We Bay Area LGBTs are lucky in that we have the choice of different lifestyles—city, suburban or country. The two vehicles this week reflect the values of the first two, and both seem tailor-made for their likely environments. The Mazda5 (small van) shines in the city, while the new-for-2015 Nissan Murano (car-based crossover) is a fashionable suburban hauler.
Interestingly, they get the same 24-mpg EPA mileage rating, even though the Mazda has a 157-horsepower four-cylinder and the Murano has a 260-horsepower V6. Needless to say, the Murano shuts down the Mazda5 in acceleration and passing. But the four-cylinder is typical Mazda in being perky and willing.
Styling is also a Murano win: its flowing lines turned heads everywhere in SF, and the test car’s Pacific Sunset orange paint shone beautifully in the California sun. The Mazda5 is the opposite; it seemed to do its best to fade into the background, which can be a real boon in the city when you’re parking on the street and hoping that passersby will leave your car alone.
The Murano’s interior is colorful and rich. There are three basic themes to choose from, with darker shades of graphite and mocha as alternatives to the test car’s light “cashmere” shade. Instead of wood trim, the cashmere Murano has mother-of-pearl patterned trim that impressed all who saw it. At the Murano’s L.A. Auto Show debut, a Nissan rep said it tested very well with women. From what I’ve seen, that goes for gay men, too—it’s a cool original touch.
Conversely, the Mazda5 checks in with nearly all-black shiny materials. It functions well and feels tightly assembled, but the Mazda5’s insides can feel pretty dark when the fog rolls in.
Both are roomy, with the Murano having a couple more inches of hip room up front for a broader feel. The Mazda5 switches that in back with its thin sliding doors providing more interior width. Those sliding doors are a real boon when running errands, with no swinging door for which to find clearance in a tight spot. The Mazda5’s third row has decent headroom, but, predictably, legroom is kiddie-grade.
The most telling of the Murano’s suburban aspects is its compromised visibility. The tipped-up dramatic swoop that defines the hood’s base severely restricts the view when you’re climbing a steep hill; you typically have no idea what’s ahead until you roll into the crosswalk and level out. Again the opposite, the Mazda5 has a low hood and big windows all around, so you can easily see what’s coming and going.
The Murano is popular while the Mazda5 sells in relatively tiny numbers. It’s partly because city-focused cars appeal to a smaller buyer base, but judging from the number of Mazda5s I’ve seen running around SF and Oakland, it’s a small van that has been embraced here. The Murano and Mazda5 are both excellent choices in their respective spaces, and each would be a nice complement to the lifestyles into which they’d fit.
Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant at www.gaycarguy.com. Check out his automotive staging service at www.carstaging.com
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