you put the luggage?

We traveled light.. with all passengers seated, there are 'air pockets' under the seats, between middle row seat and sliding door, along the aisles...



http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=134488

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123712076

 

[was98strat]

It was a no brainer.... available MTX transmission. The only microvan with this feature. Oh yeah and all the safety stuff for the kids!!

 

[coolmazda5]

LOL, "burritos"

I think the guys here said it all. I've now have 2 little ones, a toddler and a newborn. Share a lot of the home chores with wife as she also works so I own 2 Mazda5s (naughty)

Sliding doors during Winter and a tight garage plus Manual Tranny: priceless

 

[coolmazda5]

BTW cargo space and options is an easy thing, check this thread:

http://www.mazdav.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123681816

 

[Rocket]

Sliding doors are key with the little kids. You will find getting them in and out of the car much easier. With the RAV-4 you will hurt your back lifting them in and out now, and they will have a hard time getting in and out of it as they grow older (due to the ride height). Kia Rondo styling turns me cold.

 

[x10dude]

Sliding doors are great for people and cargo.
Not as big as a Minivan.
Sold.

(although I was well into my car buying endeavor before I even found out about the Mazda5)

 

[mazdadude]

From your list of needs, I would say the 5 would fit the bill very well.

Don't be afraid to drive them all, and see what works best for you and your family!

Sliding doors are awesome!

 

[Old Rotor]

Yes the sliders are great. I did need to show a few people how a slider works. How to unlatch it before you close it and how to open it all the way when opening it. Of course when parked on a slope what to watch out for.

 

[bilzfan]

Sliders rule in my tight driveway.

We didn't want or need any sort of all-wheel drive. We've only had ours for four days but I've driven through two good snow storms already and I'm sure I made the right choice. Six seats, good mileage, the sliding doors, all work for us. I'm just going to put some 16" alloys from a Mazda3 with snows on to help in the winter.

This car will only gain popularity when gas prices go up again.

 

[figo]

Love my mazda5

Your situation sound a lot like mine. Kids and people who visit.
The mazda 5 is the answer!

Sliding doors
ability to seat 2 more
great on gas...gas may be cheap now but be fooled.
love the way it drives...I have a 5 speed which really rocks.
Quality parts (compared to the Rondo)
curtain airbags

All reason why to buy a mazda 5.

 

[AIMWO4]

I went looking at the Mazda3 (5-door). I wanted something to replace my Saab 9-5 wagon. They didn't have a Mazda6 wagon on the lot, but the guy said he had a Mazda5. I'd never heard of it. I took a look, drive and said, "you find me a green one with a stick, and call me." Four months later...

I have 3 kids; 8, 3 & 2. We routinely stuff a Costco cart full of stuff in with all of us in there. I still don't know how.

 

[burritos]

Wow thanks all. Of course I'm probably going to get a partial view about this car her, but it's always nice to get a very favorable slant from happy and satisfied customers. I can't even find a message board about the Rondo. Ultimately, I'll have to try out both the CRV4 and the Mazda5.