Kia Soul vs Mazda 5

[tl01]

Which one do you think would be better for a grandma toting around a baby and a preschooler? She wants a small car but I'm thinking access would be easier in the Mazda. She wants something boxy, sporty, and small. I'm thinking the Mazda might be slightly too big.

 

[TXDani]

I would say Mazda since I witnessed a Kia Soul blow up right in front of me last week. :rollseyes:

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[tl01]

I would say Mazda since I witnessed a Kia Soul blow up right in front of me last week. :rollseyes:

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Yikes! More details please!

 

[Phineasmama]

Jenfrogmom has a Mazda 5 so you could PM her...

I have driven one and I really liked it. The dealership we were working with only had one that had much higher mileage than we wanted and that's the only reason I didn't get it (we had limited financing options).

Anyways, it is pretty small. It's very low to the ground like a regular car almost- much lower than my CR-V. You should have her go test drive one, she'd probably like it!

 

[otto]

We've had a Kia Soul for 3 years now, never had a problem with it. Changed the oil every once in a while and finally put some new tires on it, but that's it at 45k miles.

I think she should test them both and decide which is easier for her to drive and get the kids in and out of. She also needs to evaluate the storage (or lack thereof) and decide what she needs. The Kia doesn't have a lot, but it has enough and it's up high. The Mazda would have more assuming she kept the back row folded.

I will say the Kia will be cheaper, gets slightly better gas mileage, and actually has great safety & reliability ratings. Better than the Mazda5, in fact. In general, issues with the Souls are pretty uncommon.

We test drove a Mazda5 a year ago, and I remember liking, but not loving it. We were also looking for a new main family vehicle, and it just wasn't going to be big enough for us (we ended up with a Mazda MPV).

The one thing that sold us on the Soul is the size of the back seat. Compared to other similar cars, it has both a very wide and very deep back seat. 3 across is generally no problem, and even rear-facing seats are generally not an issue.

You could maybe look at the Honda Fit, Suzuki SX4 (hatchback version - comes in AWD as well), Mini Cooper, Mazda3 hatchback, or Hyundai Elantra Touring as well.

 

[trippsmom]

My friend just bought a Soul. They are a one vehicle family and are going from three people to four people in the next week or so. She loves it! I checked her seats right after she bought it. Installs were lovely. It was a nice height as far as for entry/exit. A world of difference from their Tiburon. The biggest factors for them were passenger space and gas mileage.

 

[beetlemama]

For two kids just about any car will work easily. Up until two weeks ago we had two kids and our only car was a beetle and it was rarely a problem (a bit tight when we had any cargo, but for day-to-day stuff it was fine). If I were grandma I'd choose the soul because I personally think it's a lot cuter than the 5. The 5 is a great niche car in that you can fit 6 people without driving a huge vehicle, but IMO it's not the cutest car on the road where I think the soul is a great looking car.

 

[TXDani]

Yikes! More details please!

I was in the lane to enter the freeway and a Kia Soul (a new looking one) was one lane over to my right. He decided at the last minute that he wanted to get on the freeway also. He punched his gas pedal so he could merge over and his engine just blew up right there. Not a good day for him I am sure.

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[TechnoGranola]

a Kia Soul (a new looking one) was one lane over to my right.

Are there any old looking ones? It just came out 2010 MY.

 

[TXDani]

Are there any old looking ones? It just came out 2010 MY.

I don't keep up on Kias but I figured they were a newer model. I just meant it looked new, new...you know how you can tell when a car looks fresh off the lot within a few months or so? Probably doesn't look so new now though after being blasted with all that black smoke lol!

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[amyd]

We never considered the Soul cause we needed the third row but I love my 5. It's great for carseats and I love the sliding doors.

 

[teekadog]

I drive a 5 and think for her needs a Soul would be adequate. And I'm a big fan of not buying more car than you need.

 

[TechnoGranola]

I don't keep up on Kias but I figured they were a newer model. I just meant it looked new, new...you know how you can tell when a car looks fresh off the lot within a few months or so? Probably doesn't look so new now though after being blasted with all that black smoke lol!

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:ROTFLMAO: No kidding!

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[New grandma]

DD2 has a Soul and loves it. It is very economical, looks sporty, and we have had a frontier and a rf radian (w/angle adjuster) installed very easily.

With the rear seats folded down, she has hauled her bike, a dresser, and other bulky things.

 

[Frenchgirl]

It's great for carseats and I love the sliding doors.

:yeahthatlove:

With the sliding doors, she won t have any backache!

 

[tl01]

Now she's thinking mini copper countryman.

 

[canadiangie]

I'm not a fan of niche/trendy looking vehicles. PT Cruiser, Chev HHR, Honda Element, Ford Flex, and even the Toyota FJ Cruiser.. They all kind of grind my sense of aesthetics, and resale tends to be a bit harder. You have to LOVE those kinds of vehicles, and it tends to be love/hate.

The Kia Soul falls into that category for me, wheras the Mazda 5 is more just a mini minivan. A rather sensible and well respected unit when it comes right down to it. It will surely go down a classic.

So I vote Mazda 5.

 

[TXDani]

I'm not a fan of niche/trendy looking vehicles. PT Cruiser, Chev HHR, Honda Element, Ford Flex, and even the Toyota FJ Cruiser.. They all kind of grind my sense of aesthetics, and resale tends to be a bit harder. You have to LOVE those kinds of vehicles, and it tends to be love/hate.

The Kia Soul falls into that category for me, wheras the Mazda 5 is more just a mini minivan. A rather sensible and well respected unit when it comes right down to it. It will surely go down a classic.

So I vote Mazda 5.

OMG I thought I was the only one who hated all those "silly" looking cars. I have also never encountered a PT Bruiser (as I call them) with a driver who knows how to drive.

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[canadiangie]

OMG I thought I was the only one who hated all those "silly" looking cars. I have also never encountered a PT Bruiser (as I call them) with a driver who knows how to drive.

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We should really do lunch one of these days.

 

[Phineasmama]

I'm not a fan of niche/trendy looking vehicles. PT Cruiser, Chev HHR, Honda Element, Ford Flex, and even the Toyota FJ Cruiser.. They all kind of grind my sense of aesthetics, and resale tends to be a bit harder. You have to LOVE those kinds of vehicles, and it tends to be love/hate.

The Kia Soul falls into that category for me, wheras the Mazda 5 is more just a mini minivan. A rather sensible and well respected unit when it comes right down to it. It will surely go down a classic.

So I vote Mazda 5.

I feel the SAME WAY!! I don't like any of those "box" shaped vehicles, they are so ugly to me.
And I am totally anti-PT Cruiser lol! My mom used to sell cars and she called it a tin can on wheels. One time I got one as a rental when traveling and it really felt cheaply made. I did not enjoy it at all.