2012 Mazda5: The right recipe?

In the automobile world, there are two ways to develop a vehicle. The first is to create a product that is as spectacular in concept as it is in execution. Then you sit back and wait until it is nearly obsolete before developing another. This was certainly the recipe that many American automakers followed in the past – and we know how that turned out for them. The other method, which I personally think makes more sense, is to constantly update a vehicle, allowing it to evolve with time. You start with an above-average vehicle featuring a new design, then over the years you make whatever changes are necessary to keep it among the best in its class.

This has been Mazda’s policy in recent years. Take, for example, it’s very popular MX-5. This little roadster has enjoyed tremendous popularity since its debut, with all the successive models keeping the basic elements that made it successful in the first place. They consistently refused to make it bigger and more powerful, and they refused to jack up its price.

The same policy has been applied to the Mazda5, the latest version of which will soon be available on our market. Sold in Canada since 2006, the Mazda5 is one of Mazda’s most popular vehicles in our country. Indeed, year after year, it has been the automaker’s second-most sold vehicle, coming in just behind the Mazda3. Take a look around you on the street and you’ll see for yourself how popular this model has become.

The new version keeps all the same qualities that earned its popularity, but it now features a host of upgrades and improvements to its shape, interior and mechanics. The changes reflect its years of experience, as well as feedback from owners.

The reasons for its success

If the Mazda5 has been immensely popular over the years, it’s because its characteristics meet the needs of a lot of people. As a compact minivan, it can seat six people, but its exterior dimensions and manoeuvrability make it a super city vehicle. Plus, it has sliding doors, which is greatly appreciated by young parents and practically anyone in a shopping mall parking lot. It’s worth noting that these sliding doors are very easy to use, as they are light and can open and close in no time and with little effort. The GT version even has power-assisted doors. A little motor accelerates the closing process, instead of slowing it down like on other minivans.

Another advantage of this vehicle is the versatility of its back seats. In no time at all you can turn it into a four-seater, with enough space to carry a lot of baggage. That said, the fifth and sixths seats are meant for smaller people, preferably young children. And when these seats are in place, the cargo capacity is quite limited.

The seats, however, are very versatile and can be arranged in different ways. Moreover, since there is storage space under each of the captain’s seats in the second row, you can stow away smaller objects or hide them from view. Another thing I have always liked about this car – in addition to its versatility – is the driving pleasure it offers. Ok, it’s true that the first generation (2006) only had a four-speed automatic transmission, a serious handicap. When you took it out on the open road, you kept hoping it would shift a little higher, but to no avail. This was rectified two years ago, when they added another gear to this model. A welcome change. The manual gearbox always had, and still has, six gears.

In short, the Mazda5 has enjoyed great popularity thanks to its versatility, driving pleasure and very competitive price.

Very refined

With the vehicle’s popularity and comments from Mazda5 owners in mind, the engineers who developed the new generation were careful to preserve the vehicle’s positive attributes. Concretely, this means they maintained its dimensions, its characteristic silhouette and its sliding doors. Inside, the configuration is the same as before, something that no one is bound to complain about.

Although the silhouette is much the same, some modifications have been made to the body. Waves cut along the sides of the vehicle, giving it great character. This design is inspired by concept cars based on the Nagare design, which have long influenced the Hiroshima stylists. The front end was also redesigned to align it with the brand’s other products. Thus it features the smiling front grille, which some hate but many adore. Personally, I find that the grille goes well with the vehicle’s relatively squarish angles. In the rear, the tail lights lie horizontally under the belt line. This helps them blend with the waves on the side panels, meaning that the vehicle looks less like a car that was modified by its owner. In fact, the high-sitting transparent tail lights kind of bothered me. To each their own.

Inside, it seemed to me that the seats offered better bolstering than before, while the quality of the fabric is the same. The dashboard has been completed revamped. It now looks a lot like the one in the Mazda3, and that’s not a bad thing! The glove box now features two storage spaces, one over the other, which practically doubles its capacity. The indicator dials are roughly the same, and the two main dials are housed in a unit with a pointy, rather than domed, top section. I would have liked to see the radio controls placed elsewhere. The big central button to change stations is all-too-easily confused with the volume – you can just imagine the results. Luckily, that’s the kind of thing you can get used to with time, but still, they could have fixed that. Another detail is that on the six-speed manual version, when you put the vehicle in reverse or first gear, you can find yourself inadvertently hitting the climate control buttons. Another thing, no satellite navigation system is available, and I fully applaud this decision. In this price range, you’re better off buying an independent system.

Zoom! Zoom!

Yes, I’m sure you recognized the brand’s tagline. But "Zoom! Zoom!" is more than just a slogan. According to Mazda, it’s the inspiration and philosophy behind all of their vehicles. A Mazda has to be a good car that’s also fun to drive. A car with soul. It’s not purely about performance, but the driving pleasure that comes with good road handling and decent engine performance.

I’ve always liked the Mazda5 for its agility and driving pleasure. I’m not saying it’s a sports car, but is versatile, practical and pleasant to drive. Plus, with the six-speed manual transmission, people who enjoy a more inspired drive can have some fun changing the gears themselves.

The vehicle we tested was equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox on which the gear ratios were reasonably well selected. It was paired with the 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine that replaces the old 2.3-litre engine. With 157 horsepower and 168 lbs-ft of torque, it offers decent performances.  Accelerations are in the 10 second range, with pick up being a little faster than that. You won’t get bored driving the Mazda5, even though it’s not a sports car.

However, in terms of its handling and manoeuvrability, this is truly is a minivan that is fun to drive – a pretty rare find.

To summarize, the Mazda5 has evolved in the right direction. It remains competitively priced (starting at $21,795) and is still fun to drive. It seems pretty obvious that Mazda is going to continue selling this model like hotcakes for years to come.