Jamie Page Deaton: Let's talk about how well the Mazda CX-7 handles passengers in car seats. We'll start here in the front seat.

Now most car reviewers say there's plenty of space in the front, and I'm 5'4" and as you can see, I've got a lot of room. The controls are easy to reach and a tilt and telescoping steering wheel is standard which makes it easy to find the best driving position for you.

Now a manual seat is standard on the base model, but on the higher trims, you can get power seat adjustments. A few reviewers complain that the driver seat is too low, so that's something that you'll want to check out on your test drive.

Reviewers don't like the backseat of the CX-7 as much as they like the front seat. There are seats for three people in the rear, but most reviewers say that only two will be comfortable. Reviewers complain about tight legroom back here. If you routinely carry bigger kids or adults, you may want to look for an SUV with more rear space.

Another downside is that the backseat doesn't recline like in some other SUVs. However, there are two sets of latch connectors and space for two car seats. But again, if you have two car seats in here, you're not going to have space for a third passenger.

The bottom-line is, reviewers say the CX-7's front seats are comfortable, but they really can't say the same thing for the more cramped backseat. If you need more rear seat room, check out the Chevrolet Equinox. The Equinox has a sliding rear seat so you can increase legroom for your passengers.

If you want to learn more about the CX-7, check out our other videos on how it handles cargo, its interior features, how it drives, and the other SUVs you'll want to consider.