What is the towing capacity of a 2007 Mazda 5?

Answer 1

The owners manual of my US model 2007 Mazda 5 (with 153hp 2.3 liter gas engine, the only one available in the US) says not to tow with the vehicle. It offers no towing capacity.

In the United Kingdom, the 5 can be had with any of four different 4-cylinder engines. According to Mazda's UK website, they weights they can tow are rated as follows:

Trailer without brakes

For all engines: 600 kg, or 1322 lbs.

Trailer with brakes (12% gradient)

~110 hp 1.8 gas: 1300 kg, or 2866 lbs

~145 hp 2.0 gas: 1400 kg, or 3086 lbs

~110 hp 2.0 diesel: 1400 kg, or 3086 lbs

~143 hp 2.0 diesel: 1400 kg, or 3086 lbs

The 153 hp 2.3 liter gas engine available in North America is most similar to the 145 hp 2.0 gas engine available elsewhere. The 2.3 is simply a slightly larger, slightly more powerful version of the 2.0.

So, one can figure that the 5 is mechanically capable of towing the UK weights above.

I'm not sure why the US model is restricted as it is. But I can speculate.

1. To move people up the product ladder, toward more expensive vehicles such as the crossover suvs Tribute (1500-3500lbs), CX-7 (2000lbs), and CX-9 (2000-3500lbs). Or, with those larger vehicles available in the US, Mazda likely doesn't lose any 5 customers due to the lack of towing. In the UK, the Tribute and CX-9 are not available, and customers there expect to be able to tow with cars, even the small ones. US customers simply don't demand the capability.

2. To decrease warranty claims. Towing puts extra stress on virtually every vital part of the vehicle, most especially the transmission and brakes. Why would Mazda expose itself to greater warranty claims if other, hardier vehicles are available?

3. Liability concerns. In the United Kingdom, speed limits with trailers are never higher than 60mph. In the litigious USA, with interstate speed limits of up to 75mph, the potential disasters (both physical and legal) are apparent. Why would Mazda expose itself to unnecessary risk if other, hardier vehicles are available?

My advice is as follows:

Towing with a US model 5 may void your warranty. I'm not totally sure of this, but I'm waiting until my warranty is over or getting something in writing from Mazda saying it's OK first.

Buy a quality hitch and have it put on by a quality installer. This should not be your first mechanical experiment.

Even if the hitch itself is rated for 2000 lbs and that U-haul guy says that the 5x8 trailer without brakes you're renting maxes out at 2700lbs, don't be a fool. This ain't no Peterbilt. No F-350. No Grand Cherokee. This ain't even an S-10 Chevy. You saw it up there before: trailer without brakes was 600 kg. That's only 1322 lbs and the trailer already weighs 900 lbs empty. Pack lightly. Get a smaller and lighter trailer to begin with so you can load a bit more stuff.

Drive at a sane speed. Especially when towing a trailer, the speed limit is not always sane. Further, just because it'll do 88 mph on a downhill, remember that you're trying to get to Des Moines, not 1985.

It is not designed to tow.