We are happy (but not surprised) that our very own 2011 Mazda2 made the list.

They did leave out a very important statistic: 0

That 0 is the interest rate for the next 60 months when you buy a new 2011 Mazda2 from Brown’s Chantilly Mazda.  Check out our special offer HERE and read more after the break:

The 10 Cheapest Cars to Own

Mazda2 Sport 4dr hatch

Market price: $14,625
5-Year fuel cost: $7,825
5-Year insurance cost: $5,630
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $28,593 (less with 0% APR!)

Depreciation: $8,405
Fees & taxes: $1,139
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,864 <—WRONG! (now with 0% APR for 60 months)
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $490
Maintenance: $1,613
Repairs: $1,627

Its design is unmistakably Mazda, but the Mazda2 isn’t just a downsized Mazda3. Built on the same platform as the Ford Fiesta, this sporty hatch takes corners with ease, and it has a full line of standard safety equipment — ABS, stability and traction control, and six airbags. Mileage is 29 city, 35 highway.

Source: http://editorial.autos.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=1182243&icid=autos_1795&GT1=22008#6

When the Mazda CX-9 launched back in 2007, the motoring press had nothing but great things to say about our new SUV.  Motor Trend even awarded it the 2008 SUV of the Year!

We fast forward four years and the competition keeps rolling out their latest and greatest in the 3-row SUV class.  SUV top sellers like Ford brings the new Explorer to market and Dodge redesigns the Durango.  Certainly stiff competition, but what happens when you compare these SUV’s to each other?

The results surprised Motor Trend:

Four years on and the scrappy, fantastic-driving Mazda CX-9 is still the best seven-passenger SUV you can buy.

After the break, read the first place finish and link to the entire comparison on the MotorTrend.com site.

We wanted to add that in addition to being the best seven-passenger SUV you can buy, the 2011 Mazda CX-9 now has 0% APR financing for a full 60 months with up to $700 Bonus Cash at Brown’s Chantilly Mazda.

Check out our special offer and enjoy the review…

1ST PLACE: MAZDA CX-9

It’s got that cartoonish Mazda smile, looks more like the Lincoln MKT in its larval stage than a proper SUV, won’t handle real off-roading, and can’t even tow 2 tons. It also happens to have won our SUV of the Year contest in 2008. A bit of a ringer? Maybe, but it’s also the cheapest of the competitors by about $500.

The logbooks are simply overflowing with praise. Said I, "As a high speed, canyon-carving seven-seater, the CX-9 is severely gifted. It actually inspires confidence when you push, quite unlike the rest of the field." Says Kiino, "Delicate steering that’s just perfect. Feels very carlike, almost like a raised Mazda6."

I’d argue it feels better than that. Then there’s Mr. Williams, the "real SUV" lover, "I’m very surprised how well the CX-9 has held up over the years. Throttle response and front-end dynamics make it a hoot to take on undulating mountain roads. The excellent chassis smoothes out any nasty chop."

And that’s just the half of it. Swoons Loh, "Easily the best driver here. Feels fast and light and sporty. Yes, it looks like a sport wagon and not a butched-up truck, but at least the packaging matches the dynamics." Per Evans: "This is not a crossover or an SUV; it’s a sport wagon. Out of this group, the entire driving experience is second to none." Finally, Lago asks, "Can I take this one home?" Kinda says it all, no?

So there you have it. Four years on and the scrappy, fantastic-driving Mazda CX-9 is still the best seven-passenger SUV you can buy. Sure, the nav system is a generation behind the Explorer. Of course, it could learn a thing or two about interior packaging from Honda. And the Durango is four or five times better-looking. But in the end the former king conquers ‘em all, once again. I’ll let Loh sum up the Mazda’s latest triumph: "A truly excellent package with no major strikes against it." You listening, Dodge?

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/1105_three_row_crossover_suv_comparison/2011_mazda_cx_9.html#ixzz1IqxghrqR

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/1105_three_row_crossover_suv_comparison/2011_mazda_cx_9.html#ixzz1IqwOf97R

The following post is directly from ConsumerReports.org:

As Japan struggles to emerge from the recent earthquake and subsequent tsunami, and faces further potential disaster from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex, the auto industry is wrestling with how to cope with the enormous logistic challenges these tragedies have created. Japanese automakers and their suppliers have suspended production, and it may be months before things are fully back up to speed.  As the world waits to see what happens next, from when rebuilding the ravaged nation can begin to how its recovery could impact markets, some consumers have pondered, are there risks from cars imported from Japan being radioactive?

In a word, no. 

The vast majority of factories are located well outside the evacuation range surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi complex. Automakers report they are taking precautions to ensure their factories, components, and staff are protected. Likewise, they will ensure that vehicles meet safe levels for radiation before distributing.

"Toyota will take any necessary steps to ensure the cars we deliver to customers are safe in every way," said Javier Moreno of Toyota Communications. He stated that the majority of Toyota Motor Corporation’s operations in Japan are located about 240 miles southwest of the nuclear power plant and no unusual radiation activity has been detected. 

We spoke with several companies, all of which have been working to protect their workers and consumers, while rebuilding their businesses. The sentiments expressed by the automakers were similar, though clearly some were harder hit than others.

"We are evaluating the situation very carefully, of course, safety is our number one concern," said Jeffrey Smith of Honda Corporate affairs. He added that the nearest port to the impacted area that Honda uses is about 125 miles away. Honda had 17 employees injured in the Tochigi area during the earthquake, plus an associate killed at an R&D facility.

Beyond the safety measures in place in Japan, consumers are further protected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an agency focused on preventing terrorists and weapons from entering the United States. Among its tools, the CBP uses sensitive, large-scale Radiation Portal Monitors (RPM) to scan all maritime cargo and mail arriving from Japan. In addition, agents use a wide range of technologies, including radiation isotope identifiers, to scan people, vehicles, and cargo containers.

The radiation isotope identifiers are hand-held devices that can detect gamma and neutron emissions from radioactive sources, including nuclear, medical, and industrial isotopes. With hundreds of such devices in the field, any car or other product carrying an unsafe level of radioactivity would be discovered and halted at the more than 140 Border Patrol stations and more than 150 ports of entry.

As one would expect, the CBP tells us that they are monitoring developments in Japan carefully and specifically assessing the potential for radiological contamination associated with the ongoing impact of the earthquake and tsunami to Japan’s nuclear facilities.

There are many valid concerns surrounding the crisis in Japan, including the human toll, cultural impact, and market forces, but radioactive consumer goods is not one of them.

Learn what you can do to aid Japan (via CNN), and donate to the American Red Cross.
—Jim Travers and Jeff Bartlett

http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/03/mythbuster-can-cars-imported-from-japan-be-radioactive.html

About.com, the well-know reader contributed website about..everything just finished their 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards. 

The 2011 Mazda3 was the overwhelming favorite “Best Compact Car” receiving over 50% of the votes!

In the hotly contested small car category with so many newcomers like Hyundai Elantra and the Ford Focus, we are extremely pleased that the 2011 Mazda3 won this category.

This award could not have come at a better time as Mazda just announced the return of 0% APR financing on the 2011 Mazda3 for 60 months with no payments for 90 days here at Brown’s Chantilly Mazda

To read the results of the About.com contest visit: About.com

To find out more about 0% APR, visit: ChantillyMazda.com

You would think with all the press the new Ford Fiesta has received, the readers at About.com would have voted the Fiesta the “Best Car under $16k”?  So did About.com…You and About.com would have been wrong:

Witness the 2011 Mazda2—The 2011 Readers Choice Best Car under $16,000!

“This result surprised me; I figured the Ford Fiesta had this one in the bag. But I can understand why readers would opt for the Mazda2. Though pricier than the Fiesta, the Mazda2 has cuter styling, more standard equipment and a more grown-up feel — of all the finalists, it’s the one that feels least like an inexpensive car. And you have to admire Mazda’s engineering philosophy: Rather than fit a big, powerful engine, they pared down the weight so that the Mazda2 could make do with less. The Mazda2 is a classic case of sound engineering, and the voters recognized that.”

The 2011 Mazda2 won with 48% of the vote—2nd place went to Ford with 22%.

This award could not have come at a better time as Mazda just announced 0% APR financing on the 2011 Mazda2 for 60 months with no payments for 90 days here at Brown’s Fairfax Mazda

To read the results of the About.com Readers Choice Awards visit: About.com

To find out more about 0% APR, visit: FairfaxMazda.com

“Imported from Detroit” has been used to market one of Detroit’s own recently and it is no secret that they love their domestic automobiles in Michigan.

When one of our Japanese-built vehicles arrives, we usually don’t look to the north for glowing reviews—but were we wrong! 

TheDetroitBureau.com’s editor Paul Eisenstein just reviewed the 2012 Mazda5 and liked it. With comments like

“the new Mazda5 is a lot more fun to drive than your typical people mover.”

and

“It’s roomy, distinctive, functional and fun-to-drive.  When you add in a surprisingly affordable price, it could prove a serious alternative to more classic minivans.”

we might even say “love”.

Watch out Detroit, Northern Virginia and everywhere in between, here comes the Mazda5.  Read the entire review after the break.

First Drive: 2012 Mazda5

Mini to the max.

by Paul A. Eisenstein on Feb.28, 2011

For 2012, the Mazda5 gets its most complete makeover since its ’05 introduction.

American waistlines aren’t the only things getting bigger and bigger by the year.  Perhaps fittingly, our automobiles have steadily grown in size, so many models that once fit comfortably into the compact category are now classified midsize – or even larger.

That’s especially true when it comes to minivans, today’s models having grown to such massive proportions that the modifier, mini, no longer accurately applies.

Parked side-by-side, Mazda’s newly redesigned Mazda5 seems downright puny compared to industry mainstays like the Honda Odyssey or Dodge Grand Caravan.  But, in reality, the 2012 Mazda5 remake is a full four inches longer than the original 1984 Caravan and just one inch narrower.  And like those early minivans, Mazda’s offering makes surprisingly good use of its seemingly limited space.

Packing in three rows of seats, and plenty of cargo – including some trick storage beneath the sliding center row seats – the Mazda5 puts a premium on flexibility.  But it also emphasizes styling in a segment where form usually takes a back seat to functionality.

The 2012 Mazda5 makes the most striking use of the maker’s Nagare styling theme yet.

The first significant update of a model that first appeared on the American market in 2005, the 2012 Mazda5 adapts what the Japanese maker has dubbed its Nagare design language.  The term, in Japanese, means “flow,” and Mazda designers suggest it’s meant to imply the way wind shapes sand in the desert – an image the maker has translated into sheet metal.

That’s most apparent from the side profile, where the Mazda5’s big front wheel arches flow into undulating forms that move, like a wave, down the side of the van.  The nose of the people mover features an almost smile-like blackened grille that’s surrounded by a pair of clear headlamp forms flowing into the front quarter panels.  Maintaining that wave-like theme is a coupe-style roofline that descends just behind the third row of seats.

Despite its relatively diminutive size, the Mazda5 makes great use of space.

Mazda has long tried to push the design envelope, using a series of Nagare-based concept vehicles and several newer offerings that take the look in a new direction.  While we have seen these styling themes subtly influence production models, such as the newest Mazda3 and Mazda6, before, this is the most aggressive migration from concept to production – and the most controversial.

To some, the look might be a bit fussy and overwrought.  Others will likely be drawn to something that tries to be more than just the typical, slab-sided minivan.

The cabin is well-executed, with nice chrome details, though some materials are a bit spartan.

But what will likely win over potential buyers is the Mazda5’s mix of functionality and pricing – the 2012 minivan starting at just under $20,000 for the Sport model – before adding in destination charges – a good $10,000 less than you’ll shell out for the most stripped-down version of the Odyssey.

(Yes, it’s tiny, but check out the absolutely lilliputian Ford B-Max, making its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. Click Here for the story.)

The Sport comes standard with a pleasantly smooth 6-speed manual gearbox.  That’s also likely to enhance its appeal for those who want a little more driving pleasure.  But in reality, Mazda expects 95% of Mazda5 buyers will opt for the 5-speed automatic transmission.  And opting for that will nudge you just over the $21,000 mark.  A fully-loaded Mazda5 Grand Touring edition will get you into the mid-$20,000 range.

Open wide…the 6-seat Mazda5 delivers easy ingress and egress for all three rows.

The topline model delivers a variety of upscale features, including heated leather seats, Bluetooth for hands-free calling, even rain-sensing wipers.  Surprisingly, what’s absent is a built-in navigation system.  Mazda officials insist the “take rate” for the old Mazda5 was barely 5%, not surprising considering the hefty premium the maker was commanding, so it left the technology out of the 2012 offering.

Mazda dealers do offer some portable aftermarket navis, though you will probably find a better deal at the neighborhood Costco.

An upgraded 2.5-liter engine delivers surprising pep.

The lack of a navi underscores the Japanese maker’s emphasis on holding down costs with the Mazda5.  There’s no question this is a high-value product.  But there are trade-offs, notably in terms of the relatively inexpensive plastics used for many parts of the interior.  We would have liked to see Mazda offer a little more soft-touch materials, especially on parts of the doors and instrument panel where buyers will likely make contact.

The seating is surprisingly comfortable, we were pleased to discover, and very supportive when driving aggressively.  The Nagare form is carried over, incidentally, with the pattern woven into the cloth seats.

The Mazda5 is the only entry in the microvan segment – until the launch of Ford’s new C-Max.

The layout, by the way is 2+2+2.  The rear seats are definitely not a place to stick adult friends, not if you want to remain on speaking terms, but while head and legroom are compromised, kids can readily clamber in and out – either through the gap between the center-row captain’s chairs or by folding down one of the mid-row seats. You can also lift the cushion on the middle seats to discover a nice place to hide valuables.  And a small picnic table can be popped up between the two chairs.

Starting at just under $20,000, the Mazdfa5 has a distinct price advantage over bigger vans.

Mazda has invested a lot of time and effort into its “Zoom-Zoom” marketing theme, and has wisely made sure that this is more than just a meaningless slogan.  No, Mazda products typically aren’t the fastest in their segment, but they do have a certain spritely character that defines the brand, whether you’re talking about the MX-5, Mazda3 or even the newly updated Mazda5 minivan.

We spent a day driving through the mountains and canyons east of San Diego and found it easy to forget we were behind the wheel of a minivan.  No, you can’t flog it around like a Miata, but the new Mazda5 is a lot more fun to drive than your typical people mover.

Part of the credit goes to the newly updated powertrain.  Both of the gearboxes are paired with a new 2.5-liter, which replaces the older 2.3-liter inline-four.  The horsepower numbers only jump by 3, to 157, but torque increases by a more impressive 15 lb-ft, to a solid 163.  Add the fact that the Mazda5, overall, actually shed 22 pounds and now weighs in at 3,457 lbs, and you get a reasonably peppy package that will launch from 0 to 60 in about 9 seconds.

Fuel economy remains the same with either gearbox, surprisingly, at 21 City, 28 Highway, according to the EPA.

Overall, the new Mazda5 is an impressive package, especially if money is an object.  Sure, you can get that navi and a more lavishly-outfitted interior from Honda, Chrysler, Dodge or Toyota, but you’re going to pay a hefty premium.

Mazda, it seems, has what might be called the microvan market all to itself, now that the Kia Rondo has exited the market.  But not for long.  Ford will be weighing in soon with the new C-Max.  The two models actually share a bit of DNA, the U.S. and Japanese makers early on working together on the underlying platform – though most of the development work occurred after their programs split off.

The C-Max will deliver a 7-seat option, and a bit more lavishly-executed interior.  It will also integrate some trick features, such as a hands-free power liftgate system that can be triggered by wiggling a foot under the rear bumper.  (To check our review on the 2012 Ford C-Max, Click Here.) Mazda, on the other hand, skipped the power door and liftgate route to rein in costs.

“A rising tide floats all boats,” insists Robert Davis, Mazda’s U.S. product planning chief.  And he’s probably right that by an expanding microvan segment line-up will likely draw more buyers to any and all competitive entries.

The 2012 Mazda5 definitely qualifies.  It’s roomy, distinctive, functional and fun-to-drive.  When you add in a surprisingly affordable price, it could prove a serious alternative to more classic minivans.

Incidentally, there’s been some confusion about whether the updated Mazda van is an ’11 or ’12.  It is, in fact, the 2012 Mazda5.  The maker had no 2011 model.  The minivan started reaching dealers last month and should be available across country by now.

Source: TheDetroitBureau.com

Buying the latest version of a previous Consumer Reports recommended value seems like a safe bet? Not so fast.  This year, Consumer Reports rated 5 newly redesigned cars LOWER than their predecessor!

Volkswagen, Toyota, Honda, BMW, and even Mercedes-Benz had their latest and greatest not measure up to last year’s model. Disappointing?

Read the entire story along with a comparison to last year over at Consumer Reports. While you’re there, take a look at some of their Recommended Buys, best car under $20k, and most fun to drive categories.

Happy but not surprised that our own 2011 Mazda2 made the list:

Of course, a low initial price doesn’t guarantee a good value. The $11,965 Chevrolet Aveo, $13,255 Toyota Yaris and $13,320 Ford Fiesta, for instance, all cost less than the $14,180 Mazda2 and the $20,825 Honda Element–both of which made our list. But their relatively high depreciation rates and proportionate repair costs shot their overall cost of ownership much too high to qualify as good values.

Forbes.com, February 2011

With the newly announced 0% APR financing for 60 months on the 2011 Mazda2 in March of 2011, the Mazda2 represents an even better value.  For more information on the special financing offer and our new low price, check out the 2011 Mazda2 special at: Mazda2 Special at Chantilly Mazda

Read more from Forbes.com after the break.

The Most Value-Packed Cars
Hannah Elliott, 02.22.11, 4:30 PM ET

Things are looking up for the auto industry this year: Global new car sales are expected to rise 6% over 2010, which would beat the record 70 million units sold in 2007. J.D. Power and Associates has said U.S. auto sales will reach 13 million units this year, an increase of 12% over 2010.

But a lot could happen to derail the rosy forecasts. Unrest in Egypt and the Middle East has the oil market on edge, and higher prices or the fear of them directly affects how and when consumers spend money on a new car–and which type they choose.

The main thing drivers want these days is something they can trust for the long haul, says David Wurster, head of product development and analysis for the automotive analytics firm Vincentric. An unstable outlook for fuel costs affects more than you might think–in everything from compact cars to SUVs.

In Pictures: The Most Value-Packed Cars

"If fuel jumps up to $4 a gallon, now all of a sudden nobody will want trucks," Wurster says. "Then the residuals will start to fall and as a result the deprecation will go up and the cost of ownership will go up."

These days, compacts are some of the safest bets when it comes to getting the most value for the money. The Mazda2, Nissan Versa and Chevrolet Cruze take three of the first four spots on our list of the most value-packed cars on the market.

Behind the Numbers
To compile our list, we used cost-of-ownership data from Vincentric, which is based in Bingham Farms, Mich. We first selected the 114 vehicles that received overall value ratings of "excellent." We then ranked them based on the manufacturer suggested retail price and how overall ownership costs over five years are affected by depreciation, taxes and fees, fuel costs, insurance, interest, maintenance, opportunity costs and repairs. We chose the top 10 vehicles from that "excellent" group with the lowest cost of ownership to be on our Most Value-Packed Cars list.

The data assumes an annual rate of 15,000 miles driven per vehicle and fuel outlays of $2.899 for regular, $3.189 for premium and $3.186 for diesel fuel. Fuel prices are a weighted average of national fuel prices from the previous five months that is skewed toward the more recent months. All costs are plotted as projections based on forecasts by Vincentric analysts, and gas prices include a 3.5% inflation rate.

Depreciation is the biggest factor in determining how much a vehicle will cost the owner. Most new cars lose anywhere between 10% and 20% of their sticker price the moment they leave the lot–luxury cars tend to depreciate more than others, thanks to price premiums based on brand image, interior trim and newfangled technology rendered obsolete by the model’s next generation.

One of the reasons the Toyota Prius made our list is because of its outstanding depreciation ratio. Alt-fuel vehicles in particular do well with on resale lots.

"Diesels and hybrids have excellent resale values," says Jake Fisher, the senior automotive engineer at Consumer Reports. "If you want to go out and buy a 60,000-mile Prius, you’ll pay top dollar for it."

It’s Hard to Beat a Low MSRP
Cars made by non-luxury manufacturers have something else going for them when it comes to a list like this: They simply cost a lot less than a new Porsche 911 or a BMW M3.

In fact, no vehicles on our list cost more than the $26,850 Prius–though the $26,645 Honda CR-V comes close. Four of the 10 models on our list are made by Honda, and two by Toyota, both companies known for inexpensive-but-reliable cars.

"It’s a general rule that the cost of ownership number is going to be a lot higher for an expensive vehicle," Wurster says. "Think about sales tax. Since you’re not looking at ratios or percentages–it’s just gross tax–the number is going to be higher on something expensive. "

Of course, a low initial price doesn’t guarantee a good value. The $11,965 Chevrolet Aveo, $13,255 Toyota Yaris and $13,320 Ford Fiesta, for instance, all cost less than the $14,180 Mazda2 and the $20,825 Honda Element–both of which made our list. But their relatively high depreciation rates and proportionate repair costs shot their overall cost of ownership much too high to qualify as good values.

Still, a low MSRP helped several pickup trucks and crossovers make the list, like the $19,745 Hyundai Tucson and the $22,515 Toyota Tacoma. They both demand a bit more for fuel costs over five years than their smaller counterparts, but their reliability (low maintenance and repair costs), low MSRPs and–most importantly–current low depreciation rates qualify them as value-packed vehicles.

Now if only more of their big-rig brethren could follow suit.

Source: Forbes.com

The Minagi concept incorporates the highly anticipated SKYACTIV technology that will combine the Mazda driving characteristics of a fuel-powered vehicle with the economy found today on many hybrid vehicles.

We here at Brown’s Chantilly Mazda are excited about the design and will keep you posted as this vehicle evolves to the next new production vehicle, the Mazda CX-5!

Keep reading for more pictures and the official press release:

Press Release

MINAGI Concept

COPYRIGHT Warning: All photography is for editorial use only, may not be used for marketing, merchandising or advertising.

The Mazda MINAGI Concept embodies Mazda’s new SKYACTIV technologies and new KODO design language, signaling the way for the next generation of Mazda cars to come.

GENEVA (March 1, 2011) – The MINAGI Concept makes its world premiere at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show as the expression of Mazda’s new SKYACTIV technologies and new KODO design language. It is the first model which showcases characteristics likely to be seen in the next generation of Mazda cars. For this reason, Mazda has fully incorporated its SKYACTIV technologies into every aspect of driving performance, including the powertrain, chassis, and even body design. As the second concept vehicle to incorporate Mazda’s new ‘KODO – Soul of Motion’ design language, MINAGI challenges conventions with emotional design and exhilarating performance.

While SHINARI was a pure design concept to express the full potential of KODO design, MINAGI gives a glimpse of the next generation of products to come. As the second concept car to adopt Mazda’s KODO design theme, MINAGI’s design elements combine the expression of energy pulsing throughout the vehicle with the keen agility to move about freely and nimbly. With its upright, compact packaging, MINAGI offers a vision of KODO design that is different to SHINARI, yet it shares the same sinuous, powerful stance.

“I wanted to convey something different from the Mazda SHINARI," said Masashi Nakayama, Chief Designer, MINAGI Concept. "I felt a compact crossover SUV was the perfect vehicle to express agility and focused movement; the flexibility of four limbs moving in unison, and an upright posture.”

The Mazda MINAGI is a stylish expression of pent-up energy. In Japanese, its name conjures up the image of an object pulsating with energy and perfectly reflects the vehicle’s speed, agility and spirited character. For MINAGI, Mazda designers looked at different aspects of cheetahs as they hunt. A cheetah’s head is positioned high, while long, powerful and supple limbs hold its lean torso upright to enable it to change direction quickly at high speed. Mazda’s designers set out to evoke the moment when an animal contracts its muscles, ready to sprint and lunge at its prey. Furthermore, such a lunge can be in any direction; an idea which fits with the function of an agile crossover SUV as it nimbly darts through a sprawling cityscape.

Major features of the Mazda MINAGI Concept – An urban-friendly compact crossover SUV which combines emotional design with exhilarating performance

• Mazda MINAGI is the first concept car to fully adopt Mazda’s SKYACTIV technologies and new ‘KODO – Soul of Motion’ design and it represents Mazda’s next generation of products
• Mazda’s unique compact crossover SUV for urban explorers fuses emotional design – which conveys a lively ability to quickly leap into action and head in any direction – with the driving pleasure and outstanding environmental and safety performance of SKYACTIV technologies
• KODO design elements adopted by this compact crossover SUV express pulsating energy and a nimble ability to move about freely

Exterior design – KODO design embodied in the form of a compact crossover SUV
Proportions

• The vehicle’s crouched stance expresses the image of a cheetah as it stands with its weight poised on its hind legs, ready to lunge at its prey
• The cargo bay of conventional SUVs often resembles a vehicle wearing a backpack, whereas MINAGI presents an image of a muscular entity that cleanly incorporates spaciousness within well-toned lines
• Placing the A-pillar rearward emphasizes the rearward orientation of the cabin. This stands in sharp contrast to the single-arc silhouette of frontward A-pillar placement on minivans, and emphasizes the driving position; a priority for the design of the MINAGI Concept
• The cabin’s position relative to the lower body is further back than on conventional SUVs. This emphasizes the motion expressed in MINAGI’s form

Front view

• The chromed ‘signature wing’ on the front fascia, shared with SHINARI, makes MINAGI immediately recognizable as a Mazda and creates a strong impression 
• Angling the front grille slightly downwards, while juxtaposing the headlamp housings design to slant upward, creates intensity
• Adding more dynamic contours to the prominent front fenders – highly characteristic of Mazda cars – expresses KODO design language’s forceful sense of accumulating, then instantly releasing, pent-up energy. These elements combine with the dynamic form of the rear fenders further emphasizing the wheels, which form the legs of this predator

Side view

• Sculpted lines along the sides of MINAGI’s body accentuate a sense of power which suggest the supple strength of a cheetah. These contours extend and connect with the rear fender in an expression which suggests the powerful musculature that joins the cheetah’s shoulders and hips to its legs
• The overall effect is a graceful and beautiful form which directs the eye from front-to-rear
• The character line that flows along the lower part of MINAGI’s side panels symbolizes KODO’s sense of power being accumulated then quickly released

Rear view

• The rear fenders project boldly outward to create a wide, stable stance befitting an SUV
• The contrast between the rear fenders and the taut lines of the car’s rear end mimics the strong and seductive hip line of a toned athlete

Headlamp design

• As with SHINARI, the chromed ‘signature wing’ that sweeps up from the bottom of the front grille disappears into the center of the headlamp housings dramatically
• The design of the three-dimensional headlamp and rear combination lamps add a heightened sense of depth
• The line of the ‘signature wing’ element and the headlamp design combine to express the intense look of a wild animal’s gaze

Interior design – High quality expressed in every detail heightens anticipation of an exhilarating drive
Aims

• Mazda’s designers set out to realize a driver-focused cockpit and cabin environment that expresses a reassuringly high level of strength and solidity. The interior employs quality materials along with the superior fit and finish of detailed hand craftsmanship
• The above features add to the anticipation of the driving pleasure to come by creating a refined and quality cabin environment
• The main black interior color is highlighted by the color red in the rear seatbacks and at the bottom of the door armrests

Characteristics unique to a compact crossover SUV

• Four upright satin chrome struts appear to support the instrument panel, each rising upward in an image of vertical strength which appear to defy gravity, underscoring the impression that MINAGI’s occupants are securely protected
• The design of the instrument cluster and surrounding switches emphasizes the snug, sporty nature of the driver-focused cockpit while expressing Mazda’s sporty ethos

Craftsmanship

• Leather seats and door trim have been fashioned using the finest leather available
• Skilled craftsmen have carefully sewn the striking raised pleats, a touch that expresses the interior’s high level of quality
• The ‘black smoked’ coating on the dark tinted horizontal metal panel – positioned along the center of the instrument panel – shows the high quality of the interior components
• Solid metal components, including the door handles, are milled from solid aluminum and carefully polished to provide a smooth, quality-enhancing surface. The door levers are designed to resemble the beauty and functionality of high-end racing bicycle components, and provide a level of quality that ensures they are a pleasure to use

A new car is released, all the car specialists and enthusiasts write reviews, repeat as necessary.

Sure, the reviews have been very good since the 2012 Mazda5 arrived here last month, but when a really great review that captures what the Mazda5 is all about is written, we feel we must republish it!

The Chief Road Test Editor at Edmunds.com took the time to find out why we call the Mazda5 our “best kept secret” here at Brown’s Fairfax Mazda.

2012 Mazda 5 Grand Touring Full Test

Nothing More and Nothing Less Than What’s Needed

By Chris Walton, Chief Road Test Editor | Published Feb 10, 2011

People who drive Mazda 5s love them. They feel like they’re keeping a secret nobody else knows because they’ve cracked the code on utility, economy and value. Whether they use a Mazda 5 as a grocery-getter, carpool tool, mountain bike hauler or all of the above, they saw through the slick marketing and eschewed the me-too CUVs that pretend to be one thing but are actually another.

They didn’t need a 4,500-pound V6-powered eight-passenger maxivan that could swallow an entire pallet of Cheezy Snax from the local Bulk Buy store. No, they chose a 3,500-pound four-cylinder six-passenger Mazda 5 because it was the right vehicle for their needs — nothing more and nothing less. In this era of frugality, downsizing (or right-sizing) makes a lot of sense.

Mazda says that the quirky, hard-to-classify Mazda 5 has found a happy home in nearly 100,000 garages in the past five years. Meanwhile, Honda sold twice that number of CR-Vs in 2010 alone, but we credit the Mazda 5′s measured success to its unique combination of clever packaging, competitive fuel economy, surprisingly sporty dynamics — and for being the unlikely poster child for prudence and moderation. The all-new 2012 Mazda 5 Grand Touring is still the versatile definition-resistant vehicle it always has been: only better.

What It Is
The three-row 2012 Mazda 5 is a multifaceted vehicle that actually does what it looks like it should do. It’s part compact minivan (yes, it has rear sliding doors), part large wagon and part economical commuter with an unexpected penchant for taming twisting roads with the confidence and composure of a sedan. For 2012, the front-wheel-drive Mazda 5 comes in three flavors: Sport, Touring and Grand Touring. All three are powered by the same 2.5-liter 157-horsepower four-cylinder engine with variable induction and variable intake-valve timing, but only the Sport can be had with a new six-speed manual transmission. Both Touring and Grand Touring models get down the road with a well-programmed five-speed automatic with a manual shift gate — as they did before.

Our top-of-the-pyramid Grand Touring model arrived with new "Clear Water Blue" metallic paint, 17-inch aluminum wheels and just one option: a $50 rear bumper guard. Yet the as-tested price was still under $25,000. If that’s still too rich for your blood, a well-equipped Sport starts at just $19,990.

What It Is Not and Has Not
The 2012 Mazda 5 is not a slab-sided marshmallow-riding minivan with 12 often-underutilized reconfigurable seating options and 150 cubic feet of total cargo capacity. The Mazda 5 is not offered with powered doors/hatch, back-up camera, all-wheel drive or even a navigation system. (A Garmin 1260T or 1490T portable navigation system and DVD player for the kids will be late-availability dealer-installed options, however.)

For 2012 (there is no 2011 model), Mazda has tossed out the previous 2.3-liter engine in favor of a 2.5-liter MZR-Series engine while improving output (+4 hp, +15 pound-feet of torque) and fuel economy (+1 mpg highway).

Electroluminescent gauges were fancy on the previous Mazda 5, but the new, simpler white-on-black gauges are actually easier to read. The LED taillamps looked cool, but we appreciate more the practicality of xenon headlamps that come standard on this one.

In this era of frugality, downsizing (or right-sizing) makes a lot of sense.

A glovebox lock and illumination wouldn’t stop a thief anyway, so those go away. Finally, if Mazda simply included better front seats (as it certainly did), then you won’t miss the lumbar seat adjusters that also disappeared. Think of these equipment deletions as you would austerity measures for balancing a budget, because there is a payoff.

The upshot is standard equipment on the Grand Touring that includes: metallic paint, four-wheel disc brakes (with ABS/EBD/brake assist), stability and traction control (both defeatable), tire-pressure monitoring, auto climate control (with second-row vents), a six-speaker audio system (with an aux jack and six months free Sirius Satellite Radio), Bluetooth phone and music streaming, trip computer, leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel (with audio/cruise controls), leather shift knob, leather-trimmed seats (all six: heated up front), power moonroof, auto xenon headlamps (with manual leveling), foglamps, rain-sensing wipers, heated outside mirrors and six airbags.

Seriously, that’s a boatload of standard equipment you’d have a hard time finding on many full-size minivans or compact crossovers, optional or not.

Versatility Is Standard
When we started using the 2012 Mazda 5 for shopping errands, school drop-off/pick-up duty, outings to the nearest trailhead and commuting, we grew to truly appreciate its small-on-the-outside/clever-on-the-inside qualities.

Tight parking stalls were not a problem for the rear passengers, who simply slid either side door open — no door dings or squeezing through narrow door openings. The doors glide and latch so easily that children can operate them. Also, we found the space on the floor behind the driver seat an easy and convenient place to stash a briefcase and computer bag.

Because the second row consists of two sliding and reclining captain’s chairs, accessing the third row (best for kids to use) was a simple walk-between affair, or a quick pull on a single lever makes a footpath beside. Both of those chairs are equipped with LATCH anchors for child seat attachment. There are also storage bins beneath the seats, one of which stores a sturdy, second-row mini-table that flips between the seats and offers cupholders and a handy net underneath.

For our grocery runs, we could load about six paper bags side by side behind the third-row seat. Folding the 50/50-split seatbacks to expand the volume to 27.5 cubic feet was as simple as pulling seat-top levers. If we needed still more room (for a couple mountain bikes, for instance), the retained second-row headrests pivot and fold with the seatbacks for maximum cargo space with a flat floor.

The forward-folding second row seats do, however, limit aft travel of the first-row seats. It’s only a problem for longer-legged drivers who require substantial seat travel.

Mazda 2 Performance in a Mazda 5 Package
OK, so it works as a cargo and family hauler, but what about performance? On the drag strip, we had to resort to a brake-torqueing launch and manual-shifting the automatic to get to 60 mph in 9.5 seconds (9.2 seconds with a 1-foot rollout). The quarter-mile passed in 17.1 seconds at 81.2 mph, so the 2012 Mazda 5 is not exactly what we’d call exhilarating in a straight line. It is, however, quicker/faster than a recent 2011 Mazda 2 we tested. We found the Mazda 5′s brakes "average" because they stopped the vehicle in 130 feet from 60 mph, resisted fade adequately and retained good pedal feel across five runs. Again, about the same as the Mazda 2.

When we calculated the limit-handling figures, however, we were duly impressed. Around the skid pad, the 2012 Mazda 5 posted 0.80g in lateral acceleration and its best stability-control-off 600-foot slalom pass was 63.7 mph. Those results are just 0.2 mph and 0.02g shy of matching that same Mazda 2. Pretty impressive for a six-passenger family hauler.

Stability Control Doesn’t Have To Be Awful
It seems almost every new car review now includes a sentence or two about how unresponsive the automatic transmission programming is and/or how dreadful the electric-assist power steering (EPS) feels, but you’ll not read that here. Mazda seems to have a handful of excellent algorithms that make the electrified steering not only precise and quick to react, but also well-weighted and natural-feeling. There’s very little on-center deadness (or nervousness) and it never feels like a video game console. Most people would never suspect the steering is not assisted by hydraulics.

The five-speed automatic doesn’t race to top gear by 35 mph so it’s never caught on its heels when you squeeze the accelerator. It even downshifts quickly and decisively at freeway speeds with gradual throttle application. Finally, it’s also clever enough to downshift a couple gears if you get hard on the brakes for an approaching corner — like a good sport sedan does.

Others should learn from Mazda — especially in these regards. Even the driver of a family hauler doesn’t have to suffer with poor dynamics and lowest-common-denominator systems programming. Good for you, Mazda.

Summary
We were happily impressed with the 2012 Mazda 5′s enviable roster of standard content, none of which was window dressing either — it’s all useful stuff. We thought it was still a little lacking in power, but we did earn 24 mpg over a 722-mile mixed-use driving cycle. We were absolutely smitten with the Mazda 5′s handling dynamics and overall driving "feel" that shames any extant minivan. Finally, the Mazda 5′s clever packaging, simple and comfortable six-passenger seating, flat cargo floor and easy-slide side doors endow it with genuine practicality.

Maybe the times are now right for the overlooked Mazda 5, which is on sale now. This hard-to-define vehicle has enjoyed a loyal following from within the Mazda fold (mostly from satisfied Mazda 3 owners who are now in a "family way"), but it has yet to make a dent in the overall market with those who are considering CUVs or larger minivans.

If you can live without the enormous scale (that is usually underutilized) of a full-size minivan; if you would like the cargo-loading convenience of a wagon or hatchback but still need three rows of seating; if you just can’t stomach the thought of (or justify the price of) a three-row CUV because "that’s what everybody is buying these days"; then you might want to consider a 2012 Mazda 5 Grand Touring.

We would.

The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.

Source: http://www.insideline.com/mazda/5/2012/2012-mazda-5-grand-touring-full-test.html