US Mazda5 Changes for 2010

[Antonio DiMarco]

+1

i just want the touring/gran touring available in a manual.

Yeah the only reason I wouldn't buy another 5 is becasue they nixed the manual on anything but the sport and you can't even get the aero upgrades on the sport anymore. At least the 2006 sport we have got the aero and sunroof. No more.

Yet another example of how American laziness using autos causes the enthusiasts among us to get shafted.

 

[skylar2ups]

At first I was glad the Mazda5 didn't really have any direct competitors.... but now I am beginning to change my mind. I think competition would push Mazda to invest in this vehicle... at least in N. America. It is a really nice vehicle that Mazda seems to be content to ignore.

Mazda doesn't "ignore" cars... they bring out great cars to their line up and then let them sell, they make minor changes till they redesign them... Look at the 6, and the 3. The MX-5 is the same way. The only one that changed "a lot" is the Tribute... which Mazda had to keep making fresh because Ford keep changing the Escape.

 

[coolmazda5]

Agree, but I guess with some more closer competition in NA it would have, for example:
- Roof rails optional
- More trims, including diff engines
- ESC optional
- Window tint optional
- More colors

Kind of what the Mazda3 and the Mazda6 have here, just more options/trims so they can compete with the alikes.

On the other side if it were more competition Mazda may not ever brought it to NA ever, dunno

 

[gfen]

http://automobiles.honda.com/future-cars/

"A completely new Honda vehicle is on the horizon. We cant tell you anything about it just yet, but if you sign up for the New Model newsletter, youll definitely be ahead of the curve."

Yeah, that's not what you think. Its more like a Toyota Venza and a BMW X6 crossbred a Honda.

Honda already has a Mz5 like vehicle for the home market, the JDM Odyessy is way different than our minivan.

 

[tsunami racer]

Ford is supposedly considering bringing their popular S-Max to the US as part of their new "one ford" initiative. it will still probably have hinged rear doors so it won't be as useful as the 5 and its sliders. Doesn't look as sporty either.

There's also the new Ford Transit Connect if you use the 5 for work like I do. Not as quick but it's much roomier inside with more utility than the 5. with dual side sliders and even a dutch door rear tailgate.

so if Mazda keeps the next 5 similar to the current, there still won't be many directly comparable cars in the US.

 

[coolmazda5]

Ford is supposedly considering bringing their popular S-Max to the US as part of their new "one ford" initiative.

I think it will be an enlarged C-Max instead (due to the platform shares with other cars like the Focus)

Ford C-Max. Next Generation of Ford's Small People Mover May Come to U.S.

 

[x10dude]

Mazda doesn't "ignore" cars... they bring out great cars to their line up and then let them sell, they make minor changes till they redesign them... Look at the 6, and the 3. The MX-5 is the same way. The only one that changed "a lot" is the Tribute... which Mazda had to keep making fresh because Ford keep changing the Escape.

When was the last time you seen a Mazda5 advertisement?
It is always the 3, 6, CX-7, and CX-9. Even in the car section, the Mazda dealerships mention every car (even the Tribute) in the ads except the Mazda5. And this is in S. Cal, where perhaps there are the most Mazda dealerships in all of N. America.

 

[skylar2ups]

When was the last time you seen a Mazda5 advertisement?
It is always the 3, 6, CX-7, and CX-9. Even in the car section, the Mazda dealerships mention every car (even the Tribute) in the ads except the Mazda5. And this is in S. Cal, where perhaps there are the most Mazda dealerships in all of N. America.

The Mazda5 doesn't need advertisement... KIA doesnt advertise the Rondo either... The cars sell themselves.

 

[x10dude]

The Mazda5 doesn't need advertisement... KIA doesnt advertise the Rondo either... The cars sell themselves.

Well relatively speaking... For the lack of advertising, the sales are good but overall sales numbers for both vehicles are relatively small.

You would think that in a market like this, car manufacturers would be advertising cars that are very practical, functional and economical...

I guess on the bright side, no advertisement is better than throwing a boatload of $$ into advertising only to see sales tank, like what is happening with the Mazda 6.

 

[skylar2ups]

http://mazda5gasbuddy.com/

 

[P2K]

Well relatively speaking... For the lack of advertising, the sales are good but overall sales numbers for both vehicles are relatively small.

You would think that in a market like this, car manufacturers would be advertising cars that are very practical, functional and economical...

I guess on the bright side, no advertisement is better than throwing a boatload of $$ into advertising only to see sales tank, like what is happening with the Mazda 6.

That's because they shouldn't have redesigned it for NA and just kept the JDM design. It doesn't look as sporty and looks just down right horrible. I personally think the JDM design would've sold so much better. They should have used the NA design as the new Millenia.

The Euro Mazda6 is just like the JDM version and is LHD. I wonder how much it would cost to import it? I actually considered doing it when I was in Germany before I traded in my Mazda6 for a Mazda5. Then reality hit and knew the cost would be too much.

 

[skylar2ups]

Yeah, that's not what you think. Its more like a Toyota Venza and a BMW X6 crossbred a Honda.

Honda already has a Mz5 like vehicle for the home market, the JDM Odyessy is way different than our minivan.

The JDM Odyessey looks like a staiton wagon Insight... I consider the Insight to be a hatchback not a station wagon.

 

[skylar2ups]

That's because they shouldn't have redesigned it for NA and just kept the JDM design. It doesn't look as sporty and looks just down right horrible. I personally think the JDM design would've sold so much better. They should have used the NA design as the new Millenia.

The Euro Mazda6 is just like the JDM version and is LHD. I wonder how much it would cost to import it? I actually considered doing it when I was in Germany before I traded in my Mazda6 for a Mazda5. Then reality hit and knew the cost would be too much.

They just need to axe the NA 6 and bring over the beautiful 6's everyone else got and bring the Mazda2 over as well. Oh and I love the Mazda8 or MPV depending on what you call it, I think it's a SEXY van. lol.

 

[x10dude]

They just need to axe the NA 6 and bring over the beautiful 6's everyone else got and bring the Mazda2 over as well. Oh and I love the Mazda8 or MPV depending on what you call it, I think it's a SEXY van. lol.

Unfortunately the Mazda NA lineup is quite limited compared to Asia and Europe. I think that is because it is harder to compete in the NA market with the dominance of Toyota, and Honda. I think Mazda got stung trying to compete with the big boys in the 80s/90s and almost went bankrupt and therefore is very conservative with their lineup... only bringing over proven vehicles that they are confident will sell.

Even the Mazda5 was sort of a stop gap measure to fill a gap left by the discontinuation of the MPV... but it has proven to be more popular than they anticipated.

 

[Heat]

What were the sales of the MPV in it's last year or two (North America)?

 

[dbthompson]

What were the sales of the MPV in it's last year or two (North America)?

I don't have much data, but I do have Feb & March of 2006:
1546 for February, 1526 for March

 

[08M5GTGSP]

That's because they shouldn't have redesigned it for NA and just kept the JDM design. It doesn't look as sporty and looks just down right horrible. I personally think the JDM design would've sold so much better. They should have used the NA design as the new Millenia.

The Euro Mazda6 is just like the JDM version and is LHD. I wonder how much it would cost to import it? I actually considered doing it when I was in Germany before I traded in my Mazda6 for a Mazda5. Then reality hit and knew the cost would be too much.

I so disagree. Although I think it's a shame that manufacturers think they have to come up with totally different products for N. America, I really like the new 6 we get here. My 5's barely a year old, so won't be trading soon, but if I were, I'd take the 6 over ANY midsize car out there based on looks alone!

 

[skylar2ups]

I so disagree. Although I think it's a shame that manufacturers think they have to come up with totally different products for N. America, I really like the new 6 we get here. My 5's barely a year old, so won't be trading soon, but if I were, I'd take the 6 over ANY midsize car out there based on looks alone!

I think it comes in second, I like the Accord over the North American 6. But like the world 6 better then the Accord. But I do enjoy the 5 over any other van/wagon over here.

 

[x10dude]

...But I do enjoy the 5 over any other van/wagon over here.

no disagreements there.

 

[DKaz]

I think it comes in second, I like the Accord over the North American 6. But like the world 6 better then the Accord.

I like the exterior styling of the 6, but the interior leaves something to be desired. The new Accord (and the 6) has been a bit of a flop in Canada compared to the Camry but one thing I noticed... when I do see a new Accord, it's usually a manual transmission! Even decked out with leather and NAVI. Hopefully the Crosstour comes in manual as well.

But I do enjoy the 5 over any other van/wagon over here.

Agreed!