2006 Mazda MAZDA5 Consumer Reviews

Love our new (used) Mazda 5!

Written by: zandy on 07/24/2008

Vehicle

2006 Mazda MAZDA5 Sport 4dr Minivan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)

Review

We bought the 2006 Mazda 5 two months ago after looking at other wagons for a long time. We liked the fold down 2nd and 3rd row seats. It is very similar to a minivan with the 2nd row bucket seats, sliding doors, and slightly elevated drive; but I still call it a wagon because I DID NOT want a minivan. Others complained about the AC/heat, but I think it's great - never turn AC above 2. The car drives great. Overall, I'm not that impressed with the MPG - we've only filled up the car twice in the two months we've had it, but both times it averaged in the low 20s. FYI - we're suburbanites in our 30s and only drive 50 mi/wk.

Favorite Features

sporty exterior; smooth ride

Suggested Improvements

install passenger side armrest and improve gas mileage!

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Small interior

Written by: colleen on 06/23/2008

Vehicle

2006 Mazda MAZDA5 Touring 4dr Minivan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I would never buy this car again. I had to replace the tires, the traction was poor and they leaked after the first year. The third row is to small, no passenger arm rest. The interior can't handle every day use. The dash looks worn after barely two years and the one and only arm rest is totally worn out. Power locks don't work right. The only thing I do like is the sporty feel and look.

Favorite Features

Sporty look. You don't feel too low while driving.

Suggested Improvements

Better tires. Better interior quality. More leg room all around, especially the third row. Vents in the back.

2 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Fun to drive, practical, has shortcoming

Written by: chaika on 04/14/2008

Vehicle

2006 Mazda MAZDA5 Touring 4dr Minivan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I bought a 2006 with almost all the options. We have 2 children and regularly carpool two others to school. I like driving the car. It is small and peppy. I love the 5 speed on a minivan.

Favorite Features

I like flexibility of seating and the overall styling. Radio and heat/ ac controls are intuitive. I haven't had it for summer yet, so not sure about the quality of the ac.

Suggested Improvements

The interior only comes in black and that looks dirty right way and always. Lots of road noise. If you are looking for a car for lots of highway hours think about a pair of earplugs. Around town it doesnt bother me. Stock tires were awful on snow! Definitely get snow tires!

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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All good except for interior noise

Written by: Avinash B on 04/09/2008

Vehicle

2006 Mazda MAZDA5 Sport 4dr Minivan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)

Review

So far 25K miles, going good. Pickup and handling is excellent, very easy and fun to drive. I do however get wind noise seeping through the door frame glass. Has been checked my Mazda several times, looks like a design flaw. Recently, started getting wobbling sound from rear, was told it is the tires getting old.

Favorite Features

Compact space, good exterior design, nice view, good controls.

Suggested Improvements

No armrest for front passenger, Need brighter headlamps

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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37000 miles

Written by: 37000 miles on 04/07/2008

Vehicle

2006 Mazda MAZDA5 Sport 4dr Minivan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Another thing, that would improve, the MAZDA5, is, better, tires. My, original, Toyo A18s were good, for 33000 miles, but, they were noisy and spun, too easily, when wet. I replaced, them, with, Bridgestone Serenity, 215/50R 17 95V, tires. The, higher, load index, makes, them, feel, less, vulnerable, less, wet, wheelspin and are a, little, quieter, although, a little, less, sporty, great, for highway driving or dirt roads. The, original, tires, seemed, vulnerable, on a dirt road.

Favorite Features

The, available, manual, transmission. Consumer Reports', highest rated, wagon or four door hatchback. Lowest cost, of ownership, in it's class. Best value, in it's class.

Suggested Improvements

Wheel Packages, from the dealer, ranging, from 16" to 19". All wheel drive, "high profile," version, of the MAZDA5. Gas flap, on the left side, so, it doesn't lock the, right, door. More vehicles, similar, to these. Don't forget the, manual, transmission. More advertising, for the MAZDA5.

2 out 3 people found this review helpful

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High Mazda5s

Written by: ezdad on 03/11/2008

Vehicle

2006 Mazda MAZDA5 Sport 4dr Minivan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Best small minivan - maybe best small car - on the market. Plenty of room for 6 and some luggage, good gas mileage(got 36 mpg on one trip), handles better than some sports cars, inexpensive. Buy it - you'll love it.

Favorite Features

room, room with zoom zoom!!!

Suggested Improvements

Add rear seat outboard arm rests and AWD then I'll buy 2.

4 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Great, but...

Written by: Too tall on 03/07/2008

Vehicle

2006 Mazda MAZDA5 Touring 4dr Minivan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)

Review

This is a well thought out, economical family car. Seats the kids and their friends, smooth well powered ride. The big problem a shopper should know about is that you have to be short to average (< than 5'10") to sit comfortably in the front. I am 6'2" and the console angles out and is very wide, leaving no space for legs. I am always pressed up against the console and can't think about going a distance trip in this vehicle.

Favorite Features

Sliding side doors in parking lots; middle row storage and interior versatility; excellent power train.

Suggested Improvements

Low profile means low clearance... always hitting the parking block. The front leg room is inadequate due to encroachment of the wide console.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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The good and the bad

Written by: MR O on 03/02/2008

Vehicle

2006 Mazda MAZDA5 Sport 4dr Minivan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Good engine, great manual transmission. Car handles very well. 25 mpg in mixed city/hwy driving. The remote entry keys work less than half the time. Good thing I can still lock/unlock the doors manually. Absolutely terrible in snowy/icy conditions due to slick performance tires. Occasional strange lurch in 2nd gear. This is a small, economical minivan, not to be confused with a Honda Odyssey. Compare it to other compact cars, not the big maxivans weighing half a ton more. Overall, a pleasant driving experience. Good, reliable, economical transportation. No mechanical problems after 23000 miles, except as noted above.

Favorite Features

Overall driving experience. Versatility.

Suggested Improvements

Tires that can be used year round in northern latitudes or an all-wheel drive version. Better sounding stereo. Eliminate the occasional 2nd gear lurch. Fix the remote entry problem.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Regretting decision to buy the Mazda5

Written by: taeleen1 on 02/24/2008

Vehicle

2006 Mazda MAZDA5 Touring 4dr Minivan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)

Review

So far, I have to say it is just ok. Biggest complaint is very poor climate control, poor kids are cooking in second and third rows. Second big issue is the key that costs nearly $300 to replace if lost or damaged, with no alternative. To top that off, the key is manufactured mainly of plastic, which is just too easily broken. I feel like I am walking around with a porcelain egg or something, if I drop it will it break, yikes! Overall I would go back to my crowded Pontiac Grand Prix or even the gas guzzling Durango. Serously regret the decision to purchase this vehicle.

Favorite Features

Sliding doors make for easy entry and exit.

Suggested Improvements

Climate control, and alternative or improved key manufacturing.

1 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Madza5 Workhorse

Written by: Tom on 02/08/2008

Vehicle

2006 Mazda MAZDA5 Sport 4dr Minivan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I use my Mazda for hauling my Arts and Crafts booth and products. With the seats down, there is about as much room as a normal minivan. The one major complaint I have about the vehicle is the fact it gets extremely hot in the summer and the air conditioning takes a long time to cool off the back of the vehicle. Another issue is the door locks. My son has a 2002 Focus, a much less expensive vehicle, and the doors lock automatically after putting the vehicle in gear. Last issue is the remote entry system... terrible, terrible, terrible.

Favorite Features

Fold down seats.

Suggested Improvements

Air conditioning, darker tinted windows, automatic door lock, and better remote entry system.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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