The Mazda CX-5 is an SUV with a sophisticated and modern look. Its exterior and interior are impeccably designed to give drivers and passengers a smooth driving experience. But aside from the comfort level, you might be wondering about the seating options and how they'll work for your family. Can the vehicle accommodate three car seats? We researched all the answers to get them to you!
Yes, you can fit three car seats in the Mazda CX-5. However, when it comes to rear-facing seating, the vehicle can fit a standard maximum of two car seats.
There are a lot of features to explore with the Mazda CX-5's interior. Read further if you want to find out more about the SUV's seating design.
The Mazda CX-5's Seating Design
The Mazda CX-5 seats 5. The rear seats can fold almost completely flat. Behind the wheel, you'll appreciate excellent visibility in all directions. The front seats provide a lot of head and legroom. Even the rear seats can fit up to three adults, though it might be a little snug.
The outboard seats comprise two sets of latch connectors that offer safety and convenience to secure child car seats.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety even rated the Mazda CX-5's 2017-2022 models LATCH system as A or Acceptable overall in terms of easy usage and child seat anchors.
Pointers For Fitting Car Seats On The Mazda CX-5
The Mazda CX-5 is a solid compact SUV and it's no wonder that families across the US in recent years have turned to the vehicle to transport their kids.
As much as the vehicle provides enough space for head and legroom, the middle seat can make three-across installation slightly difficult. The best way to install car seats on the vehicle is to work with two-across outboard installations instead.
Look at some of the best practice principles for car seats and which one works for you.
Rear-facing car seats are the safest way to seat your child. This is ideal for infants and toddlers up to 4 years of age. Always rear-face your infants, toddlers, and preschoolers as much as possible. Doing so lessens the possibility of children suffering from leg injuries in case a horrible collision happens.
It is recommended to front face children with a harnessed convertible or combination seats for children five to eight years of age. You should also use a high-back booster seat until they're physically and psychologically ready to use the adult seat.
For your convenience, we have listed car seats that are suitable for the Mazda CX-5:
- Clek Fllo
- Clek Foonf
- Diono Radiant 3RXT
- Diono Radian 3RX
- Clek Oobr
- Diono Radian R100
- Chicco KeyFit 30
You can take a look at this video by Sport Mazda South for additional guidelines on setting up car seats in the Mazda CX-5:
Here is another video by Fit The Fam that will come in handy in case you really want to pursue fitting three car seats into your Mazda CX-5:
How Do You Secure Car Seats?
The safety of children should always be prioritized when driving on the road. It is a parent's responsibility to focus on and ensure the welfare of children.
One of the best ways to start with providing security is to choose a quality car seat that benefits all your child's needs.
Click here to see Graco's car seat on Amazon.
Guidelines to Follow
To secure your car seats, here are some guidelines you need to follow:
- Always refer to your car seat's owner's manual. Each car seat comes with an instruction manual including all the details you need to know from installation, warranty, and restrictions.
- Go over your Mazda CX-5's manual and discover its safety features when installing your car seat.
- Put your car seat in the right spot at all times. The back seat is the safest option, by far. Since the rear-facing position is only appropriate for the rear seats too. And even if your children outgrow this placement, it's recommended that they should still stay in the back seat, even with a front-facing, booster seat, or adult seat belt.
- The center of the back seat is considered the safest spot in the vehicle. As much as possible, you should position your car seat in there, specifically if you have one child only.
- Car seats should never be attached to seats with active airbags.
- Lock the seat belts, stabilize the latch and lower anchors. Doing so assures extra security so that the belt won't loosen up.
- If your car seat has a theater strap, optimize its use. This prevents head movement in cases of unimaginable car accidents.
- Once your car seat is mounted, make sure to tighten everything. You can check this by wiggling the seat back and forth then side to side. It should not move more than one inch in any direction.
- Make sure that the base of the seat is leveled. Adjust the angles and review your car seat level indicators.
For more insight on car seat installation, you might want to take a look at this video by The Doctors. A certified child passenger seat safety tech explains car seat mistakes and how you should avoid them:
Does Mazda CX-5 Have Adjustable Seats?
Reclining seats are an added advantage to your vehicle as it offers comfort to your rear-seat passengers. Rear seats that can be folded down are also accommodating features when you want to travel and store a lot of stuff inside your car.
Mazda CX-5 offers the best of both worlds! It provides rear seats that can be folded down, and reclining front seats too! Some models even come with a remote handle that can help you operate the seats. The center of the rear backseat can also serve as an armrest when it is not placed upright.
Does The Mazda CX-5 Have A Spacious Cargo?
The Mazda CX-5 is hailed as a small crossover. But despite that, it still provides enough cargo space for you and your family. The cargo space has 30.9 cubic feet of room. You can extend this up to 59.6 cubic feet of space when seats are folded down.
The model has a 40/20/40 split-fold-down rear seat that grants the right configuration to whatever means you need it.
If you want to know more about the Mazda CX-5's cargo space, you can read How Many Suitcases Fit In A Mazda CX-5?
Mazda CX-5 Interior Features
The standard feature of the Mazda CX-5 supplies a push-start button and a Mazda Connect infotainment system with a 7-inch touch screen, equipped with four Bose speakers where you can play HD radio, Bluetooth, and two USB ports.
Other trim levels of the CX-5 such as S Select, S Preferred, Carbon Edition, and Turbo Signature include a moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10.5" full-color display infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It has a navigation system, Bose 10-speaker audio surround sound system, SiriusXM satellite radio, two USB audio inputs, and dual rear USB charging ports.
Mazda CX-5 also comes with a driver assistance feature that includes a 360 camera and monitor, Mazda radar cruise control. Other safety features that come with the vehicle are the following:
- Lane Departure Warning
- Lane Keep Assist
- Adaptive Front-Lighting
- Blind-spot Assist
- Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA)
- Forward Collision Warning
- Pedestrian Detection
- Smart Braking System
- Driver Attention Alert
You can have a run-through of the vehicle's interior look with this video:
For more information on these specific features, you might also want to read How To Use Mazda CX-5 Navigation System or Does Mazda CX-5 Have Apple Carplay?
Is The Mazda CX-5 A Good Family Car?
According to Consumer Reports, the Mazda CX-5 is overall a good family car. However, if you have a growing family, there are certain factors you need to consider.
But some consumers also claim that it's the ultimate family car because of excellent storage space, plenty of back seat room, and it offers a smooth and silent ride. Above all of that, the car's demeanor is something only you can determine personally.
In Closing
It's possible to fit three car seats in the Mazda CX-5, but if you want an allowance for space, it's best to put two car seats only. Now that you are aware of all of this, drive safely and enjoy the ride with your family!