3 Across Installations: Which Car Seats Fit In a Ford F-150?

July 1, 2015 Mike

The Ford F-150 is the most popular pickup truck sold today in the United States, as well as the most popular vehicle sold in the country overall. Competing with (and outselling) full-sized pickups like the Dodge Ram, Toyota Tundra, Chevrolet Silverado, Honda Ridgeline and Chevrolet Silverado, the popularity of the F-150 as an all-American favorite means it’s used by a large number of families to transport children to school and around as a means of day-to-day transportation.

However, transporting children safely in a pickup truck means having some basic knowledge of car seat safety. Let’s first talk about which kinds of seats should be used during which ages and stages of child development, and then we’ll get down to which car seats can be fit 3 across in a typical F-150. If you’re in a hurry, the answer is nearly all of them.

Car seat safety begins with rear-facing, whether you’re driving a subcompact or a full-sized pickup truck. To keep your infants, toddlers, and preschoolers as safe as possible, I typically suggest keeping children rear-facing as long as possible (until 4 or 5 like the Swedes), followed by harnessing until they can safely use booster seats (until at least 5, like the Swedes), and then boostering until the 5 step test is passed (typically between 10, 11, and 12). Beyond that, I suggest keeping kids in the back seat until at least 13, and delaying teen solo driving until 18 if possible. Even if you’re in a large vehicle, you’ll protect your children far more by properly restraining them than by skipping stages.

Now that’s out of the way, let’s take a look at what worked and what didn’t. The fact of the matter is that with a vehicle as large as the F-150, you typically aren’t going to have any issues with 3 across car seat installations in terms of width; your main challenges will have to do with front-to-back room, which depends on your cabin sizes. That said, this is likely to be the most thorough 3 across car seat guide for the F-150 on the Internet, and I’ll keep adding to it 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.

2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 Ford F-150

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Diono Radian 3RXT (x3).

Diono Radian 3RX (x3).

Clek Oobr (x3).

Diono Rainier (x3).

Diono Pacifica (x3).

Diono Olympia (x3).

Combi Cocorro (x3).

Chicco KeyFit 30, Britax Pinnacle 90, Clek Foonf.

Clek Fllo, Britax Pinnacle 90, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Clek Foonf, Britax Frontier 90, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier 90, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Boulevard G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Marathon ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Marathon G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Pavilion G4, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Diono Radian / RXT, Chicco KeyFit 30, Graco TurboBooster.

Diono Radian / RXT, Diono Radian / RXT, Graco TurboBooster.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Boulevard G4.1, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Marathon ClickTight, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Marathon G4.1, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Pavilion G4, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Tips and Tricks:

The current generation of the Ford F-150 is between 209 and 250 inches long, depending on which cab size you choose, and 80 inches wide. In other words, you’re going to be able to fit just about any 3 car seats next to each other when it comes to width. However, when it comes to front-to-back space, what you can and can’t do will depend on your cab size. In smaller cab sizes, you might have a good bit of trouble due to needing to choose between car seats and front-passenger space.

2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Ford F-150

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Diono Radian 3RXT (x3).

Diono Radian 3RX (x3).

Clek Oobr (x3).

Diono Rainier (x3).

Diono Pacifica (x3).

Diono Olympia (x3).

Combi Cocorro (x3).

Chicco KeyFit 30, Britax Pinnacle 90, Clek Foonf.

Clek Fllo, Britax Pinnacle 90, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Clek Foonf, Britax Frontier 90, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier 90, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Boulevard G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Marathon ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Marathon G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Pavilion G4, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Diono Radian / RXT, Chicco KeyFit 30, Graco TurboBooster.

Diono Radian / RXT, Diono Radian / RXT, Graco TurboBooster.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Boulevard G4.1, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Marathon ClickTight, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Marathon G4.1, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Pavilion G4, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Tips and Tricks:

The 2009-2014 twelfth generation of the Ford F-150 is between 213 and 250 inches long, depending on your cab trim level, and 79 inches wide in every version except for the SVT Raptor, which is 86 inches wide. In other words, you’re going to have your pick when it comes to 3 across combinations. Keep an eye out for front-to-back space, however, in the shorter cab trims.

2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Ford F-150

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Diono Radian 3RXT (x3).

Diono Radian 3RX (x3).

Clek Oobr (x3).

Diono Rainier (x3).

Diono Pacifica (x3).

Diono Olympia (x3).

Combi Cocorro (x3).

Chicco KeyFit 30, Britax Pinnacle 90, Clek Foonf.

Clek Fllo, Britax Pinnacle 90, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Clek Foonf, Britax Frontier 90, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier 90, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Boulevard G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Marathon ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Marathon G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Pavilion G4, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Diono Radian / RXT, Chicco KeyFit 30, Graco TurboBooster.

Diono Radian / RXT, Diono Radian / RXT, Graco TurboBooster.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Boulevard G4.1, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Marathon ClickTight, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Marathon G4.1, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Pavilion G4, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Tips and Tricks:

This eleventh generation of the Ford F-150 ranges between 212 and 248 inches in length depending on which trim level you purchase, and is 79 inches wide across all trim levels. Again, your issue won’t be in the 3 across installations themselves but in having enough front-to-back space to make driving and using the front passenger seat enjoyable.

1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 Ford F-150

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Diono Radian 3RXT (x3).

Diono Radian 3RX (x3).

Clek Oobr (x3).

Diono Rainier (x3).

Diono Pacifica (x3).

Diono Olympia (x3).

Combi Cocorro (x3).

Chicco KeyFit 30, Britax Pinnacle 90, Clek Foonf.

Clek Fllo, Britax Pinnacle 90, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Clek Foonf, Britax Frontier 90, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier 90, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Boulevard G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Marathon ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Marathon G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Pavilion G4, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Diono Radian / RXT, Chicco KeyFit 30, Graco TurboBooster.

Diono Radian / RXT, Diono Radian / RXT, Graco TurboBooster.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Boulevard G4.1, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Marathon ClickTight, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Marathon G4.1, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Britax Pavilion G4, Clek Fllo, Britax Frontier G1.1.

Tips and Tricks:

The tenth generation of the Ford F-150 ranges between 202 and 244 inches in length depending on which trim level you purchase, and is 78-80 inches wide across trim levels. Again, your issue won’t be in the 3 across installations themselves but in having enough front-to-back space to make driving and using the front passenger seat enjoyable. Naturally, you’ll also need a trim level that features back seats, such as the Super Crew or Crew Cab options, in order to make any of these installations work.

If you find my information on best practices in car and car seat safety helpful, you can do your shopping through this Amazon link. Canadians can shop here for Canadian purchases. Have a question or want to discuss best practices? Send me an email at carcrashdetective [at] gmail [dot] com.

Top 5 Tips for Surviving Extended-Rear Facing with Toddlers

June 30, 2015 Mike

Keeping toddlers rear-facing doesn't have to be a battle--but if it becomes one, here's how to win it. — Keeping toddlers rear-facing doesn’t have to be a battle–but if it becomes one, here’s how to win it.

If you’ve got toddlers, you know convincing them to do just about anything (even things they want to do) can be a challenge. Scratch that; it can be impossible! However, if you read this blog, you also know that when it comes to car seat safety, we want to put our kids in the best possible positions to survive car collisions, and that means starting with rear-facing, and continuing to rear-face for as long as possible. So let’s talk about good ways to keep your toddlers rear-facing in safe car seats even when they make you want to do nothing more than forward-face (and perhaps run screaming from your vehicle now and then).

Wait – why should I be rear-facing my toddler anyway? Doesn’t forward-facing mean they’re more mature?

First of all, it’s worth remembering why rear-facing is a good idea. And not just a good one–it’s a great idea! Rear-facing is safer than forward-facing because it spreads the forces of a collision across a child’s back, which is a lot safer than concentrating them into a child’s neck. It’s kind of like how you can lift a heavy grocery bag with your hand that you couldn’t hope to lift with an individual finger.

The bones in a child’s body, such those encasing the spinal cord, take several years to fuse together after birth, and typically aren’t safely together until a child is around 4 or 5. This is why extended rear-facing is particularly important with younger children: it’s not so much about how much they weigh or how tall they are; the bones simply need time to mature.

You can read more about this here and here, but this is the basic idea. Rear-facing doesn’t mean your child isn’t mature; it just means you’re giving them the time they need to mature. Let’s go over some suggestions to make this possible.

How can I keep my toddler rear-facing? S/he cries, wants to see me, gets bored, or I get stressed and distracted. Help!

1. Buy a car seat mirror (and use it!)

If your toddler becomes fussy when rear-facing all of a sudden, it might very well be because she realizes that you’re somewhere very close by but she can’t see you, and that might upset her. It might sound rather obvious, but toddlers seemingly realize obvious things from one moment to the next.

My favorite solution here is to buy a good car seat mirror–and use it! The So Peep mirror is a fantastic one that we use with our kids, and which does a much better job than the Britax mirror we had before it. Set it up with your toddler and show her you can see her, and that she can see you through it. Your tantrums might disappear overnight.

2. Change the seat position

Sometimes toddlers become upset around this age because they simply become bored of being in the same place in the car all the time. Changing the installation of your seat (e.g., moving from the center to an outboard position, or from one outboard position to another) might be just what the doctor ordered for making your toddler view his rear-facing car seat in a whole new (and pleasant) light. If your toddler complains of having the sun in his or her eyes, a rear window sunshade kit might go a long way toward making the view more enjoyable, especially if your toddler won’t wear sun shades.

3. Try restricted toys

Toddlers are at an age where they enjoy new things, but they’re also at an age where they enjoy the comfort of familiar ones. Restricted toys are simply toys that your toddler enjoys but which she doesn’t get to use very often. We’ve found it helpful to have a book handy that’s only available in the car, such as the First 100 Words book. Our daughter spends a good amount of time studying each page and pointing to the objects she can name (and then naming them). It’s surprisingly engrossing.

4. Try familiar toys!

On the other end of the spectrum, some toddlers simply crave things that remind them of home, and if you can bring a treasured blanket, book, or trinket from home to the car seat, this might be enough to make your toddler start enjoying rear-facing car trips again. If you try this strategy, it’s a good idea to discuss which toy your toddler will bring before leaving for a trip, and make his choosing it a special affair. He’ll be more likely to remember its significance once a trip starts, and less likely to fuss.

5. Realize it’s just a phase, or this too shall pass.

This is perhaps the least exciting tip you can hear, but it’s also perhaps the most important. No one really understands what’s going on in a toddler’s mind–not completely, anyway. They’re at an age where they’re learning an awful lot about the world and about themselves, and for many toddlers at that age, they’re simply going to want to do things differently just to see if they can, and just to see what things feel like, and just to see what you do.

This might mean rejecting favorite foods or routines. It might mean saying “no” when they really mean “yes,” or the complete opposite. And sometimes it might simply mean they fuss a lot when rear-facing even though it never used to bother them before. Your job as a parent is to keep your toddler safe; this is a phase that s/he will get through, and that you will get through.

OK, You’ve convinced me. What’s a good convertible for keeping my toddler rear-facing until s/he’s 4 or 5 (e.g., the preschool years)?

There are a lot of great convertibles out there right now that will likely keep your toddler rear-facing until at least 4; I’ve reviewed and recommended many of them here. However, if you’re looking for my absolute favorites, here you go.

I’ve had the privilege of reviewing dozens of ERF-capable seats here, but these are my absolute favorite seats right now:

Under $200, I’d strongly recommend the Graco Extend2Fit, Safety 1st Grow and Go EX Air, and Safety 1st Advance EX 65+ Air+. The three seats are very similar, and each is designed to be used from the day your child leaves the hospital until the day s/he weighs 50 pounds. Their height limits mean nearly all kids will make it to 5 rear-facing with them, and lighter children may even make it past 6 or 7!

Under $300, my most-recommended seat is the Diono Rainier. If you can find it, the Diono Pacifica is equally safe despite having been discontinued. Again, both seats are almost identical; the main difference lies in the head wings present in the Rainier, which are designed to offer additional side impact protection.

However, the most important part of both seats involves the rear-facing capabilities. Both seats let you rear-face from birth until 50 pounds and have the height limits to make that feasible. They can then be used for quite a while as forward-facing seats, and then, depending on your child, used for some amount of time as booster seats.

If money’s no object, go with the Clek Fllo or Clek Foonf. Yet again, both seats are very similar, but my top recommendation between the two is the cheaper seat, the Fllo. Combine either seat with the Clek Infant Insert and you can start out rear-facing from birth and keep it up until 50 pounds.

The overall take home points are that young children can be perfectly happy while rear-facing, and that if they aren’t, there are a range of solutions to try. Ultimately, however, if they don’t work and our children are temporarily unhappy, it’s our job as parents to keep rear-facing anyway as long as our seats allow, because it’s by far the safer choice compared to forward-facing.

3 Across Installations: Which Car Seats Fit in a Toyota RAV4?

June 29, 2015 Mike

The Toyota RAV4 is one of the most popular small SUVs sold today in the United States. It competes directly with crossovers like the Honda CR-V, Jeep Patriot, Jeep Compass, Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester, and Ford Escape. The newest generation of the RAV4 includes a range of great safety scores in the small overlap, moderate overlap, side, and roof strength domains, as well as ESC and side airbags. The next step for Toyota will be to add front crash prevention systems now that they’ve worked out their small overlap issues with it.

Because it’s such a reliable, affordable, fuel-friendly, and attractive little SUV, it’s no surprise lots of parents would turn to it as a way of keeping their children safe. Unfortunately, due to the overlapping seat belt setup Toyota keeps building into the back seat of the Rav4, it is essentially a 5-seat vehicle capable of seating 4-persons, and has been for several years now. This is part of why it’s taken me so long to review it for 3 across compatibility; I didn’t want to take the trouble of borrowing one when I was sure of what the conclusions would be. But I’ve got a bit of free time now so let’s take a look together. Before that, however, here are some basics in car seat safety selection:

Car seat safety starts with rear-facing our little ones; it’s best for their soft spines and disproportionally large heads. I recommend you rear-face your infants, toddlers, and preschoolers for as long as possible (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.

Keeping these ideas in mind, I set to work to find which infant, convertible, combination, and booster seats would work best in 3 across combinations in the Toyota RAV4. It’s my goal to make this list the most thorough on the Internet and my hope that Toyota will soon return to a sensible back seat design for the Rav4. 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. Vehicle images are courtesy of Wikipedia.

2019, 2020 Toyota RAV4 (XA50)

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Diono Radian 3RXT (x3).

Diono Radian 3RX (x3).

Clek Oobr (x3).

Diono Radian R100 (x3).

Chicco KeyFit 30 (x3).

Tips and Tricks:

The current generation of the RAV4 shows a welcome return to sanity. Toyota redesigned the back seats just enough to make 3 across installations both feasible and safe, meaning it’s officially a 5 person SUV again! Dimensionally, it’s a shade under 181 inches long, 73 inches wide, and 65.4 inches tall. As a result, you’ll be able to fit narrow seats in the 2nd row as long as you’re willing to use seat belts instead of LATCH. As is almost always the case with small SUVs (which are essentially raised versions of small cars), front-to-back room will be limited, particularly if you’ve got taller occupants in the front row.

2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Toyota RAV4

Guaranteed 3 across installations: None!

The current generation Toyota Rav4 continues an unfortunate step backwards in car seat compatibility, due to the ridiculously overlapping seat belts in the back seat. This was the case with the previous generation as well, and all signs point to this continuing to be a “feature” of the Rav4, despite Toyota’s continued insistence that it is a 5-person vehicle.

While overlapping seat belts in and of themselves don’t automatically exclude a vehicle from 3 across capabilities (the Highlander has overlapping belts but is still a decent 3 across vehicle, for example), when the belts overlap to a significant degree (as in the current generation Corolla, Rogue, or CX-5), 3 across becomes an impossibility for safety reasons. I’ve included 2 car seat arrangements that will work easily given the available space in the Rav4, but until Toyota corrects this, the Rav4 will remain a 2-across vehicle.

Clek Fllo (x2).

Clek Foonf (x2).

Chicco KeyFit 30 (x2).

Graco Size4Me 65 (x2).

Graco Contender (x2).

Diono Radian / RXT (x2).

Combi Coccoro (x2).

Tips and Tricks:

The current generation of the Toyota Rav4 is 180 inches long and 73 inches wide, which means you’ll have a good amount of space for any 2 car seats, though not 3 (see above).

2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 Toyota Rav4

Guaranteed 3 across installations: None!

The 2007-2012 generation Toyota Rav4 began an unfortunate step backwards in car seat compatibility in this generation, due to the ridiculously overlapping seat belts in the back seat. This is the case with the current (2013+_ generation as well, and all signs point to this continuing to be a “feature” of the Rav4, despite Toyota’s continued insistence that it is a 5-person vehicle.

Clek Fllo (x2).

Clek Foonf (x2).

Chicco KeyFit 30 (x2).

Graco Size4Me 65 (x2).

Graco Contender (x2).

Diono Radian / RXT (x2).

Combi Coccoro (x2).

Tips and Tricks:

The 2007-2012 generation of the Toyota Rav4 is 181 inches long and 71 inches wide, which gives you slightly less room for 2 across than in the current generation. However, due to to the overlapping seat belt issue again, you’re still dealing with 2 across, so there’ll be room for just about whatever you’re interested in fitting, as long as you only want 2 of them.

If you find my information on best practices in car and car seat safety helpful, you can buy my books here or do your shopping through this Amazon link. Canadians can shop here for Canadian purchases. Have a question or want to discuss best practices? Send me an email at carcrashdetective [at] gmail [dot] com.

3 Across Installations: Which Car Seats Fit a Toyota 4Runner?

June 28, 2015 Mike

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.

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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3 Across Installations: Which Car Seats Fit in a Toyota Prius C?

June 27, 2015 Mike

The Toyota Prius C (the c stands for city) is one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles you can buy today in the United States, and is easily the most fuel-efficient non-electric car in the minicar segment, competing with other gas-sippers like the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, and Chevrolet Sonic. Popular among the young and old alike, the Prius C may be a particular favorite of ecologically conscious parents who wish to leave their children a better world and promote a more sustainable future.

Ultimately, I fervently believe that the future isn’t in the giant vehicles that roam our streets and highways, but in much smaller vehicles like the C, and indeed, in far fewer personal vehicles (bicycles aside!) and in far better public infrastructure. But I’m getting ahead of myself. This guide is about 3 across compatibility, not sustainability!

I borrowed a Prius C this weekend to see how family-friendly it is when it comes to the all-important task of fitting multiple car seats into the back row. Before looking at which seats fared best, however, it’s worth taking a look at why it’s important to use certain seats at certain times with our children.

First of all, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are safest when rear-facing. I recommend rear-facing as long as you can (ideally until 4!), before forward-facing them in harnessed convertible or combination seats (ideally until 8!). Once they outgrow their harnessed seats, I suggest keeping them in high-back boosters until they’re physically and psychologically ready to use adult seat belt systems (which typically happens between 10 and 12). What we want to do is keep our kids restrained in the safest positions for as long as possible to increase their odds of surviving crash forces.

Keeping these ideas in mind, I set to work to find which infant, convertible, combination, and booster seats would work best in 3 across combinations in the Toyota Prius C. I found several good options and a few great ones. 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.

2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 Toyota Prius C

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Chicco KeyFit 30 (x3).

Clek Oobr (x3).

Diono Radian RXT (x3).

Diono Radian R120 (x3).

Diono Radian R100 (x3).

Combi Coccoro (x3).

Tips and Tricks:

The current generation of the Toyota Prius is barely 157 inches long and 67 inches wide, making it one of the narrowest vehicles I’ve ever tried to stuff 3 car seats into. However, it’s definitely possible if you use the seat belts (no way no how when it comes to LATCH) and take your time.

Out of the above convertibles, to be honest, I’d really just go with the Fllo or Foonf, as the Radians will take up a lot of front-to-back space that you really don’t have, while the Coccoro won’t be the best value for your money unless you have the specific needs to merit it over the Fllo / Foonf.

If you’re looking for an infant seat, go with the KeyFit 30. It’s light, narrow, and puzzles well with itself in small spaces.

If you insist on using one of the Radians, you’ll definitely need the angle adjuster, or you’re not going to have any front-passenger space to speak of.

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35,000 Americans will die this year on the road. You don't have to be one of them. A car seat and car safety blog to promote best practices for families.