TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2013 Toyota Highlander
2013 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
What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2013 Toyota Highlander
2013 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year
Body/Powertrain
Comment
2013
4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
Perfect for two car seats. Really neat trick - the middle seat for the 2nd row rolls up into the center console. I did not remove it nor attempt to sit in it but that does make the 3rd row more likely to be used for those with car seats.
I did not attempt to sit in the 3rd row (looked at it before folding into the floor for cargo space for the entire trip) so cannot opine on it. Use at your own risk.
see full Toyota Highlander review
2012
4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
I am 6 foot tall, and there is plenty of head and leg room in the driving position. Easy access as well.
see full Toyota Highlander review
2013 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year
Body/Powertrain
Comment
2012
4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
3rd row seats are useless to me. Too little room for adults. Should have been an option for families with small children. With 3rd row seating, you lose storage space.
see full Toyota Highlander review
TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2016 Mazda CX-3
2016 Mazda CX-3 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year
Comment
2016
The CX-3's driving position is very good, more car-like even than the HR-V's. The view forward is open. The view rearward, not so much, as the racy styling yields rear windows that are quite a bit smaller than the front ones. To help compensate, the outside mirrors are large plus blind sport warning is standard on the Touring and Grand Touring.
The CX-3's driver seat is very comfortable and provides good lateral support in turns. The cloth center pocket is cushy without being mushy. Unlike in the HR-V and some others, the headrest does not jut uncomfortably far forward. But the lumbar bulge is not adjustable. As is, it fit my back well, but many people will wish for more of a bulge. The HR-V's also non-adjustable lumbar bulge was too pronounced for my taste. The JUKE's seats are comfortable, but for effective side bolsters (and then some) you must step up to the NISMO.
Worth noting for those of you who get your coffee to go: the cup holders are located beneath the armrest (optional on the Sport, standard on the others). If you want to use them, then you can't use the armrest.
see full Mazda CX-3 review
2016 Mazda CX-3 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year
Comment
For people who have no interest in a manual transmission (the great majority), the Mazda CX-3's largest shortcoming is a rear seat that is tight even by small car standards. Sitting behind my 5-9 self, my knees pressed lightly against the front seat backs. I wasn't uncomfortable, but felt a little closed-in. A shame, as rear headroom is relatively plentiful and the rear seat is otherwise very comfortable.
The HR-V provides about four inches more rear legroom, a big difference.
According to their specs, the JUKE has three inches less rear legroom than the Mazda. In reality, though, I had perhaps an inch more rear knee room, but less rear headroom. The Nissan's rear seat might be slightly more adult-friendly than the Mazda's, but neither is a good choice if people taller than me will be sitting in both rows.
see full Mazda CX-3 review
What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2016 Mazda CX-3
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2016 Mazda CX-3.
