Mazda5 & Frontier??

Heather98012

New member

• May 26, 2008

• #1

Has anyone gotten a successful Frontier install in a Mazda5? We got back from our vacation Friday night & gas is now officially over $4 a gallon here & the news is saying it will likely hit $5 a gallon by Labor Day. I don't drive a lot, but I'm sick of it & am considering trading in my 05 Hyundai Tucson (which is paid for) for a one year old Mazda5.

The gas savings coupled with the fact that I REALLY want to use the Frontier & it won't fit in my Tucson is making me think about it. But, I'd like to know if anyone has gotten the Frontier installed correctly in a Mazda5. Anyone, anyone?!

(I really want a bigger ride later if we have another kid, but with gas....geez, I can't justify an Acadia or R class with only 3 people in our family!).

 

Defrost

Moderator - CPSTI Emeritus

• May 26, 2008

• #2

I haven't had a chance to try it yet (BRU is the only place in my area that will even possibly sell it, and they didn't have it when I checked a couple weeks ago), BUT I'm fairly certain it will install fine in the 2nd row with no issues. I've never had ANY carseat give me issues in the 2nd row, not even the Radian or Regent+recline bar+SBP.

The 3rd row is the tricky place, but since the Husky/Regent will install there with the LBP, I'm thinking there's a good chance the Frontier would also install there with the LBP.

Sorry, that's the best I've got. I'm really familiar with the car, but not the carseat. Hopefully one of our other Mazda5 owners will have tried the Frontier!

 

Heather98012

New member

• May 27, 2008

• #3

Thanks Debbie. I'm going to call Britax about my current car & the installation, but I will ask them about the Mazda5 as well.

Anyone else have any input??

 

T

teekadog

Active member

• May 27, 2008

• #4

Nope, haven't tried the Frontier, sorry, and have no plans to, unless they release one with a denim cover

But good luck!

 

Heather98012

New member

• May 27, 2008

• #5

Ok, just got off the phone with Britax. They didn't install it in a Mazda5, but they did get successful installs using the SBP on a Mazda3 & a Mazda6. I'm assuming it would work then with a Mazda5 since the 5 is based on the same platform as the 3 (however the interior is so different maybe I'm only dreaming?).

And as for my Hyundai Tucson? Britax didn't test the Frontier in any Hyundais....which seems lame since they are becoming so popular now. <ggrrrrr>

Anyway, that's what I found out from Britax customer service.

 

S

southpawboston

New member

• May 27, 2008

• #6

Heather98012 said:

Ok, just got off the phone with Britax. They didn't install it in a Mazda5, but they did get successful installs using the SBP on a Mazda3 & a Mazda6. I'm assuming it would work then with a Mazda5 since the 5 is based on the same platform as the 3 (however the interior is so different maybe I'm only dreaming?).

Click to expand...

yeah, the similarities between the 3 and 5 end with the chassis and powertrain. the interiors are completely different animals.

 

Heather98012

New member

• May 27, 2008

• #7

southpawboston said:

yeah, the similarities between the 3 and 5 end with the chassis and powertrain. the interiors are completely different animals.

Click to expand...

LOL.....ya think??

 

Defrost

Moderator - CPSTI Emeritus

• May 27, 2008

• #8

The 3rd row of the Mazda 5 is unlike anything you're going to find in any other vehicle. There are other cars that have one or the other of the issues, but I've yet to see one that has ALL of them. :thumbsdown: (The seatbelts themselves are anchored forward-of-the-bight, though the buckles aren't; the vehicle seat back is fixed-recline; the vehicle bottom has very little cushioning; the seats can't move back-and-forward, and there's no LATCH.)

The 2nd row, however, is very similar to many minivans. The seats recline, move back and forth, and the buckles are low in relation to the bight. They also have LATCH. The width between the side of the seat and the buckle may make the SBP impossible, but you can often "fix" that by reclining the vehicle seat, tightening, then pushing it back upright. And in any case, the seat belt is definitely long enough for the LBP. :thumbsup:

If you're going to have to use the Frontier in the 3rd row, I'd be a bit wary and definitely want to try it out first. But if it's going in the 2nd row, I wouldn't be as concerned, though of course I'd still want to try it.

 

Heather98012

New member

• May 27, 2008

• #9

Thanks for the info. I only have one child at the moment, so the seat would definately be in the 2nd row. Even if we have another, I'm sure both kids would be in 2nd row & the 3rd would just be for occasional passengers.

I know you've had issues with seats in the back row from your other posts; can you elaborate or tell me which ones have worked? Feel free to PM if I'm hijacking the thread.

BTW, I called Britax again since it seemed odd to me that they didn't test the Frontier in any Hyundai. I was told a second time that they didn't try it in any Hyundai....seems odd, but what can you do? Michelle in Customer Service was super nice & told me one of their employees drives a Hyundai SUV (she wasn't sure which one it was) & offered to try installing it when the employee comes back from vacation next Monday. She told me to call back in the PM & they would have info for me. I gotta say...I'm impressed by their customer service!

 

Last edited: May 27, 2008

Defrost

Moderator - CPSTI Emeritus

• May 27, 2008

• #10

Basically, the shoulder belt is so far forward of the vehicle seat that it doesn't even touch the passenger. The gap varies depending on the size of the person in question. I personally am not comfortable with my kids using it that way, so I treat them like lap-only belts.

I've got a more long-winded thread about it (and all the other things I actually DO like about my car) here.

 

Heather98012

New member

• May 27, 2008

• #11

Update:

I test drove a Mazda5 tonight & they let me bring it home. DH got the Frontier installed in under 5 mins. I don't know if he even tried SBP, but LBP worked great. There was maybe 1/4" wiggle, but still acceptable.

Now, just not sure I want to trade my Tucson in on the 5, though.

 

S

southpawboston

New member

• May 27, 2008

• #12

if you're concerned about selling the tucson simply because the 5 gets better gas mileage, think about the hit you are going to take on the depreciation of the tucson. the loss of value of a hyundai over the first couple of years is astronomical (former hyundai owner here). to justify losing that value to a new car, you'd have to estimate that the new car would pay for that loss in gas savings. i'm sure the difference in fuel economy between the tucson and the 5 can't be that great that you'd save much more in gas over the next five years by switching.

 

Heather98012

New member

• May 28, 2008

• #13

southpawboston said:

if you're concerned about selling the tucson simply because the 5 gets better gas mileage, think about the hit you are going to take on the depreciation of the tucson. the loss of value of a hyundai over the first couple of years is astronomical (former hyundai owner here). to justify losing that value to a new car, you'd have to estimate that the new car would pay for that loss in gas savings. i'm sure the difference in fuel economy between the tucson and the 5 can't be that great that you'd save much more in gas over the next five years by switching.

Click to expand...

The gas savings isn't the only reason. We were considering replacing it next year anyway. I like my Hyundai, but dammit if I don't get frustrated when I check Kelly Blue Book every 3 months or so & see my value slipping away. UGH!

At least it's paid off. That helps me a bit. And if I do get something else, it will be one or two years old this time (to offset the depreciation a bit).

 

Defrost

Moderator - CPSTI Emeritus

• May 28, 2008

• #14

Heather98012 said:

Update:

I test drove a Mazda5 tonight & they let me bring it home. DH got the Frontier installed in under 5 mins. I don't know if he even tried SBP, but LBP worked great. There was maybe 1/4" wiggle, but still acceptable.

Click to expand...

Woohoo! That's great! :thumbsup:

That was just the 2nd row, right?

 

Heather98012

New member

• May 28, 2008

• #15

Yep, second row passenger side!