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Monday, May 30, 2011
There's a reason the minivan is considered the quintessential vehicle for parents. You see, it's the perfect vehicle for schlepping around the kids and the stuff that comes along with them. No other vehicle can match the minivan's huge interior space, three rows of seating, sliding rear doors and low ride height. Yet as great as a minivan is, it can be overkill for families with just one or two little ones. That's where the 2012 Mazda 5 comes in.
Completely redesigned for 2012, the latest Mazda 5 is an evolution of the previous model. Highlights include a bit more power, more comfortable seating and swoopier styling. At its core, however, the 5 remains a mini-minivan for those with modest family transportation needs. With two seats in each of its three rows, it only seats six compared to the seven- or eight-passenger seating of a big minivan (now that's an oxymoron). But if occasions to haul multiple passengers are few and far between, the Mazda 5's design has a sizable (size being the operative word here) practical advantage over compact crossover SUVs.
There's another advantage the Mazda 5 has over its quasi-family mobile competitors -- it's fun to drive. Like the Mazda 3, it goes around corners with control and poise. Some automakers may boast that their minivans or SUVs "handle like a car," but the Mazda 5 actually does. In fact, it handles like a really good car. Because of its smaller size, it's also much easier to maneuver through tighter spaces, and you won't have to think twice about squeezing into compact parking spots.
That said, the 2012 Mazda 5 certainly isn't for everyone. Some folks really do need commodious space, and there's something to be said for V6 power on hilly terrain or with a full load of people aboard. The Mazda 5 also isn't available with certain features common to regular minivans, like power-operated sliding doors, sunshades or factory-installed navigation and entertainment systems. In contrast, the all-new 2012 Ford C-Max -- also a mini minivan built on a platform shared with the Mazda 5 has all sorts of electronics features. Still, the Mazda 5 has everything you need and enough passenger and cargo space for most young families. Essentially a design hybrid between a minivan and a wagon, the Mazda 5 is a great alternative choice and definitely worth a look in these lean economic times.
We found the Mazda5 with its driver oriented cockpit-style interior to be well suited to the task of hauling around up to five others and their stuff. The interior is a mixture of hard and soft touch materials designed to a high level of quality and appropriate for the price. Gauge lighting is typical Mazda red, which lends itself back to that zoom-zoom mantra that the brand is known for. An eyelevel instrumentation pod gives the driver an update on vehicle functions. Curiously, there is no in-dash monitor for audio and navigation purposes. Nissan has managed to find a supplier who makes a unit for around $400 retail. We are almost certain there is a supplier willing to cut Mazda a deal like that, too.
The feeling of the controls are top shelf, and show a significant improvement in quality control. Numerous storage areas are found around the cabin including cubbyholes and under seat storage in the middle-row captain’s chairs. By the way, with three rows of seats which move and fold, there are up to 16 different seating configurations. Our Grand Touring model featured black leather-trimmed seats with red accent piping. The front seats were not overly bolstered, but did offer good support during our four-hour drive through San Diego.
Other interior improvements include low-effort sliding doors that are more child-friendly and happen to be just the thing for tight parking areas. Armrests on the second row reclining captains chairs, and one touch walk-in feature with ample walk through are just a few of the other features built into this new design.
The Mazda5 uses the automaker’s penultimate Nagare styling, which is the flowing design language from the firm’s Hiroshima-based design studios. The automaker has since moved on to a new design language, which leaves its models less gleeful but perhaps more classic.
According to Mazda Vehicle line manager Tetsu Nakazawa, the 5 doesn’t fit any traditional segments. It combines the best attributes of the C-segment, the Minivan, and van markets and as a result, “offers so much surprise and delight.”
The 2012 Mazda 5 is a three-row, six-passenger compact minivan available in three trim levels: Sport, Touring and Grand Touring. The base Sport comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, full power accessories, keyless entry, cruise control, automatic climate control (with rear vents and fan controls),
The power for all the 2012 Mazda MAZDA5 comes from a 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder engine generating maximum power of 157 bhp and 163 lbs-ft of maximum torque. The standard transmission here is a 6-speed manual transmission, while the Sport trim gets a 5 speed automatic transmission as optional equipment; the same is standard on all other models.
The estimated fuel economy for the MAZDA5 with either of the transmission is 21mpg and 28 mpg respectively. In our performance testing a 5 Grand Touring sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in as close as 9.5 seconds.
Every Mazda 5 comes with standard stability and traction control, four-wheel antilock disc brakes with brake assist, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, the 5 came to a stop from 60 mph in 130 feet -- a few feet longer than average.
Driving Impressions
If you want some added utility but don't want to give up the agility and urban maneuverability of car, the 2012 Mazda 5 is an excellent choice. Acceleration is slightly pokey (especially on hilly terrain), but the 5's handling is excellent. On winding roads, the 5 rewards the driver with precise steering and controlled body motions. Passengers riding with an enthusiastic driver will also appreciate a retuned suspension that helps keep them from sliding and swaying in their seats. On the Edmunds test track, the 5 nearly matched the handling numbers of the much smaller Mazda 2. Quite simply, the 5 is fun to drive, something we can't say about any other regular minivan.
reference:www.leftlanenews.com,www.edmunds.com,www.automotivecraze.com
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