The Toyota 4Runner might just be my favorite mid-sized SUV currently on the market, along with the Volvo XC90. It’s bulletproof in its reliability, has great towing and seating potential, and is also one of the safest used SUVs you can buy per driver death rates. It competes with other 3-row mid-sized SUVs like the Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, Dodge Journey, Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Flex, and with its stablemate the Toyota Highlander, and it’s a fan favorite among those who enjoy off-roading and exploring the glorious back country of the US.
Being such an awesome SUV, I made it my mission to figure out how well it did when it came to fitting 3 car seats across the 2nd row. The good news is that it’s a wide-enough SUV to theoretically fit 3, 4, or even 5 car seats in, presuming you buy the trim levels with the optional 3rd row seats installed. The bad news? Well, there isn’t really any; it’s a Toyota. Before we dig into the details of which seats will give you the easiest time making 3 across installations work, let’s look at which kinds of car seats should be used to keep your kids safe at various ages.
First of all, I like to begin with rear-facing, since it’s the safest position for young children. I suggest rear-facing from day one until you can’t anymore, even if that takes you through the preschool years (ideally until 4!), before forward-facing them in harnessed convertible or combination seats (ideally until 8!). Once they outgrow their harnessed seats, it’s best to keep them restrained in high-back boosters until they’re physically and psychologically ready to use adult seat belt systems (which typically happens between 10 and 12). These suggestions may take a bit of extra work, but they provide a lot of extra safety.
My results of car seat puzzling in the 4Runner are below. It’s not a complete list, but as with all of my 3 across guides, it’s my goal to make it the most complete on the Internet over time, especially as I get access to more seats. If you find the list helpful when shopping for car seats, you can shop through my Amazon link below. I’ll add more seats as I test them over time.
You can access the complete 3 across guide for every vehicle here and the complete list of recommended seats here. The Canadian car seat guide is here. 3 across car seat images are courtesy of Wikipedia.
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Toyota 4Runner (N280)
Guaranteed 3 across installations:
Clek Fllo (x3).
Clek Foonf (x3).
Diono Radian RXT (x3).
Diono Radian R120 (x3).
Diono Radian R100 (x3).
Combi Coccoro (x3).
Graco Size4Me 65 (x3).
Graco Contender (x3).
Chicco KeyFit 30 (x3).
Clek Fllo, Graco Size4Me 65, Diono Radian / RXT.
Clek Fllo, Graco Size4Me 65 (x2).
Clek Fllo, Diono Radian / RXT (x2).
Graco TurboBooster, Clek Fllo, Diono Radian / RXT.
Graco TurboBooster, Diono Radian / RXT (x2).
Tips and Tricks:
The current generation of the Toyota 4Runner is 190 inches long and 76 inches wide, which means you’re going to be able to fit a lot of car seats in the 2nd row without much trouble. If you want to use the 3rd row, however, you’re going to be significantly more limited since it’s a relatively short vehicle to have 3 rows of seating. I’d only recommend having kids sit in there, although you can potentially squeeze in a couple of smaller car seats in there with a bit of practice. In the 2nd row, make use of your seat belts to get maximum side-to-side space, as usual.
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Toyota 4Runner (N210)
Guaranteed 3 across installations:
Clek Fllo (x3).
Clek Foonf (x3).
Diono Radian RXT (x3).
Diono Radian R120 (x3).
Diono Radian R100 (x3).
Combi Coccoro (x3).
Graco Size4Me 65 (x3).
Graco Contender (x3).
Chicco KeyFit 30 (x3).
Clek Fllo, Graco Size4Me 65, Diono Radian / RXT.
Clek Fllo, Graco Size4Me 65 (x2).
Clek Fllo, Diono Radian / RXT (x2).
Graco TurboBooster, Clek Fllo, Diono Radian / RXT.
Graco TurboBooster, Diono Radian / RXT (x2).
Tips and Tricks:
The 2003-2009 generation of the Toyota 4Runner is 189 inches long and 74-75 inches wide, depending on whether you have a pre-2006 or 2006-and later model within this generation. Practically speaking, you’re still going to be able to fit just about every car seat from the current generation into this generation, but depending on your model year, it might be slightly to significantly more difficult to do so, especially if you’re using any of the LATCH anchors instead of seat belts for all of your seats. It’s definitely possible to get all of these seats in there, though; the 4Runnier back seat is a forgiving one.
1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Toyota 4Runner (N180)
Guaranteed 3 across installations:
Clek Fllo (x3).
Clek Foonf (x3).
Diono Radian RXT (x3).
Diono Radian R120 (x3).
Diono Radian R100 (x3).
Combi Coccoro (x3).
Chicco KeyFit 30 (x3).
Clek Fllo, Diono Radian / RXT (x2).
Tips and Tricks:
At a scant 66.5 inches wide (71 in the Limited edition) and 178-183 inches long, the 3rd generation 4Runner is significantly smaller and narrower than its later brethren, which makes successful 3 across installations a much greater challenge than it is in later years. You’ll definitely be using your seat belts to get the very few workable installations to work, and even then, it’ll be a struggle. However, it *is* possible with a lot of effort.
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If you find the information on car safety, recommended car seats, and car seat reviews on this car seat blog helpful, you can shop through this Amazon link for any purchases, car seat-related or not. Canadians can shop through this link for Canadian purchases.