Mazda5 Owners...

unityco

Ambassador - CPS Technician
How does the Mazda5's drive compare to a crossover or small SUV? (or whatever they're calling these types of vehicles these days. :eek:)

I drove my sister's Equinox around a lot on vacation and REALLY liked the way it felt (and I hate to drive.) My cousin had an older CRV, and I liked that a lot too. I think it was the higher driving position that I liked in the SUVs - is the Mazda like that, or is it lower, like a car?

I'm married to the fact our next vehicle must seat more than 5, so neither the Equinox or CRV meet or needs unfortunately (and the Acadia and it's cousins are a completely different breed of vehicle to me.) I sat (but never drove) in a Rondo once, and it felt good too, but it has no 3rd row tethers, plus no sliding doors. :thumbsdown:

Thoughts? :)
 
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Guest

New member
Re: Microvan vs. Crossover?

Minivans sit up high too. They really get a bad rap. A larger crossover is drastically inferior to a minivan aside from looks/image. Crossovers aren't even meant for real offroading so a Sienna AWD is just as capable.
 

unityco

Ambassador - CPS Technician
Re: Microvan vs. Crossover?

Minivans sit up high too.

Yes, they do. :) I'm curious how the Equinoxes and their kin compare to the microvans though, like the Mazda5 and soon-to-be-released C-Max. If the microvans drive more like my Focus, it would be a strike against them for me, but if they drive similarly to my sister's rig, it would make me happy. :)

I'm no lover of SUVs in general, but I really, really enjoyed driving my sister's Equinox. Nothing else about that car, other than the 'fahrvergnügen', is practical for us though.

The minivans out there suit our needs rather well, but *I'm* not comfortable driving them because of their size (and since I'm not generally comfortable driving at all, adding an uncomfortable (for me) vehicle on top of that means I'll never ever drive. :eek:)

I'm so picky, lol. ;)
 

Defrost

Moderator - CPSTI Emeritus
It's just like driving a car, which is one of the things I love about it. Great turn radius! Definitely no high-up feeling, though.
 

Rosey

New member
I'd describe the height of the 5 between a sedan and a crossover. I really liked driving it.

Vans are large but I find you can see really well from the huge windows and you can add a back up camera to make you more comfortable.
 

unityco

Ambassador - CPS Technician
Vans are large but I find you can see really well from the huge windows and you can add a back up camera to make you more comfortable.

It's more the width than anything else that bothers me about the minivans (although, TBH, I didn't like backing up even in the Equinox.) Too bad Mazda doesn't still make the MPV; that would likely be perfect for us.
 

luckyclov

New member
I've said it time and time again, but my Mazda5 (it was an '08) has been my favorite car EVER. I literally cried when I traded it in for a fullsize minivan (I was preg with #3) after a very short year of owning it. It was great on gas, made turns like no other, and hugged the road like you wouldn't believe. It was just a lot of fun to drive. It also comes in a standard transmission, which, atleast to me, makes me feel so much more in control of my vehicle.

All that aside, as Codex said, minivans have such a bad rep. I've been - by choice - driving minivans since the age of 25 (except that year with the 5). I am NOT an SUV lover. You get so much more space, usually better gas mileage, typically better crash ratings, easy to get to 3rd rows (not to mention the 3rd row being usable), sliding doors, 3 rows of side airbags, adjustable/removeable headrests in all positions (on most, esp. newer models)...and you're higher up but still on a smaller frame. The front and rear view windows - and all the side windows - give you better visibility as well.
 

amyd

New member
I really LOVE my 5. I'd say height-wise, it's between my DH's Civic and my IL's CR-V. It doesn't feel like driving a car to me (maybe because I was used to driving a small car), but nothing like the height/feel of a van or small SUV. And I love that I can still drive a standard, but have room for 4 carseats.:thumbsup:
 

LuvMyCharlie

New member
I'll agree with Debbie that the 5 drives more like a sedan. DH has a CRV and I hate driving it because it just feel so 'Jeep-y' to me. It sits up higher than my 5, so maybe that's the difference.
 

unityco

Ambassador - CPS Technician
Well, that's disappointing to hear. :( (Doesn't mean I'm writing it off, though. ;)) I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed that Equinox though, and now I want one. :whistle:
 

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