Help me make a list

[MissKatie]

Within the next couple years I'm going to be buying a new car, preferably sooner rather than later given that THIS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOhX-jpeX5c) is the crash test of my vehicle (and I like my head).

So give me some recommendations to help me make a list of vans and cars with wide back seats (for a possible 3 across) that have side curtain air bags and decent crash test ratings. I don't know when I'm going to be able to afford ANYTHING, but I'd like to have some things in mind when that day comes.

[Pixels]

Do you have a preference on the number of passengers? Or at least a minimum? Right now I'm totally in :love: with the Mazda5. There's no 3-acrossing in that vehicle because it's 3 rows of 2 seats each. First and second row are captain's chairs. The third row is more bench-like, but I believe Defrost said that you can put two Regents SBS back there. It's pretty wide because it is only two seats. It does have side curtain air bags all the way to the third row (some 3-row vehicles only have SCAB for the first two rows).

The Mazda5 performed well on crash testing. It received 5 stars on NHTSA's driver and passenger frontal tests, 5 stars for front row side impact, 4 stars for back seat side impact. IIHS has not tested the Mazda5.

[MissKatie]

It HAS to seat at least three rear passengers, two in car seats, maybe three depending on how M five step tests in that particular vehicle.

I'm looking at buying something used but new to me at this point and I can spend about $8000 according to my current budget.

I'll check out the one you mentioned :)

[tumblebug]

You could always get a cadillac :ROTFLMAO: I have yet to play three across in my father's. :rolleyes:

[MissKatie]

I really wish used car listings online told you how wide the back seat was, or perhaps which car seats fit in a three across, LOL. I'm not opposed to a van but there are far fewer vans out there.

[codex57]

Edmunds lists dimensions and specs of cars going pretty far back. You can also run a search on a car mag's site like caranddriver.com. Going that route generally means you've narrowed your search down to some possibilities and are just checking to see if the back seats are wide or not.

In general, you'll want a domestic vehicle, altho $8K is quite a good sum in this current market.

[BookMama]

I've found that Googling "model year make model hip room" should give you the info you need. For instance, I Googled "1998 Ford Escort hip room" and several sites with the rear seat measurement came up.

[MissKatie]

WDYT about a 2005 Kia Sedona?