Official 2011 Mazda5 Thread

[DKaz]

Judging by how many people in the Owner's Quiz thread said they'd seriously consider a Honda Fit if the 5 never existed, I can see the 2 taking some sales away from the 5.

What ruins the new design for me is the side waves. I don't like but could probably learn to live with the front and rear redesigns but those side waves are just plain f-ugly.

Ooops, Mazda 2, I thought we were talking about an MX-2. (rofl)

I feel like the Fit is closer to a Mazda 5 than a Mazda 2 or say a Yaris in that it has a pretty generous interior for a car its size and has some cool cargo loading features (like flipping the rear seats up to put a tall house plant in). I don't see the Mazda 2 and 5 compromising each others sales, the 2 is too small to compromise the 5's sales and the 5 is too big for someone who wants a 2 to consider.

 

[Gus T. Wind]

Dropping the manual tranny from the upscale Mazda6 lead me to never consider that model. I hope they don't drop it totally from the 2011 Mazda5; I've had "my eye" (I really do have 2 of them) on that car for some time, hoping if I waited long enough I'd be able to get a Mazda5 with the 2.5 engine and 5 (6 speed-even better) speed manual. Don't screw up my plans, Mr. Mazda!!

 

[fam]

So the Mazda5 joins the ranks of almost all automobiles in the current market-scape. "Grows up" per say by getting bigger, fatter, more powerful and refined, and inevitably less fun.

Things I don't like about it:

• It's bigger than the current car (I'm just judging visually, I don't know this for sure).
• Looks much more like a mini-van now.
• Not nearly as sporty as the current model.
• The styling is...okay...ish. But looks more like a panty of a mini-van. I just can't see people modding them out like so many have done to the current car.
• The side view is horrid! That ridiculous wave down the door panels, and the wrap-around tail light look....bad.

Things I like about it:

• Interior looks far, far superior to the current model.
• It's got the 2.5 which means noticeably more pull in the lower end.
• It's probably more spacious.
• Inevitably has options for traction/stability.

Overall I'm not too bothered that I will have my '08 for a couple more years at least. And depending on my child situation at the time, I may just pass this by completely in favor of the new Odyssey (which I'm not too hyped about either).

The 2010's on the lot now have the options for stability control\traction. It was new to me too till I was farting around on the lot a couple weeks back and saw it on the window sticker.

 

[1WICKED6]

Interior looks awesome! The rest...not so in love with.

 

[mullenman]

Does not seem logical to me. If the rest of the world is getting a new 5 then why wouldn't we? Would we stick to the current 5?

I think the person who made this statement did so prior to the announcement of the new 5.

From my experience most salespeople do not or are unable to give you the stright goods. They have to try to sell the existing cars.

 

[KBrian]

There is a real danger in predicting new models in N.A. based on what other markets may be treated to.

Consider that the 5 has been available outside N.A. in various forms for more than 10 years while we are enjoying only the 5th model year and only one (minor) upgrade.

As long as USA/Canada sales average 30 thousand units a year each, we are unlikely to inspire Mazda to bring us the latest, greatest new models. As well, since N.A. models have requirements so different from the rest of the world, Mazda does not have a pipeline supply out of Europe/Asia ready to sell in N.A.

Don't hold your breath for new models any time soon.

Fortunately, I keep my cars at least ten years, so I will start looking seriously in 2018.

 

[Funktional]

Judging by how many people in the Owner's Quiz thread said they'd seriously consider a Honda Fit if the 5 never existed, I can see the 2 taking some sales away from the 5.

What ruins the new design for me is the side waves. I don't like but could probably learn to live with the front and rear redesigns but those side waves are just plain f-ugly.

When I was car shopping a few months ago the two vehicles I was considering were the Honda Fit Sport MT and the Mazda5 Sport MT. The Mazda5 was $1,000 cheaper, sat one more person, and felt more expensive. On top of that, insurance on the Mazda5 was half of that quoted on the Honda Fit Sport.

Price wise, the Mazda5 Sport certainly competes and sometimes beats these sub-compact offerings.

 

[Blue Swede]

i would think the NA version would get those. the posted pics are the EU version, and look to be the base-ish model.

About the side skirts and rear spoiler our "Sport" version in sweden have them. I guess it will be the same on the european 2011 Mazda 5 "Sport"

 

[VenomDesign]

Can you post a pic of your model plz ?

 

[dmesthetic]

6 speed manual about time

 

[lindsayt]

When I was car shopping a few months ago the two vehicles I was considering were the Honda Fit Sport MT and the Mazda5 Sport MT. The Mazda5 was $1,000 cheaper, sat one more person, and felt more expensive. On top of that, insurance on the Mazda5 was half of that quoted on the Honda Fit Sport.

Price wise, the Mazda5 Sport certainly competes and sometimes beats these sub-compact offerings.

Yup, my two choices were the 5 or the Fit. They may seem like totally different markets, but they're both tardis-like cars that hold a maximum of people in a minimum of space. With two adults and a child in a central city where parking is scarce, the two represented two sides of the "space wagon" concept - minimize exterior space in this form factor (Fit) or maximize interior space in this form factor (5). We chose the 5.

 

[coolmazda5]

Wife used to confuse the Fit with the Mazda5 at a distance (don't ask, same shape perhaps?) until we parked next to one and realized the does-not-Fit is pretty small in comparison

 

[Blue Swede]

Can you post a pic of your model plz ?

This is how our "sport" model looks (not my car and not the best picture, sorry for that)

It will be interesting to see the new 2011 european "sport" model when it arrives. I'm curious about the wheel design and the other things like side skirts, rear spoiler, front bumper on the new M5.

 

[x10dude]

It's a little upseting that the i-stop feature on the 2011 Mazda5 won't be coming to the US... unless the EPA changes its stupid rules.

 

[Rockin03mp5]

Wife used to confuse the Fit with the Mazda5 at a distance (don't ask, same shape perhaps?) until we parked next to one and realized the does-not-Fit is pretty small in comparison

i believe i had a pic to represent that.

that is close... similar shape. can be confused in the distance. from the front or side at least.

 

[fam]

They do look similar, people at my work confuse the same 2 cars.

My mother in law (when I had the car) didnt know the difference between my 2000 silver mustang and her daughters 2000 silver pontiac sunfire GT.

Women.


Rrrrr.

 

[coolmazda5]

My mother in law (when I had the car) didnt know the difference between my 2000 silver mustang and her daughters 2000 silver pontiac sunfire GT.

Women.

Rrrrr.

Duh, both are silver, coupes and have 4 wheels so... . The Sunfire reminded me of wife years ago at a rental place where we had the option to chose any car (National) for a long awaited road trip:

Wife: Cool, look at that one, let's take it!
Me: OOOOKaay, Why?
Wife: It is blue, I like blue, you should know that

(sad2)

OK OK, off-topic

I'm waiting to see the Touring and Grand Touring here, or the Sport from Sweden, they should be more aggressive looking

 

[07MZ5SA]

It may seem a tad bigger but other than body sheet metal, most of the other exterior features are same as previous generation (windshield, quarter windows).

At least now center vents are adjacent to each other instead of radio/HVAC control (more airflow to rear). The center mounted HVAC is still robbing legroom.

 

[mazda761]

I am in the market for a 5. I do not like anything about the 2011 5.

However my problem is I dont have the heart to part with my 2006 Accord V6 6 speed manual. It has 75k and runs like a bat out of hell sometimes. Never one problem too.

I cant afford 2 cars at the moment. I am hoping for a miracle so I can keep my Accord and get a 2010 5.

 

[fam]

The 2010's offer stability control\traction control so Id hit it up if you had 2 kids...anything less, keep your accord.