Model Year | 2007 | 2016 | |
Model | Mazda Mazda5 | Kia Sorento | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Minivan | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 108.3 in | 109.4 in | -1.1 in |
Length | 181.5 in | 187.4 in | -5.9 in |
Width | 69.1 in | 74.4 in | -5.3 in |
Height | 64.2 in | 66.3 in | -2.1 in |
Curb Weight | 3333 lb. | 3704 lb. | -371 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 15.9 gal. | 18.8 gal. | -2.9 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 40.7 in | 39.5 in | 1.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.5 in | 59.1 in | -3.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 52.9 in | 56.7 in | -3.8 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 40.7 in | 41.2 in | -0.5 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 39.4 in | 39.3 in | 0.1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 55.6 in | 58.0 in | -2.4 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 58.3 in | 56.4 in | 1.9 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 35.2 in | 39.4 in | -4.2 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 37.1 in | 36.3 in | 0.8 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 49.2 in | 52.8 in | -3.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 40.9 in | 41.4 in | -0.5 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 30.7 in | 31.7 in | -1 in |
Total Legroom | 106.6 in (over 3 rows) | 112.3 in (over 3 rows) | -5.7 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 11.3 ft3 | 11.3 ft3 | 0 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 44.4 ft3 | 38.0 ft3 | 6.4 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 70.9 ft3 | 73.0 ft3 | -2.1 ft3 |
2007 Mazda Mazda5 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2008 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
One of the smallest vehicles with seating for 6. Going to a full size minivan removes the option for a manual transmission, severely reduces visibility and adds too much weight. SUVs are just way too big see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2008 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Space for two kids or adult to sit comfortably - elderly father sits up straight and can access easily with sliding doors. Pop up seats deal with short term travel with friends/teammates. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2008 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Ample space for such a small exterior. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2008 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
3rd row in a "car" is nice - we always have the occasional 3rd or 4th child and like that they are somewhat temporarily available. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2007 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Rear seats fit adults or kids in car seats adequately, especially for an economy car. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2006 | 4dr Minivan 157-horsepower 2.3L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Tons of rear seat room, and the second row seats can slide back/forth and recline. Third row is reserved for small children, however. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2006 | 4dr Minivan 157-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
The rear doors are the sliding type, which is the most practical (and brilliant) type of rear doors for children. I also like the fact that the middle seats recline and slide, they have storage under the cushions, and a third row of usable seating! see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2006 | 4dr Minivan 157-horsepower 2.3L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Great, height adjustable driver seat, with good lumbar support. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2006 | 4dr Minivan 157-horsepower 2.3L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Second row seats have lots of room, can slide fore and aft, and can recline. The passenger seats up in a chair-like posture, with great support for thighs. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2006 | 4dr Minivan 157-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Can easily and comfortably seat six (6!) adults in a small package with storage space remaining. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2007 Mazda Mazda5 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2007 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
With the seat all back, there is not much room for anyone over six feet tall. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2006 | 4dr Minivan 157-horsepower 2.3L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Tight fit once the front seats are slid back. Third row is useless if the second row is slid back. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
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. see full Kia Sorento review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2016 Kia Sorento.