Tell Me About Your Mazda 5

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just get a minivan. They are wonderful, particularly when your kids are older and you start hauling around their friends, carpooling, etc. Plus much better for trips.

Just do it.

I agree. We briefly looked at the Mazda 5 and it is really not very big at all. I can't imagine taking it on a 4 hour trip with 2 kids and a nanny and everyone's stuff. We currently have a mid-size SUV and felt like the Mazda 5 really did not offer any more room than we currently have, which is not enough. We are getting the new Honda Odyssey which comes out this fall.

[Anonymous]

Does the Mazda5 have enough power to handle a bike rack and 3 bikes?

[Anonymous]

Yes, PP. Look at the specs. We put two sea kayaks on ours last week.

[Anonymous]

We had a Mazda5, and while we really liked it, we traded it in for a Honda Odyssey 2 months ago. Mazda5 Pros: We loved the sliding doors, the flexible seating, the small size and maneuverability, it was pretty peppy to drive, easy ability to parallel park like a car, etc. However, we ultimately went for the full sized minivan for the extra room. For 4+ hour road trips (which we do a lot of to see family in upstate NY and NC), there is no cargo space in the Mazda 5 if the third row seats are being used. Also, the interior is very small---my husband and I always felt very squashed together sitting up front--our pre-kids convertible seemed quite spacious in comparison. And while not deciding factors by any means, we also wanted more overall comfort features like tri-zone climate control, more cup holders, etc. It was hard to actually buy the minivan---we really felt like we were selling out--but now that we have the minivan we totally love it and are so glad we made the move. We've already taken two trips in it that we simply could not have taken in the Mazda 5 because it wouldn't have been big enough--would have had to take 2 cars. So overall I'd say the Mazda 5 is a great car for your everyday needs for driving around town, commuting, and such, but for the road trips, you will really need something bigger.

[Anonymous]

We looked long and hard at the Mazda 5, but decided it is just too small. It's a very cute mini-minivan, but it needs to be built on a midsize platform to be useful to families with more than two small children. It's a stepping-stone to a larger minivan, you shall see, OP.

I understand your reluctance to get a minivan. They are dumpy, even the Odyssey and Sienna, which are nice cars. And they can seem too big for regular driving around town. You don't feel sexy driving a minivan! But they are so, so practical. I don't understand why anyone buys an SUV if they are carting kids around. The sliding doors in a minivan are a lifesaver. And being able to walk around in the car makes it so easy to snap kids into car seats, break up fights, whatever. We've taken lots of long trips in our minivan with kids, dog and luggage, with no problems. They aren't that hard to park, once you get used to it. You just can't cram a minivan into a small parking space, but you can't do that with a full-size SUV either.

When my kids are out of the house, I'll get something smaller, but until then, I'm sticking with a minivan.

[Anonymous]

We just have two kids, and don't take 4 hour drives. We are thinking about a mazda 5 - I can't imagine any circumstances under which it would be too small for us - am I wrong?

[Anonymous]

Also, the interior is very small---my husband and I always felt very squashed together sitting up front--our pre-kids convertible seemed quite spacious in comparison.

I beg to differ. Our Mazda5 feels HUGE to us. This is a completely personal (height/weight) issue. Try it and see what you think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just have two kids, and don't take 4 hour drives. We are thinking about a mazda 5 - I can't imagine any circumstances under which it would be too small for us - am I wrong?

Nope, that's our situation and it's perfect. We'll probably have another kid (current are almost 2 & newborn, so a couple years down the road) and get a "real" minivan but we'll definitely keep the 5 for the second car. It's not the greatest for really tall people - my 6'3" husband complains a bit but he also has bad knees. It's a great carseat car - pretty much every seat out there fits and installs easily. With the third row folded down there's tons of space in the back, I have a double stroller in there with lots of room to spare. The mileage is great and I love the sliding doors. Not automatic but very easy to slide and so awesome for loading and unloading kids. Really a great bargain too, real minivans are 10k+ more.

[Anonymous]

What about the gas mileage? Sick of the crappy mileage my minivan gets especially when I'm the only one in it.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have a 2011 Mazda 5? What do you think?

[Anonymous]

My family never had a minivan, station wagon, hatchback. My dad just got bigger and bigger SUVs. I am much the same way, but DH likes minivans for a family car. If you're the primary driver, get what you want. I wouldn't be caught dead in a minivan. We drive a Suburban and a Ford F150 extended cab.

[Anonymous]

I have to say, I road in the far-back (3rd) row of one last summer and found it incredibly uncomfortable. Road in the backseat of a Subaru on the return trip and it was night and day more comfortable.

[Anonymous]

PP, the past tense of ride is "rode." And, comparing the backseat of a Subaru to the 3rd row of a Mazda5 is not exactly apples and apples, is it?