The 2012 Mazda5 New,Reviews

The 2012 Mazda5 has been completely redesigned.

There's a reason the minivan is considered the quintessential vehicle for parents. No other vehicle can match the minivan's huge interior space, three rows of seating, sliding rear doors and low ride height. With two seats in each of its three rows, it only seats six compared to the seven- or eight-passenger seating of a big minivan (now that's an oxymoron). There's another advantage the The 2012 Mazda5 has over its quasi-family mobile competitors -- it's fun to drive. Like the Mazda 3, it goes around corners with control and poise.

Some automakers may boast that their minivans or SUVs "handle like a car," but The 2012 Mazda5 actually does. The Mazda 5 also isn't available with certain features common to regular minivans, like power-operated sliding doors, sunshades or factory-installed navigation and entertainment systems. Essentially a design hybrid between a minivan and a wagon, the Mazda 5 is a great alternative choice and definitely worth a look in these lean economic times.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2012 Mazda 5 is a three-row, six-passenger compact minivan available in three trim levels: Sport, Touring and Grand Touring. The base Sport comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, full power accessories, keyless entry, cruise control, automatic climate control (with rear vents and fan controls), a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack.

This package is standard on the 5 Grand Touring, which also gets automatic xenon headlights, heated mirrors, automatic wipers, driver lumbar adjustment, heated front seats and leather upholstery.

Every 2012 Mazda 5 is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 157 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. "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.
Interior Design and Special Features

The front seats provide respectable comfort, though taller folks may wish for more rearward seat travel.
Driving Impressions
On the Edmunds test track, the 5 nearly matched the handling numbers of the much