2012 Mazda5 Named To "Best Family Cars Of 2012" List, As Chosen By Edmunds.com And Parents Magazine

IRVINE, Calif., June 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2012 Mazda5 today was named to the "Best Family Cars of 2012" list by the editors of Edmunds.com and Parents magazine.  This is the fifth consecutive year that automotive experts from Edmunds.com, a leading online resource for car buyers, and Parents, America's #1 family magazine, have collaborated on the 15-vehicle list.  Vehicles were chosen based on performance, interior and exterior styling, and family features, with the most scrutinized attributes being safety and reliability.

"Safety and reliability are top concerns for all car buyers, as passengers are by-far the most precious 'cargo' that any vehicle will ever carry," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO).  "Now in its second generation, the 2012 Mazda5 fits the bill not only with its long list of standard safety features but an improved body and chassis structure to further protect occupants. Its Zoom-Zoom prowess is simply icing on the cake."

Adds Scott Oldham, editor-in-chief, Edmunds.com, "The sporty Mazda5 is just right for small families that want the convenience of a minivan, but don't feel they need all the size or space of the Mazda's full-size competition.  It's a unique package that offers sharp handling in the Mazda tradition, plus it's more affordable and easier to park than the other larger minivans out there."

Selected as a top-three crossover on the Best Family Cars list, the three-row, six-passenger 2012 Mazda5 starts at $19,625.  Standard safety features include six airbags (advanced dual front, front-seat mounted and full-length side curtain), anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, Dynamic Stability Control (DCS) with a Traction Control System (TCS), a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), a "crushable" brake and accelerator pedal assembly, three-point safety belts, front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) as well as a Smart Accelerator Pedal System, which prioritizes the brake over the throttle should both be pressed at the same time.

Mazda vehicles have been named to the Best Family Cars list previously with the Mazda3 and Mazda5, both in 2011.  The Best Family Cars of 2012 will be featured on both outlets' web sites and in the July issue of Parents, which hits newsstands on June 12.

Parents has been America's #1 family magazine for more than 85 years and is published monthly by Meredith Corporation.  Since its inception in 1926, Parents has been a trusted source by every generation of parents.  Currently, the magazine is a powerful community of nearly 16 million readers devoted to supporting the efforts of parents, educators and other citizens who strive to make the world a better place for our children.  Parents can be found online at www.parents.com.

Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information web site.  Its automotive enthusiast web site, InsideLine.com, is the most-read car publication of its kind.  Its highly-regarded mobile site and iPhone app feature the wireless web's most comprehensive gallery of automotive photos and videos.  Edmunds.com, Inc., is headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif., and maintains a satellite office in Detroit.  Click here to follow Edmunds.com on Twitter and Facebook.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through more than 700 dealers.  Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

For more information on Mazda vehicles, visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.  Product B-roll may be ordered online by visiting The News Market at www.thenewsmarket.com/mazda. 

[1] Starting price is manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP).  MSRP does not include $795 destination charge (Alaska $840), title, taxes, license, options and dealer charges. Actual prices set by dealer and may vary.

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations