IIHS Crash Test
Marginal
MPG (up to)
21 City / 28 HWY
Horsepower
157
Seats
6
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Candice R
Just keep up on maintenance and the car will have less issues.
While i have had the vehicle the only issue i have had is have to change the battery once. Otherwise no issues.
accountCircle Erica R
Sporty drive feel especially for a hatchback, limited maintenance needed
I like how the car handles. There is a bit more road noise than average but not too much. There was a recall on the lift gate supports but it is fixed. The stereo gets better reception than some other cars I have been in. I have not had any major problems with the vehicle just standard maintenance.
accountCircle Allison S
2012 Mazda 5 is very reliable.
The only problem I seem to have is with the muffler. Also parts for it are hard to find in the United States. It does run very well but is not so great on gas once it is old. It is a very comfortable car and has four doors as well as seven seats. Four out of six windows open with the back opening three quarters of the way. Very reliable runs great.
accountCircle Kari A
Reliable transportation that not only looks like a nice car but feels like one when driving or riding as a passenger.
This is my second Mazda car and it is well made, easy to do updated maintenance at home, and reliable.
accountCircle Teresa M
Mazda 5 sport most reliable versatile vehicle.
The only vehicle I have kept this long. It is my daily auto. I can park easily anywhere. It seats six comfortably. Both back rows fold flat and allow for total 6 foot length of cargo carry space. The van doors are perfect for entry to second row. For children,, car seats, and I am able to carry a disabled child car seat with child in it. I fold down third row and passenger side second row and can place tilt in space wheelchair in auto for safe. Transport. I have spent only routine maintenance and tires on this vehicle. I have 120 000 plus miles and still love this car.
accountCircle Jennifer C
Good gas mileage and easy to manage.
Drives like a car, but is a minivan. I get great gas mileage. The car is just big enough for my family, but small enough to navigate the city easily.
accountCircle Cameron H
The back has a lot of space if the back seats are down.
Too much plastic on the undercarriage and gets bent and destroyed if it even bumps a thing like the curb. It is sliding passenger doors are hard to open if they get overused or USF with regular use. The alarm is overly sensitive. But these are just minor complaints in the larger picture. Overall it is a great vehicle.
accountCircle Shari R
It has lots of storage space.
I love how much space it has. It has extra seats for more passengers. It has also been well made and gets good gas mileage.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Brian M
I don't like the Mazda 5 at all. It is too small for me and my family and the dealership is terrible.
The dealer of the company told me I had free oil changes for life of the car and I did not have to buy any of my services there but they insist on trying to make me every time I get my oil change there. And my horn had lots of trouble going in and out. Not working. Every time I took it to the dealer it worked. Until it was past its warranty. They said they would not cover it. They wanted to charge me over $100 to fix it. My friend and I found out it was a bad horn. We replaced it for about $20. It is continuous pain to deal with this company and I will NEVER buy another Mazda in my life.
accountCircle Kristen D
The Mazda 5 seems like a practical car for a family. Unfortunately, there is no storage or trunk space when you need all the seats! The under-seat storage in the middle row is great! Unless you have kids in car seats, then you can't use the storage! Other than that, the car runs smoothly, I've yet to have a major problem with it. IT's good on gas most of the time
The storage is a joke if you're a family. You need more space
accountCircle David R
Runs great really good on gas great ac.
My Mazda is a good car reliable and gets me to where I need to go it is great on gas. I enjoy the smooth ride and available room on the inside this ride is great for kids there is 3 row seats and easy open doors on each side I have had no engine problems there is a slight problem with the suspension system is.
accountCircle Alicia O
Bargain vehicle for a family with children.
It holds the amount of child passengers we need via the 3rd row. Easy to move the seats to accommodate. Has all the basic creature comforts but the compact size feels too small. Adults can fit in the 3rd row but not comfortably. It could benefit from more air vents to the back seat.
accountCircle Linda D
Pros and Cons of the Mazda 5
The car has been a great car. It sits a little low to the road for my liking. No heat vents for the back passengers. All around great fuel mileage highway and town driving. No major problems with the cars performance. Great for families with small children but not enough leg room in the back for a person of height
accountCircle Candace L
Tires wear in odd way causing unplanned added expense.
My tires wear crooked making me have to buy new tires more often than is normal. I have had multiple mechanics look at this and recognize that while it is happening they do now know why or how to fix it. This is way more costly than I had planned on this vehicle being. It is also way low to the ground.
accountCircle Katy S
Mazda5 is good for a basic vehicle
This vehicle is pretty bare bones. I realize that it's 7 years old, but even when it was new, it lacked many features standard on other vehicles. Small details like remaining mileage range, bluetooth compatibility, hookups for an iPod, and the like would have been nice to have. However, I did like having sliding doors (although an automatic option for those also would have been nice) when my children were much younger and there is plenty of space for our family.
accountCircle Damishi E
I HATE the lack of trunk space. I like that there's 6 seats it is compact. It get great gas mileage on the freeway. City gas mileage could be better.
The trunk is a big issue if you have a large family. You will almost have to always use other areas of the car for storage.

Mazda Mazda5 Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
Sport
157 HP 24 MPG 6 Seats
car
Touring
157 HP 24 MPG 6 Seats
car
Grand Touring
157 HP 24 MPG 6 Seats
Photos may not match model

2012 Mazda Mazda5 Owner Reviews

4.28
116 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 47%
4 stars 37%
3 stars 13%
2 stars 2%
1 star 1%
accountCircle Parker on November 30, 2021
HOW GOOD IT IS!!
It has a lot of room! Vary nice on the inside. Nice features. I have had it for 4 years now and has not had any big problem's yet. But the traction control is not that great.
accountCircle Kisha T on May 21, 2021
Smooth driving car with great mileage.
I seem to keep having issues with my tires. I bought new tires and the tire pressure light keeps coming back on. I also had to buy new rotors. Other than that, this car is very compact and comfortable for my 4 children. I love being able to have the 3rd row seat and trunk space. It drives really smooth and quiet. I do hate how loud the rear a/c can be though. This car is great on gas. Right now gas is $1.71 and I can fill up with $20. I work from home so I can drive on a full tank for a couple weeks.

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Kristina R.

It has a folding 3rd row for extra storage and a large hatch back to fit large objects. It is fast and nice looking. I like the bucket seats in the front and back and the 3rd row is regular seating...

likeFilled Cynthia C.

Drives great, easy to maneuver. Easy to park. Easy to handle. Plenty of legroom. Has plenty of room for groceries and seats 4 comfortably. We can fit four people and luggage in just fine. Does not require a lot of repair.

likeFilled Debbie F.

It is a very good and reliable car. I have not had any major problems with it just normal wear and tear. It rides very smooth and has great pick up and moves when you want it too. It is very easy to park in parallel parking and it has great turning range.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Kristina R.

There are alot of cons. The sliding doors get frozen shut in the winter. The back seats do not get enough air conditioner. The 3rd row is so small only a small child can fit there. I've had a lot of electrical issues. And it doesn't run very smooth. When the air conditioner is on the engine surges forward and it's scary.

dislikeFilled Cynthia C.

Does not fit 5 people comfortably on long trips. Do not like the intervals on the wipers. We do not like how low the vehicle is and some family members have a hard time getting in and out of the vehicle.

dislikeFilled Debbie F.

There are not a lot of cons but the major disappointment is the main reason I bought the car did not live up to what I expected. I specifically bought this car because it provided 6 full size seats to fit 6 people but it does not fit 6 people. There is no legible leg room in the two back seats do not even 1 adult can sit comfortably in the back. You will be lucky to fit 2 normal size kids in the back at best. This was very disappointing to me.

Ranks #16 Small Cars by Owners

The 2012 Mazda Mazda5 has an average owner rating of 4.33 out of 5 which ranks it #16 of 36 other Small Cars.

1
car
4.8
2
car
4.76
16
car
4.28

Ranks #13 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2012 Mazda Mazda5 has a combined MPG of 36 which ranks it #13 of 36 other Small Cars.

1
Tie
car
42 MPG
1
Tie
car
42 MPG
13
car
28 MPG

Is The 2012 Mazda Mazda5 A Good Car?

It is awesome! It is great on gas, smaller than an average minivan but just as roomy. I love the sliding doors. I have often been asked what kind of car it is. Too bad they do not make it anymore.
Barbara W.
Yes, we have been using Mazda5 for almost 6 years. It is good for those with family. It is quite heavy for me compared to the other car I drove but overall the design and performance is really good. I... Read More
Jennifer D.

How Reliable Is The 2012 Mazda Mazda5?

It is so reliable! I have never had any problems with it at all. There was a recall for a small wiper part I believe but easily remedied. I have taken it for regular maintenance since purchase and... Read More
Barbara W.
The 2012 Mazda5 is reliable. In my 6 years of using this car I had AC problem but it is not major that gives me headache. I bought the parts online which is more cheaper and my husband was able to fix... Read More
Erika P.

Is The 2012 Mazda Mazda5 A Good Value?

I believe I paid $19,000 in January 2013 and that it was a good value. They no longer make this model.
Barbara W.
When I bought 2012 Mazda5 so far the value is good. It is not too expensive compare to the other cars.
Amy B.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2012 Mazda 5 coolant type?

Answer: The 2012 Mazda5 coolant used is a phosphate green extended life, Asian vehicle. Replace coolant for the engine at 100,000 miles or ten years. Over time, engine coolant loses its anticorrosive properties and...

How do i perform the 2012 Mazda 5 oil light reset?

Answer: To reset the oil light on the 2012 Mazda5, You've come to the right place. Go ahead and turn that ignition OFF. Make sure that Your parking brake is activated. You will now step on both the gas and brake and...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test
(Not Rated)
*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety