Cars
- The Good 12 Supersize V2.0 - Part Xi
SUBARU FORESTER There's something about the Subaru Forester which makes other good, solid, and capable small SUVs seem bland and uninteresting. Foresters play in a league where competition is ripe - nearly every Forester adversary is, for one reason...
- The Good 12 Supersize V2.0 - Part Viii
MAZDA CX-9 Don't make any more sacrifices than is absolutely necessary. There are millions of people who need more space than a smart fortwo provides. Not everybody can spend Range Roveresque money on an SUV, either. Anticipating Porsche Boxster...
- The Good 12 V3.0 - Part Vi
MAZDA 6 Family needs may compel you to acquire a traditional family sedan. But that doesn't mean you need to choose the traditional family sedan your neighbours selected. Far be it from GoodCarBadCar.net to pronounce the Toyota Camry as bad. And...
- The Good 12 Supersize - Part Xii
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Think Ferrari for a moment. The F430 competes directly with few supercars, for two reasons. Firstly, the small V8-engined Italian is in a segment where potential owners will likely buy the competitors, as well. Secondly, in that upper...
- The Good 12 Supersize - Part Iv
HONDA ODYSSEY Bare bones specifications show Honda's maximinivan to be more capacious and capable than more expensive crossover alternatives. Forget what you believe about soccer moms and the minivan image: the Odyssey is, in essence, a pure family...
Cars
THE GOOD 12 SUPERSIZE - PART VIII
MAZDA 5
As the weight of children ballooned all over North America, and especially in the U.S.A., minivans ballooned as well. Coincidence? Me thinks not.
Mazda has fought back with the 5, a true minivan, the kind of vehicle that almost always held a V6 in its nose in front of a wheelbase ten inches longer than Mazda believes is necessary. These smaller versions are the vehicles Europeans scoop up in droves. Sometimes, folks, Europe gets it right. Ever hear of the Iraq war?
Frustratingly, we're so accustomed to toting three rows worth of humans and their stuff that the thought of a more fuel-efficient Mazda 5 with room for three rows of people or two rows of people and their stuff is 'just plain ridiculous'. Want to save money? Buy the Mazda, enjoy its handling, steering, manual gearbox, and ride quality. Want to spend more money? Buy a maxivan and enjoy its airy feel, elbow room, cupholder fiesta, and DVD player mutation. Want to save even more money? Drive the Mazda 5 like you own it rather than like you stole it and watch highway mileage approach 30 miles per gallon.
There's no time like the present. No really. There is no time like the present for saving money without sacrificing quality, reliability, or any rows of seating. Mazda's 5 makes the sacrificing joyous.Â
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Engines: 153 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque from a 2.3L inline-four cylinder
City Mileage: 21-22 miles per gallon
Base USD Price: $18,665
Cargo Capacity: 97.7 cubic feet behind front row
Towing Capability: Not recommended by Mazda NA. Mazda UK offers 5s with towing up to 3,000 pounds.
- The Good 12 Supersize V2.0 - Part Xi
SUBARU FORESTER There's something about the Subaru Forester which makes other good, solid, and capable small SUVs seem bland and uninteresting. Foresters play in a league where competition is ripe - nearly every Forester adversary is, for one reason...
- The Good 12 Supersize V2.0 - Part Viii
MAZDA CX-9 Don't make any more sacrifices than is absolutely necessary. There are millions of people who need more space than a smart fortwo provides. Not everybody can spend Range Roveresque money on an SUV, either. Anticipating Porsche Boxster...
- The Good 12 V3.0 - Part Vi
MAZDA 6 Family needs may compel you to acquire a traditional family sedan. But that doesn't mean you need to choose the traditional family sedan your neighbours selected. Far be it from GoodCarBadCar.net to pronounce the Toyota Camry as bad. And...
- The Good 12 Supersize - Part Xii
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Think Ferrari for a moment. The F430 competes directly with few supercars, for two reasons. Firstly, the small V8-engined Italian is in a segment where potential owners will likely buy the competitors, as well. Secondly, in that upper...
- The Good 12 Supersize - Part Iv
HONDA ODYSSEY Bare bones specifications show Honda's maximinivan to be more capacious and capable than more expensive crossover alternatives. Forget what you believe about soccer moms and the minivan image: the Odyssey is, in essence, a pure family...