2009 Mazda MAZDA5 User Reviews

Pros

Versatility, fuel economy, reliability, fun to drive, provides excellent balance of many needs

Cons

Seats 6 but not for a family of 6--no cargo room left in 6 passenger configuration.

Purchased As New

A lot of features for the money. We love the stereo with CD changer, tons of cup holders (8 when the optional console between the middle row seats is flipped out), and versatility to seat 6 or (not and) haul lumber home from Home Depot. It really is fun to drive and you don't look like all the other parents with kids who drive indistinguishable minivans. I actually feel cool driving it. We purchased our '06 new in July 05 (immediately after it became available in the US). We did not want a traditional minivan (too clunky and ugly) and traded in an SUV for it. We needed space for two kids (car seats, stroller, etc.) and wanted the ability to take a friend or two along. Yet we did not want to die of boredom driving it and fuel economy was important to us. We regularly get 27-28 mpg in mixed driving. We've taken the car on long road trips and have had plenty of space for suitcases, etc. The second row seats have plenty of space for adults. My older parents have knee problems and have remarked at how comfortable the second row space is (both size and accessibility). The third row is perfectly fine for kids anytime and for adults for short drives. It is nice to have the capacity to seat 6 when needed but if you regularly need to haul 6 people around, this is probably not for you as there is very limited cargo room behind the third row of seats. In the 49 months we've had this car, we did not need to have any warranty service at all. No reliability issues. We've only had oil changes/ regular maintenance done. Others have commented on it eating tires--I agree. We are on the third set of tires already. Rotating them every oil change is key but the low profile, speed rated tires won't hold up as well as other types of tires. It is a small price to pay when the rest of the vehicle is so reliable. We have cloth seats which are okay (leather was not an option in the 06 model although they are in the new ones). We purchased this vehicle during the summer of '05, the first time that dealers were trying desperately to clear their lots with employee pricing gimmicks, etc. We looked at all the 05 models on the market and none met our needs. When I read about the Mazda5 on their website, it exactly met out needs and looked futuristic. We decided to wait until it was available at the end of July to purchase it. When I see other vehicles we considered on the road, they look so OLD and outdated. I don't feel at all like I am driving a 4 year old vehicle. It handling is as stiff and responsive as the day we drove it off the lot. While I am extremely happy with this vehicle and plan to keep it for a long time, if it were wrecked tomorrow, I'd go out and buy a new one.