Most vehicles are used for a variety of purposes, including leisure and shopping. Vehicles are often shared between family members and friends. The way each vehicle is used depends on the purpose and the user. Aspects such as storage space and storage method can differ considerably. We conduct surveys on vehicle usage all over the world. The results help us to design innovative seating arrangements and structures that create a comfortable interior.
In Mazda's spacious minivans, the second-row seats are extremely comfortable and adaptable to various situations.
In order to achieve exceptional comfort, we don't think of the second-row seats as a three-person sofa, but as a row of spacious armchairs. Accordingly, all Mazda minivans have individual seats for the second row instead of a single bench. This arrangement ensures second-row passengers can relax without being squashed against each other. It also ensures easy access to the third-row seats.
In the Mazda MPV and Biante, we added a mechanism to allow the second-row seats to slide from side to side. This enhances versatility for various situations and enables the separate seats to be joined together in order to accommodate three adults or to help a parent take care of small children.
Every minivan customer has different expectations. Mazda developed versatile second-row seats to fulfill every customer's needs, and we fit them in all our minivans.
The seat layout in the Mazda5 (known as the Mazda Premacy in Japan) was designed around a new "6 + One" packaging concept. Independent left and right seats in the second row leave an open space in the center of the cabin around which all the occupants can comfortably converse. "6 + One" is a Mazda-unique concept that refers to normal seating for six people plus an optional "One" that can be folded out in the open space as required. While customers enjoy the versatile layout in many ways, the design was based on the following three situations:
The second-row seats comfortably accommodate two adults with an open space between them, which also functions as a center aisle to the rear seats.
The seventh Karakuri seat folds out from under the seat on the passenger side and creates space in the second row for three adults.
A Karakuri storage container folds out from under the second row seat on the driver's side; it can be used as a side table or storage for small items.
One of the advantages of an automobile over other forms of transport is its ability to transport lots of luggage as well as people. For Mazda, the luggage area is more than a simple space; we try to enhance the attraction of our vehicles by developing cargo areas everyone will find easy to use.
We investigate customer requirements to find the most used seat layouts, and then look for ways to easily switch between them. Through the development of our innovative karakuri system, our cargo areas are always user-friendly.
Tonneau covers are an important security feature in station wagons as they hide luggage and thereby deter car thieves. However, in most cars, users have to open the liftgate and then manually lift up the tonneau cover in order to access their luggage. Mazda's Karakuri tonneau cover, which was introduced on the new Mazda6 wagon, offers an elegant solution. It opens and closes automatically in concert with the rear liftgate, making loading and unloading luggage surprisingly easy.
The rear seats in many vehicles can be folded forward to extend the luggage area. However, most do not fold flat. Furthermore, seats that do fold flat require that the base of the rear seats is lifted up before the seat backs are folded down.
Mazda offers customers an easy-to-use solution with its Karakuri seats. The rear seats can be folded forward with single action even when standing at the opening of the rear liftgate. The base of the seats lowers automatically so that a flat and spacious extended luggage area instantly appears.