2012 Mazda MAZDA5: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 4, 2026
The Mazda5 returned after a year away as a fully redesigned model for 2012. The headline change is the new generation, which brought a new body and cabin along with a larger 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine.
About the 2012 Mazda MAZDA5
All-new redesign, first U.S. model year of this Mazda5 update.
Mazda marketed the Mazda5 as a “multi-activity vehicle” and a smart choice for buyers who needed more room than a compact car without stepping up to a bulky minivan. Its core identity is a compact six-passenger family vehicle with sliding rear doors, flexible three-row seating, and handling that feels more like a car than a traditional van. The big draw versus larger minivans and many crossovers is packaging: easy parking, easy kid loading, and useful space in a much smaller footprint.
For 2012, Mazda positioned Sport as the practical entry trim, with sliding rear doors, six seats, automatic climate control, and useful cabin storage. Touring adds an automatic transmission, Bluetooth, fog lights, and 17-inch wheels, while Grand Touring brings leather-trimmed and heated front seats, a moonroof, xenon headlights, and rain-sensing wipers.
What changed, by category
2012 Mazda MAZDA5 specs and features by trim
| Feature | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4-Cyl, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.5 Liter |
| Transmission | Automatic, 5-Spd w/Overdrive | Automatic, 5-Spd w/Overdrive | Automatic, 5-Spd w/Overdrive |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | FWD |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas |
| MPG City | 21 mpg | 21 mpg | 21 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 28 mpg | 28 mpg | 28 mpg |
| Horsepower | 157 hp | 157 hp | 157 hp |
| Torque | 163 lb-ft | 163 lb-ft | 163 lb-ft |
| Trunk/Cargo | 44.4 cu-ft | 44.4 cu-ft | 44.4 cu-ft |
| Rear Legroom | 30.5 in | 30.5 in | 30.5 in |
| Seats | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Doors | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Alarm System | |||
| Automatic Headlights | |||
| Rain Sensing Windshield Wipers | |||
| Alloy Wheels | |||
| Fog Lights | |||
| HID Headlights | |||
| Heated Mirrors | |||
| Power Moonroof | |||
| Rear Spoiler | |||
| Bluetooth | |||
| Satellite Radio | |||
| Heated Front Seats | |||
| Leather Seats | |||
| Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel | |||
| Remote Start | |||
| Third Row Seat | |||
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Mazda Mazda5 a new generation?
Yes. The 2012 Mazda5 is a fully redesigned model and the first U.S. model year of this generation, with a new exterior, a redesigned cabin, a larger engine, and revised steering and suspension tuning.
Did the 2012 Mazda Mazda5 get a new engine?
Yes. Every 2012 Mazda5 has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that replaced the previous model's 2.3-liter engine.
Which 2012 Mazda Mazda5 trim has a manual transmission?
The 2012 Mazda5 Sport has the manual transmission. It is a six-speed manual, replacing the five-speed manual used in the earlier model; Touring and Grand Touring use a five-speed automatic.
How do the 2012 Mazda Mazda5 trims differ?
Sport focuses on practical family equipment, Touring adds Bluetooth, a five-speed automatic, fog lights, and 17-inch wheels, and Grand Touring adds leather-trimmed heated front seats, a moonroof, xenon headlights, and rain-sensing wipers.
Did the Mazda Mazda5 return for 2012 after skipping a model year?
Yes. The Mazda5 took a model year off in the U.S. and returned for 2012 as a fully redesigned vehicle in Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring trims.