Winding Road Quick Takes: 2008 Mazda5 Grand Touring
We have a 2008 Mazda5 in our fleet right now. I'm a huge fan of the idea behind the '5, but I fear it's too practical for Americans to take seriously. We, as a country, seem to be more focused on image than functionality. This Mazda5 is all about function, so perhaps that's why I never see them on the road. Anyway, here's a quick video of the car.
Comments
Dave
They're all over the place up here in Vancouver (and I believe the rest of Canada). Very successful and very well priced relative to their competition.
Canadians seem much more European in their choices - hatches, wagons, small cars, MPVs.
Tony
I have one and I love it...and I am in the U.S. I traded a Mazda6 in for it when we were expected our 3rd kid. 3 car seats just won't fit across the back seat of a sedan.
I don't think there is any other vehicle for sale in the states with a better combination of interior volume, fuel economy and dare I say style? It's certainly quirky, and I doubt it will last another couple years here, but that would be a shame because it is a great car. Some day Americans will realize that they don't have to have a huge SUV to comfortably seat their family of 4 or 5. I'll admit that there is next to no cargo behind the second row, but we could use a roof top carrier if we ever used it to travel. I got the Grand Touring absolutely loaded with Nav for about 23K. Show me another vehicle that seats 6 with Nav, leather, moonroof, etc...for inder 25K and I'll gladly trade my Mazda5 in on it.
Jeb
I see a few in the Richmond area. It was on our short list for family haulers, but we got a better deal on a gently used Freestyle. I drove a 5 at Zoom-Zoom Live and was really pleased at how much it felt like a 6i with a slightly higher center of gravity.
VMMVMMM
My neighbor has one and loves it. Having 4 kids makes this a tight option for me, but if it weren't for that, this would definitely be a car I would consider.
Steve
We've had a Mazda5 for almost 2 years. Ours has a 5-speed manual... talk about a rare combination in the U.S.
From the perspective of a car nut who also owns a Miata, a Porsche 911 and a 5-series, this car is awesome. It's fun to drive and very pleasant as an everyday vehicle. It's usually our first choice for trips of any length.
We have a 4 year old son. The wide-opening sliding doors make getting him in and out a breeze (especially when he was younger and he couldn't climb into the car seat himself). It's a great size for easy parking and gets decent fuel economy (high-20's).
We normally use it as a 4-seater with the third row folded flat, in which case the cargo hold is huge. We really wanted the option of the third row knowing that it would only be occasionally. It is capable of holding adults and it's great when I have relatives in town so we can all drive together. I love having this option without the need to carry around an extra 1000 pounds of vehicle every day when I don't need it.
Verdict: The most pleasant family car under $25k that absolutely nobody knows about.
06YellowGT
I had one as a rental car, and wasn't impressed. It was blown around by trucks on the highway, and I felt it was just average in all other respects.
You sit up taller in it, but it doesn't feel "tough" like a tall truck, and I thought it looked and felt cheap. It was a rental, however.
Mazda5 Double-Take
This car is so terrible that I actually own 2 :-), an 06 and an 08. No other car addressed my family needs so getting a 2nd one was a new brainer (drives like a car, offers Manual Transmission and is very decent in gas). The design does not deliver a high performance sorts car statement, but its image is way much more pleasant and nice than its closest competitor, the Rondo
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