2012 Mazda MAZDA5 Review

The 2012 Mazda Mazda5 is one of curiosity when it debuted. The sliding door on the technical side to make a mini bus, but the driving experience and the ability to make it a little 'sedan.

It has been updated to 2012 new style and a new engine, and provides a smaller minibus buyers an alternative to traditional models. It also gives them something they probably are not interested in (handling) when you sacrifice something, what they are (additional free space for people and goods).

The 2012 Mazda5 does not work for all families, but if you rarely need the third row and want practicality in a compact MPV, which could work for you.

Mazda5 starts at around $ 20,000, but the AS-tested price of our top-level Grand Touring trim was $ 24,720. See the differences between the three finishes, check out side-by-side comparison.

2012 Mazda5 Review

Ride & handling

Its sliding doors, despite Mazda5 to run like a small sedan. Precise, the steering heavy and tight suspension tuning, but nice to borrow more agile that larger, traditional minivans do not match. Big bumps do not irritate the Mazda5, but there is a bit 'of body roll when cornering.

All in all directions reminds me Mazda5 hatchback Honda Fit, but the development of the suspension, which is a softer touch. Not a bad set of driving enthusiasts, whose task is to produce children to school or play dates.

Four-cylinder engine

Mazda5 offers a comfortable highway cruising and acceleration acceptable with five-speed automatic and a great, a little 'more powerful four-cylinder engine was offered in 2010. (This is the last model year Mazda5 was available.) A six-speed gearbox is standard on the Sport trim level.

Mazda5 may be EPA-estimated 21/28 mpg city / highway, and the transfer, which is a little underwhelming when you consider that most versions of the Honda Odyssey minivan is rated 18/27 mpg and has more space inside people and goods, plus the V-6 engine. Mazda5 small business may seem an attractive opportunity in the face of high gas prices, but its smaller engine size, and, unfortunately, does not give you the edge of the gas mileage can be expected.

Inside the

Style changes to align inside the cabin design of the Mazda5 with the rest of the range of the manufacturer, but not significantly raise the bar on the quality of the materials. There are still basic and plastic trim - especially at the front door - is out of place in a 2012 model, including an affordable price, as the Mazda5.

Captain chairs are comfortable before, but the driver's seat could be cramped for tall drivers. I am 6 feet 1 inch and leads with the seat in its rearmost position, and I would have moved further back, if it had been possible. Other drivers felt the same.

Visibility is a growing problem in the new cars that the priority design and aerodynamics, but the Mazda5 Fortunately, contrary to this trend, check the blind spot is easy thanks to large side windows. Similarly, the front roof pillars on the road.

Mazda5 second-row bucket seats in my mind Chrysler Stow n 'Go seats: buckets are placed near the floor, which limits the support leg, because the feet are raised off the seat cushion. Compliance with the seats folded folding third row, when you turn on the pillow, but do not work in places wells trick "Chrysler collapse on the floor.

Two third row to give the six-seat Mazda5 quantity, but the line is equipped with warnings. Compared to the third row of a regular van, the Mazda5 are expected, a small space for your legs and do not offer much. This makes it only for children, while adults can lead the minivan regularly on the third row without any major problems.

Unlike a regular mini-bus that can comfortably carry six people - and their luggage - at the same time, do the same for your Mazda5 has spread to the stock exchanges throughout the interior: his cargo behind the third row measures just 5.6 cubic meters. Against the Honda Odyssey is 38.4 cubic feet of storage space, there is no comparison.

One reason why the difference is the way the seats fold into the respective trucks. Like most minivans regular folds back in a third row Odyssey hole in the ground, so when the seat is upright in the deep soil is available for storing luggage. The third row Mazda5, on the other hand, it folds forward, then the depth of the load on the floor does not change if the seat is up or down. If you leave the third row of the Mazda5 for most of the time, have much more cargo space: 27.5 cubic feet, which is ample space for four people things.

Security

Safety features are standard anti-lock brakes, side airbags in frontal impact, semi-curtain airbags, all three lines, and electronic stability system.

For a complete list of safety features, check the features and specifications of the page. To see how the child safety seats fit in the Mazda5, take a look at MotherProof.com Check the car seat.

Market Mazda5

Despite the growing popularity of crossovers, minivans remain the ideal choice for families looking for maximum versatility and passengers. The minivan is one of the few types of vehicles that can carry a family of six on a journey through the country for one minute and move to a college bound teenager in a freshman dorm the next.

The 2012 Mazda5 loses some of its versatility to compact dimensions that some buyers are welcome, but the concept has not attracted many followers of this day as the Mazda5 is the only minivan available in the U.S. this time. Ford had planned to offer a competitor in the seven-seat Ford C-Max, but has since limited its promise of a five-seater with alternative propulsion systems.

There will be several small mini-bus in the coming years remains to be seen whether the next rise of rules of fuel economy appear to stimulate the interest in the segment. If implemented, car buyers will benefit from increased competition, but otherwise the 2012 Mazda Mazda5 is always a good choice for small families who do not want the added bulk of a regular van.