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2008 Mazda MAZDA5 Safety Review

July 14, 2008

SAFETY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Not tested
NHTSA

Not tested
IIHS

Tire pressure monitor now standard
J.D. Power

The car has to be stopped to program in a destination...on the navigation system.
Mother Proof

Except for traction control and stability control, the 2008 Mazda Mazda5 offers a full complement of standard safety features. Unfortunately, no crash-test data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) exists. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has not tested the Mazda5, either.

Standard safety features on this Mazda 2008 include side impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags for all three rows, anti-lock brakes, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Cars.com notes, regarding child car seat anchors (LATCH points), that the second row has upper and lower anchors, but the third row has only upper anchors.

Mother Proof seems perturbed about the safety feature built in the optional navigation system: "[It's] easy to use...but the car has to be stopped to program in a destination...it means a passenger can't work the system if the car is in gear. I appreciate the effort to guard me from my own stupidity, but...there are limits." Other manufacturers implement this feature, too.

Also standard are electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and brake assist (BA). J.D. Power explains, "EBD automatically balances front-to-rear braking forces to optimize stopping power...BA provides full braking power in emergency braking situations."

Visibility is good, as it should be, considering the amount of glass. Passengers sit up high in the Mazda. For 2008, drivers "[have] a commanding outlook over...the instrument panel," writes Kelley Blue Book. There is no backup assist camera available on this 2008 Mazda, and an anti-theft alarm system is available only on the top-of-the-line Grand Touring trim as standard.

Conclusion

The lack of traction control and stability control on the 2008 Mazda Mazda5 are minuses for a family vehicle.

SAFETY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Not testedNHTSANot testedIIHSTire pressure monitor now standardJ.D. PowerThe car has to be stopped to program in a destination...on the navigation system.Mother Proof Except for traction control and stability control, the 2008 Mazda Mazda5 offers a full complement of standard safety features. Unfortunately, no crash-test data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) exists. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has not tested the Mazda5, either. Standard safety features on this Mazda 2008 include side impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags for all three rows, anti-lock brakes, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Cars.com notes, regarding child car seat anchors (LATCH points), that the second row has upper and lower anchors, but the third row has only upper anchors. Mother Proof seems perturbed about the safety feature built in the optional navigation system: "[It's] easy to use...but the car has to be stopped to program in a destination...it means a passenger can't work the system if the car is in gear. I appreciate the effort to guard me from my own stupidity, but...there are limits." Other manufacturers implement this feature, too. Also standard are electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and brake assist (BA). J.D. Power explains, "EBD automatically balances front-to-rear braking forces to optimize stopping power...BA provides full braking power in emergency braking situations." Visibility is good, as it should be, considering the amount of glass. Passengers sit up high in the Mazda. For 2008, drivers "[have] a commanding outlook over...the instrument panel," writes Kelley Blue Book. There is no backup assist camera available on this 2008 Mazda, and an anti-theft alarm system is available only on the top-of-the-line Grand Touring trim as standard. ConclusionThe lack of traction control and stability control on the 2008 Mazda Mazda5 are minuses for a family vehicle. 2008 MAZDA MAZDA5 STYLING | [7 out of 10] Cars.com: "significantly smaller than traditional minivans " Edmunds: "mildly freshened front and rear styling" ConsumerGuide: "a sensibly sized wagon" The 2008 Mazda Madza5 is variously called a mini-minivan, microvan, vanlette, and tall ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

With a base price of just under $18,000 for the base Sport, the Mazda5 is quite a deal for a sporty, economical people-mover, provided you watch the options; fully loaded, the Mazda5's top Grand Touring model can top $28,000. Kia has a lineup of vehicles that are especially friendly for urban dwellers who want a lot of people-hauling ability and yet need to fit into a compact-only parking space. The Sedona is one of the few remaining minivans sold in a maneuverable short-wheelbase version. But there's also the Rondo, a vehicle that looks a little odd but does everything right in terms of people-hauling and interior comfort. The Rondo has hinged rear doors, however, and only offers an automatic transmission. The Kia doesn't have the Mazda5's tight handling, though with either of the Rondo's four- or six-cylinder engines, it feels peppier and more refined than the Mazda5. Among other offerings, the RAV4 is one of the few compact SUVs to offer a usable third-row seat. The Scion xB might suit those who don't really need a third row of seating, as its stylish, boxy body affords a roomy interior, with perky performance and fuel economy that's as good as the Mazda5's.

Next Steps:

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See the Mazda MAZDA5 in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

Comments (1 total)

  1. By Steve #1, Posted: 7/7/2008

    Mazda5 Owner

    We're actually on our second Mazda5. We had a 2006 Touring with a manual transmission that we really loved. The car held its value really well and we actually decided to sell our car, pocket some cash, and lease a new '08 Grand Touring using some of Mazda's recent incentives. We lowered our payments by about $150/month and got some great new features. Primarily, the Grand Touring model includes standard Bluetooth integration which is very nice given California's new law requiring hands-free cell phone use.
    Anyway, I consider myself a real car nut having owned cars like the Miata, Porsche 911, E320 Cabriolet. The predecessor to the Mazda5 as our family car was a BMW 5-series wagon, also with a manual transmission. In other words, I like fast cars and consider performance an important part of my car purchasing decision and I don't find the Mazda5's engine performance lacking at all. The manual transmission was great but the new (for '08) 5-speed auto doesn't give up any noticeable performance. The power is more than adequate for four passengers and luggage and the fuel economy for us averages about 25 mpg in mixed driving... not Earth shattering economy, but pretty good.
    Other thoughts: road noise is a bit high at freeway speeds but the engine is very smooth and quiet around town. Less agressive tires might help with the noise issue but at a bit of cost to handling.
    The car is much easier to drive and park than "full size" minivans and loading the kids into the back (middle)row is super easy with the sliding doors.
    I really like the car and know at least two others who have bought them after riding in ours. They simply had never heard of the car before but found it to be the perfect solution for a small family after experiencing it.
    If you have only one or two kids and will use it primarily as a four seater with occasional use of the third row, you owe it to yourself to check out this car.

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