Model Year | 2008 | 2013 | |
Model | Mazda Mazda5 | Mercedes-Benz GL | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Minivan | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 108.3 in | 121.0 in | -12.7 in |
Length | 181.5 in | 201.6 in | -20.1 in |
Width | 69.1 in | 76.4 in | -7.3 in |
Height | 64.2 in | 72.8 in | -8.6 in |
Curb Weight | 3417 lb. | 5401 lb. | -1984 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 15.9 gal. | 26.4 gal. | -10.5 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 40.7 in | 41.2 in | -0.5 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.5 in | 58.5 in | -3 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 52.9 in | 0.0 in | 52.9 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 40.7 in | 40.3 in | 0.4 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 39.4 in | 40.0 in | -0.6 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 55.6 in | 58.3 in | -2.7 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 58.3 in | 0.0 in | 58.3 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 35.2 in | 38.5 in | -3.3 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 37.1 in | 38.9 in | -1.8 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 49.2 in | 50.5 in | -1.3 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 40.9 in | 0.0 in | 40.9 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 30.7 in | 35.0 in | -4.3 in |
Total Legroom | 106.6 in (over 3 rows) | 113.8 in (over 3 rows) | -7.2 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 11.3 ft3 | 16.0 ft3 | -4.7 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 44.4 ft3 | 49.4 ft3 | -5 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 70.9 ft3 | 93.8 ft3 | -22.9 ft3 |
2008 Mazda Mazda5 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
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 |
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 |
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 |
2008 Mazda Mazda5 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Not enough leg room overall in the car. As a larger driver (6'3"), I need to push the drivers seat back. So the kid behind me has to get pushed back. Well the third row can't move back, so I've I'm driving, no one can sit in the third row driver's side and have any leg room. This is the worst for kids in full-size car seats, because the seats position their legs higher and forward of where a small adult's would be with no car seat. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2009 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
The center seats are adequate for tall adults. Judicious positioning of the front and center seats should get you better results than a subcompact. The third-row rear seats are for kids only. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2009 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
The back seat is made for very small folks only. The middle row seat belts are placed somewhat far back. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2009 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
The six-chair setup of the 5 means that luggage space is limited, and some may find the "three rows of two" arrangement adds difficulty to monitoring children in the far rear seats. In order to carry significant cargo the seats need to be removed. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
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 |
2013 Mercedes-Benz GL Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2013 | The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is just a little longer than the Audi Q7 (201.6 vs. 200.3 inches), and isn't as wide (76.4 vs. 78.1 inches). But the Mercedes is considerably taller (72.8 vs. 68.4 inches) and not nearly as curvy. Which might explain how it is far roomier than the much sleeker Audi. Combined legroom for all three rows is 107.6 inches in the Q7 vs. 113.8 inches in the GL-Class, a large difference. The Q7's space deficit grows the farther back you sit. For adults to even fit in the Audi's third row without extreme discomfort, those in the second row must slide their seats forward to the point that they are themselves short on knee room. While the new GL350's third row sits too low to provide thigh support, it's not nearly as cramped. Further evidence that Audi didn't intend the Q7's third row for frequent use: the second-row seat doesn't do a good job of getting out of the way, making the path in and out of the way-back perhaps the tightest I've experienced. The second-row seat in the GL-Class tips forward to open up a much wider path. If manually tipping the seat is too much of a chore (perhaps because you'e a five-year-old and haven't yet learned to read this), $400 buys a power assist. But even with this option the seat must be manually returned to its upright position, so the point eludes me. see full Mercedes-Benz GL review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL.