The Audi Q7 is one of a handful of large, luxury 3-row SUVs sold in the United States. It competes with other large luxury crossovers like the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, Buick Enclave, Land Rover Range Rover Sport, and Cadillac Escalade. Drivers interested in large 3-row SUVs on smaller budgets are likely to look into SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia, Dodge Durango, or Toyota Sequoia instead. However, if you’re interested in the Audi experience and need 3 row seating, the Q7 is your only option.

Despite the shockingly high repair costs of the Q7, it remains a popular vehicle among a small crowd of parents due to its storage capacities, extensive safety features, and abilities to carry their children everywhere without compromising the luxuries they’re used to. And let’s face it; the Q7 looks more stylish than a Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna. But there aren’t many guides online regarding which car seats you’re likely to be able to stuff into a Q7, and there are even fewer guides on things to watch out for in terms of 3 across installations and tips to make the process easier. That’s why I decided to add the Q7 to my extensive 3 across car seat guide project, in which I aim to provide guides to the most popular 100-or so vehicles sold in the US today. Before looking into car seat combinations likely to work in the Q7, however, let’s take a look at some best practices in car seat safety and usage.

First of all, car seat safety starts with rear-facing from the day your child leaves the hospital, and for many years to come, due to the safety advantages it provides over forward-facing. Rear-facing is the way to go even if it takes you through the preschool years (ideally until 4!). Once you can’t fit your child in a rear-facing seat anymore, forward-face him or her in harnessed convertible or combination seats (ideally until 8!). Once your children 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). The overriding goal is safety, which comes from using certain kinds of seats at certain times.

With that in mind, here’s the list of car seats you’re likely to get to work in 3 across configurations in the Audi Q7. If you’re in a hurry, just by 3 Clek Fllos or 3 Clek Foonfs. They’re narrow enough to fit in any vehicle without struggle 3 across, and they have the highest weight limits on the market. When purchased with infant inserts, you’ll be able to use these seats to rear-face your children from birth until 5, and then you’ll get another year out of them forward-facing before needing to look into booster seats like the Frontier G1.1 or Pinnacle G.1.1 that will work until they no longer need booster seats. If you’d like more details or are on a tighter budget, read on.

The list isn’t complete, but it’s my goal to make it as complete as possible over time. 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.

The Chrysler 200 was (until its discontinuation) one of the most popular American mid-sized sedans in the US market. It competes strongly with more established offerings like the Ford Fusion, Chevy Malibu, Honda Accord, Subaru Legacy, Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Jetta, Nissan Altima, and Volkswagen Passat when it comes to safe, reliable, and mid-sized family-friendly transportation. The initial generation 200 was the template for the now-defunct Dodge Avenger, which means the 3 across guide below for the 1st generation 200 will also work for the Avenger, although the 2nd generation 200 guide is unique to the Chrysler 200.

I’ve been impressed with the Chrysler 200 for a while, given the fact that it’s one of few pre-2010 cars that debuted with a good small overlap score in its 1st generation. The current Chrysler 200 scores well in a variety of safety tests, including strong moderate frontal overlap scores, side impact scores, roof strength scores, and frontal crash prevention systems in the higher optional trims. In other words, this is one of the best examples of a safe mid-sized car on the market.

Given its good design, I wanted to find out how well the Chrysler 200 does as a family car when it comes to installing 3 car seats across the back seats. Before looking into the results, however, here is a primer on best practices in car seat safety.

First of all, car seat safety begins with rear-facing. It’s the safest position for both children and adults, and I recommend rear-facing your kids as long as you possibly can (ideally until 4!) before turning them forward. Once you start forward-facing, I also suggest keeping that up as long as possible (ideally until 8!) before you start using booster seats. When you do booster, I recommend keeping that up until your kids can pass the 5-step test for using the adult seat belt (which typically happens between 10 and 12). These suggestions keep your kids restrained in safer positions for longer periods of time, which increases their odds of survival in a crash.

With that in mind, I set out to try all of the car seats at my disposal to see which 3 across installations would fit well in a Chrysler 200, and put my list below together. The good news is that there are a range of infant, convertible, front-facing harnessed, and booster seats you’ll be able to get into the back row without trouble. 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 and yours truly.

2015, 2016, 2017 Chrysler 200

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Chicco KeyFit 30 (x3).

Diono Radian RXT (x3).

Diono Radian R120 (x3).

Diono Radian R100 (x3).

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

Diono Radian / RXT, Graco Snugride 35, Diono Radian / RXT.

Combi Coccoro (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro, Evenflo Triumph.

The current generation of the Chrysler 200 is just over 192 inches long and just under 74 inches wide, giving parents a generous amount of side-to-side room for most 3 across car seat installations. You’ll definitely want to use your seat belts instead of LATCH lower anchors to take full advantage of this space however, as the LATCH anchors will rob you of outboard space due to their close placement.

2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Chrysler 200

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

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

Diono Radian / RXT (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT, Graco Snugride 35, Diono Radian / RXT.

Combi Coccoro (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro, Evenflo Triumph.

The 2011-2014 generation of the Chrysler 200 is just under 192 inches long in the sedan (195 inches long in the convertible) and just over 72 inches wide, giving parents a decent amount of side-to-side room for many 3 across car seat installations, even though it’s 1.5 inches narrower than the following generation. You’ll definitely want to use your seat belts instead of LATCH lower anchors to take full advantage of this space however, as the LATCH anchors will rob you of outboard space due to their close placement.

Given the fact that the 1st generation of the Chrysler 200 is little more than a restyled version of the 3rd generation of the Chrysler Sebring, most car seats that fit in the 200 in this generation will also work in the Sebring, as well as in the Dodge Avenger, which is basically a Chrysler 200 with a slightly modified exterior and interior.

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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 Audi A4 is one of the most popular mid-sized luxury sedans (and station wagons in the case of the A4 Avant) sold today in the United States, competing head to head with fellow mid-sized luxury sedans (and hatchbacks) like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Volvo S60, Volvo V60, and BMW 3 Series. It received the honorable distinction of being only the 4th car ever estimated by the IIHS to have had a driver death rate of zero during the 2008-2011 model years. In other words, it’s a very safe car as well as a very stylish one.

Given its well-deserved reputation for safety, it’s no surprise a number of parents turn to the A4 to keep their children safe on the road. I had the privilege of reviewing a few generations of the A4 this week to put through their paces in the very practical quest of fitting 3 car seats across its back row of seats. My results are below, and I was quite happy with them. Before reviewing them, however, a quick review of best practices in seating choices is always useful.

I always advocate beginning with rear-facing, and continuing to do so with young children for as long as possible (ideally until 4!). After rear-facing, next comes forward-facing in harnessed convertible or combination seats (ideally until 8!). Once kids are too big for forward-facing harnessed seats, booster seats are the next step until they pass the 5-step test for using adult vehicle seats and adult seat belts (which typically happens between 10 and 12). The longer you keep your kids safely restrained, the better their odds of crash survival.

Keeping these principles in mind, I made it my goal to see just how 3-across friendly the back seat of the Audi A4 was. Given the lack of information about the A4 on the Internet when it comes to infant, convertible, combination, and booster-seat compatibility, I felt this list was way overdue. If you find it 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.

2017 Audi A4 (B9)

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Chicco KeyFit 30 (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.

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

Diono Radian / RXT, Diono Radian / RXT, Graco Nautilus.

Britax Parkway SGL, Britax Boulevard G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT.

Graco Snugride 35, Britax Boulevard G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT.

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

Britax Parkway SGL, Britax Marathon G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT.

Graco Snugride 35, Britax Marathon G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT.

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

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

Diono Radian / RXT, Graco Snugride 35, Diono Radian / RXT.

Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro, Evenflo Triumph.

The current generation of the A4, the B9, is just over 186 inches long and 72.5 inches wide. In other words, for practical purposes, it’s going to be about the same on the inside in terms of 3 across feasibility; you’re still not going to be able to fit 3 Rainiers side to side, for example. That said, with seat belts, I was able to make pretty much every seat from the previous generation fit into this generation, plus a few extras that I had on hand. Don’t be afraid to push hard against the fabric when working to get a snug installation; your kids are more important than the leather.

2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Audi A4 (B8)

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT (x3).

Combi Coccoro (x3).

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

Diono Radian / RXT, Diono Radian / RXT, Graco Nautilus.

Britax Parkway SGL, Britax Boulevard G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT.

Graco Snugride 35, Britax Boulevard G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT.

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

Britax Parkway SGL, Britax Marathon G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT.

Graco Snugride 35, Britax Marathon G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT.

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

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

Diono Radian / RXT, Graco Snugride 35, Diono Radian / RXT.

Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro, Evenflo Triumph.

This generation of the Audi A4 is 185 inches long and 72 inches wide in the sedan and Avant and 186 inches long and 73 inches wide in the Allroad, or souped-up wagon version. What this means is that both versions are about as wide as the average mid-sized car while being about as long as the average small car or SUV. To put it another way, you’re not going to have that much trouble finding a number of car seats that fit 3 across when it comes to side-to-side installations, but on the other hand, you might feel the pinch with front-seat occupants due to car seats that rob you of front-to-back space. Using seat belts will help with the first issue by giving you additional side-to-side space compared to what you’d get through the LATCH anchors.

If you’re using the Radians, you’ll definitely want to make use of the angle adjuster to get as much extra room between the car seat and the vehicle’s front seats as possible; this will give you extra leg room as a driver or front seat passenger.

2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Audi A4 (B7)

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT (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.

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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 Audi Q5 is a mid-sized (or compact, depending on your definitions) luxury SUV with quite a following in the US. It competes with a number of other 2-row luxury crossovers like the Volvo XC60, BMW X3, Acura RDX, and Lexus RX and NX among families interested in stylish and safe transportation. The Q5 features good small and moderate overlap scores, good side impact and roof scores, and even comes with a decent level of front crash prevention software in higher trim levels.

I first took note of the Q5 when I researched the best SUVs and crossovers for surviving side impacts and realized the Q5 deserved to be close to the top of the list. It’s no surprise it’s one of the best selling SUVs in its segment. However, what I really wanted to find out was whether its reputation as an extremely cramped SUV was deserved or not when it came to installing 3 car seats in the back row. Before getting to the results, however, let’s take a look at some basic car seat safety principles.

The safest configuration we know of when it comes to vehicle safety is rear-facing. I recommend rear-facing your children long past age 1, which is the legal requirement in most states, and going well into 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). 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 Audi Q5. 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.

The current generation of the RDX is 184 inches long and just under 74 inches wide, making it a rather standard example of a smaller mid-sized crossover. Its interior width suggests a range of car seats will fit inside it without much trouble. However, the back center seat is narrower than it needs to be, which can make installations a bit tricky. That said, as long as you’re using your seat belts, you’ll be able to make a lot of installations work. Save the LATCH system for when you’ve only got one or two seats to deal with.

If you’re using a Diono to rear-face, given the shorter length of the RDX, you’ll want to invest in an angle adjuster (it’s a really cheap investment) to make sure you’re not squished in the driver’s or front-passenger’s seats while rear-facing.

The initial generation of the Acura RDX is 181-183 inches long, depending on whether you’re driving a pre-2010 or 2010 and later model, and just under 74 inches wide in all model years. This means you’ll be able to fit a number of car seats inside it, as is the case in the current generation. Because the back center seat is narrower than it needs to be, you’ll want to choose a narrow seat for that position and save the wider seats for the outboard positions. That said, as long as you’re using your seat belts, you’ll be able to make a lot of installations work. Save the LATCH system for when you’ve only got one or two seats to deal with.

Once again, if you’re using a Diono to rear-face, given the shorter length of the RDX, you’ll want to invest in an angle adjuster (it’s a really cheap investment) to make sure you’re not squished in the driver’s or front-passenger’s seats while rear-facing.

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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.