nataliem257
New member
Calling all gearheads. After the recent crash testing results on the Mazda 5, I've started researching/shopping my next car. I started out with a long list, and I've narrowed it down to a short list, all of which have positives and negatives. They all are similar in price, fuel economy, and are IIHS top safety picks +, and 5 star overall NHTSA. Hopefully someone will have some personal experience with some of the options that will help me off the fence. Here's my top 4:
2014 Mazda CX-5. I love, love, love this car. Aesthetically, this car wins by a mile. It was super fun to drive too. This is the car I "want", for all of the unpractical reasons. The big strike against is the stupid split in the backseat, rendering the middle seat completely useless. I only have 2 kids, so a lack of three across options isn't a total deal breaker, but with my oldest starting Kindergarten I wouldn't say a friend tag along occasionally wouldn't happen. If anyone has any experience with a three across, of any seats, that involved a HBB, that would be really helpful, because I can't see how it would be possible. My only option would be to get the lowest trim level that has a normal 60/40 split, which means no safety technology that I really really want. (Smart Brake and Frontal Obstruction Warning)
2014 Mazda 6. This is my 2nd favorite car stylistically. Fun to drive, sporty, nice and roomy cabin/backseat. The strike against it is the same as the CX-5, in order to get the nice safety tech I have to get the top of the line trim, which puts it in the upper portion of my budget. I think this is ridiculous. Why can't more manufacturers make options for people who like safety but are indifferent to butt warmers?
2014 Honda Accord. The biggest plus in the Accord's column is, well, it’s a Honda. I trust the brand, I drove a civic for 7 years before my 5 and loved it, traded it in with 140,000 and never did anything but an oil change. It’s a nice looking car, I liked the test drive, also plenty of room in the cabin and the backseat looked very carseat friendly. Their tech features are less fancy (frontal crash warning only, no braking), but are available on mid grade trims so I could get one for pretty reasonable.
2015 Subaru Legacy (hence the title). This car is a game changer. It would have never occurred to me to consider a Subaru, but I stumbled across it researching and was kinda blown away. The far and away most advanced safety technology in the class, G's across the board in the IIHS, and the bonus point for being the only car I'm considering to completely ace the NHTSA with 5 stars across the board. And all of that available for around $25,000. I test drove it and I really liked it, it felt very luxurious in the cabin, and although that wonky seat bight in the back left me scratching my head for a moment, I had a boulevard installed outboard in less than 3 minutes. I didn't install it but I did sit it in the middle, and I think a seatbelt install there would work, so lots of 3 across potential. And although it's a bonus that wasn't even on my radar, I could definitely see AWD being a safety feature. I don't LOVE the look of the car, but it’s very very nice, so I would definitely say I "like" it. The only real strike against it is I'm completely unfamiliar with the brand, I have never even known someone who drove one. So here are my options as I see it now --
Get a CX-5 in the lower trim, and compromise the safety tech. Does anyone have any statistics on how much the crash prevention features actually affect real world crash occurrence? Get a Mazda 6 in the highest trim and break the bank. Go with the old tried and true Honda, or get the Subaru that all signs are pointing to as the smartest play. Anyone that has any real life experience with problems, advantages, or incompatibilities with any of these cars but especially the Subaru as I'm completely clueless, would be greatly appreciated. I'm so undecided!
2014 Mazda CX-5. I love, love, love this car. Aesthetically, this car wins by a mile. It was super fun to drive too. This is the car I "want", for all of the unpractical reasons. The big strike against is the stupid split in the backseat, rendering the middle seat completely useless. I only have 2 kids, so a lack of three across options isn't a total deal breaker, but with my oldest starting Kindergarten I wouldn't say a friend tag along occasionally wouldn't happen. If anyone has any experience with a three across, of any seats, that involved a HBB, that would be really helpful, because I can't see how it would be possible. My only option would be to get the lowest trim level that has a normal 60/40 split, which means no safety technology that I really really want. (Smart Brake and Frontal Obstruction Warning)
2014 Mazda 6. This is my 2nd favorite car stylistically. Fun to drive, sporty, nice and roomy cabin/backseat. The strike against it is the same as the CX-5, in order to get the nice safety tech I have to get the top of the line trim, which puts it in the upper portion of my budget. I think this is ridiculous. Why can't more manufacturers make options for people who like safety but are indifferent to butt warmers?
2014 Honda Accord. The biggest plus in the Accord's column is, well, it’s a Honda. I trust the brand, I drove a civic for 7 years before my 5 and loved it, traded it in with 140,000 and never did anything but an oil change. It’s a nice looking car, I liked the test drive, also plenty of room in the cabin and the backseat looked very carseat friendly. Their tech features are less fancy (frontal crash warning only, no braking), but are available on mid grade trims so I could get one for pretty reasonable.
2015 Subaru Legacy (hence the title). This car is a game changer. It would have never occurred to me to consider a Subaru, but I stumbled across it researching and was kinda blown away. The far and away most advanced safety technology in the class, G's across the board in the IIHS, and the bonus point for being the only car I'm considering to completely ace the NHTSA with 5 stars across the board. And all of that available for around $25,000. I test drove it and I really liked it, it felt very luxurious in the cabin, and although that wonky seat bight in the back left me scratching my head for a moment, I had a boulevard installed outboard in less than 3 minutes. I didn't install it but I did sit it in the middle, and I think a seatbelt install there would work, so lots of 3 across potential. And although it's a bonus that wasn't even on my radar, I could definitely see AWD being a safety feature. I don't LOVE the look of the car, but it’s very very nice, so I would definitely say I "like" it. The only real strike against it is I'm completely unfamiliar with the brand, I have never even known someone who drove one. So here are my options as I see it now --
Get a CX-5 in the lower trim, and compromise the safety tech. Does anyone have any statistics on how much the crash prevention features actually affect real world crash occurrence? Get a Mazda 6 in the highest trim and break the bank. Go with the old tried and true Honda, or get the Subaru that all signs are pointing to as the smartest play. Anyone that has any real life experience with problems, advantages, or incompatibilities with any of these cars but especially the Subaru as I'm completely clueless, would be greatly appreciated. I'm so undecided!