TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2015 Mazda CX-5
2015 Mazda CX-5 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year
Comment
There's no clear winner in rear seat room and comfort, either. The Mazda's rear seat is mounted a little lower than the Toyota's, and when sitting in it my knees are considerably closer (if still not close) to the front seat backs. Also, the Toyota's rear seat reclines, while the Mazda's does not. Neither car has air vents in the rear passenger compartment, but the RAV4 has a large vent high on the instrument panel apparently intended to push cool air into the rear seat via the ceiling. To counter these RAV4 advantages, the CX-5 offers about five inches more rear hip room. So three passengers will fit more comfortably.
see full Mazda CX-5 review
What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2015 Mazda CX-5
2015 Mazda CX-5 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year
Body/Powertrain
Comment
2015
4dr SUV 184-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
Soon after I bought the Mazda, I did an 8 hour trip in it. I found the seat comfort to be most satisfactory. I had no trouble finding a comfortable driving position using the power seat, and, the lumbar support.
see full Mazda CX-5 review
2015 Mazda CX-5 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year
Body/Powertrain
Comment
2014
4dr SUV 184-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
While recently shopping for a new car for the first time in over 10 years, I found that driver's seats are now made with high sides. For me, a 5'1" female driver, this makes it a bit awkward getting in and out. Combined with the higher ground clearance of a compact SUV, it's not the ideal setup. The Mazda CX-5 is not as bad as others, but it's still an issue.
see full Mazda CX-5 review
TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2016 Kia Sorento
2016 Kia Sorento Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year
Comment
Hyundai offers the Santa Fe in two lengths, a two-row 184.6-inch "Sport" and a three-row 193.1-inch regular version. Though the 2011-2015 Sorento had an optional third-row seat, it was about the same length as the Santa Fe Sport. Perhaps to better fit that third-row seat and differentiate itself from the two Hyundai variants, the 2016 Sorento is three inches longer than the 2015, for a total of 187.4.
Kia has done a good job packaging the new SUV. Though the Toyota Highlander and (2009-2015) Honda Pilot are considerably longer, their rear seats have no more rear legroom than the new Sorento's. At 5-9, I can just barely fit in any of them. Passengers will have more room to stretch their legs in the Santa Fe, though third-row headroom is similarly limited to people of at most my height. If you need an adult-friendly third-row, you really need a minivan. Kia offers an especially stylish one.
Like the Santa Fe, the Sorento falls between others' compact and midsize SUVs in width. There might not be more rear legroom in a Highlander or Pilot, but there's enough additional shoulder room to include a third seating position in the third row. If you need an eight-passenger vehicle, both the Sorento and the Santa Fe are out of contention. At least all trim levels of the Sorento can seat seven people. The Santa Fe Limited can only fit six.
In both the Kia and the Hyundai the second-row seat is mounted comfortably high off the floor, not a given among midsize crossovers. The third-row seat is mounted low to the floor, forcing a knees-high seating position, but this is pretty much a given in the class.
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What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2016 Kia Sorento
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2016 Kia Sorento.