2006 Mazda Mazda5

Rating from Mazda loyalist

(4)
Comfort:		2 out of 5
Performance:		3 out of 5
Handling:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		3 out of 5
Features:		3 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		3 out of 5

"Fun to drive with great handling, but seats not comfortable and not adequate space for average size driver. We had some severe problems with the exhaust system, but the MAZDA dealer did a good job of finding and fixing the problems."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: N/A

Rating from Mazda5 owner

(4)
Comfort:		3 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Handling:		4 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Features:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		4 out of 5

"Expert that reviewed Mazda 5 was not too pleased with it, since it was smaller than most minivans on the market today and was not as powerful. I would say he totally missed the point of this car. For about $18K you get a vehicle that can transport 6 people, inside is similar in size to other ?minivans?, gets 23 mpg in the city and drives and feels like a car. Also it is the only minivan in US with a manual transmission. Size of Mazda 5 is its positive not negative side. As far as the performance, you just need to get manual rather than auto transmission. (By the way, I can?t understand why would you buy this car with auto transmission. If that is what you require look towards Toyota or Honda, with bigger engines they are more appropriate for auto). I am glad that Mazda brought this car to US, it fits exact spot it was designed to fill. If you like manual transmission and need a micro-van that fills like a car buy it."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: N/A

Rating from Dad-with-Mazda5-Envy

(5)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Handling:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Features:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"Weekends are special for me. Yes, I get to enjoy my family time, but it is the time when I get to drive my wife's 2006 Mazda5. If you haven't seen the Mazda5, imagine a mini-van, but about 25% smaller. This car is fabulous. I have two young children and this versatile car does well with all of the stuff and car seats. And, with the third row, it is perfect for the occasional friend, cousin or grandparent. The gas mileage has been great and the car has been perfect since the first day. My wife has always been ambivalent toward cars until I bought her the Mazda5. This car is tons of fun to drive. The handling is very tight and predictable. Even with a full load of people in the car, the accelleration is very good. The automatic transmission is smooth and you can use the manual override for even better perfomance. While there is nothing wrong with my average 4-door sedan, the Mazda is so much fun to drive in spite of the fact that it screams out "Soccer Mom!" For anyone that loves to drive but has young children in their lives, I highly recommend that you drive the Mazda5."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: N/A

Rating from Hubbyduck

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Handling:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Features:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		4 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"OK, right up front, after 6 months, this is a great car. It was purchased for my wife, who drives it most of the time. I like the features, 4 year warranty, handling, yada, yada, yada. Mostly, I like that it helped protect my wife when a car turned in front of her. She hit him at @35 MPH. The safety system worked, and other than a bruised knee, and some whiplash, she is fine. But my appreciation of Mazda craftsmanship, and built-in safety features has grown considerably. We both liked most everything about this car. And there are plenty of reviews to show the reader how nice it is. But a cars ability to protect it's passengers is rarely thought of, or appreciated. We will buy from Mazda again. It did take almost 7 weeks to repair. But we have the Mazda5 back, and would not know it had been in an accident. Thanks to Mazda for a quality product."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: N/A

Rating from LM22

(4)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Handling:		4 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Features:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"Should of bought it earlier. Did alot of research on different vehicles but kept coming back to Mazda5. Couldnt wait unti I finally made my mind up in purchasing the Mazda5. My first Japanese vehicle ever."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: N/A

Rating from Ballard

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Handling:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		3 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Features:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		4 out of 5

"We bought our 5 because both wife and I enjoy manual transmission driving, but need 3 seat row vehicle. I think the 5 may be the only such vehicle in US (?). It is quite a nice setup. Smooth and light clutch, easy and relatively precise shifter. The manual version of the Mazda5 significantly improves upon the weak performance complaints that have been associated with the automatic. My standard of reference for vehicle performance is the WA state stretch of I-90 going west from the Columbia River at Vantage, a ~10 mile long steady climb of 2,000 ft elevation gain (5% grade). With a full load of 5 people, luggage and a cargo box, and a/c on, our 5 was able to climb this grade at a steady 80mph in 5th gear. It would have been able to attain higher speed revving high in 4th gear. Our gas mileage with this load, on the 700 mile trip with average speeds 75-80 mph, was 24.5 mpg. Our overall mileage for five months ownership, city and suburban driving mostly, is 23 mpg and slowly improving."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: N/A

Rating from Alli

(5)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Handling:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Features:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"I love my Mazda5 - zoom, zoom, zoom. It is the best car I have ever had (past contenders - Mitsubishi 3000VR4, Mercedes ML320, Quest, Honda). My kids picked it out because of the mini-van layout, I fell in love with the turning radius, the zip and the manual transmission. By the way, with @ 15,000 miles logged, it is getting a pretty steady 30+ MPG for straight highway driving (just did a 2000 mile trip in May - airconditioner going full blast, three people and a lot of luggage). I have the Touring with the navigation system (DVD driven which seems to have some updating needs already). It is an economical people and stuff mover - makes you feel like you've gotten in on a really good secret."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: N/A

Rating from Someone

(4)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Handling:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Features:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"Affordable and love the amount of seating and/or cargo space as needed. It handles like a car not a minivan. Better gas mileage than a minivan and nicer looking. We love love love our Mazda5"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: N/A

Rating from scamp

(4)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Handling:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Features:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		4 out of 5
Reliability:		4 out of 5

"I was given this car by my car rental company instead of a compact and almost refused it but decided to drive it first. I was pleasantly surprised by the handling and acceleration of the car on the freeway and in the city. I had no problems driving up and down the hills of San Francisco. The only negatives were the length of time it took to cool the interior down, the slightly top heavy feel when cornering at faster speeds and the small storage are when 6 people are on board. If I'm ever in the market for a minivan or wagon, this will definitely be on my list."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

Primary use for this car: N/A

Rating from NJSimca

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Handling:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Features:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"(Part 2 of 2) What else I like: It?s cool looks (mine is Stellar Greensilver, an interesting color). The seating is elevated and height-adjustable. There are many standard power features and convenient steering-wheel controls. It's very quick and very quiet. Front and center seats are very spacious (all slide and recline, too!). The sliding doors are fingertip light (and their windows roll all the way down!). It holds a LOT of stuff! What I don't like: If you switch the key off, just one click, you can still listen to the radio, but you can't close a window or the sunroof without switching back to "on". The driver gets two armrests, everyone else gets only one. Flipping up or down the center seats is a two-handed job, you have to press on the seatback a little to let up the tension against the spring before you can pull the unlock lever. The rear hatch has two open positions but I wish there was one more, just a little higher. You can't see the front of the car from the drivers seat. You can't (or shouldn't) open the right rear door when refueling or Lord only knows what will happen! The right-hand windshield wiper stops in front of the driver in the "up" position, leaving a tiny sort of smudge where the rubber in the blade reverses direction. It is very easy to scuff up the rear bumper - get the protective thing they sell. In short, there's obviously a lot more to like than to not like! This class of car (Space Wagon) is VERY popular in Europe and if Mazda would just promote the Mazda 5, they wouldn't languish on their lots so long!"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: N/A