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2012 Mazda MAZDA5

The 2012 Mazda Mazda5 ranks 3 out of 8 Minivans. This ranking is based on our analysis of 12 published reviews and test drives of the Mazda Mazda5, and our analysis of reliability and safety data. The 2012 Mazda5 is small for a minivan, but delivers big performance.

Parenthood can seem like a Dora The Explorer-led march into lost identity. Skinny jeans morph into mom jeans, whining replaces wining and dining and pulse-pounding automotive performance gets passed over for practicality. It doesn’t have to be that way. Reviewers on Rankingsandreviews say the 2012 Mazda5 has the practicality parents need and the fun-to-drive personality most minivans lack. While the Mazda5 may not free you from the grips of SpongeBob, it will make tackling the twists in the parenting road a lot more fun.

The 2012 Mazda5 isn’t without compromises. It’s fun to drive, less expensive and gets better fuel economy than most other minivans, but doesn’t offer as much space. The 5 doesn’t offer interior bells and whistles like a navigation system. But, reviewers think the 5 may be just what minimalist families are looking for.

The 2012 Mazda5 has performance that impresses most reviewers. While its four-cylinder engine doesn’t produce neck-snapping power, its handing is top-notch. Overall, reviewers say that the 2012 Mazda5 is fun to drive, and not just for a minivan. It has an engaging driving experience, period.

Opinions are mixed on the 2012 Mazda5’s powertrain. Reviewers love that you can get a six-speed manual transmission on a minivan, and also have nice things to say about the available five-speed automotive transmission. A few reviewers complain that the only engine, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 157 horsepower, is underpowered.

One thing that makes up for the lack of engine power in the minds of some reviewers is the Mazda5’s fuel economy. Mazda says it gets 21/28 mpg city/highway with both the manual and automatic transmissions. That’s the best fuel economy in the class.

The factor that stands out most in the 2012 Mazda5’s performance is its handling. Reviewers call the 5 fun to drive, saying it handles like a sporty sedan. That’s very high praise for any minivan. While a few reviewers say the suspension might be a little too taut for some families, most agree that living with a little roughness is worth it, given the Mazda5’s cornering abilities.
Every Mazda 5 comes with standard stability and traction control, four-wheel antilock disc brakes with brake assist, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, the 5 came to a stop from 60 mph in 130 feet — a few feet longer than average.

There aren’t yet any crash-test results for the Mazda5, which has been fully redesigned for 2012. But with an all-new, stronger ‘triple-H’ body structure plus improved side and roof protection, it should do a better job of occupant protection in general said Thecarconnection.

Head-protecting side-curtain bags reach back through all three rows, brake and accelerator pedals are no crushable to protect the driver’s legs, and a new Brake Override System is included. Electronic stability control is standard, as are anti-lock brakes.

Source picture: cardotcom