There was a time in my life when spending four grand on a car seemed like an impossibility. Sometimes even four hundred was a stretch. These days, it’s about what I would pay for a “good” car. Once you hit the $3-4000 range, it seems to me that a car should be presentable, and shouldn’t need anything besides an oil change and maybe a wash. Big numbers on the odometer are still to be expected, but so is an absence of warning lights on the dash.
Yesterday’s price cap was half that, so we looked at Toyota-designed cars that avoid much of the “Toyota tax” by being badged as GM cars. As I could have guessed, the Pontiac Vibe took an easy win. Its hatchback body style and two-generations-newer platform sealed the deal for a lot of you, it sounds like.
But I’m going to swim against the stream here, and cast my vote for the Chevy Prizm. Between these two particular cars, it just feels like the better deal. It has fewer miles, and the ad feels more honest. Besides, the instrument panel in the Vibe bugs me. I never did warm to that “2000s Soundesign dorm room stereo” style that so many dashboards had around that time.
If you’re looking for a practical and reliable car for about four grand, I think you’d be doing yourself a disservice not checking out some minivans. They’re roomy, practical, and tend to depreciate a lot quicker than SUVs and crossovers. They’re not cool, and uncool cars tend to be bargains. Today we’re going to look at a big comfy Honda van, and a smaller, sportier Mazda.
2012 Mazda 5 Sport – $3,999
Engine/drivetrain: 2.5 -iter DOHC inline 4, five-speed automatic, FWD
Location: Waukegan, IL
Odometer reading: 143,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Mazda has always done the minivan thing on its own terms. The original MPV was a rear-wheel-drive vehicle with conventional doors, when every other van on the market had sliding doors. The second-generation MPV was closer to what most manufacturers were doing, but with a distinct Mazda flair. It was discontinued after 2006, supposedly replaced by the CX-9 crossover, but Mazda also offered this little charmer. Most minivans haven’t been exactly “mini” for a long time, but the Mazda 5 is within a few inches of the original Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager in all dimensions. It’s the perfect antidote to the bloat that so many vehicles have suffered from in recent years.
The Mazda 5 is based closely on the Mazda 3, only taller and with sliding rear doors. It’s powered by a 2.5 liter MZR four cylinder that makes 157 horsepower, and a five-speed automatic transmission. This one has 143,000 miles on it. It’s being sold by a dealer, so of course we get more information about its features and options than its condition. I have to assume it runs all right, or they wouldn’t be offering it for sale. No dealership is going to stay in business for long with that kind of bait-and-switch.
Despite its small size, the 5 is a six-passenger vehicle with three rows of seats. If you don’t need all that seating, you can fold down the back seats and use it for cargo room. It’s in good shape inside; the ad includes photos of all three rows, and I don’t see anything beyond minor wear.
It looks nice and clean outside, but Mazdas have an unfortunate propensity for rust, and this car is in the Chicago suburbs. Take a good look underneath and make sure it looks solid.
2013 Honda Odyssey EX-L – $3,895
Engine/drivetrain: 3.5-liter OHC V6, five-speed automatic, FWD
Location: Fridley, MN
Odometer reading: 254,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
If you’re looking for a van in a more conventional size, here we have a fourth-generation Honda Odyssey. It’s two feet longer and several inches wider than the Mazda. That extra size means extra comfort, and more room to spread out. Minivans are good road trip machines, and this one has definitely seen some roads: it’s just north of a quarter-million miles.
It’s powered by Honda’s 3.5-liter V6, which drives the front wheels through a five-speed automatic. Earlier Odysseys had trouble with their transmissions, but as far as I know that problem was sorted out by the time this one was built. With as many miles as it has, if the transmission was an issue, it would already have been rebuilt or replaced by now. The seller says it runs and drives well, and that it has new brakes, and just had an oil change.
This EX-L model is two rungs from the top of the ladder, but I can’t imagine wanting anything fancier than this. It has leather seats, power everything, and some cool gadgets like a built-in cooler that’s chilled by the air conditioner. It has two rows of captain’s chairs and a third row three-seat bench, for a total capacity of seven. It’s all in good shape, especially for the mileage. Minivans seem to fall into two categories: they either haul kids and kid stuff around and end up trashed inside, or they get used for business, and only the driver’s seat sees any use. This one appears to be the latter.
This generation of Odyssey isn’t the prettiest thing on the road; I never have understood that rear side window shape. But it’s in good condition. I don’t see any rust or serious damage. The panel gap between the front bumper and front fender doesn’t look quite right, though; did it get bumped on the nose at some point, I wonder?
These might not be as cool as an SUV would be, but they’re at least as practical. And at least one of them gets a whole lot better mileage. For four grand, you could do a lot worse. Which one appeals to you?
I would’ve ordinarily gone for the V6 Odyssey, just because it’s a Honda. That’s a lotta miles, though, even for a Honda. I’m sure it has plenty of life left in it, but $4K of life? I dunno. Besides, I would probably prefer the size of the Mazda, anyways. I’m tired of big vehicles.
Had a manual Mazda5, first generation, and loved that car more than I have words for. Two small kids and one friend each could fit in the thing, 4 people and all our camping and ski gear fit into it, and it was slow car fast fun to drive. The manual totally made it work. Then (we live in New England), it rusted apart on us. I hear they were discontinued because they couldn’t meet the newer round of safety regulations. I don’t think we will ever get that kind of car again, not with the stronger safety cages needed these days.
They’re both from road-salting states which I’m wary of, but then again my Sienna spent the first 15 years of its life in MN and survived. I’d go MPV but I really want a manual one, so I chose the Odyssey for the extra space
I had an Odyssey of roughly this vintage, and it was great. You had a button that turned the traction control off (who knows why) and could spin the front tires freely. My anxiety about transmission issues was resolved with my parents’ MDX, which at 271k is still running on its original transmission fluid
I’d never buy a minivan, much less a used one.
I can smell the sour milk and used diapers from over here.
But if absolutely had to choose – I wouldn’t hesitate for the Mazda with lower miles.
The Mazda for me. I like “mini” in my minivans.
I am not so confident in the Honda transmission. If it’s original it’s likely on it’s last legs, and it may well be coming up on a second replacement even if it isn’t. 100K more miles is a LOT to overcome. Plus I just can’t take that goofy window line. Fugly to the core.
Agreed, such a disappointment after the second gen odyssey which I still think is one of the best looking minivans ever made
I loved our 2010 Mazda5 5 speed but 15 years of driving it hard and putting away wet and the rust killed it. I should have undercoated it. 180k miles and I didn’t have to touch the engine except to replace the spark plugs. It was tough on brakes and suspension components, though, and I quickly learned to only buy the best parts for it.
If I saw a rust free 2012+ with a 6 speed I would be all over it.
That’s the trouble with minivans – they usually just use the same parts as the equivalent sedan on the platform, and too often those parts really aren’t rugged enough for something much heavier. Especially if used loaded a lot. So you end up going through brakes and suspension bits. Same story from all my minivan owning friends.
The good news is Mazda/FoMoCo parts are cheap and relatively easy to replace….assuming rust hasn’t welded all the fasteners together.
The Mazda 5 was like a car with minivan doors. It was kinda brilliant. It also has way fewer miles than the Honda, so it gets my vote.
Had a Mazda 5 as a rental once. The only minivan I’ve ever driven that I would even remotely consider buying.
If I wanted/needed a Minivan I’d go all in with a full sized one that could serve double purpose as a family hauler and for plywood/drywall duty. The 5 is charming and has less miles but only a 6spd would convince me.
Lots of miles on the Honda but this is peak Odyssey. I’d just put some $$ aside for the inevitable TB replacement that I’m not a fan of.
I know Hondas are magic but I can’t ignore the mileage. Back then my wife really wanted that Mazda but we never pulled the trigger. Here, Sweetie.
I’d have a hard time going from a 3.5 liter V6 to an overworked 2.5-liter 4cylinder. The Mazda is really loud as well. Clever lttle van and I wish we had more of them, but I’m thinking of interstate use and the Honda is a better match there. That driver seat looks amazing for the mileage.
In laws have one of these Odysseys. They’ve beat it to hell but it just goes. The interior is pretty cheap feeling in person, but 2013 was still in the bad period for Japanese car interior materials.
I’m going to pretend that VCM isn’t real because that complicates the choice.
My dad’s been ignoring the piston ring weakness caused by the VCM and changing his spark plugs more often, and he’s made it 80k of his 220k on that just fine
Mazda5 all day. There aren’t any small vehicles with sliders in the US anymore. Bring the Sienta or Freed over, you cowards!
I owned both of these and honestly this was a tough choice.
The Odyssey was a serious luxury vehicle, one of my overall favorites I ever owned, and was only parted with because someone hit it. It kicked ass on road trips and camping trips, and was just generally enjoyable to drive and comfortable when loaded up with stuff and passengers. Most people who drive big SUVs actually need this and if they bought one they’d be happier.
However, I chose the Mazda because it was also fantastic to drive and very useful, but way more simple and much better gas mileage (plus no sketchy cylinder deactivation). Not as fancy, not even close, but awesome for everyday use. If this one was the manual it would have been an easy choice. I wish they still made these.
I want to vote Honda, but I don’t trust this drivetrain with this many miles on it. I like the practicality of a full-size minivan, but the Mazda may be a safer bet mechanically, with the caveat that it isn’t about to disintegrate from rust. It would also make a better commuter, which is a role I’d want a vehicle like this to fill.
Odyssey! This was actually pretty difficult. I really like both but went Honda mainly because it’s nicer and has more room. I like it a little better overall. My parents still have a 2nd gen Odyssey and 1st gen CR-V w/ the table; both still going strong. Those Mazda 5’s are really neat though
Going with the Mazda. This is because when the last of my downtrodden spirit is ground into dust by the sight of a minivan in my driveway, I can at least try to make a pathetic attempt to console myself with the fact that it’s the sport model.