“Functional” describes the Rondo. It has a very tight turning radius and makes the most of it’s size. The tall roofline gives sense of spaciousness. The ESC is great in the snow. I like the manumatic trans – very nice on hills and when towing a light trailer loaded with dirt bikes. The Rondo has a 2,000 pound tow rating and a tranny cooler by the way – something the Mazda does not offer. 2,000 pound is not much, but it is enough for my dirt bike trailer. The V6 Rondo tows that (probably around 1,000 pounds all up) with ease.

My only complaints are the fidelity on the stereo is lame, the bump strips on the doors are too low, and the gas tank is a bit small. Gas mileage in city driving is around 18. Highway it is easy to get 26 mpg with steady cruising.

The V6 feels smooth and revvy, and the car is quiet and nice to drive. The interior feels above it’s pay grade too and no squeaks or rattles have appeared over the 11,000 miles I’ve owned it.

Adding window tint helped greatly in keeping the interior cool and making this low beltline tall window car look a bit less dorky. If you buy a Rondo, get the gold paint. Hands down it looks better than the other colors, particularly if you add lightly tinted windows.

I like the size of the Rondo. I have two kids and occasionally take their friends along. While i would not want to ride any distance in the rearmost seat, it is fine for kids. People are always amazed to see 7 girl scouts get out of the little Rondo. Full size “minivans” feel bloated, much like the average American I suppose. The Rondo and the Mazda both have a more Euro feel to them. We can learn from our friends across the pond. The Rondo has nice direct steering and feels like a sports car compared to the blunderbus Chrysler Minivan I rented last year.

The Rondo does not set my heart atwitter (I have a 1,000cc sport bike that makes about the same 182 peak hp the the Rondo does for that) but it is a solid and useful vehicle that represents a good value for the money. I would buy another. I guess that is about the best recommendation one can give.

The original Chrysler van had a length x width x height of 176.5 x 69.6 x 67.5 (my measurements). The longer “Grand” versions came later. It was available with 4 or 6 cyl engines (the later, producing between 140 and 150 HP and around 170 ft/lbs of torque). While you could fit sheets of plywood between the wheel wells, you could not close the hatch. I once hauled a tool-shed-in-a-box home from Home Depot which was 4×3x7 feet. All this was only possible after removing the seats, and the rear bench was unpleasantly heavy. The original owner of the van never took it out of the car. The middle seat was relatively easy to remove, but didn’t fold at all. Cargo room with the 3rd seat folded/removed was about 40/50 cubic feet. With all seats removed about 120 cu/ft. All in all a real pain-in-the-back to haul stuff.

The Rondo by comparison is 179.0 x 71.7 x 67.7 (LxWxH). Less cargo space, more people space. Equal ability to tow (which the Mazda 5 is not rated to do).

The paragon of practicality, the Colt Vista, fit 7 people into a footprint of 171.6 x 64.6 x 62.5. I could go into much depth about how its Transformer-like seats could flip and fold but this post is long enough.

- Greg -

In my opinion the car is perfect for Seniors and couples with 1 or 2 kids. The seat height, adjustments and headrests are as comfortable as anyone could want. On 5 hour trips, my very sensitive rear end is as happy as a clam and so are my legs and neck.

FOR THE MONEY, THERE IS NOTHING ELSE ON THE ROAD THAT COMPARES. We have had 12 months and 18,000 kms (11,000 miles) of happy motoring.

The 5 isn’t wagon, nor is it a minivan*, but it’s something in-between, and it’s very flexible and usable.

*interestingly, the 5 has almost the same exact dimension as the original Chrysler minivan

We have one child. We liked the ease of entry of the sliding doors but disliked the idea of driving around a 4,500 lb. beast every day. We use the 5 primarily as a 4-seater but have used the third row on occassion, usually outings with friends or when family comes to visit rather than needing two cars. The car is surprisingly fun to drive (and this from a guy with a Miata, a Porsche 911, and a Mercedes E-Class). When it comes to driving around town, running errands, family drives a few hours away to visit family, or runs to Costco, the Mazda5 is the always the first choice. It just has an easygoing pleasant nature and ease of use that I find very endearing.

The only downsides to the car that I would change is that it’s a bit noisy at freeway speeds (primarily tire noise) but around town the engine is smooth and very quiet.

But as many have mentioned, it isn’t for everyone. At least two friends have purchased Mazda5s since riding in ours. Another recently needed a new car and has baby #3 on the way. He like the 5 but ended up with an Odyssey as the 5 just isn’t the first choice when you have three kids in infant or booster seats at the same time and need to carry a double stroller.

The Honda is a fine choice and an excellent vehicle, I just don’t want to drive one, park one, and fuel one every day because I might need the extra space once a year. So far, the 5 hasn’t failed to hold anything that we’ve thrown at it… even a bed and matress from Ikea.

With regard to sales of this car, I have to say that I think low sales is a matter of supply rather than demand. Around here in Northern California it’s difficult to even find a Mazda5 in stock. I also think that slow sales of the manual transmission option is also a bit of a chicken and egg problem. The dealers are scared to order these with stick shifts so supplies stay low, which leads the factory to stop offering the stick shift option.

Similarly, I had a BMW 525iT wagon a few years back with a manual transmission… a very rare bird indeed. When it came time to sell it I had car nuts beating down my door all of whom mentioned looking long and hard for a manual transmission sport wagon like that. Finding one new at a dealership was nearly impossible.

That’s what the roof rails are for.

One reason why low-roof wagons died out–and even in Europe, are losing out to MPVs like these two, as well as numerous others–is that the taller chair height does give serious packaging advantages.

If you compare the Mazda5 to the Mazda6 Sport Wagon, the 5 has more usable cargo room, slightly better people room in the first two rows and is a heck of a lot easier to load small children into than the lower-down 6. Oh, and it weighs less and has a physically smaller footprint.

I’m all for getting rid of high-floor crossovers, but the 5 and Rondo, with their low floors, tall seating and high roofs, are much better vehicles, from a versatility standpoint, than “real wagons”.

The 5 weighs a little over three thousand pounds. The Oddy and it’s kin all tip the scales at well over four thousand.

You cannot, no matter what suspension tricks you pull, make a four-and-half-thousand-pound vehicle with a big six on it’s nose feel like a vehicle that’s 1200lbs lighter.

Maybe so, but that was fundamental to the design of the original Caravan. If the 5 or Rondo can’t carry it, they souldn’t be compared to it.

As for retrieving plywood I prefer to haul my construction materials home of my $350 trailer.

As do I. Additionally I’ve proved that all but the largest lumber can fit in my Accord with the back seat folded down. But some people don’t have room to store a trailer (or extra vehicle). Delivery of large things like construction materials works fine most of the time but what about the people in TX last weekend? I doubt Home Depot was delivering small orders of plywood right before the hurricane. That extra utility can be very precious at times. I’m willing to bet a large portion of people own full sized pickup trucks for that emergency situation.

American car fans used to make the same jokes about Toyota and Honda like you make about Hyundai/Kia. History repeats itself

Not sure about the early Kia’s but the original Hyundai’s were abysmal to the point where I will not ever buy one. A Hyundai has left me stranded in the middle of nowhere before the days of cell phones. My attitude about them is not one bit different than all the comments from people burned by GM or Ford. I’ll grant you that everyone is making better vehicles today but why should one company be granted forgiveness over another?

When kids pop up, that Boxster may not be happening. So, you end up with a choice: get something that looks and drives like a tub (Odyssey, Sienna), or get something smaller and nimbler with a stickshift (Mazda 5). It’s the closest to sporty driving some of us will get till the sprogs hit college.

I didn’t drive a 5 with the stick, but just failing to see where else the 5 would be non-tub when compared to larget minivans. Put a stick in the Odyssey with a stiffer suspension and you have the same “sporty” ride.

Seems to me the argument for these cars is that they are cheaper than the Honda and Toyota minivans or other near alternatives. My real world experience with the Honda says otherwise on the “huge” MPG gains from the smaller 5 or Rondo. Everything else just seems like a compromise.

I wish Americans were given real options in wagon models. I would argue that an Accord or Camry wagon with a 3rd row jump seat would be a more “sporty” ride, more fuel efficient and command equal utility value. Yea to wagons, boo to whatever the heck you call the 5 and Rondo.

We liked the VW Passat and Subaru Outback wagons, but they were more than we wanted to pay. We thought the new Forester was a dud. We finally waffled back and forth between the 5 and the Honda CRV.

The 5 does not have AWD, but it was nearly as nice as the CRV, handles better, and cost us $4k+ less. Although it’s my wife’s car, I do get to drive it on occasion. My everyday car is a 2004 BMW 325 (sport suspension), and I must say that I’m impressed with the 5. For what it is, it is fairly nimble. And despite all of the reviews I had read, the acceleration feels fairly spritely. Maybe it’s the 5-speed automatic that is new for this year?

As for the last row of seats, my wife and I view the 5 as a 4 seater with a huge cargo area that has optional bonus seats that can be used in an emergency. If you view the 3rd row that way, then the 5 is a great vehicle. And if you are expecting a baby, then the height of the passenger row vs. a sedan’s is a big bonus, as are the twin sliding rear doors. My one gripe is I wish the front seats were longer and had more thigh support (I’m 5′8, so the 5 is great size for us). My second gripe (yeah, I said I only had one gripe…tough) is that the stereo has a big hole in the midrange. Conversations disappear in newscasts and guitars disappear when listening to rock. I had to crank up the midrange on the iPod so that I could comprehend “This American Life”. My wife doesn’t notice it, so maybe it’s just me.

That’s a highly inaccurate statement.

When kids pop up, that Boxster may not be happening. So, you end up with a choice: get something that looks and drives like a tub (Odyssey, Sienna), or get something smaller and nimbler with a stickshift (Mazda 5). It’s the closest to sporty driving some of us will get till the sprogs hit college.

Probably has alot to do with comments and questions you can see above.

Many comments stating that this vehicle is just too small, doesn’t have enough power, and for a few thousand more they could buy a V-6 or larger vehicle.

The comment about being able to carry a sheet of plywood is also very American.

I have ridden in minature Italian cars that Americans would just shake their heads at. Cars with 500cc and 18HP. Cars with 900cc and 45 HP. They were perfectly adeaquate for short distances (across town for a bite to eat and a movie or out the grocery store). Comfortable even. It depends on your expectations. I have heard American buddies declare a car reliably and safely hauling them around town a pice of ****. It just didn’t meet their expectations of style, power, image, etc so it has no value to them.

The Mazda 5 is yet another vehicle on my short list. It is much like our 1st Gen CR-V with a 3rd row for occasional use.

Just what we need for out of town trips (less than 200 miles 99% of the time). I want a big Eurovan Weekender but the Mazda might be the more practical vehicle (newer, not discontinued, better mileage).

As for retrieving plywood I prefer to haul my construction materials home of my $350 trailer. I can pull it with anything I own. If I need materials enough to build a deck I’ll just have it delivered. A $50 delivery fee is still less than what it costs to maintain or insure a full sized vehicle each year. Nice trucks, but costly. No risk of damaging my $20K vehicle that way. Let the trailer take the scrapes and scratches. Every 5 years or so I’ll sandblast and repaint the trailer.

This Mazda might be a very good distance tourer with even 5 or 6 people. Those 5 people might need to be a combination of 2-3 adults and 2-3 kids. They might not be comfortable if they are 300 lb or tall teenagers sitting in the 3rd row though.

A person’s expectations would have to adapt though. In Europe I saw families travelling in cars the size of an early 90s Civic pulling a small weatherproof trailer big enough to carry all of their luggage and shopping. Trailers were quite light-weight and could stand on their tailgates in the corner of a garage when not used. It’s possible depending on your expectations.

Frankly I’d rather rent a larger vehicle for trips or travel in something smaller that I owned with a tiny luggage trailer. That way the other 51 weeks a year I did not have to pay for or operate a large vehicle.

Reading is fundamental: I never said I wouldn’t want ESC in a powerful RWD car. I said I do not see the need for it in an low-powered, FWD car. I also realize the part I played in the ‘incident’ (’incident’ is in quotations because nothing happened, ‘personal accountability’ also doesn’t apply because there’s nothing to be accountable for), but it had nothing to do with going too fast for conditions. The speed wasn’t the problem, the sudden 1500+rpm jump due to the downshift is what made the tires spin. I’ll take the blame for assuming that Lexus engineers would know better than to program the tranny to downshift mid-corner, but it had nothing to do with speed

How about blaming yourself for taking the on ramp, as you clearly stated, fairly aggressively in the rain. You were driving too fast for conditions. You are the type of person who needs ESC. Personal accountability. Look it up.

My wife is Canadian and from what I’ve seen their cars aren’t that different, aside from more expensive. Maybe the added cost up there forces the dealers to offer things like standard transmissions to shave a few $$ off the price. For the most part every Canadian I know is always trying to find a way to buy their next car in the states.

While I agree the minivans of today have grown, they still are the best utility vehicles for hauling people over the age of 3 and/or the occasional load from the lumber yard.

As for MPG’s I can speak for the Odyssey which a close family member has, and I’ve used on several occasions. City driving gets right around 20 mpg providing you don’t constantly flog the gas pedal and on highways it does a solid 26 unless heading straight into 50mph winds. That’s pretty good for something that can comfortably seat 6 adults and is vastly more luxurious inside than the 5 or Rondo.

So far as driving dynamics I have driven the 5 and found it quite boring when compared to the 3 or 6 and it’s fugly as well. Can’t comment on Kia as I still joke about that brand as I did Hyundai 15 years back. Granted the Odyssey isn’t the race car their marketing bills it as, but it’ll blow away the mazda. Anyway, someone who enjoys the sport of driving isn’t buying either so does it really matter?

And I live in the Rockies where both ESC and TC can be beneficial but a great set of snow tires is the most beneficial.