Hello guys, my knowledge of cars is rather weak so I need some advice on this. My wife has a mazda2 which she uses to drive around our 2 kids(6 month and 4 years old) mostly on Hume Highway and its full of trucks. I am little bit concerned about the safety of the car since its so little. On top of that, with a rearward facing child seat, front passenger has his knees sitting against the dashboard. God forbid, the airbag opens, it won’t be a pretty scene. I am trying to convince her to get a compact SUV so its little bit safer. She is against the idea since both our cars(xr6) are paid off and don’t want to spend money. I want advice of the more knowledgeable folks, Is compact SUV much more safer than the mazda2? Or is mazda2 just as safe as any other car and am I just being paranoid? Thanks
Edit: I am thinking HRV, cx3 or C-HR
Upgrade from mazda2 to compact suv
Last edited 05/02/2020 - 19:17
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Compact SUV is the same as a Mazda 2, on stilts
yea they kinda seem worse. like you might get slightly better visibility, but more body roll and pointlessness
Edit: I am thinking HRV, cx3 or C-HR
Yup, that describes any of those 3
This. In fact it's the same but worse, you get less space inside the SUV version (Mazda CX-3) vs the hatchback (Mazda 2) and pay more for it!
Compact SUVs are a scam.
Subcompact SUVs:
- Subcompact Car Size
- Subcompact Refinement/Features
- Subcompact Engine
- Awful Handling
- Compact Car Price
if size is an issue, do you know anybody who might have a bigger car like an xr6 she could swap with?
Hahaaa she doesn’t like it. Reckons too much blind spot and hard to park.
The type of car you’re choosing is not any safer - anything hit by a semi trailer is in for a world of hurt. Newer cars however have more tech and better airbags that could be safer for you. SUVs have a higher centre of gravity and may be more likely to tip over and roll.
SUVs are a paradox: while many people buy them to feel safer, they are statistically less safe than regular cars, both for those inside and those outside the vehicle. A person is 11% more likely to die in a crash inside an SUV than a regular saloon. Studies show they lull drivers into a false sense of security, encouraging them to take greater risks. Their height makes them twice as likely to roll in crashes and twice as likely to kill pedestrians by inflicting greater upper body and head injuries, as opposed to lower limb injuries people have a greater chance of surviving. Originally modelled from trucks, they are often exempt from the kinds of safety standards applied to passenger vehicles, including bonnet height.
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/oct/07/a-deadly-prob…
Let the wife and kids drive in the XR6 and you use the Mazda. No money spent!
Mazda2 is pretty safe - the other on your radar are no more safer…
No saferer?
with a rearward facing child seat, front passenger has his knees sitting against the dashboard. Put childseat behind driver, if your wife is of normal height she may not need to put seat so far fwd?
The drive on a major hwy that's full of trucks is common in Oz
the car is as safe as the next and if your wife is a good driver who doesn't get distracted with mobile phone while driving or kids screaming it will be fine.Unless you surround your loved ones in a (army) tank crashes in any car, suv are going to hurt if it involes a truck
Put childseat behind driver
Not ideal. This puts the adult on the traffic side when buckling the child. I realise that it’s common to have two child seats in the back, but you alway put the one that’s easiest to manage on the drivers side - normally the older child.
if your wife is of normal height she may not need to put seat so far fwd?
it is preferable that the driver has preferred seating position and discomfort goes to the passenger who doesn’t need to control the vehicle. small cars compromise rear seat leg room and then may require the drivers seat to push to far forward to fit the baby seat no matter the height of the driver.
The adult usually straps kid in seat at home where traffic is not present and re straps usually at shopping centres. childcare where there are parking areas can't say I've ever seen many parents strapping kids in on a busy street
The point on seating position is taken
can't say I've ever seen many parents strapping kids in on a busy street
Maybe because they are doing it from the kerb side?
Yes, I know many places are setup such that either side is fine, but when you park on the street, passenger side does matter.
@Euphemistic: Side note, that's only applicable if you have 2+ kids. If you have 1, rear centre seat is the safest (furthest from airbags), followed by behind the driver (more likely to steer away from yourself in an accident).
@spackbace: In this case I’d have 4yo behind driver and 6mo behind passenger. Mazda 2 probably wouldn’t fit one on hebside and one in the middle.
From experience, stopping on the side of he road isn’t uncommon to go and sort out the bub. 4yo can climb in and out of the seat once unbuckled and even help with buckling so don’t need to be hanging in the doorway as much.
Yes. Centre spot is safest, but can’t alwaus be used.
In this case I’d have 4yo behind driver and 6mo behind passenger
Now we know who is your favourite child :p
something along the lines of a Subaru Impreza or anything similar. A wagon type vehicle rather than a hatch.
Longer vehicle for better leg room, plus most likely more storage in the back.Mazda CX 30
Isn’t it similar to the cx-3?
Have you seen a moose test (collision avoidance test) with any compact SUVs? There is a Spanish auto magazine which has done them for hundreds of different cars (links below).
You wouldn't want to drive them after seeing this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZRWiKIERic - Mazda CX3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juXa1XGt7q4 - Honda HRV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR5zexUaKVo - Toyota C-HRThe CX-3 fares the worst of all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR5zexUaKVo - Toyota C-HR
That looks pretty controlled
Here's a comparison to a sedan, something you'd think would be far better than a higher-riding SUV - Mazda 3 Moose Test
Out of curiosity what came first : your interest in cars or working in the field?
Interest in cars
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