7 seater car suggestions?

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#2699114 28-Apr-2021 09:50

danepak: A lot has probably happened in 5 years, in regards to 7-seater SUV’s.

I’m by no mean a car expert, but I’m considering a 7-seater SUV.
Will most of the time just be used as a 5-seater, but now and again, we would need to use it for 7 people (kids - but they obviously grow up as well).

I tried the CX9 today. Was nice. Thought the aircon was a bit breezy on the lowest settings.
Also, no wireless CarPlay, but apart from that, I thought it was very nice and pleasant to drive.

Any recommendations in the same category (budget probably around $55k - company car).

Much has remained the same.

Of the 7 seater SUV's available in NZ, utilizing the third row means you get pretty much no boot space. Also the third row is only suitable for kids but is often not fitted with tethers for car seats, meaning there is a some what limited age range it is useful for. Should note many of the center 2nd row seats suck too. I physically don't fit in the middle rear seat of a toyota fortuner for example. Don't count on fitting more than 4 adults comfortably in a 7 seat SUV unless you have checked it yourself.

If you are regularly going to transport more than 5 people (or 4 adult sized people), you would be much better served by something like a Kia Carnival, or a van of some sort.

www.kia.co.nz/vehicles/carnival/

If you do want to go the SUV route, the 4th gen highlander is getting released soon. $60,990 drive away entry price, and $63,990 for the hybrid.

If you are happy buying from a defunct brand I think you can get your hands on top spec 2020 Holden Acadia LTZ's for in your budget.

If you will be going off road, you could include low range ute based SUV's in the mix. Stuff like the $59k Misti Pajero sport, and $57k Toyota fortuner.

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#2699136 28-Apr-2021 10:45

alasta:

wlgspotter:

With regards to Wireless CarPlay, when we were testing out new cars last year, we find that Wireless CarPlay is only offered on selected (top) European makes, i.e. BMW (they were the first to introduce Wireless CarPlay apparently), Mini (which are owned by BMW Group), maybe Mercedes Benz. The few Japanese models we tested (i.e. Honda Jazz, Mazda 2) didn’t come with Wireless CarPlay - they are all wired.

This article seems to suggest that the upcoming CX-5 update will include wireless Carplay across the range. I expect that this will flow through to the next update of the CX-9, but it's hard to predict how long you might have to wait for that.

Given that Apple is likely to release a portless phone in the coming years, it's possible or likely that an Apple made adapter will be made also.

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#2699266 28-Apr-2021 16:14

Side note on this conversation thread, we have a 2010? Mazda MPV and it's one of the last models they made.
It's not even acknowledged on a lot of sites, which max out at 2006 for the MPV.

We've had a few of the earlier ones, but just wanted to add a few points.

The car can take 2 in the front and then 3 on each row of rear seats, but wouldn't recommend this for anything over younger children.
2nd row captains chairs slide together and make a 3rd seat, with your ass spread over each chair and a lap belt. Weird but works.

Main difference to flag though is the move of the full sized spare tyre from hanging suspended underneath to sitting in the rear boot area.
This has meant the rear seats no longer fold down into the floor, but instead simply fold the backs forward.

This results in a massive reduction in rear cargo space, something we'd not really fully understood prior to buying.
Come camping we can not fit anywhere near as much into it anymore unfortunately.

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#2699303 28-Apr-2021 18:20

Thanks for the inputs.
Been told that it likely will be either a CX-8 and a CX-9 (depending on budget).
Is the Diesel (CX-8) a big step down from the CX-9?

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#2699312 28-Apr-2021 19:07

danepak: Thanks for the inputs.
Been told that it likely will be either a CX-8 and a CX-9 (depending on budget).
Is the Diesel (CX-8) a big step down from the CX-9?

How many KMs do you do a year? We do about 12,000KMs a year and the Mazda salesperson said that at that amount, diesel isn't worth it.

We recently got a 2021 CX9 Takami for $66,000 driveaway which isn't that far away from the CX8.

Feel to PM me if you want to get more details on where I got the car from.

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danepak

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#2699314 28-Apr-2021 19:10

I drive from Auckland to Tauranga or Rotorua 2-3 times per month.
Being a sales rep, I would probably drive 20,000 - 25,000 km per year.

Interesting reg the Diesel not being worth it with 12,000 km. What does he base the calculation on?

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#2699318 28-Apr-2021 19:40

Dairyxox:

Toyota Isis can be alright.

Prius V

gml

alasta

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#2699324 28-Apr-2021 20:35

Choosing between petrol and diesel based on economics is a mistake. Buy the one that suits your needs based on whether you need the low down torque of a diesel engine, and whether you do enough high speed driving to regenerate the DPF.

A couple of years ago I shifted from a Mazda with the Skyactiv 2.2D diesel to one with the 2.5G petrol. I went with petrol because I never tow anything and after the VW scandal I felt that the tide was going out on diesel, but I have to admit that I often miss the muscular torque of the diesel. If I had to make the choice again it would be a tough call, but I would probably pay the extra for the diesel.

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#2699325 28-Apr-2021 20:37

Sorry, when you say torque, does it mean that it accelerates faster?
E.g. quicker to overtake a truck?

alasta

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#2699328 28-Apr-2021 20:51

danepak: Sorry, when you say torque, does it mean that it accelerates faster?
E.g. quicker to overtake a truck?

For what you describe above, you want power.

Torque is more useful when towing or climbing a hill.

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#2699330 28-Apr-2021 21:02

danepak: Sorry, when you say torque, does it mean that it accelerates faster?
E.g. quicker to overtake a truck?

torque = acceleration, so yes for the first bit, but up to a point

power = speed ceiling

so it depends. if your car has low power but high torque no.

if your car has high power and normal torque, yes, and when you pass the truck you'll still be gaining speed by some magnitude.

if your car has decent power and high torque, yes, but when you pass the truck you don't have enough power to keep accelerating as you are close to your speed ceiling.

if your car has high power and high torque, you'll be screaming past the truck.

*** where the high torque in the engine rpm also matters, if the torque is high at low rpm it feel like it has more guts, if it has tonnes of torque but only when you floor it to 4800rpm then to most people who tickle the accelerator gently it will feel like there is no kick in the engine

*** if your gearbox takes 2 years to respond to your inputs it will also affect your impression a little bit

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#2699334 28-Apr-2021 21:16

Batman:
danepak: Sorry, when you say torque, does it mean that it accelerates faster?
E.g. quicker to overtake a truck?

torque = acceleration, so yes for the first bit, but up to a point

power = speed ceiling

so it depends. if your car has low power but high torque no.

if your car has high power and normal torque, yes, and when you pass the truck you'll still be gaining speed by some magnitude.

if your car has decent power and high torque, yes, but when you pass the truck you don't have enough power to keep accelerating as you are close to your speed ceiling.

if your car has high power and high torque, you'll be screaming past the truck.

*** where the high torque in the engine rpm also matters, if the torque is high at low rpm it feel like it has more guts, if it has tonnes of torque but only when you floor it to 4800rpm then to most people who tickle the accelerator gently it will feel like there is no kick in the engine

*** if your gearbox takes 2 years to respond to your inputs it will also affect your impression a little bit

Thanks.
So would you classify the CX-8 as having decent power?

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#2699335 28-Apr-2021 21:17

alasta:

Choosing between petrol and diesel based on economics is a mistake. Buy the one that suits your needs based on whether you need the low down torque of a diesel engine, and whether you do enough high speed driving to regenerate the DPF.

A couple of years ago I shifted from a Mazda with the Skyactiv 2.2D diesel to one with the 2.5G petrol. I went with petrol because I never tow anything and after the VW scandal I felt that the tide was going out on diesel, but I have to admit that I often miss the muscular torque of the diesel. If I had to make the choice again it would be a tough call, but I would probably pay the extra for the diesel.

Have to admit, the Mazda 2.5G turbo charged engine is sublime. Very torquey although at 12.5L/100KM is far from fuel efficient.

With the diesel engine, I assume that although it's more economical to fill the tank, but I thought the road-user charges would make it more expensive if you don't do a lot of KMs per year ?

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#2699340 28-Apr-2021 21:38

https://www.whichcar.com.au/car-reviews/mazda-cx8-vs-cx9-whats-the-difference

Be aware that the CX-9 has a USA focused design and some find the interior a bit bland. CX-8 is intended for markets other than north america.

CX-9 is a bigger, wider car, so has more space across the 2nd row, and in the third row. Great if you are carrying 5 or more people.

The CX-9 is more powerful, quieter, and despite being bigger, its quite a bit lighter than the CX-8, so it will offer up better performance for passing and the likes. (but it is a pretty big vehicle to park etc). So it would be my pick.

Also I feel that diesel's heyday as a fuel for light vehicles has passed.

danepak: I drive from Auckland to Tauranga or Rotorua 2-3 times per month.
Being a sales rep, I would probably drive 20,000 - 25,000 km per year.

Interesting reg the Diesel not being worth it with 12,000 km. What does he base the calculation on?

Historically like for like diesel vehicles cost more to buy, register and maintain, but had lower fuel consumption. Above a certain annual mileage the fuel savings would be enough to cover the large maintenance bill, and pay back the higher purchase price. Below that mileage one would be better off to save money on the purchase price. Historically petrol were both quieter and more powerful too.

Of course the CX-8 & CX-9 are not like for like.

danepak: Sorry, when you say torque, does it mean that it accelerates faster?
E.g. quicker to overtake a truck?

Historically diesel engines make a lot torque (twisting force) low in the RPM range. Meaning they can cruise up hills without needing to drop gear's and rev then engine. Made for a more relaxing drive especially when loaded or towing.

Historically petrol engines made relatively little torque low in the RPM range, and needed to be revved (shifted down) to go up hills that diesel's would make in top gear. But historically petrol engines would make substantially more peak power. So if you floored a petrol car and the gearbox shifted down two or three gears it would accelerate better than a diesel (but the engine would be roaring).

Modern engines throw a bit of a spanner in the works.

CX-8 diesel Turbo: Peak Torque 450NM @ 2000RPM, peak power 140kW @4500RPM

CX-9 Petrol turbo: Peak Torque 420NM @ 2000RPM, Peak power 170kW @5000RPM.

As you can see they the diesel just edges out the petrol for peak torque, but the petrol makes quite a bit more peak power.

The latter engine specs are highly unusual. As a comparison the 3.5L 6 cylinder petrol in the 3rd gen Toyota highlander makes 350Nm at 4700rpm and 218kW at 6600RPM.

In short, mazda has done some research and worked out that drivers of cars in this class rarely run their engines at 4500+ RPM, and that most motoring is done much lower in the RPM range. In short they built a diesel like direct injection turbo petrol engine to give much better performance at lower RPM. Its quite well reviewed when it comes to everyday driving.

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#2699342 28-Apr-2021 21:50

danepak:
Thanks.
So would you classify the CX-8 as having decent power?

umm power is only meaningful if you marry it with the weight of the thing you're moving.

140kW for a 1900kg car, is the lowest kW you'd want if you are interested in overtaking lots. i'd go over 160-170kW but that's me.

if for the occasional overtaking 140kW is very decent.

the star though is that it has very high torque at very low engine revs so it will feel very responsive for normal driving. and as someone mentioned hills will feel flat and towing will feel like nothing.

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