Hi. I'm currently looking at the Mazda5 (and Rondo). My wife is pregnant and we're trying to find a roomy car (we've got a dog too) without going for an SUV/minivan. My biggest concern about the 5 is the front legroom. We both found it a bit tight on the passenger side in particular. I would like to know how much room there is with a rear-facing convertible kids seat in the second row. I'm 6"2 and my wife is 5"8. If anyone has any comments, I'd appreciate all the information I can get.
Baby seats and the Mazda5
- Thread starter gregzilla
- Start date
mazdaspeedster3
Member
- :
- Mazdaspeed3. 2008
I am 6'1" and am looking at turning our CX7 in and getting the 5 as well. Front seat space is a little tight but tolerable. Did you get to drive it? I liked the ride and the back is what I like the best. My son will be 9 months tomorrow and the rear facing convertible car seat is the worst and takes up a lot of room but seems to fit. Not much help for you but know your pain!
We have the baby seat 'permanently' installed in driver side of 2nd row. Baby don't need legroom so driver seat can be moved farthest if needed.
In a shortwhile the baby sit becomes a booster seat.. and it will be no problem.
And yes the little ones do like sitting in the 3rd row window side. good that there is no 7th seat.
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=134493
In a shortwhile the baby sit becomes a booster seat.. and it will be no problem.
And yes the little ones do like sitting in the 3rd row window side. good that there is no 7th seat.
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=134493
Last edited:
mountjonas
Member
- :
- 2013 VRM MS3
yup. with the driver seat all the way back, and all the way down (seat height), there was still room for our rear facing graco metro lite travel system.
avoid bob baker mazda in oceanside, they're pushy as hell and their manager thinks that even though he's in a cubicle, no one can hear him yell.
avoid bob baker mazda in oceanside, they're pushy as hell and their manager thinks that even though he's in a cubicle, no one can hear him yell.
We haven't bought a car seat yet, my wife isn't due until December. So any seat recommendations are welcome as well 
. We looked at the Forester and Outback. Both a bit more expensive than we'd like and seem to have less room in the back than the 5 (or Rondo). I am really only concerned about the time the kid will be in the rear-facing convertible.
. We looked at the Forester and Outback. Both a bit more expensive than we'd like and seem to have less room in the back than the 5 (or Rondo). I am really only concerned about the time the kid will be in the rear-facing convertible.We've been dealing with Westcott Mazda in National City. The guys there have been very helpful, upfront and really relaxed about everything. A pleasure to deal with.
I'm not worried about an infant carrier fitting, more worried about when the kid doesn't fit in the carrier any more and needs to be in a convertible and still be rear facing.
I'm not worried about an infant carrier fitting, more worried about when the kid doesn't fit in the carrier any more and needs to be in a convertible and still be rear facing.
I am looking at this seat, as the headrest is removable:
http://www.learningcurve.com/product/detail/Y11006
http://www.learningcurve.com/product/detail/Y11006
- :
- 2008 Mazda5 5MT Sport w/ Popular Package
You may have seen this already, but for the rest of the folks...
I'm close to 6' and wife is around 5'7" or so. The front passenger seat has to be around 2 clicks before the last position and some recline up to make the seat fit, but is not as bad as my old car (a civic) or SUVs I've seen. Wife can make 6hr trips or so on it, so no big thing. I can fit as well and is a little bit tight, but OK for short trips. Both seats are humongous Britax Marathons.
Here are my car seats' pics, hope this helps...
http://www.mazdav.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=130475&d=1210083042
http://www.mazdav.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=130474&d=1210083042
Stores usually have some demo seats that you can use before buy. They WON'T let you buy one and return it, mostly for safety reasons, just in case a car seat gets into an accident and then returned (who knows)
I'm close to 6' and wife is around 5'7" or so. The front passenger seat has to be around 2 clicks before the last position and some recline up to make the seat fit, but is not as bad as my old car (a civic) or SUVs I've seen. Wife can make 6hr trips or so on it, so no big thing. I can fit as well and is a little bit tight, but OK for short trips. Both seats are humongous Britax Marathons.
Here are my car seats' pics, hope this helps...
http://www.mazdav.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=130475&d=1210083042
http://www.mazdav.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=130474&d=1210083042
Stores usually have some demo seats that you can use before buy. They WON'T let you buy one and return it, mostly for safety reasons, just in case a car seat gets into an accident and then returned (who knows)
whosurdaddy
Member
"I would like to know how much room there is with a rear-facing convertible kids seat in the second row"
FYI, the 2nd row also can be shifted forward or backwards. So if you don't have anyone in the 3rd row, you can shift each row back.
FYI, the 2nd row also can be shifted forward or backwards. So if you don't have anyone in the 3rd row, you can shift each row back.
Hi Jeebusm3. Do you have a rear-facing convertible behind you? If so, what make/model of car seat is it?
We have an Evenflow Titan Elite. It's a bit more basic than a lot of convertibles, but works great and has a smaller footprint:
https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)
I was really thinking about the Britax seats, but (and I know this will stir the pot a bit) the budget didn't allow room to buy 2 Britax seats at $200+ each. the Tit5an was only $99 due to it's "old-style" adjusters, but has been very easy to adjust so far.
We had a Sateyfirst seat that didn't fit and we returned for the Evenflow. The 5 isn't too bad for room, but the Titan is about the only thing to squeeze into my '01 Toyota Echo (though the passenger seat is unusable). The Saftey first didn't even fit int eh ECHO without the passenger seat leaned forward.
https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)
I was really thinking about the Britax seats, but (and I know this will stir the pot a bit) the budget didn't allow room to buy 2 Britax seats at $200+ each. the Tit5an was only $99 due to it's "old-style" adjusters, but has been very easy to adjust so far.
We had a Sateyfirst seat that didn't fit and we returned for the Evenflow. The 5 isn't too bad for room, but the Titan is about the only thing to squeeze into my '01 Toyota Echo (though the passenger seat is unusable). The Saftey first didn't even fit int eh ECHO without the passenger seat leaned forward.
cprtrainer
Member
I can help you on this one...
We have a 7 yr old in a booster behind the driver, and a 7 month old behind the passenger.
He has been riding in this:
http://www.elitecarseats.com/Peg-Perego-Primo-Viaggio-SIP-30-30.pro
And we are switching him to this seat on Saturday:
http://www.elitecarseats.com/Maxi-Cosi-Priori.pro
With the infant seat, we have the passenger seat up about 4 notches (it's quite big)- my wife is 5'5" and fits just fine. It's a bit tight for me at 6' with long legs. It is really tight in our 3- with the seat up and the airbag is too close for comfort.
The new seat fits very well with our trial tests. The front seat is up 2 notches and can be reclined just slightly. We shopped long and hard to find a safe convertible with a small "footprint" but will still be comfortable for him. It is European and is designed for smaller cars. It reclines to allow him to sleep but does not impact the space required- pretty slick.
Overall the 5 is an excellent family car. My wife loves the sliders for loading the kid in parking lots, and it holds everything needed for the little ones. We love the driving capabilities of the car, and it gets great mileage (avg 26). If you find one you like- grab it!
Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions! Congrats on the forthcoming child!!
We have a 7 yr old in a booster behind the driver, and a 7 month old behind the passenger.
He has been riding in this:
http://www.elitecarseats.com/Peg-Perego-Primo-Viaggio-SIP-30-30.pro
And we are switching him to this seat on Saturday:
http://www.elitecarseats.com/Maxi-Cosi-Priori.pro
With the infant seat, we have the passenger seat up about 4 notches (it's quite big)- my wife is 5'5" and fits just fine. It's a bit tight for me at 6' with long legs. It is really tight in our 3- with the seat up and the airbag is too close for comfort.
The new seat fits very well with our trial tests. The front seat is up 2 notches and can be reclined just slightly. We shopped long and hard to find a safe convertible with a small "footprint" but will still be comfortable for him. It is European and is designed for smaller cars. It reclines to allow him to sleep but does not impact the space required- pretty slick.
Overall the 5 is an excellent family car. My wife loves the sliders for loading the kid in parking lots, and it holds everything needed for the little ones. We love the driving capabilities of the car, and it gets great mileage (avg 26). If you find one you like- grab it!
Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions! Congrats on the forthcoming child!!
Hi there, been a number of questions about child seat configuration so I thought I'd share and actually went out to take pictures to show people. We have my 4.5 year old child in a forward facing seat and my 7 month old in a rear facing. They are situated left and right only because I park on the left and it's easier to place the baby in from the middle aisle which is wider than being against a wall. BTW, I bought the Mazda5 because it's the smallest car out there with sliding doors, in tight garages there is no other vehicle that allows such easy entry and exit.
Both 2nd row seats are pushed all the way back and the tops are slightly reclined. Both front seats are pushed forward slightly. I'm about 5'9" and my Wife is probably 5'6". Neither of our knees are right up against the dash and we also sit upright properly and don't recline the seats at all.
Hope these pictures help people who are figuring out how to place the seats and what will fit.
I absolutely love this car.
Both 2nd row seats are pushed all the way back and the tops are slightly reclined. Both front seats are pushed forward slightly. I'm about 5'9" and my Wife is probably 5'6". Neither of our knees are right up against the dash and we also sit upright properly and don't recline the seats at all.
Hope these pictures help people who are figuring out how to place the seats and what will fit.
I absolutely love this car.
We actually have a forward-facing Recaro (like the one posted above) right now. But we have another kiddo on the way and we'll pull out the rear-facing one again. I think it's a graco of some sorts. I'll look.
+2 on the Britax Marathons. We have two and neither show any wear.
Started out with one Combi, that was good for newborn-~1yr old. It had the matching stroller and it was smaller than the Britax.
You can get a pretty good deal on ebay for a Britax (new of course) so its not quite so hard on the wallet esp. if its an odd color/pattern. Colors/patterns do not affect crash worthiness.
Started out with one Combi, that was good for newborn-~1yr old. It had the matching stroller and it was smaller than the Britax.
You can get a pretty good deal on ebay for a Britax (new of course) so its not quite so hard on the wallet esp. if its an odd color/pattern. Colors/patterns do not affect crash worthiness.
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