During our Sacramento run, my wife spent some time behind the wheel of our 2008 Mazda CX-9. At 5' 4" tall, her driving position is quite a ways further forward than mine and she cranks the seat height up to see properly.
The first time she got back in to her previously-set driving position, she nearly knocked herself unconcious. The sleekly-styled CX-9 has a much more steeply-raked windshield than its competition, but she has to scoot and lean forward towards it to get past the seat bolsters when she gets in...
She'd need to learn to duck to drive this one daily, but that's easier said than done as she simultaneously needs to step up to get into the seat. I suppose she could move the seat down and back each time she gets out, but that's such a pain and power seats are so s-l-o-w.
I don't have this problem because my seat position is already all the way back and down, because I actually sit DOWN onto the seat and because I've hit my head getting in and out of enough caged racecars to have made the "duck" reflex instinctual.
Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing @ 11,345 miles
littlebill says:
11:34 AM, 04/ 7/08
The Stars / The Galaxy
I don't think it's the car's fault that she's either uncoordinated or doesn't pay attention or both.
brn says:
11:45 AM, 04/ 7/08
It reminds me of the day when we had automatic seat belts moving around on us. If you timed it just right, it'd bonk you n the head on it's way up.
dougtheeng says:
12:21 PM, 04/ 7/08
"I don't think it's the car's fault that she's either uncoordinated or doesn't pay attention or both."
lol, harsh.
arumage says:
12:21 PM, 04/ 7/08
I test drove the CX-9 and was prepared due to the fact that I was also an owner of a 2nd generation Dodge Intrepid, but I could certainly understand that the CX-9 could catch someone's noggin off guard. The sleek shape has it's disadvanges, such as the afforementioned head-bonking front door to the lack of head room in the 3rd row.
tmanz says:
12:43 PM, 04/ 7/08
maybe a dukes of hazzard entry? Or a run at it from the side and dive in head first.
stephen987 says:
01:30 PM, 04/ 7/08
Seems to me this car isn't made for women, or for short drivers generally. Can she get in the Enclave?
tlcruz says:
03:46 PM, 04/ 7/08
lol @ tmanz's comment.
misterfusion says:
04:24 PM, 04/ 7/08
LOL, nice illustration. The picture is only missing the "Qbert" sound effect to go with it.
f1mom says:
04:59 PM, 04/ 7/08
I am the idiot in the photo. If you look closely, you'll see that my butt is actually on the seat. To avoid the cranial clout I either have to fold myself forward so that my face smacks the steering wheel or lean back a la John Cleese in mid silly walk whilst sliding into the seat.
If I ripped the top off the thing I could just do a Burt Ward and jump Robin-style into the seat. I'd need a cape though.
jr1m90 says:
06:04 PM, 04/ 7/08
I was wondering if anyone else had this problem. I'm 5'9", but the first time (and a few more after that until I learned) I've gone to sit in a CX-9 or CX-7, whap! Same thing with my slightly shorter father.
What confuses me is that neither of us have any problems with a small car with a raked windshield (like the Civic), or anything else for that matter. Maybe because we (and f1mom) get in leaning forward?
cx7lover says:
03:49 AM, 04/ 8/08
The seat looks like it's in it's highest position, which maybe the problem.
6' 1" and I have no problems getting in my CX-7.
sandcountry360 says:
06:32 AM, 04/ 8/08
Wow, looks like Mazda needs to borrow something from GM. I know that in my Trailblazer, you can set the "easy-exit seat" function, and upon puting the shifter in park, the seat moves down and back to it's extents, and then after you get back in and start it up, it returns to it's set position. It's not really useful in the Chevy (the thing's got HUGE doors), but apparently it'd be nice in a CX-9.
jerrywimer says:
08:02 AM, 04/ 8/08
..or in the new Malibu! ;)
That was the first thing we noticed when we tried out our new car- both my wife and I managed to bump our heads getting into it. After you've got in and out a few times, it's natural to enter and exit a certain way (and doesn't seem to require odd contortions, just different from other vehicles with less of a rake).
f1mom says:
09:30 AM, 04/ 8/08
We tried the Enclave last night -- similar problem, but not quite as severe. I noticed that Dan (6'2") instinctively does a Chris Katan "Night At the Roxbury" headbob upon entry and exit.
As to the seating position - yes, I put the seat up very high so I can see over the front of the car. I like to sit back a bit from the steering wheel. That "easy-exit seat" function sounds like a dream come true!
technetium99 says:
04:09 PM, 04/ 8/08
When I first sat in a CX9 at a car show I got in carefully and had no problem. But when I got out, I didn't look or plan, I just got out. And WHAM! Right in the head. Hard. I might point out that I am 5'8" and the car (like all cars at cars shows) had the seats all the way back. I could not even touch the pedals (or sit in the second row for that matter) it was so far back.
skw0123 says:
10:50 PM, 04/18/08
My wife managed to hit herself on the forehead --- hard! --- not with the doorjamb, but with the door itself while getting into our CX-9. Hard enough to raise a bump and leave a red mark a day later. (Thankfully the car wasn't damaged :-)) I don't think she is prone to such things, but the shape and length of the doors is very different from our Honda Odyssey. I haven't had any such problems. I think she's about 5'7", I'm 6'1". So, hand out the helmets....