Why did you buy a Mazda5?

[Turbohatch]

Just curious what made everyone here decide to buy a Mazda5. Why did you choose it over other vehicles?

For me, it was to replace my wife's aging daily driver (Acura EL) with something that:
1. Fit all 3 kids comfortably for the next few years
2. Was better on gas than our Odyssey
3. Was fun to drive, almost sporty
4. Hopefully had a manual transmission

We almost bought the Venza but imagined the kids stuffed in the back seat 3 wide five years into the future and crossed off it and any other vehicle without a third row.

We test drove the Rav4 and liked the power of the V6 but hated how it drove and the felt interior was ugly.
We also ruled out the MDX and Highlander based on the the fuel economy, weight and wallowy handling.

We always admired the Mazda5 and loved how well designed the interior was for space, yet felt small behind the wheel. The Mazda5 really stood out as easily fulfilling all our needs along with great looks, nimble handling and the best bang for the buck. The fact that it can be easily and cheaply modded was a bonus for me.

 

[Silentnoise713]

#1 reason why I bought it was b/c I got a helluva deal.
#2 manual AND sporty (pointless to have one without the other).
#3 sliding doors.

Takeout any one of these and I'm not sure this is the best pick for me.

 

[phunky.buddha]

1. Stick
2. Sliding doors
3. 3 rows
4. Handled well
5. Shared mechanical guts with MZ3 = more modification potential
6. High WAF (wife acceptance factor); wasn't a "minivan"
7. Boost is easier on a single bank of cylinders

 

[j3nsmz5]

•Size > Not too big or too small
•Handling > Pretty tight for a small car. Almost similar to my Audi A4 w/ quattro.
•Sliding Doors > Perfect for my little one and wifey loves the ease.
•Great deal > Got the GT model w/ upgrades included: Nav, DVD, Leather(rare espresso), 17" rims, Tinted windows, HID, black housing head/taillights.
•Design > Aerodynamic exterior and well-designed interior(minus the abundance of plastics)
•Versatile > Available 3rd row. All seats folded down, makes for plenty of cargo space.
•Zoom-Zoom > Fun to drive. Enjoy taking it on long trips.

 

[qcoffey]

#1 Fits wife, 2 kids and all our stuff for road trips with no problem
#2 Fits twin sister in-law, and mother in-law when taking trips with kids and wife
#3 Better on gas than competitors
#4 Handles better than competitors
#5 Looks better than competitors
#6 More modification potential than competitors
#7 Cheaper than competitors
#8 Better forum than competitors

 

[Premacy5]

I always like station wagon with manual transmission. Nobody makes it in this price range or even much higher anymore in US except Mazda5. I really got a good deal in September 2010 when they trying to clear the inventory for new model so its a win win situation for me. The kids love it since they are getting older and start to really appreciate the ample leg room and the reclining captain chairs.

I am someone that usually could not leave anything stock but this Mazda5 surprise me with not needing much more than a tint job and rear swaybar upgrade.

 

[Sounbwoy]

Size
Function (holds as much as the 2007 Magnum it replaced or more)
Reliability
Dynamics
Stick (but got the ATX as I was unwilling to wait for one)

 

[whyandrew]

Expecting our baby... pretty much all the reason for getting the Mazda5 ie, sliding doors, bigger size than sedan, available extra seats when our parents visit, taller vehicle means easier on our back(!) when strapping on the kid, etc

And our family don't have any person 6ft+ tall (in fact not even close lol)... so I doubt my kid(s) will ever be too tall either. No need to get a "regular" sized mini-van. And my wife won't be able to drive a regular mini-van with her limited driving confidence, esp comes to parking & backing up. Mazda5 literally has the same footprint as a Civic, so that's great.

Plus, I'm sure loading & unloading stuffs, esp baby stroller, will be much easier in the 5 than in a sedan.


We also considered (briefly anyway) Kia Rondo.... but I'm sorry to any Rondo's owner.... that car is just too ugly

 

[thaxman]

#1 seats 6 - and we fill them all.
#2 mpgs - there simply is no more fuel-efficient way to tote 6 people around town than the 24 mpg city I can get.
#3 MT - I spent some time pondering and came to the epiphany that you pretty much never see an AT make it past 200,000 miles w/o needing a trans rebuild, whereas MTs can go forever with the right attention and periodic clutch replacements.
If I can affordably sort out the brakes and suspension issues I would like to keep this thing until I can't push a clutch pedal anymore. It makes a fantastic and fun runabout.

 

[skyhawk]

It's a lot of car for the money.
craftmanship and attention to detail is amazing.
I think they have very good quality control department.

 

[Heat]

It was the best value among cars that can hold at least six people.

 

[Robotazky]

These cars are utility beasts, handle great, get good MPG, and haul four people plus lots of gear in great comfort. The second row is just an amazing ride. My favorite is laying the second row down, sitting in the very back, and putting my feet up on the second row. Or, if I'm tired, laying the second row all the way back and sleeping. Once you utilize all of the car's capabilities in seating arrangements, other cars just seem so constrained.

 

[mrwiggs]

To make a long story short, my wife and I got the M5 AT for her because she had a commute to work, needed and new car, we could grow into it with kid(s) in the future. 3 yrs later the twins are born, my wife no longer commutes, and although the 5 would have worked okay for the family car, we decided to get a new honda odyssey for all its roominess, features, etc and keep the M5 for me to drive. Sorry to have sold my '02 Golf TDI, but had to come up with some diaper money.

I kept the M5 because: 1) Getting in and out of it feels perfect for my height without being a truck or "crossover" 2) Haven't had a whole lot, but its the zoomiest 4cyl I've ever driven 3) Lots of room and like the sliding doors even before loading kids 4) Not bad mpg for its size-- although I kick myself every time I'm reminded with TDIs driving- and surprised that the huge odyssey gets just slightly under the mazda.. 5) Seems easy to work on so far

I'm placing bets on most of you that say your gonna put kids in the 3rd row one day. Good luck with that, and I'll see u in the REAL minivan forums.

 

[phunky.buddha]

I'm placing bets on most of you that say your gonna put kids in the 3rd row one day. Good luck with that, and I'll see u in the REAL minivan forums.

The grandparents actually fit fine (one at a time) in the third row, especially when one of their grandkids is sitting right next to them. A pair in each row and everyone's REALLY happy.

 

[mrwiggs]

The grandparents actually fit fine (one at a time) in the third row, especially when one of their grandkids is sitting right next to them. A pair in each row and everyone's REALLY happy.

Don't get me wrong, the mazda is awesome and thats why I didnt trade it in. I believe it can work to carry 5-6 passengers, but my wife and I both agreed that a bigger van would be more comfortable and easier to travel with the twins and in-laws for daily use and vacations. I can't be the only one who was or will be convinced of this by their wife! (boobs)

 

[phunky.buddha]

Don't get me wrong, the mazda is awesome and thats why I didnt trade it in. I believe it can work to carry 5-6 passengers, but my wife and I both agreed that a bigger van would be more comfortable and easier to travel with the twins and in-laws for daily use and vacations. I can't be the only one who was or will be convinced of this by their wife! (boobs)

Oh, I totally agree- you have to do some major shuffling or precise packing to fit 5-6 people in for a long trip- but that's what we use the roof rack and box for too. My wife's requirements were that it NOT look like a minivan, and that it be fun to drive and also stick. If I think we need a larger family mover in the future, I may get a generation or two old Odyssey and convert it to manual with some suspension mods.

 

[Neil B]

We love ours. Just took it out to Colorado last week,only spent about $300 in gas the whole trip. It's the wifes daily ride,but I love driving it,kind've like a go-kart.

 

[qcoffey]

I can't be the only one who was or will be convinced of this by their wife! (boobs)

The crazy part is, I was convinced to give up my beloved 1.8t manual trans Passat for a vehicle with more seating. I decided on the 5 because it was a good compromise between a traditional minivan with a very well thought out seating arrangement. With the basket on top, 6 people travel with ease.

That being said, if there was a VW Eurovan available in good shape, with low mileage and a reasonable price, I wouldn't be on this forum now.

 

[foxhound1979]

i got mine because i liked the look and was amazed by the handling it has for the size !
dual sliding doors for the child seat = a blessing
great cargo space for the dog in the back
a 5 speed manual was mandatory
and it gives great MPG !
thinking about lowering it a bit in the next few months for more fun

 

[jmcglynn]

1) Stick: I won't compromise on that...
2) Seating for 6: What's the point of getting something bigger if it only seats 5?
3) 4 cylinder: better on mileage, and usually easier to maintain
4) Overall size: It's just as big as it needs to be... everything else with comparable seating was just too big... more than I want or need.
5) Competitively priced: less expensive than most every other SUV, CUV, van or wagon available

At the time we were seriously considering the Mazda 6 wagon, but it was quite a bit more expensive, only seated 5, and was only available with a V6 (in the US). The Mazda 3 hatchback was better priced, but lacked the cargo capacity of a wagon. We were looking for a replacement to our '94 Ford Escort wagon, but wanted something a bit bigger, but with comparable performance. With the Mazda 5 we seemed to get the best of everything we were looking for. If anything our options have continued to diminish over time.