Newbie here. How did you settle on the Mazda5?
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skylar2ups
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- 2011 Mazda3 iSport
In order for it to get more leg room it would have to look more like a van so which is more important to you? The looks of how much leg room you have?
I currently have a '97 626, and an '02 Protege5. They're both fine cars, though the 626 is getting a bit long in the tooth, but neither fits me well with the baby in the back -- I'm not especially tall (6') but my legs are long and I like to sit with the seat as far back as possible. We have another baby on the way, so, we were looking for something:
- with the ability to seat four adults plus two babies (in case grandparents or others visit and we want to go somewhere together)
- with serious cargo space when we're not toting extra humans (long trips with just one baby are cramped in the Protege5; with two they'd be well-nigh impossible)
- with enough height to make getting little ones in and out as easy as possible
- with good fuel economy
- inexpensive
We looked at a number of vehicles, including a small SUV (RAV4), micro-van-type things such as the Rondo and Mazda5, and full-size vans such as the Sedona, Sienna and Odyssey. All would have been OK, but we didn't like the RAV4 (too SUV-ey), the full-size vans (not great gas mileage, and bigger than I liked), or the Rondo (third row seats virtually inaccessible).
The Mazda5 was on our short list until we had a chance to test-drive the manual transmission version, at which point it became the only choice. Seriously fun, while meeting all other criteria.
- with the ability to seat four adults plus two babies (in case grandparents or others visit and we want to go somewhere together)
- with serious cargo space when we're not toting extra humans (long trips with just one baby are cramped in the Protege5; with two they'd be well-nigh impossible)
- with enough height to make getting little ones in and out as easy as possible
- with good fuel economy
- inexpensive
We looked at a number of vehicles, including a small SUV (RAV4), micro-van-type things such as the Rondo and Mazda5, and full-size vans such as the Sedona, Sienna and Odyssey. All would have been OK, but we didn't like the RAV4 (too SUV-ey), the full-size vans (not great gas mileage, and bigger than I liked), or the Rondo (third row seats virtually inaccessible).
The Mazda5 was on our short list until we had a chance to test-drive the manual transmission version, at which point it became the only choice. Seriously fun, while meeting all other criteria.
I just picked up an '09 Sport. In the months that I've considered a replacement for my once-beloved Evo, I decided to balance needs and wants and the only other vehicle that I was considering (in terms of flexibility) was a Honda Ridgeline. My logic was that, after a certian pricepoint, a 'minivan' wasn't what I was looking at (nothing 'mini' about an Odyssey or Sienna). I briefly considered the new Forester but the AWD sucks too much horsepower in an already challenged vehicle (in non-turbo form).
Funny thing is I'm not married and don't have kids, I just appeciate the space, decent MPG and car-like driving dynamics-- the 5 really has no peer as a package.
Funny thing is I'm not married and don't have kids, I just appeciate the space, decent MPG and car-like driving dynamics-- the 5 really has no peer as a package.
With regard to the manual transmission, just keep in mind that it will get several miles per gallon less than the automatics at interstate speeds (70 to 75 mph) – that’s because they are geared lower than the automatics, so fifth gear is what fourth gear is in any other manual transmission car. Think 3,000 RPMs at 65 mph in fifth gear. Yes, I know that it’s rated as having a higher highway mileage than the automatic, that’s because the average speed in the EPA’s highway test is 48 mph but in the real world and on the interstate, the automatic will get better mileage.
Then again, the manual transmission really is fun to drive and saves you about $1,000 up front, and you should get better in-town / highway (not interstate) mileage.
As far as the other vehicles I had considered, it was basically between the Mazda5 and another sedan (probably a Honda Accord). In the end I wanted something besides a second sedan, and the Mazda5 offered car like driving, good mileage, great looks, the capability of holding more than five, great prices, and yes, manual transmission.
And the price after incentives can be really reasonable - to make a long story short, after all taxes, title & license, fees, etc I paid $18,000 for my '09 Sport with 3 years of 0% financing and no money down.
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I agree. Reserve the Mazda5 for few months later. The kids grow up real quick.. and very soon each kid will demand a window seat.
mazda5 is the answer.
