Mazda 5

We just bought a Mazda 5 in September, so I hope I can help. We have two children - ages 2 and 4 and carpool to preschool infrequently. We wanted what you want from a car - room for the occasional visiting grandparents, room for an extra kid or two. It is our only car so I am very familiar with the ins and outs of it.

I have been happy with it overall and the price is great for a car that is close to a minivan. When we have taken additional adults, we have put my son (4 yr. old) in his high back booster in the third row with one of the adults. The third row has tethers, but no LATCH system so car seats other than boosters are more of a challenge to install. My daughter (2 yr old) sits in the second row in front of the adult (as she needs little leg room and can be moved up). The second adult sits in the second row and two adults sit in the front. You either need to do it this way or put both kids in the third row. You can't leave both kid's car seats in the second row because then the people getting into the car have to climb over and between them which is close to impossible for an adult, let alone the average grandparent.

When I take additional kids, I put them in the back row in boosters or a car seat I install with the seat belt. They can climb over and between the second row if there are two car seats in the third row. If there is just one child in the third row, it is easiest to have them get in and out through the back with one seat folded down. Which then makes your kids want to climb out the back too because it seems like fun...

To answer your last question, I haven't found a stroller that will fit in the back, even the Kolcraft. There is a "golf bag" panel you can remove to make longer things fit, but it doesn't help that much.

We have opted to get a roof rack and a top carrier to add to the storage space for longer trips. These are both removeable.

I would be happy to help with other questions about the car. Overall, we are happy with it. It is most ideal for smaller children. Once our kids and their friends are bigger, we will likely need the leg room of a minivan, but by then we will probably want a new car anyway.