Browncoat3000
Red 5 standing by
- First Name
- Todd
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2016
- Threads
- 90
- Messages
- 1,112
- Reaction score
- 1,080
- Location
- Ohio
- Vehicle(s)
- Civic Si, Odyssey EX-L
- Vehicle Showcase
- 2
- Thread starter
- #1
In my job, I often get to rent cars and drive them significant distances. This gives me a chance to sample a range of cars that are theoretical competitors of the Civic.
Last night I got to drive a Mazda 5. I expected to hate this car, but I didn't. Taken for what it is, the 5 is a clever vehicle that fills a niche ignored by most manufactures. It is a practical and CHEAP way to move 6 people around. For a 3 or 4 kid family who can't, or doesn't want to spend a lot of money on a family truckster, the Mazda is a good way to get 6 seats with a new car warranty and safety features.
But let's be clear: it is NOT a competitor for the Civic. This is more mini-van than sports sedan.
Here's my take away. The Good, the bad, and the ugly.
The Good:
1) the engine and drive train. With 1 person aboard the Mazda had plenty of power. On the freeway, the engine could easily boost the car up to passing speed without making a huge screaming production like many small cars do. The autotrans was smooth and didn't hunt for gears.
2) the steering: it was nimble and precise, but without a lot of feedback to let you know how close to the edge you might be.
3) the space: no doubt this is a hauler for your weekend adventures. I could see the 5 being a good work vehicle.
The Bad:
1) interior screamed CHEAP! The cup holders were so low you could be seriously distracted looking for them. And my 2003 Jetta had a better audio system. The Mazda orange LED display was not at all user friendly, and although there were buttons for a phone, there didn't seem to be Bluetooth on board. It did have a USB, which worked for audio but did little to charge my phone. It's location is awkward and the phone slot won't hold my iPhone 6.
2) this model did not have a backing camera, which given the size and rear visibility, it really needs. It has some sort of backing alert system which seemed to do nothing.
3) the looks: Meh. You can argue that the similarly shaped Fit and Escort are cute in the same way a Pug is cute. The 5 is no Pug.
The ugly:
1) the noise: Wow! This thing is loud on the freeway. Give its shape I expected wind noise, I was wrong. The road noise was astonishingly loud, and the 5's big interior seemed to resonate with it until it was just a fatiguing cacophony of sound that made me tired after just a 65 mile jaunt. At city speeds, the noise was tolerable, but on the freeway, not so much. Perhaps it was the tires, and other 5s don't do this?
2) the suspension: bumps in the road that would make the Civic jiggle like a loved-one in a bathing-suit were bone jarring in the Mazda. The car's high profile made it sway from side to side a disturbing amount, and suggested that it would be a handful on a windy day.
3) the mileage: appalling. A 65 mile run at mostly freeway speeds of 55-70 used a bit over 1/4 on the guage and took 5.7 gallons to fill. That's a bit over 11mpg. Now, I will allow that something could be off with my measurement, but consider that when I filled it, the range on the dash said 400. If it's a 20gallon tank, (5 gallons =1/4 of 20) that's the car predicting 20mpg. That is almost inexcusable. My Odyssey, which is a land-yacht in size compared to the Mazda, gets 32mpg on the freeway. On its worst day of sitting in city traffic the Oddy still beats 20mpg.
When my family was young, and money was tighter (and gas cheaper) the Mazda might have been a good choice. Having a good warranty on the car is like insurance, it gives peace of mind and can potentially save thousands. Something many used-car buyers don't think about. So for a budget minded family, the Mazda could be a good choice.
However, with all the options of leasing and extended warranties, stepping up to a new entry level Odyssey or a good used one makes more sense to me.
Last night I got to drive a Mazda 5. I expected to hate this car, but I didn't. Taken for what it is, the 5 is a clever vehicle that fills a niche ignored by most manufactures. It is a practical and CHEAP way to move 6 people around. For a 3 or 4 kid family who can't, or doesn't want to spend a lot of money on a family truckster, the Mazda is a good way to get 6 seats with a new car warranty and safety features.
But let's be clear: it is NOT a competitor for the Civic. This is more mini-van than sports sedan.
Here's my take away. The Good, the bad, and the ugly.
The Good:
1) the engine and drive train. With 1 person aboard the Mazda had plenty of power. On the freeway, the engine could easily boost the car up to passing speed without making a huge screaming production like many small cars do. The autotrans was smooth and didn't hunt for gears.
2) the steering: it was nimble and precise, but without a lot of feedback to let you know how close to the edge you might be.
3) the space: no doubt this is a hauler for your weekend adventures. I could see the 5 being a good work vehicle.
The Bad:
1) interior screamed CHEAP! The cup holders were so low you could be seriously distracted looking for them. And my 2003 Jetta had a better audio system. The Mazda orange LED display was not at all user friendly, and although there were buttons for a phone, there didn't seem to be Bluetooth on board. It did have a USB, which worked for audio but did little to charge my phone. It's location is awkward and the phone slot won't hold my iPhone 6.
2) this model did not have a backing camera, which given the size and rear visibility, it really needs. It has some sort of backing alert system which seemed to do nothing.
3) the looks: Meh. You can argue that the similarly shaped Fit and Escort are cute in the same way a Pug is cute. The 5 is no Pug.
The ugly:
1) the noise: Wow! This thing is loud on the freeway. Give its shape I expected wind noise, I was wrong. The road noise was astonishingly loud, and the 5's big interior seemed to resonate with it until it was just a fatiguing cacophony of sound that made me tired after just a 65 mile jaunt. At city speeds, the noise was tolerable, but on the freeway, not so much. Perhaps it was the tires, and other 5s don't do this?
2) the suspension: bumps in the road that would make the Civic jiggle like a loved-one in a bathing-suit were bone jarring in the Mazda. The car's high profile made it sway from side to side a disturbing amount, and suggested that it would be a handful on a windy day.
3) the mileage: appalling. A 65 mile run at mostly freeway speeds of 55-70 used a bit over 1/4 on the guage and took 5.7 gallons to fill. That's a bit over 11mpg. Now, I will allow that something could be off with my measurement, but consider that when I filled it, the range on the dash said 400. If it's a 20gallon tank, (5 gallons =1/4 of 20) that's the car predicting 20mpg. That is almost inexcusable. My Odyssey, which is a land-yacht in size compared to the Mazda, gets 32mpg on the freeway. On its worst day of sitting in city traffic the Oddy still beats 20mpg.
When my family was young, and money was tighter (and gas cheaper) the Mazda might have been a good choice. Having a good warranty on the car is like insurance, it gives peace of mind and can potentially save thousands. Something many used-car buyers don't think about. So for a budget minded family, the Mazda could be a good choice.
However, with all the options of leasing and extended warranties, stepping up to a new entry level Odyssey or a good used one makes more sense to me.
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