For the next episode of Leftlane’s Battle of the Exes, ex-wife and ex-husband “team” Brenda Priddy and John Priddy turn their sights on Mazda’s sporty little family-hauler, the 2009 Mazda Mazda5 Grand Touring. Missed the last episode? Get their review of the Volkswagen Tiguan here.

 
She Says
You might as well call us The Quirks, instead of The Priddys, although, keep in mind that I’m referring to two separate and individual households, with the only thing in common being shared DNA in our offspring.

From John’s old Pinto and beloved Corvair (also referred to as his mistress by this ex) and the original Subaru Forester that we bought nearly a decade ago, we tended to buy cars based on its fun factor, not so much on looks. Well, as far as the Corvair is concerned, it is beyond me how a huge stationary hunk of lavender sheet metal that only collects dust could be considered fun – but we’ll leave that discussion for another time.

But as for the Mazda5 – it’s one of those quirky automobiles: Not exactly a sedan, wagon, or even a hatchback by my standards, and not quite a minivan – but the funky-looking people-mover with sliding doors and oh-so-clever storage nooks is a blast to drive.
 
He says
Hello. Mr. Quirk, here. Yeah, I drove a few quirky cars: A ’65 Mustang, a 240Z, two Corvettes, a Firebird, quirky all. I guess. And then   we purchased the cult cars: Subaru Forester, and two Subaru Outback wagons. And there was the original Dodge Caravan, which gives us some insight to this week’s ride.

My initial impression of the Mazda5 was its, uh, quirky styling. To my eye it has a somewhat aquatic appearance – think carp rather than yellow tail. Its looks aren’t going to get me to rush to the credit union and beg for a five-year-loan. But its shape is far more aerodynamic than the flying brick Caravan of old presented to forward momentum. Surprisingly shorter, narrower, and lower than the big three – Odyssey, Sienna, and Caravan/Town and Country – but it’s not surprising that the Mazda5 handily beats them in fuel economy by a good 6 mpg.

Yet it’s no less practical – simply on a smaller scale.

What we agree on
The recipe is familiar: front wheel drive, a platform based on a Mazda3, seating for six, dual sliding rear doors and a hatch in the rear. No doubt, it’s the best design for moving people and their stuff from mall to mall. But rather than going head-to-head with the big dogs, Mazda has taken a more minimalistic approach. Eight inches narrower, a foot-and-a-half shorter, and 600 pounds lighter than most, the Mazda5 is more maneuverable, has better visibility, and cost about half as much.

Of course the downside is the third row seats don’t have enough legroom for most adults and aren’t easily accessible for infants in car seats, but for occasional use they’ll do, and they fold completely flat. The adjustable middle row captain’s chairs have seat cushions that tilt forward exposing a handy storage tray and for really big stuff, they fold flat for five feet of flat cargo space. Up front there’s a huge glove box, lots of cubby storage bins and a standard MP3 input jack and 12-volt power port on the front console. There’s only two rear air vents for the second row passengers and anyone in the third row, well, they’re on they’re own.

Only one engine is available, a 2.3-liter DOHC 16-valve, 4-cylinder with variable valve timing, rated at 153-horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission is standard on the base Sport model but the upscale Touring and Grand Touring editions only come with a smooth operating five-speed automatic. Our test vehicle, in Grand Touring guise, provided leisurely performance with two passengers. A full load of passengers and a boatload of stuff wouldn’t be passing much on the highway. An outstanding electro-mechanical power steering system helped improve the fun-to-drive quotient.

Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake-Assist are standard, as are advanced dual front air bags, side-impact air curtains with third-row coverage, and front-seat mounted side-impact air bags. One serious omission is the lack of stability control, but that didn’t prevent the 5 from earning a five-star safety rating from NHTSA for front passengers and rollover protection.
What the Mazda5 offers most is safety, economy, practicality, and great driving experience, all for a very reasonable price.
 
His final observation
We’ve outgrown the minivan phase and moved on with our lives, but if you’re beyond impressing the neighbors with a Suburban-sized transport that won’t fit in the garage, you may be a Mazda5 buyer.  

…But she gets the final word
With sedan economy and minivan-like features, the Mazda5 is a great vehicle for young families and empty nesters alike. And as quirky as the exterior may look, this is one practical vehicle with loads of flexibility and useful features.  So go ahead and call me Ms. Quirk, it’s OK.
And besides, it sure beats John’s Pinto.
 
 
2009 Mazda Mazda5 Grand Touring base price, $22,675. As tested, $23,395.
Destination, $670.
 
Words and photos by Brenda Priddy and John Priddy.

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