Recently I had the opportunity to spend a week with the new 2013 Mazda5 Grand Touring, and I remember the first thing I thought when I saw the car was – what type of vehicle is this? I didn’t know if it was a regular larger sedan, or if it was a minivan, or some type of new hybrid vehicle. Well, I quickly learned that it’s actually classified as a minivan, and was named the 2013 Minivan of the Year by Autobytel. The 2012 Mazda5 was named Best Total Cost of Ownership in its class by Kelley Blue Book, so when a vehicle is receiving that type of praise, I’m listening!
(photo credit: MazdaUSA.com)
First Impressions – When I jumped in for the first time, I was hoping to see upgrades like heated seats and leather interior, power moonroof and Bluetooth audio. However, these “upgrades” actually come standard on the 2013 Mazda5! The interior is super slick, as you can tell from the above picture.
I kind of gave this one away already, but I was super curious at the exterior of the car. In fact, because I wasn’t quite sure what it was, I thought it would be smaller inside. Boy was I wrong! The interior is much larger than it looks from the outside, with plenty of room for six, as it has a third row of seats. You could do seven, but it would be tight.
What I Liked – I really enjoyed the fact that there are “captain” chairs in the front, which means both you and the passenger get arm rests that rotate down from the side of the seat if you prefer. You know how many vehicles have a big console in the middle between you and the passenger’s seat? The 2013 Mazda5 doesn’t have this and I love it! It makes you feel much freer sitting in the front without being encumbered by some bulky storage.
Cool Storage – Speaking of storage, there’s also a super cool “unbulky” storage feature that I have to tell you about too. The second row of seats, which are also “captain” style, has a fold out table feature that is perfect for long trips when the kiddos want something to write on, or when older kids (more responsible, right?) want to put their drinks in a drink older. You can see in the picture I took below that the seat actually folds down and the table folds out, creating additional storage for you under the seat itself! And the great news is that it was quick and easy to do. No fiddling or pulling or yanking or anything that make you mutter unpleasantries under your breath. 🙂
Mom Friendly – Moms, of course you’re going to want to know about how kid friendly it is. Well, I took the vehicle over to my friend Jacki’s house and we played with the carseats, forward and backwards, and they both fit nicely. The backward facing seats for youngsters made it a little tighter for the driver, but unless you’re over 6 ft tall, it won’t impede your leg room. The second row has latch safety seat anchors for the car seats. The anchors were sturdy, but a little deep in the seats, so finding them on a dark night might pose a challenge.
The Mazda5 has a third row of seating which easily folds down if you don’t need it. As you can see in the pic above, it can handle both your little umbrella strollers (even without the seat down), or your older toddler or jogger strollers. I wouldn’t get the Mazda5 thinking that it will be comfortable for bigger family of 6, only because the back row is still pretty tight. But I really like the option and would totally recommend it for families with younger kids.
Fuel Friendly – One of the best features of the Mazda5 is it gets awesome gas mileage! The estimated MPG is 22 city and 28 highway, for an average of 24 MPG. Over five years, the Mazda5 will save you $600 in fuel costs when compared to the average new vehicle. Part of the reason that it gets such great gas mileage is that the engine is a only a four cylinder, and if I had to give one critique of the Mazda5, it would be that I prefer to have a little more pep on the open road. I’m a very careful driver, but I tend to punch it when the light turns green. 😉
The Mazda5 really drives like a car, and I absolutely LOVE the turning radius. There is no spot you won’t be able to fit into at the mall, and the sliding doors will make it easy for you to grab the kiddos out of the back seats without too much trauma unfolding!
So what’s the price tag? The sticker price is $24,470 – but I’m excited to let you know that you’re now able to get a quote for this vehicle online and personally talk to your local dealer on the phone to hear more! I love this, because there’s no pressure to have to go in and talk to a salesperson in person. By signing up to have a conversation, you are under no obligation to go in, you’re in the comfort of your own home, and you can get all the info you need on the phone regarding whether or not you’d like to go in for a test drive.
I loved my 2013 Mazda5 Grand Touring test drive experience and if you’re on the fence about this vehicle, I encourage you to take a test drive yourself!