The annual trip (Dallas to Tucson) to the in-laws for X-mas is just at 1000 miles - 200 miles with an 80MPH speed limit in west Tx, and another 300 miles at 75MPH limits, with 70 for the rest of the trip. We had 4 adults with luggage piled in the back. Cobra's finest radar detector since we normally drive about 10 over.

I was worried the 5 would be underpowered. There were a few times I missed the extra power my CX7 has but not many. Especially when I filled the tank.

The first leg of the trip we averaged about 78 MPH and the first tank showed 28.6 MPG.

The second leg we averaged about 84 MPH, with the second tank showing 27.2 MPG.

The last leg we averaged 86 MPH and mileage dropped to 26.7 MPH. We had a couple short bursts to 100 on this leg.

Our 5 is a 5 speed manual. We had to wait a few months for a 5M with the options we wanted. As my wife's car she normally uses it for the freeway-parking lot commute - first-second, about 70% of the way. An hour to travel 17 miles. In that driving she gets about 23 - 24 MPG.

We looked at everything in this class of car including the Suburu Outback. The Mazda 5 was the best of the bunch and about the best priced. This is our third new Mazda in the last year - it all began with an RX8 last April, then a CX7 in June, the 5 in August. We'll be looking at a used 3 for my daughter next year.

Just exceptional value.

 

Wow, that's amazing gas mileage, especially for a 5 which is a bit heavier than a 3, and especially with all your passengers. I wonder if you could have hit 30mpg minus the other passengers/luggage.

 

30 MPG might be possible. We drove it up US75 about 200 miles last week with cruise set to 70 in medium traffic, two people, no luggage. Got 27 MPG, but a slight headwind (maybe 10-15 mph). On the way back (no headwind) we set cruise to 77 and got 29MPG.

 

and get 27mpg with the car loaded with six people. Two adults and four kids. Never an issue. Gas mileage is great. I got a 2006. I love the car but a few issues need to be worked out.

 

must be nice

 

Hello, my wife and I looked at Mazda 3's and 5's for a year before we bought a Mazda 5 last week. I love it and she does too. I was doing 65 and 70 for about 150 miles and I got 32 miles per gallon. I don't have numbers on city driving yet but will soon. I love this car but I too think the tail lights would look far, far better if the silver in them was color coded the same as the car. I have been thinking how to do that. Great car and great value.

BY THE WAY.. has anyone noted the strange 5W/20 oil specification. What is that --- something to do with the aluminum engine? Anybody have any info on using special engine oil additives on aluminum engines... I have alway put "Prolong" in my cars and it has treated me well. Any cautions to using that on an aluminum engine?

 

Wife and I recently tried the 5 out on a trip, we have 25,000kms on ours and she normally just totes kids around in it. Anyway we got 750kms to the tank. I was impressed.

 

i will gladly trade you anyday if you want better gas mileage

 

i now have a 60mi round trip for work with 90% of it highway i stay between 75-80mph the entire way...average 30.00 miles to the gallon exact...but their was a high point on my mileage...when i went to atlanta.. averaged about 60-70 i cant remember the mileage but when i got gas back in NC my tank showed i had 508mi worth of gas....this is a 07' 3 with a 13 gallon tank...showing 508 miles on 13 gallons....almost 40mpg!!!!thats good gas mileage in my opinion

 

calculate it on the actual fuel put in the vehicle to top it up after driving... the internal trip computer can be off a few MPG, and it's usually erroring on the high side.

 

the 5W20 is just a thinner oil needed for the lower bearing clearances on these newer engines, thinner oil is also supposed to help improve the fuel economy, energy conserving

 

I put in on average about 7.1 litres per 100 kms for highway runs - I have the Mazda 3 with the 2.0 and 5 speed automatic

 

Update on the Mazda 5.

Gave the 2007 model to my daughter with 81,000 nearly trouble free miles.

Serpentine belt at 58,000 miles, and cleaned MAF sensor.

AC compressor popped at 64,000 covered under extended warrantee.

New dampers and front brakes at 75,000. New battery at 77,000.

A couple sets of tires. Thats it.

Bought 2012 model about 2 months ago. Automatic. Gas mileage is lower; about 25-26 on the road (~80 MPH, this is Texas after all) and 22-23 around town.

Occasionally stumbles on wide open throttle after deceleration. Mazda hasn't figured out how to anticipate downshifts during the upshiting through the coast mode. Its annoying but something you get used to - part throttle it first then flat foot it. I've connected the MoTec and capture CANBUS data but haven't had time to deal with Mazda engineering on it yet.

BTW my 2005 RX8 is up to 64,000 miles.....