Rear air vents?

[Bearich]

Test drove a 2016 CX-5 GT and loved it except for the fact that it lacks rear air vents. I have a toddler in a rear facing car seat and really wanted vents back there so he stays cooler in the summer. We are also considering the Honda CRV which does have the air vents in the backseat but overall we prefer the CX-5.

How is the air flow in the back seat of the CX-5? Any thoughts if the 2017 will have rear air vents? We can wait to buy a new car if need be, although I'd rather not if next year's model won't have them then I'd like to buy now!

 

[inlinev]

The CX-5 doesn't possess the interior volume of say a Suburban. So the temperature deviation between the front and rear tend to be minimal. I have them in my accord, and I can't remember the last time I had them on. In fact my passengers don't even turn them on in hot days.

The 2017 will likely be exactly as the 2016, given the 2016 was the mid cycle refresh.

 

[123373]

I am pretty sure there are vents under the front seats facing rearward. I will have to check again.

 

[yrwei52]

I am pretty sure there are vents under the front seats facing rearward. I will have to check again.

Vents under the front seat are for heating purpose only. Lack of the rear AC vents on 2016 MY mid-cycle refresh is indeed a disappointment. But CX-5 is missing memory seat, dead pedal cover, liftgate release buttons near driver seat and key fob, and these rear AC vents which are all available or installed on the Mazda6 and Honda CR-V. I guess without these features on CX-5 is still better than CR-Vibration by the CVT.

 

[IHeartGroceries]

Lack of rear vents does suck. In my opinion, in Texas heat, the rear seat gets hot. Not a huge issue for my wife and I for the past few years. But, now that the little one is here, it just wasn't going to work.

So, picked up one of these...



It's a Noggle. Totally ridiculous looking, I know. And a borderline hindrance for the front passenger. But, works well. Very well. Available in an assortment of patterns and solid colors and lengths. I chose black, and it matches the interior well. Well made, easy install...it's the way to go. Better than owning anything else in this class of vehicles...

 

[Bearich]

Yeah, the CRV has a few better features but I'm concerned about the CVT transmission. I'm not willing to pay that kind of money on a car that may have vibration issues. It's too bad Mazda didn't add this to the 2016.

I'll have to look into that Noggle for my son. It looks crazy but I guess it's worth it if it keeps him from sweltering in his car seat.

 

[craigo]

I've had back passengers complain about too much airflow when I direct the center stack vents that way. It seems those work pretty well - and I'm in Texas.

 

[IHeartGroceries]

I've had back passengers complain about too much airflow when I direct the center stack vents that way. It seems those work pretty well - and I'm in Texas.

Okay, let's be honest here...it's probably adequate for adults. But, for young children, especially in a rear facing car seat, the front vents don't cut it.

I think it's idiotic that the CX-5 doesn't have rear vents, but the 6 does. The CX-5 has tons more cargo volume. My groceries in the back don't stand a chance in summer.

My SHO had rear vents.

My new 3 does not, but it's a much smaller area, and so the front vents legitimately suffice, even with my newborn in her rear facing seat.

 

[Bearich]

Okay, let's be honest here...it's probably adequate for adults. But, for young children, especially in a rear facing car seat, the front vents don't cut it.

I think it's idiotic that the CX-5 doesn't have rear vents, but the 6 does. The CX-5 has tons more cargo volume. My groceries in the back don't stand a chance in summer.

My SHO had rear vents.

My new 3 does not, but it's a much smaller area, and so the front vents legitimately suffice, even with my newborn in her rear facing seat.

That being said, do you consider the lack of air vents a deal breaker for buying a CX-5 given children will be in back rear facing for at least a few more years?

 

[IHeartGroceries]

No, I don't. Not when there's alternarives like the noggle vent thing on the market. There's more positives to buying a Mazda over a Honda or Toyota, overlooking the rear vent issue.

If you live in a hot climate and think the noggle is too silly (and it borderline is, I literally LOLd the first time I saw one), then I'd say no rear vent issue is a fairly big one. If I had to regularly haul people around in the rear of my wife's CX-5 in Texas summer without the Noggle (adult or child) I'd have to consider getting into something else.

With the Noggle, if you happen to have only a front passenger who wants or needs the extra air, and nobody in back, a simple twist from the mounting adapter plate and the hose is off, re-exposing the vent.

 

[Dr Kev]

To each their own. I don't care about rear air vents. I find it idiotic and inexcusable that competing vehicles ( CR-V; Rogue) don't have a proper transmission manual mode!

 

[Ride92]

Why not hook up that noodle to the air vents found under the seats?

 

[Abbie Normal]

Why not hook up that noodle to the air vents found under the seats?

because they aren't A/C vents

 

[inlinev]

because they aren't A/C vents

You can't tell the hvac to redirect cold air to the floor vents? I find that hard to believe. The hvac defaults to center for AC and floor for heat. But I don't see why you would be locked in to the direction of air flow.

 

[Skorpio]

Vents under the front seat are for heating purpose only.

because they aren't A/C vents

Did you post this after you checked this in your vehicles?

You can't tell the hvac to redirect cold air to the floor vents? I find that hard to believe. The hvac defaults to center for AC and floor for heat. But I don't see why you would be locked in to the direction of air flow.

This is correct. I'm currently sitting in the back seat of my '15 GT and the lower vents under the seat is blowing cold air with settings on with a floor option selected. Now whether it's blowing cold and hard enough for the OP's child, this I cannot answer. I would suggest going back to the dealer and check the back seat area with the HVAC in a mode with a floor setting and determine if it fits their needs.

 

[IHeartGroceries]

I've never verified airflow from the under seat vents, one way or the other.

In 100 degree plus temps, with few trees for shade in North Texas, there's no escaping it. And the black interior of a car becomes overwhelmingly hot. There's no way those would suffice, especially for a child in a car seat (front or rear facing). If you've returned to your vehicle form shopping or whatever, it becomes a race to cool the interior, because it is dangerously hot for a young child. The Noggle (or rear vents, if equipped) really helps with that, as it begins to cool the rear immidiately.

We haven't carried many rear passages in the CX-5, until now. Historically, neither the front vents, nor the lower vents have sufficed in the heat of summer, for the passengers we have carried.

If you're hauling rear passengers once or twice per week, probably no biggie having no rear vents. But, having kids back there virtually every single trip taken in the vehicle, they're necessity, IMO. Feel like I'm repeating myself now, though. So...priorities! They're different for all of us. But, I encourage potential buyers to stick around, even despite no vents. There's certainly ways to correct the issue, should it be of concern. Happy shopping!

 

[Rarebit]

It won't work with the AC set on Auto because the Auto setting directs cold air to the dash vents. But no doubt, using the floor setting directs air from the heat/cool system through the floor vents, whether it's hot air or cold. I can't imagine any car company putting in separate venting systems for hot and cold when one system for both would do the job.

 

[yrwei52]

Vents under the front seat are for heating purpose only.

Did you post this after you checked this in your vehicles?

It's physics, Cold air is coming down and hot air is going up. The floor vents are simply not effective for cooling.

 

[Rarebit]

It's physics, Cold air is coming down and hot air is going up. The floor vents are simply not effective for cooling.

True. Cold air falls, warm air rises. Which is why when I have back seat passengers, I direct my dash vents to blow air up to the roof area so it falls into the back seat as well as directing air to the floor. I can't say how well this will work in Texas, but it works with temperatures in the high 80s. Note that takes a while to get the inside temperature to a comfortable level. I've had back seat passengers ask for a less cold setting during long drives, but that doesn't help in the 5 minute drive to the supermarket.

 

[thedaddyb]

It is one of the small gripes that I have with the CX-5 (lack of rear vents).

We've had some pretty hot days here in MD lately and the window tint helps and my wife will usually activate the remote start and let it run for 5-10 minutes before heading out with the little one. She's in a rear facing seat and is comfortable enough that she isn't fussy or sweaty after a drive.

We tend to angle to side vents toward the back to direct more air in that direction.