Need to replace my Mazda5

[DopeyDame]

I need a new car. I have a Mazda5 that I absolutely adore. I love everything about this car. I love that it's smaller than most minivans and SUVs. I love that it has the foldable 3rd row of seats. I love how it drives. I just absolutely love it.
Sadly, they stopped making it in 2015. (Although evidently it's still being sold in Canada)

So... any suggestions for a new car? I'm looking for the smallest car possible that can fit 6 people. So far I'm really not having any luck at all... Seems that the Mazda5 was pretty unique and evidently there just aren't a lot of people who want the "mini" in their minivans.

 

[Klayfish]

Yes, the Mazda5 was unique. The only thing even vaguely like it on the market was the Kia Rondo, which hasn't been sold here since 2009. For reasons I'll never understand, Americans don't like minivans, especially small ones.

The closest thing I can think of is going to be the Ford Flex. However, it's not small and it doesn't have sliding doors like the Mazda5 did. Outside of that, your best bet is a full size minivan. They're far, far superior to any SUV/crossover at hauling people and their luggage, get better mpg, handle better, etc... I'm definitely not a fan at all of the SUV/crossover, they really are just a fashion trend.

 

[DopeyDame]

Thanks Klayfish...
A real big minivan... I just.... I can't... I won't.... Ugh. That might be where we end up.

 

[gillep]

As a Kia Rondo owner, whose car is getting older, and will need to be replaced sooner than later, I feel your pain @DopeyDame. A minivan would be overkill for me, and I don't think I will find any car/van/suv/crossover that I like as much as my Rondo.

 

[AllEar2017]

We love our Mazda5 too and just realized it was discontinued. Still have a few more years left in ours but am curious to read the suggestions. Our "micro-van" is perfect for us!

 

[pryncess527]

If they stopped making it in 2015, that's still pretty recent, what are the chance of finding a gently used one?

 

[Klayfish]

Thanks Klayfish...
A real big minivan... I just.... I can't... I won't.... Ugh. That might be where we end up.

Once you go minivan you never go back. We've had one for over 10 years now and I couldn't imagine life without it. And trust me, I understand the mental block people have with them and the "stigma". Cars are my passion and my life. However, there's just no denying the capability and utility of the minivan. The Mazda5 was a minivan, just size M instead of size L or XL. But if your needs are carrying people, they're the way to go, heads and shoulders better than an SUV. Our minivan of choice has been the Kia Sedona...cheap, durable as an anvil and awesome at carrying the family. A used 2015 Mazda5 could be an option for you too.

The smallest new minivan I can think of that's sold here (things like the Mazda5 are still sold elsewhere) is the Ford Transit Connect

 

[Daniela Rose]

These suvs are on the small side and offer a third row.
Nissan Rogue
Acura MDX
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Hyundai Santa Fe
Dodge Journey

 

[firefly_ris]

I have a 2005 Town & Country Touring edition... I occasionally browse SUVs and stuff online but nothing really catches my eye... and nothing really has the kind of usefulness the van brings me. I really do not find it to be too large in any sense of the word. It's very easy to maneuver, great turning radius, 3.8L V6, decent gas mileage (newer probably better... I get like 20 city/24 highway). That said, it is 12 years old so I don't really have any knowledge of anything newer.... (my SIL has a 2011 Town & Country and has had horrible luck with it) but I can easily carry a bunch of people. It has the Stow & Go which is incredibly useful -- at home I pretty much always leave one of the 2nd row seats inside the floor to make it easier for me to buckle my 3 kids in. And when the seats are up, there's storage in there for trips, plus storage in the back, even with the 3rd row up. I also haul drywall, 2x4s, backer board, etc. with it. Power liftgate, power sliding doors, heated seats... I'm at 123,000 miles right now and my plan is to just drive it into the ground and see if anything else comes on the market later that catches my eye. I've been looking at SUVs with a 3rd row, but most of them seem like a real PITA to use the 3rd row on a regular basis, especially if you have to think about kids and booster seats like I do. Maybe when they're bigger. Good luck on your search!

 

[tvguy]

My kids were always tall for their age. Traditional mini-vans (Chrysler, Ford, GM) never had enough leg room for my kids.
I usually end up renting a Expedition XL or Suburban. Our family car is a Suburban.

 

[Marchand63]

Once you go minivan you never go back. We've had one for over 10 years now and I couldn't imagine life without it. And trust me, I understand the mental block people have with them and the "stigma". Cars are my passion and my life. However, there's just no denying the capability and utility of the minivan. The Mazda5 was a minivan, just size M instead of size L or XL. But if your needs are carrying people, they're the way to go, heads and shoulders better than an SUV. Our minivan of choice has been the Kia Sedona...cheap, durable as an anvil and awesome at carrying the family. A used 2015 Mazda5 could be an option for you too.

The smallest new minivan I can think of that's sold here (things like the Mazda5 are still sold elsewhere) is the Ford Transit Connect

Oh yes you can go back!!!! Couldn't wait to get rid of the minivan! Now loving our Jeeps, Gramd Cherokee & my Rubicon.


Can't help much but agree if you love the Mazda try newer used, 2015 is not too old.

 

[mamamary]

I need a new car. I have a Mazda5 that I absolutely adore. I love everything about this car. I love that it's smaller than most minivans and SUVs. I love that it has the foldable 3rd row of seats. I love how it drives. I just absolutely love it.
Sadly, they stopped making it in 2015. (Although evidently it's still being sold in Canada)

So... any suggestions for a new car? I'm looking for the smallest car possible that can fit 6 people. So far I'm really not having any luck at all... Seems that the Mazda5 was pretty unique and evidently there just aren't a lot of people who want the "mini" in their minivans.

Sorta in the same boat as you. I have a mini-van that is getting pretty old. I also have an old dog that fits perfectly in the van. I would need room for 4 plus an elderly dog who is used to being upfront on the floor between the driver and passenger seat. Also room for luggage when we travel. I don't want another van and the SUVs we looked at yesterday none of them seem to fit our needs. I think we are at the point where we would have to get the van fixed if something goes wrong. Don't want to buy another van or large SUV.

 

[cmarsh31]

We went from a Mazda5 to a Chrysler T&C 5 years ago. (had an original 2006 Mazda5 - it had a LOT of bugs... despite being recalled and "fixed" the sliding door tracks filled with water and froze, so I would open the door fine... and then it wouldn't close. Insanely frustrating). The T&C seemed huge, but it's smaller than the Honda or Toyota minivans and I really do love it, especially with all of the automatic doors. Ours is a 2010 with 85k miles on it and we're sticking with it for now, because all I want is another one (it's the Pacifica now).

 

[mamamary]

We went from a Mazda5 to a Chrysler T&C 5 years ago. (had an original 2006 Mazda5 - it had a LOT of bugs... despite being recalled and "fixed" the sliding door tracks filled with water and froze, so I would open the door fine... and then it wouldn't close. Insanely frustrating). The T&C seemed huge, but it's smaller than the Honda or Toyota minivans and I really do love it, especially with all of the automatic doors. Ours is a 2010 with 85k miles on it and we're sticking with it for now, because all I want is another one (it's the Pacifica now).

We have a T&C also but 2005, 95,000 miles. Unfortunately we have a problem with the sliding door that just happened last month. We can't open it. The lock will not open, therefore door won't open. Guess if we're keeping the van we need to get this fixed.

 

[DopeyDame]

Thanks all. I appreciate the commiseration and the suggestions for cars to look into to.

 

[DisneyHardin]

One of my best friends has a Mazda5 and she is like you, she adores it!!! I have a Honda Odyssey. Although it is a pretty big van, I do love it. It drives just like a car.

 

[HarperLeigh]

Once you go minivan you never go back. We've had one for over 10 years now and I couldn't imagine life without it. And trust me, I understand the mental block people have with them and the "stigma". Cars are my passion and my life. However, there's just no denying the capability and utility of the minivan. The Mazda5 was a minivan, just size M instead of size L or XL. But if your needs are carrying people, they're the way to go, heads and shoulders better than an SUV. Our minivan of choice has been the Kia Sedona...cheap, durable as an anvil and awesome at carrying the family. A used 2015 Mazda5 could be an option for you too.

The smallest new minivan I can think of that's sold here (things like the Mazda5 are still sold elsewhere) is the Ford Transit Connect

We had a minivan for a year and I despised it. I could not wait to get rid of it. We are so much happier with our SUV crossover. We've hauled things in our crossover you'd never be able to get in a minivan and it tows our boat with no problem. I will never own another minivan.

 

[mamamary]

We had a minivan for a year and I despised it. I could not wait to get rid of it. We are so much happier with our SUV crossover. We've hauled things in our crossover you'd never be able to get in a minivan and it tows our boat with no problem. I will never own another minivan.

Mind if I ask what kind? We spent a long time at carmax yesterday and after awhile all the SUVs started to look alike and our salesman was going so fast from car to car.

 

[jrmasm]

We had a minivan for a year and I despised it. I could not wait to get rid of it. We are so much happier with our SUV crossover. We've hauled things in our crossover you'd never be able to get in a minivan and it tows our boat with no problem. I will never own another minivan.

Such as? I'm having a hard time imagining anything that would fit in my husband's crossover that wouldn't fit in my van.

 

[Klayfish]

Such as? I'm having a hard time imagining anything that would fit in my husband's crossover that wouldn't fit in my van.

Yep. I'd have zero argument with someone who prefers an SUV or crossover to a minivan because of the fashion statement an SUV/crossover makes in todays' market, or the stigma attached to the minivan. That's the beauty of the car market, tons and tons of choices. Minivans are what they are...family haulers and they're incredibly good at it. Small to midsize SUVs and crossovers simply don't have the interior packaging that a minivan does, nor are they as easy to access the space that they do have.