The Dodge Charger is a fast, big, and large American full-sized car, and one frequently chosen by police departments around the country as cruising vehicles. Competing with the Ford Taurus, Toyota Avalon, Chevrolet Impala, and its Chrysler twin the Chrysler 300, the Charger is also frequently chosen by families interested in full-sized vehicles for safe family transportation. The latest versions of the Charger include some of the latest safety features on the market, including electronic stability control, side curtain airbags, excellent safety scores, and even basic electronic braking to aid in front crash prevention.

Given its reputation as a “fast car,” I decided to test its family-friendliness by seeing how many car seats I could fit into one, or rather, how well it did when it came to making 3 across car seat installations feasible. You can scroll down to see what I did and did not get to work. Before that, though, let’s look at which kinds of seats are best to choose for kids of different ages and why.

First things first: the youngest children, including infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, are safest when sitting in rear-facing positions in infant seats and convertible car seats. I’d recommend doing so for 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).  Keeping your kids in these configurations maximizes their odds of surviving car crashes.

With this in mind, I tested convertible, booster, combination, and infant seats to figure out which car seats work best in 3 across setups in the Dodge Charger. 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.

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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 Toyota Avalon is one of the most popular large and full-sized cars sold today in the United States. Toyota’s flagship sedan, the Avalon competes with the Ford Taurus, Dodge Charger, Chevrolet Impala, and increasingly with large luxury sedans like the Lexus GS, Audi A6, Mercedes E-Class, and Volvo S80 among families interested in safety, style, and comfort. The latest editions of the Avalon come with a range of safety features, including electronic stability control, side curtain and torso airbags beside all four doors, excellent safety scores, and even electronic braking to aid in front crash prevention. As a result, while it’s traditionally been considered a sedan for the silver-haired crowd, it’s no surprise that younger, wealthier, and luxury-minded parents are looking at the Avalon as a safe and stylish choice for family transportation.

I rented a few Avalons this weekend and spent the day in my garage trying out several of my most trusted car seats to see how well the Avalon does in 3 across car seat juggling. In short, the current Avalon behaves much more like a mid-sized sedan (think Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, or of course, Toyota Camry) than a full-sized, large one when it comes to puzzling car seats. This didn’t use to be the case, and the truth is that the older Avalon actually did better fitting car seats than the current one. Before we go into what did and didn’t work, however, it’s worth looking over some best practice guidelines for car seat use.

First of all, I suggest keeping your youngest travelers, such as infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children in rear-facing infant or convertible car seats for as long as you can (ideally until 4!). Once you turn them forward-facing, you can keep them in harnessed convertible or combination seats through the early elementary years, or as long as you can (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 keep our kids restrained in the safest car seat orientations and safest types of seats for as long as we can, as this dramatically increases their odds of surviving collisions.

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 Avalon. 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.

2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 Toyota Avalon

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Graco Contender (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT (x3).

Graco Size4Me 65 (x3).

Clek Fllo, Graco Head Wise 70, Diono Radian / RXT.

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

Clek Fllo, Graco Head Wise 70, Graco Head Wise 70.

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

Chicco KeyFit 30, Clek Foonf, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Chicco KeyFit 30, Clek Fllo, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Combi Coccoro (x3).

The current generation of the Toyota Avalon is 195 inches long and 72 inches wide, which is comparable to most other mid-sized sedans in side-to-side width and slightly longer than the average mid-sized sedan. However, it’s several inches shorter and narrower than the average large sedan. It’s actually both shorter and narrower than the previous generation Avalon by 2 inches in length and 1 inch in width.

As a result, you can expect to fit about the same seats in an Avalon as you’d fit in a comparable mid-sized sedan, but when it comes to front-to-back space or side-to-side space, it’s going to feel cramped compared to a car like a Taurus, Impala, or Charger for car seat installations. You’ll definitely want to use seat belt installations for all three seats to make the most of the space you have.

2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 2010, 2011, 2012 Toyota Avalon

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Graco Contender (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT (x3).

Graco Size4Me 65 (x3).

Clek Fllo, Graco Head Wise 70, Diono Radian / RXT.

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

Clek Fllo, Graco Head Wise 70, Graco Head Wise 70.

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

Chicco KeyFit 30, Clek Foonf, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Chicco KeyFit 30, Clek Fllo, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Combi Coccoro (x3).

The prior generation of the Toyota Avalon is 197 inches long and 73 inches wide, which actually makes it a more car-seat friendly Avalon than the current generation due to its being both longer and wider. Seat belt installations will still make the process easier, but this is one case where, seat-wise, at least, older is better.

2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Toyota Avalon

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Graco Contender (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT (x3).

Graco Size4Me 65 (x3).

Clek Fllo, Graco Head Wise 70, Diono Radian / RXT.

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

Clek Fllo, Graco Head Wise 70, Graco Head Wise 70.

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

Chicco KeyFit 30, Clek Foonf, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Chicco KeyFit 30, Clek Fllo, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Combi Coccoro (x3).

The 2000-2004 generation of the Toyota Avalon is 192 inches long and 72 inches wide, which is about typical for mid-sized cars today. In fact, it was classified by the IIHS as a mid-sized car in this generation. You’ll be able to fit a wide range of seats with it if you take your time. Keep in mind that the 2000 model year does not come with LATCH lower anchors, so you’ll have no choice but to use seat belts there. For the other years where it’s an option, I’d still go with the seat belts for more room.

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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 Chevrolet “Chevy” Impala is one of the most recognizable large cars in the United States, competing with models like the Ford Taurus, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, and Toyota Avalon among families interested in getting around in style, space, and comfort. The latest refreshes of the Impala include a bevy of safety features, including electronic stability control, side curtain and torso airbags with rollover activation, and even electronic braking to help slow the car automatically in front crash protection. As a result, it’s no surprise it’s one of the most popular large cars in the US market among parents interested in safe transportation for their young ones.

I had the chance to sit in a few Impalas this past week to see how well they did when it comes to fitting 3 car seats across the back seats. The good news is that the Impala continues to be a car-seat friendly car with a generous amount of inside space. Before looking at car seat combinations that are likely to work in your vehicle, however, it’s worth reviewing some best practices about which kinds of seats to use and when to use them.

First of all, I prefer keeping infants, toddlers, and preschoolers rear-facing as long as absolutely possible in infant or convertible seats (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). The longer we keep our kids in safer orientations and seats, the more likely they are to survive crashes. It’s all about survival.

With these principles in mind, I made it my job to find out which infant, convertible, combination, and booster seats would work best in 3 across combinations in the Chevrolet Impala. The good news is that there are a range of seats that are likely to work well. 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.

2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 Chevrolet Impala

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Graco Contender (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.

Clek Fllo, Graco Head Wise 70, Diono Radian / RXT.

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

Clek Fllo, Graco Head Wise 70, Graco Head Wise 70.

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

Combi Coccoro (x3).

The current generation of the Chevrolet Impala is 201 inches long and 73 inches wide, which is about as friendly as a car can get in terms of front-to-back length, although not in side-to-side width (the Taurus is 3 inches wider). Just as importantly, it continues to feature 3 full sets of LATCH anchors, a true rarity in the car world. With the right combination of seats, it’s actually possible to use them, too. Of course, if you’re having trouble achieving a 3 across installation through LATCH, don’t be afraid to use the seat belts, as you’ll still get a bit more space due to the way the LATCH anchors are placed within the vehicle.

As in the previous generation, a challenge to watch out for involves using high back boosters in the rear seats due to the non-adjustable head rests. You may need to consider low back (backless) boosters instead once your kids outgrow their harnessed seats.

2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 Chevrolet Impala

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Graco Contender (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.

Clek Fllo, Graco Head Wise 70, Diono Radian / RXT.

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

Clek Fllo, Graco Head Wise 70, Graco Head Wise 70.

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

Combi Coccoro (x3).

The previous generation of the Chevrolet Impala is 200 inches long and 73 inches wide, and has remained that way for close to a decade, which means that the older Impalas of the 2000s are basically as car-seat friendly as the current generation. Again, while you should have a generous amount of front-to-back and side-to-side room for a car, you’ll have an easier time with difficult installations if you make use of the seat belts, particularly with the outboard seats.

A challenge to watch out for involves using high back boosters in the rear seats due to the non-adjustable head rests. You may need to consider low back (backless) boosters instead once your kids outgrow their harnessed seats.

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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 (now discontinued) Chrysler Town & Country was one of only two minivans left made by a US manufacturer, along with the Dodge Grand Caravan. It’s essentially a higher trim level of the Grand Caravan, much in the same way that the Chrysler 300 is a more luxurious Dodge Charger. It also has a somewhat deserved reputation, along with the Grand Caravan, for not being particularly car-seat friendly compared to its foreign counterparts. It was replaced in 2016 by the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica minivan.

However, even though the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and Kia Sedona are highly regarded by parents around the country for their car-seat friendliness, I wanted to get an idea of what it was like to fit seats in a Town & Country, and if it was really as difficult as I’ve heard it can be. I researched a current generation model, cleared out some space in my garage, and got to work. My results are below!

Before reviewing them, however, it’s always worth reviewing best practices when it comes to car seat choices and car seat safety. 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 here is to keep kids restrained as safely as possible for as long as possible.

Now that we’ve looked over the basics, here’s the list of car seats that are likely to be 3 across compatible in your Chrysler Town & Country. The list is by no means exhaustive, but it’s my goal to make it the most detailed on the Internet, and I’ll keep adding seats as I get the time and resources to test them. You can check out the complete 3 across guide for every vehicle here and the complete list of recommended seats here. The Canadian recommended car seat list is here. 3 across car seat images are courtesy of Wikipedia.

2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 Chrysler Town & Country

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

2nd / 3rd row – Clek Fllo (x3).

2nd / 3rd row – Clek Foonf (x3).

2nd row – Clek Oobr (x3).

2nd row – Peg Perego Flex 120 (x3).

2nd row – Maxi-Cosi RodiFix (x3).

2nd row – Diono Radian 3RXT (x3).

2nd row – Diono Radian 3RX (x3).

2nd row – Diono Radian / RXT (x3).

2nd row – Chicco KeyFit 30, Diono Radian / RXT, Clek Fllo.

2nd row – Britax B-Safe 35 Elite, Diono Radian / RXT, Clek Fllo.

2nd row – Britax B-Safe 35, Diono Radian / RXT, Clek Fllo.

2nd row – Clek Foonf, Diono Radian / RXT, Clek Foonf.

Tips and Tricks:

This generation of the Chrysler Town & Country is 203 inches long and 79 inches wide, which suggests that pretty much any 3 across combination you can think of will work without trouble. However, there is only a single tether anchor in the 3rd row, which limits safe forward-facing options in the 3rd row, and 3 in total throughout the vehicle.

The Lexus RX is one of the most popular mid-sized luxury crossover SUVs on the market, competing with crossovers like the Acura MDX, BMW X5, BMW X3, Mercedes M-Class, Volvo XC90, and Volvo XC60 among families interested in 5-7 seating SUVs. It’s a safe, safe SUV with a range of the latest active and passive safety features available, and consistently ranks as one of the vehicles with the lowest estimated driver death rates by the IIHS. In fact, the 4WD 2010-2011 Lexus RX joined the “zero list” of vehicles without any observed death rates in the most recent IIHS death rate study.

In other words, it’s a pretty safe and solid SUV. But what I was most interested in finding out about it was how well it did fitting a variety of car seats, including in 3 across configurations. Let’s have a look at how it did together. Keep in mind that these arrangements also apply to the Lexus RX hybrids such as the 450h.

Before doing so, though, it’s always important to think about best practices when considering which setups will work well for your family. I believe in rear-facing our little ones as long as we can  (ideally until 4!), and then harnessing them in a forward-facing convertible or combination seat (ideally until 8!), and then boostering them until they can pass the five step test for seat belt use with flying colors (which typically happens between 10 and 12). Essentially, keeping kids in safer configurations in car seats keeps them safer, and that’s what I’m interested in.

Keeping those ideas in mind, here’s what I found for 3 across compatibility in the Lexus RX going back through the last two generations of the SUV. It’s my goal to make this the most detailed 3 across car seat guide for the Lexus RX on the Internet, and I’ll add to it as I have more RXs available for testing. If you find the list helpful when shopping for car seats, you can shop through my Amazon link below.

2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Lexus RX (e.g., RX 350, RX 450h)

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Diono Radian RXT (x3).

Diono Radian R120 (x3).

Diono Radian R100 (x3).

Graco Contender (x3).

Graco Size4Me 65 (x3).

Combi Coccoro (x3).

This current generation of the Lexus RX is 188 inches long and 74 inches wide, which is competitive among mid-sized luxury SUVs. The RX continues to have two rows of seats and a decent amount of side-to-side space for 3 across installations. As usual, using seat belts instead of LATCH straps and anchors will make seat installations and puzzling easier.

2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Lexus RX (e.g., RX 330, RX 400h)

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Diono Radian RXT (x3).

Diono Radian R120 (x3).

Diono Radian R100 (x3).

Graco Contender (x3).

Graco Size4Me 65 (x3).

Combi Coccoro (x3).

This generation of the Lexus RX is 186 inches long and 72 inches wide, or 2 inches shorter and 2 inches narrower than the current generation. This means you’ll have a slightly more difficult time in installations, but it will still be comparable to the level of difficulty you’d face in installing seats in the average mid-sized car. Again, seat belt installations will be much easier than LATCH installations.

If you’re installing a Radian or RXT in a rear-facing position, you might want to invest in an angle adjuster to give you more front occupant room, especially given the shorter length of this generation of RX.

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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.