Hi new user here...I have an X3, a wife and a one-year-old (not in that order). We're replacing the X3 and we're considering the Q5 and XC60. We tested the GLK and RX350 and the driving dynamics are not for us. The EX35 is very refined with the robust acceleration and handling that we like. IMO it absolutely drives better than the Q5, which is a bit better than the XC60. It also has the nicest interior of the bunch and has tremendous value advantages. However, it's definitely smaller and we will be sacrificing utility...
Anyway, are there any parents of small children who can share their experiences with car seats in the 2010 model? And since one of us often rides next to the baby... what about rear seat leg room?
Thank you.
2010 Model/Car seat, rear leg room issues?
Re: 2010 Model/Car seat, rear leg room issues? (jolla99)
Coming from a 2004 Mercedes ML350, I don't think its too small as long as you aren't too used to a huge car like the Infiniti QX56. Not a parent, so I don't have much feed back on the backseat but should suffice for a small child in a seat, Here is a video I found of a child seat being installed on the EX35, hopefully this could shed from light on how well it works/fits in the rear. The leg room is small but good enough for my taste, although since the 3 1/2 weeks I have owned it I still have not sat in it for a long time. While purchasing I tested it out with my 6ft tall brother driving and me sitting the back and I am 5'10 and still was okay with it, one would say its equivalent to sitting in a Toyota Camry (new style) but still comfortable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XuuxhHl3cI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XuuxhHl3cI
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pwlorraine
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:33 pm
- Car: 2009 G37 convertible moon white / stone / auto / sport/premium/nav/tech 2010 EX35 nav/bose/premium/
Re: 2010 Model/Car seat, rear leg room issues? (jolla99)
Exact same problem we are facing although without the 1 year old (15 year old instead). Wife's X3 is coming off lease at the end of the month and we are looking at the same cars. I'm not sure how fixed you are on an SUV - my wife prefers the driving position - but a BMW 535xi or M35x provide really good storage and excellent driving. The EX35 has less storage than the X3. My preference would have been the Q5, or change to an M35x or G37x - but it will be my wife's choice. The EX35 is great from the front seats - not as good from the back. Probably not a big issue with kids for 10 years or so for you.jolla99 wrote:Hi new user here...I have an X3, a wife and a one-year-old (not in that order). We're replacing the X3 and we're considering the Q5 and XC60. We tested the GLK and RX350 and the driving dynamics are not for us. The EX35 is very refined with the robust acceleration and handling that we like. IMO it absolutely drives better than the Q5, which is a bit better than the XC60. It also has the nicest interior of the bunch and has tremendous value advantages. However, it's definitely smaller and we will be sacrificing utility...
Anyway, are there any parents of small children who can share their experiences with car seats in the 2010 model? And since one of us often rides next to the baby... what about rear seat leg room?
Thank you.
Peter
Re: 2010 Model/Car seat, rear leg room issues? (pwlorraine)
Thanks for your responses. I didn't think of checking YouTube... good tip.
We tested our current infant car seat which will be replaced soon. When installed behind the passenger seat, I thought the front passenger had about as much room as in our X3. My wife thought there was more room in the X3. I also thought the back seat passenger behind the driver had enough room to be comfortable (I'm 5' 9") but definitely not as much legroom as the X3.
The EX35 wasn't on the radar initially, but I'm glad we checked it out. There's something about that car...
Also there is tremendous value that can't be ignored. Similarly equipped (and priced) Q5 or XC60 will be about $200 more per month on a lease. They're placing the residuals around 45-47% (depending on trim/term), about 10% lower than Infiniti. Infiniti seems to be very aggressive with their pricing compared to the other car makers.... as far as my dealer experiences go.
We haven't finalized our choice, waiting to see what March programs will be like.
We tested our current infant car seat which will be replaced soon. When installed behind the passenger seat, I thought the front passenger had about as much room as in our X3. My wife thought there was more room in the X3. I also thought the back seat passenger behind the driver had enough room to be comfortable (I'm 5' 9") but definitely not as much legroom as the X3.
The EX35 wasn't on the radar initially, but I'm glad we checked it out. There's something about that car...
Also there is tremendous value that can't be ignored. Similarly equipped (and priced) Q5 or XC60 will be about $200 more per month on a lease. They're placing the residuals around 45-47% (depending on trim/term), about 10% lower than Infiniti. Infiniti seems to be very aggressive with their pricing compared to the other car makers.... as far as my dealer experiences go.
We haven't finalized our choice, waiting to see what March programs will be like.
Re: 2010 Model/Car seat, rear leg room issues? (jolla99)
Believe it or not I was actually considering the XC60 because of the safety and carefree maintenance it offers for 6 years (free brakes, rotors, oil change, etc). They didn't have in stock in my dealers and then I went a mile down to check out the Audi Q5 and wouldn't be available until March of 2010 (same with the XC60), going back and fourth I realized the Infiniti offered a lot for the price, even the base model. A base model Q5 was equivalent to a 2010 EX35 Journey AWD and the XC60 has the auto brake feature, yet it still had many outdated/missing features (maybe your outlook is different in what you look for in cars). Yet Audi has the Quatro AWD which from what I heard is one of the best (still EX35 makes it mark on them other than the legroom and cargo area).
Re: 2010 Model/Car seat, rear leg room issues? (zarar)
my father has sat in the rear before, and he's about 6'1 it was kind of a squeeze but he said it was actually pretty comfortable and fine.
There's actually two things that contribute to rear seat comfort. one of course the space, but the second one is how the car overall drives. My mother has a ML550 and i HATE sitting in the 2nd row...drives me nuts. But then when i sit in my dad's GL it's totally fine!
so if you have an infant or ONE teenage child i think it should be fine.
The Q5 unless you order in advance is usually equipped with the premium plus pkg, and that will run you about 41k. with MSRP @ 43/44. because they are selling like hot cakes the negotiability of the Q5 is horrendous, and although the 2010 EX35 models have been selling well, in genera they are alot more flexible.
i'm sorry but the Volvo CUV's dont even compare, the drive was horrible, and ur only option is to go with the T6 verison which ....i hated.
In terms of cargo area, to be fair if you have an infant or child they are gonna be in a carseat. Which means you could have half the 2nd row down for more space if you needed it. But i havent really found the trunk to be lacking in space. It certainly fits two golf bags and a cooler very well. so i assume it fits a stroller too.
The only thing that i may kinda .... iono, comment on in terms of picking between the Q5 and the EX35....this isn't so much of an ACTUAL safety issue compared to just personal FEELING of saftey, but the fact is, the ATTESA AWD sytem for the EX35 is good, but i dont really think its better than teh Quattro system from Audi. I drove my mother's new S5 and it was amazing....i mean not spead wise but the quattro system...it's so..."reinforcing" compared to the EX35's i-AWD which for me has done a great job in the snow that we've gotten in NY the past few months.
OTHER than that tidbit, everything else in the 2010 version of the EX outshines the Q5. Originally i felt that the exterior stance of the Q5 was so much better than the EX35, but almost every other house now has a Q5 in my neighborhood and the look is getting old. I still only see the same 5-6 EX35's around my neighborhood and in my work parking lot. i can easily count 10 Q5's on the same road of my house... lol
There's actually two things that contribute to rear seat comfort. one of course the space, but the second one is how the car overall drives. My mother has a ML550 and i HATE sitting in the 2nd row...drives me nuts. But then when i sit in my dad's GL it's totally fine!
so if you have an infant or ONE teenage child i think it should be fine.
The Q5 unless you order in advance is usually equipped with the premium plus pkg, and that will run you about 41k. with MSRP @ 43/44. because they are selling like hot cakes the negotiability of the Q5 is horrendous, and although the 2010 EX35 models have been selling well, in genera they are alot more flexible.
i'm sorry but the Volvo CUV's dont even compare, the drive was horrible, and ur only option is to go with the T6 verison which ....i hated.
In terms of cargo area, to be fair if you have an infant or child they are gonna be in a carseat. Which means you could have half the 2nd row down for more space if you needed it. But i havent really found the trunk to be lacking in space. It certainly fits two golf bags and a cooler very well. so i assume it fits a stroller too.
The only thing that i may kinda .... iono, comment on in terms of picking between the Q5 and the EX35....this isn't so much of an ACTUAL safety issue compared to just personal FEELING of saftey, but the fact is, the ATTESA AWD sytem for the EX35 is good, but i dont really think its better than teh Quattro system from Audi. I drove my mother's new S5 and it was amazing....i mean not spead wise but the quattro system...it's so..."reinforcing" compared to the EX35's i-AWD which for me has done a great job in the snow that we've gotten in NY the past few months.
OTHER than that tidbit, everything else in the 2010 version of the EX outshines the Q5. Originally i felt that the exterior stance of the Q5 was so much better than the EX35, but almost every other house now has a Q5 in my neighborhood and the look is getting old. I still only see the same 5-6 EX35's around my neighborhood and in my work parking lot. i can easily count 10 Q5's on the same road of my house... lol
Re: 2010 Model/Car seat, rear leg room issues? (jolla99)
I have a 5 year old (with a booster seat). He is very comfortable actually. He can get in and out without many problems or more importantly stepping onto the seat itself. My parents rode in the back for a few times (about 1hr long trip). Both said that they were comfy. But we are not a very tall family (mom 5’2”, dad 5’6”). I traded my 4 year old Volvo v70 in to get an ex35. I’ve had a very bad experience with the car itself and the Volvo dealer. The only thing I miss about Volvo is the built in booster seats.