Mazda 5

[willi]

Hi,

we have a 4 years old child still in Capt car seat. We are expecting twins and trying to get a second car. we wanted to get the mazda 5, but when we went to check it out, the dealer told us that it can only fit two car seats in the 2nd row . Apparently the 3rd row is only for children old enough to use the seat belt. Has anyone have an experience with this? Or could anyone recommend us a minivan that can feet two bb car seats and a captain car seat?
Thanks,

willi

	Backless Booster Backless booster--A booster that does not have a high back and will hold children from 4-10 years old AND 40-100lbs. This booster can only be used if the seat is higher than the tips of the child's ears OR if there is a headrest behind the child's head.

[Papooses]

Hi there! I'm going to ask another CPST who has quite a bit of experience with the Mazda 5 to come answer your question.... Please be patient

[Defrost]

Hi, I own a 2007 Mazda5, and I'm also a CPST.

In my experience, many car salesmen do not realize that carseats can still be installed with the seatbelt - therefore, they think that only seating positions with LATCH can be used with carseats. I suspect that is why you were told the 3rd row of the Mazda5 is "only for kids old enough to use the seatbelt."

Technically, this is untrue. While the 3rd row doesn't have LATCH, it does have top-tethers, which are for carseats, and the manual does include instructions on how to install carseats in the 3rd row. You can check this yourself by simply asking the salesman to show you the vehicle manual - it's under "child restraints" in the table of contents.

HOWEVER - I will warn you in advance, there are some issues with the 3rd row and installing carseats. While I otherwise LOVE my Mazda5, the 3rd row seatbelts have a design flaw that makes installing some carseats a lot of work, or even impossible (this depends on the particular carseat). The seat belts in the 3rd row also make a very poor fit when used with booster seats.

I'd like to add that this doesn't apply at all to the 2nd row - carseats and boosters both work very well in those seats!

I have installed quite a variety of carseats in my car, in both rows. I'm not sure what you mean by "captain" carseat, but if you post which carseats you'll be using, I can let you know if I've tried them out.

	Booster Seat A booster seat raises your child up so that the car's lap and shoulder belts fit correctly. The lap belt should fall across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should go across the middle of the shoulder and chest. A booster seat is used for older children up to about 80 pounds. Some states have passed laws requiring booster seats for children up to age 8 or 80 pounds. Check your state's law.

	LATCH LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. It is a system mandated by the Federal government in an effort to standardize and simplify the installation of child restraints without using the vehicle's seat belt system. New vehicles and child safety seats manufactured on and after September 1, 2002 will be equipped with the LATCH system. Cars, minivans, and light trucks will be required to have anchor points between the vehicle's seat cushion and the seat back in at least two rear seating positions, and a top tether anchor (with the exception of convertibles). Child safety seats will have a lower set of attachments that fasten to the vehicle anchors. Most forward-facing child safety seats will also have a top strap (tether) that attaches to the top anchor in the vehicle.

[willi]

Hi there,

Thanks very much for all the info. I have a car seat: a Deluxe-3-in-1 by Eddie Bauer, a link to the model I have is here Eddie Bauer | 22758-Deluxe 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
I'll be happy to hear from you whether I can install this car seat in the 3rd row.

Thanks a lot.

Willi

Originally Posted by Defrost

Hi, I own a 2007 Mazda5, and I'm also a CPST.

In my experience, many car salesmen do not realize that carseats can still be installed with the seatbelt - therefore, they think that only seating positions with LATCH can be used with carseats. I suspect that is why you were told the 3rd row of the Mazda5 is "only for kids old enough to use the seatbelt."

Technically, this is untrue. While the 3rd row doesn't have LATCH, it does have top-tethers, which are for carseats, and the manual does include instructions on how to install carseats in the 3rd row. You can check this yourself by simply asking the salesman to show you the vehicle manual - it's under "child restraints" in the table of contents.

HOWEVER - I will warn you in advance, there are some issues with the 3rd row and installing carseats. While I otherwise LOVE my Mazda5, the 3rd row seatbelts have a design flaw that makes installing some carseats a lot of work, or even impossible (this depends on the particular carseat). The seat belts in the 3rd row also make a very poor fit when used with booster seats.

I'd like to add that this doesn't apply at all to the 2nd row - carseats and boosters both work very well in those seats!

I have installed quite a variety of carseats in my car, in both rows. I'm not sure what you mean by "captain" carseat, but if you post which carseats you'll be using, I can let you know if I've tried them out.

	Booster Seat A booster seat raises your child up so that the car's lap and shoulder belts fit correctly. The lap belt should fall across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should go across the middle of the shoulder and chest. A booster seat is used for older children up to about 80 pounds. Some states have passed laws requiring booster seats for children up to age 8 or 80 pounds. Check your state's law.

	LATCH LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. It is a system mandated by the Federal government in an effort to standardize and simplify the installation of child restraints without using the vehicle's seat belt system. New vehicles and child safety seats manufactured on and after September 1, 2002 will be equipped with the LATCH system. Cars, minivans, and light trucks will be required to have anchor points between the vehicle's seat cushion and the seat back in at least two rear seating positions, and a top tether anchor (with the exception of convertibles). Child safety seats will have a lower set of attachments that fasten to the vehicle anchors. Most forward-facing child safety seats will also have a top strap (tether) that attaches to the top anchor in the vehicle.