Mazda5 MPV review - CarBuyer

Full marks to Mazda for trying to make the Mazda5 people carrier look sporty... The effort has certainly made this car stand out from rivals like the Ford C-MAX -- although the results have not been entirely successful. However, if you can look beyond the unusual wavy lines that shoot along the bodywork, you'll find the 5 is a very sensible people carrier, with a clever, flexible seating arrangement, convenient electric sliding doors and a smooth, comfortable ride.

[janetsbrick]

Lovely review, and it helped me make up my own mind about what to get. I just picked up one like this back in the states - the same 6 speed manual, but we only got it with a relatively torquey 2.5 liter petrol. It's a nice fit for the car and solves the overtaking problem well! Sadly the economy isn't wonderful, but fuel is cheap here so it stings less.

There is literally no other vehicle in this class here, which baffles me. The Mazda 5 left the American market a year ago and the only van-like vehicles are absolutely enormous - close to a meter longer than the 5, and the other choice for a large family car are SUVs with poor space efficiency. This was also the last 3-row vehicle you could get in the states with a standard transmission.

Wonderful review! It really helped me.

[kczxl]

@blueburaq I know, I had a 1990 Honda Civic LX, had real good traction in snow, but the ground clearance was really low so used to hit a lot of stuff underneath the car. The 5 has higher ground clearance and I think if you think about average, it's up there with most sedans. I would not expect it to be a SUV class ground clearance, if it was, it would probably not provide the sharp handling like it does. I find the clearance to be adequate for most situation, and it looks good at the same time.

[kczxl]

I am in the verge of owning one of these, silver Touring model. However, 157 ponies just doesn't cut it for me coming from decades of VW ownership. I would probably add a beefier suspension and possibly a supercharger with just the right amount of boost to get me around 180-190 ponies.

[TedChienHsiangTai]

I heard Mazda has changed the suspension system for Mazda 5 in 2009 (at least in Taiwan, Asia), so hopefully the suspension noise issue is been fixed in this new Mazda

[interceptfist]

what the heck?
in USA, this car does not have a middle seat in the middle row, unless I'm uninformed.
you guys are lucky!

[gwrful]

It's unbelievable that Mazda makes an otherwise great car but they are not able to make 3 equal sized seats in the second row. My ideal car would be a mix of Mazda 5 and Citroen Grand C4 Picasso. reliability + comfort 2 in 1

[kczxl]

@bigvirgotube That's good to know, thanks. I am still breaking it in. I've used to work at a rental car and have noticed that the vehicles are not really broken in until about 7-14K miles. This is only for 4 cylinder gasoline car. Now, there should be some clarification on the break in however. I'm speaking of performance wise. Regular mechanical break in for parts that are new still applied to around 600 miles or so.

[TheCarArchives]

the engine on the 2011-present Mazda 5
Engine
2.5L I4
2.0L I4
1.8L I4

[peterkim]

@blueburaq I have no ground clearance issue with the 5, VW's that I've owned in the past, yes, those, I had once ripped up the underpinning going over a protruded pothole.

[peterkim]

Wow I really enjoyed this review, up there with RoadFly and MotorWeek.

[MAP]

When Matt's showing the seats and their arrangements, he looks like a flight attendent... 0:45

[RZEZZZ]

@kc2zxl Traction depends on your tires. You know, the part of the car touching the ground. Put a dedicated winter tire on any car, and you won't have much of an issue on snow covered paved roads.

[damianfonseca]

It has suspension noise in the tropics as well. Noise like crazy... busted struts. What do you do? I solved most of it but it's a long story and I'm still working on it. My 3 had noise as well and it's now a compliant silent ride.

[peterkim]

@blueburaq I've owned Hondas too. But I've noticed that there quality and customer service has been going down for a while now. Which is the reason I traded in my Odyssey and picked up the CX-9 the other day.

[jargarbo]

I thought it's just me! i have a 2008 mx5 and I have that noise. Here in Ireland we always have cold weather and every time I drive it in the morning I hear that clanking sound under every time I pass humps! I still have warranty on it so I'm wondering if they will do something to that cold weather suspension.

[omarkharnivall]

Does it have rear seat vents? Ive read on google about them having it but Ive never seen any pictures or videos about it

[willworkman]

why in all the carbuyer test all the do not have a sunroof

[kczxl]

@bigvirgotube I have been using Premium gas but have not been reving above 2K RPM - though I do vary it smoothly. After it has been broken in, I may perform the header back exhaust swap with stainless steel one. Still debating though as eventually I may have to sell or trade in the car which of course, which I will not get back. I believe the most economical performance enhancement would be to "chip" it as long as it does not do anything crazy to the factory software.

[thunderbirdthang]

Could you please do a review of the new Chrysler Grand Voyager?

[kczxl]

Reviewer kind of resembles Jim Carey. Jokes aside, it's an amazing car in such a compact package. Well done Mazda.