The Jeep Compass is a small, peppy, and rather popular (at least in the Midwest) SUV-crossover buggy sold throughout the United States. It goes head to head with the ever-growing small SUV market, which features luminaries such as the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester, Ford Escape, and its Jeep twin the Patriot. It has a range of good safety scores, with the exception of its small overlap score, which remains poor, and was surprisingly one of the small SUVs with the lowest driver death rates measured in the most recent IIHS survey, which I wrote about extensively here.

Given my fondness of the Compass, I had to see if it were as viable of a 3 across vehicle as the other small crossovers in its class. The good news is that it’s basically the same as the Patriot on the inside in terms of the back seat, which means you’ll be able to fit several seats there when using the seat belts. Before looking at the seats, here are a few best practice readings on why it’s worth using certain seats at certain ages.

The safest configuration we know of when it comes to vehicle safety is rear-facing. This goes for adults as well! 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). We want our little ones in the safest positions we know of for as long as possible to give them the greatest advantages in a collision.

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 Jeep Compass. It’s my goal to make this list the most thorough on the Internet. 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.

2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 Jeep Compass

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).

Clek Fllo, Diono Radian / RXT, Diono Radian / RXT.

Clek Fllo, Graco Size4Me 65, Diono Radian / RXT.

Chicco KeyFit 30, Clek Fllo, Chicco KeyFit 30.

There is only one generation of the Jeep Compass so far, and it’s 173 inches long and slightly more than 69 inches wide. In other words, it’s about the width and length of a small car, although it sits significantly higher than one. That said, despite its size, you’ll still be able to stuff a range of car seats into it if you’re willing to take your time and use the seat belts. Using LATCH will only frustrate you when working with a vehicle this narrow side-to-side.

Because of the length of the vehicle, if you want to make the most of your money, I’d strongly recommend Radians due to the minimal amount of space they take up with angle adjusters; your legs and front-row passengers will thank you.

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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.

The Chrysler 300 is one of the most sought-after large sedans available today in the United States, and it’s easy to see why. It competes strongly with the Ford Taurus, Toyota Avalon, Chevrolet Impala, Buick Lacrosse, and its Dodge twin the Dodge Charger as a family vehicle with plenty of room, plenty of power, and plenty of style. The newest versions of the 300 include a range of up-to-date safety features, including a good moderate overlap score, a good side impact and roof score, and ESC, which is finally a requirement in all new US-spec cars.

I borrowed a current and previous generation 300 to see if it worked just as well as its Charger twin when it came to puzzling 3 car seats across the back seats. The good news is that yes, it does a great job, and is still one of the most car seat-friendly cars I’ve come across. Before looking into the details, however, it’s worth reviewing when it’s a good idea to use infant and convertible seats, forward-facing and combination seats, booster seats, and the adult seat belt to keep our kids safe.

First of all, start with rear-facing. That goes for infants, toddlers (here are some tips to make rear-facing with them more bearable), and even preschoolers. The longer you can rear-face (aim for 4!), the better. That can be done with infant and convertible seats. Next, you’ll want to forward-face your little ones 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). The goal is to use the safest seats for as long as possible to keep your kids as safe as possible.

With this in mind, I tested a range of seats to figure out which car seats work best in 3 across setups in the Chrysler 300. It’s my goal to make lists like these the most comprehensive on the Internet. 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.

2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 Chrysler 300

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Graco Contender (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT (x3).

Graco Size4Me 65 (x3).

Chicco KeyFit 30, Clek Foonf, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Chicco KeyFit 30, Clek Fllo, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Combi Coccoro (x3).

Clek Fllo, Graco Contender, Diono Radian / RXT.

Clek Fllo, Diono Radian / RXT, Diono Radian / RXT.

Clek Fllo, Graco Contender (x2).

Clek Fllo, Graco Size4Me 65, Diono Radian / RXT.

Clek Fllo, Graco Size4Me 65 (x2).

The current generation of the Chrysler 300 is 199 inches long and 75 inches wide, which is about as good as it gets in most cars. Due to the length and width, you’ve got ample room both in terms of front-to-back space and in side-to-side space. That said, it can still feel a bit cramped when using particularly wide seats like the Britax ClickTight series, so you’ll want to use your seat belts instead of the LATCH anchors to take full advantage of the space.

2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Chrysler 300

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Graco Contender (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT (x3).

Graco Size4Me 65 (x3).

Chicco KeyFit 30, Clek Foonf, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Chicco KeyFit 30, Clek Fllo, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Combi Coccoro (x3).

Clek Fllo, Graco Contender, Diono Radian / RXT.

Clek Fllo, Diono Radian / RXT, Diono Radian / RXT.

Clek Fllo, Graco Contender (x2).

Clek Fllo, Graco Size4Me 65, Diono Radian / RXT.

Clek Fllo, Graco Size4Me 65 (x2).

The initial modern generation of the Chrysler 300 is 198 inches long and 74 inches wide, or 1 inch shorter and 1 inch narrower than the current generation. That said, it’s still similar in size to other large family sedans on the market, and you’re likely to be able to get a wide range of car seats in it successfully in 3 across configurations. As always, choose seat belts over LATCH to maximize side-to-side space.

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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.

The “Chevy” Chevrolet Colorado (and its GMC twin, the GMC Canyon) is a compact pickup truck sold in the US as a replacement for the Chevy S-10 / GMC Sonoma. Manufactured in Missouri, Thailand, and Brazil, the Colorado competes with foreign and domestic offerings like the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, Nissan Frontier, and Dodge Dakota while offering a smaller and more sensible alternative for most drivers to larger trucks like the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Tundra, Dodge Ram, GMC Sierra, and so on. It’s a truck big enough to get the job done without blowing an equally big hole in one’s budget.

As a result, it’s no surprise that a number of families turn to the Colorado, not just as a daily driver, but as a way to transport their kids from one place to the next. As part of my ongoing project to make 3 across car seat guides for all vehicles, I turned to the Colorado in effort to find out which car seats could be fit into it, particularly into the extended and crew cabs. Before going into what worked and what didn’t, here’s a crash course on car seat safety that’s worth reviewing.

First of all, 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. The goal isn’t to move through seats as quickly as possible; it’s to keep kids as safe as possible whenever they’re in motor vehicles. The longer we keep our kids restrained appropriately, the safer they are in Colorados or any other vehicles.

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 Tacoma. 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.

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 Chevrolet Colorado

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Diono Radian 3RXT (x3).

Diono Radian 3RX (x3).

Clek Oobr (x3).

Graco Size4Me 65 (x3).

Graco Contender (x3).

Combi Coccoro (x3).

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

Tips and Tricks:

The second generation Chevy Colorado ranges from just over 212 inches long in the crew cab short box to just under 225 inches long in the crew cab long box. It is 74 inches wide in all cab configurations. It’s available in three cab setups: an extended cab, a crew cab with a short bed, and a crew cab with a long bed. The crew cabs will offer the most interior space for car seats while the extended cab will offer the least. The capable interior allows for a decent number of car seats to be installed without much trouble, especially if you use the seat belt system instead of the LATCH system.

2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Chevrolet Colorado

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Diono Radian 3RXT (x3).

Diono Radian 3RX (x3).

Clek Oobr (x3).

Graco TurboBooster, Diono Radian RXT / R120 / R100, Graco Snugride 30.

Combi Coccoro (x3).

Tips and Tricks:

The initial generation Chevy Colorado ranges from just over 192 inches long in the regular cab to 207 inches long in the extended cab It is 68 inches wide in all US cab configurations. It’s available in three cab setups: a regular cab, an extended cab, and a crew cab. The crew cabs will offer the most interior space for car seats while the regular cab won’t offer any space and the extended cab won’t be much better. The interior is a narrow one and will make it tough to install all but the narrowest seats in 3 across setups. Definitely use your seat belts and try to move the outboard seats as close to the doors as possible. And of course, use your seat belts instead of LATCH anchors.

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.

The BMW 5 Series (e.g., the 535i, 530i, 525i, 528i, and other models) is one of the best-looking sedans and station wagons (referred to as “touring” models by BMW) you can buy in the 5-figure range. In the United States, the 5 Series competes in the large luxury car segment with standouts like the Audi A6, Volvo S80, and Mercedes E-Class, and competes well. I recently compared every car in the US in terms of their abilities to withstand side impact collisions, and the 5 Series was one of the best cars you could be in when it came to surviving a t-bone. It’s not a 7 Series, but it’s definitely a tank in its own right.

As a result, when I had the chance to figure out if the most recent generations of the 5 Series would work well as family vehicles, I couldn’t pass it up. I was most interested in finding out if you could feasibly install 3 car seats across the back row of the 5 Series without damaging anything on the inside. Given that it was surprisingly doable with the 3 Series, I had high hopes. Before looking into the results, however, it’s worth reviewing some basic elements of car seat safety, in terms of which stages kids should go through and when before using adult seat belts.

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 BMW 5 Series. 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. Three across setups apply to both the sedan and touring editions of the 5 Series.

The Chevrolet “Chevy” Sonic, which is also known as the Aveo, is Chevy’s offering in the subcompact minicar market in the United States. It competes strongly with more established luminaries like the Toyota Prius C, Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, and Nissan Versa Note by remaining one of the cheapest new cars you can buy today in the United States. The first generation had reliability issues that Chevy has worked to address in the second generation, and if you’re on a budget and determined to buy new, there are few hatchbacks or sedans that will take a smaller dent out of your wallet.

I took a look at two Aveos–the second generation Sonic and the first gen Aveo–to see how much of a challenge it would be to fit 3 car seats across the back rows of each. I knew it was possible, having had success with a range of other subcompacts, but it’s always a question of how challenging the installations are, and that’s what interested me with the Sonic / Aveo. Before looking at what worked and what didn’t, here’s a quick review of why using car seats in different stages of a child’s life are important to begin with.

Everything starts with rear-facing; it’s the safest position we know of, and it’s a very good idea to rear-face your children as long as possible (ideally until 4!), before forward-facing them in harnessed convertible or combination seats (until at least 5 but as late as 8!). Rear-facing offers the greatest protection for kids of all ages, and there are a number of seats (such as the Fllo / Foonf) that will let them rear-face through the preschool years. 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). If this sounds like a long time to use car seats, remember that car collisions are the leading causes of death throughout the ages you just read. Car seats are cheap insurance to keep your kids safer on the road.

With all of this in mind, I made it my mission to figure out which infant, convertible, combination, and booster seats would fit in the back of the Sonic with as little fuss as possible in 3 across combinations. 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.