Years ago, when my children were young, I always drove a minivan. I had several now that I recall. Whether it was cool or not, I loved driving one as it had all the room and comfort we needed for a large family. It’s been quite a few years since I sat behind the wheel of a minivan, until recently. I had the opportunity this past week to drive the 2015 Mazda5 Grand Touring and let me tell you, it’s still cool to drive a minivan.
It just so happens I did not have any planned trips this month, however, I did have several extra local runs to make with the holidays right around the corner and the Mazda5 GT got me to where I needed to go. With 6-passenger seating and the extra space in the rear I was able to shop till I dropped and filled up every inch of the minivan with goodies.
There’s plenty of extra storage space throughout, including lots of cup holders for everyone, which is a big plus for our family.
As you can imagine, safety and security is a big concern for me on the road when it comes to my family. The Mazda5 Grand Touring is equipped with: Advanced Dual Front and Side-Impact Air Bags; Rear BackUp Sensors; 24-Hour Roadside Assistance; Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone and Audio System; Remote Keyless Entry; Tire Pressure Monitoring System; Traction Control System; Anti-Theft Alarm System; ABS with EBD and Brake Assist; 6-Passenger 3-Point Safety Belts and Second Row Latch Safety Seat Anchors.
The Madza5 ranks high on my list for fuel efficiency with 21 city/ 28 highway, combined fuel economy being 24 MPG. Some of the favorable features included Body Color Power Heated Mirrors; Front Wheel Drive; 17-Inch Alloy Wheels; Leather-Trimmed Seats; Leather -Trimmed Steering Wheel; Covered Rear Cargo Storage; Heated Front Seats; Power Sliding-Glass Moonroof; Sirius XM Satellite Radio; Carpet Floor Mats and Trip Computer.
I really couldn’t find any negatives to report for the Mazda5, other than it lacked substantial power when it came to acceleration. Remember, it is a minivan. I can honestly say that the ride was super smooth and it was very easy to maneuver and it comes with a good amount of features for the price tag. The 2015 Mazda5 GT model I drove for the week is priced at $24,770, including optional equipment such as the Rear Bumper Guard, $25,640. The Mazda5 comes with a 3-year/36,000-mile “Bumper-to-Bumper” Limited Warranty; 5-year/60,000-mile Limited Powertrain Warranty; and a 3-year/36,000-mile 24/7 Roadside Assistance Program.
With all of the Mazda5 features, including safety and security, I felt totally safe and comfortable on the road and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
What do you most look for in a family vehicle?
Disclosure: I was provided with a 2015 Mazda5 Grand Touring for 1 week to review on behalf of Mazda. As always, all opinions are honest and my own.
