Model Year | 2009 | 2015 | |
Model | Mazda Mazda5 | Toyota Highlander | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Minivan | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 108.3 in | 109.8 in | -1.5 in |
Length | 181.5 in | 191.1 in | -9.6 in |
Width | 69.1 in | 75.8 in | -6.7 in |
Height | 64.2 in | 68.1 in | -3.9 in |
Curb Weight | 3417 lb. | 4134 lb. | -717 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 15.9 gal. | 19.2 gal. | -3.3 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 40.7 in | 40.7 in | 0 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.5 in | 59.3 in | -3.8 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 52.9 in | 57.2 in | -4.3 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 40.7 in | 44.2 in | -3.5 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 39.4 in | 39.9 in | -0.5 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 55.6 in | 59.6 in | -4 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 58.3 in | 57.1 in | 1.2 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 35.2 in | 38.4 in | -3.2 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 37.1 in | 35.9 in | 1.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 49.2 in | 55.0 in | -5.8 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 40.9 in | 45.6 in | -4.7 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 30.7 in | 27.7 in | 3 in |
Total Legroom | 106.6 in (over 3 rows) | 110.3 in (over 3 rows) | -3.7 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 11.3 ft3 | 13.8 ft3 | -2.5 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 44.4 ft3 | 42.3 ft3 | 2.1 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 70.9 ft3 | 83.7 ft3 | -12.8 ft3 |
2009 Mazda Mazda5 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
6-passenger seating adequate for older teens, stows away for hauling capacity. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2010 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
2nd-row seat slide fore/aft and recline. Ample room even for larger passengers to be comfortable on long trips. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2010 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
CAN SEAT 6 PEOPLE 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 |
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 |
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 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 |
2009 Mazda Mazda5 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Too small for a road trip with 6 grown men. The 2nd row is tight but not uncomfortable for me (6 ft tall). The 3rd row is for children or pets only. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2010 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Not great support in either the seat cushion or back. However, driving position is fine. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2010 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
LAST ROW TOO SMALL FOR ADULTS 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 |
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 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 |
2015 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
Toyota replaced the 2013 Highlander's rear struts with control arms to enable a three-inch-wider third-row seat, and then used the extra space to cram in a third seating position. So if you need seats for eight people, only the Highlander will do in this threesome. A top-of-the-line Santa Fe only seats six. Other eight-pass options include the Honda Pilot and GM's large crossovers. But those three people best be small, as the Highlander doesn't have nearly as much rear legroom as the Pathfinder or the Santa Fe. To fit children of even middling size in the third row it's necessary to slide the second row well forward. The second row seat cushion is mounted too low for adult comfort. The Nissan's second row suffers from a similar shortcoming, but the Hyundai's does not. see full Toyota Highlander review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2015 Toyota Highlander.