The Kia Soul is a funky-shaped small car that competes with a bevy of other compact vehicles in the US market, including the ord Focus, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Kia Forte, Hyundai Elantra, Chevrolet Cruze, Mazda 3, Dodge Dart, Toyota Prius, Scion xB, and Subaru Crosstrek. The small car market has gotten popular in recent years!

Like the now-discontinued Nissan Cube, the Kia Soul tends to be a polarizing car with its distinctive styling, with folks either loving it or staying far away from it. There are enough families interested in it, however, to make it worth considering as a means of city / urban transportation with little ones. I made it my goal to figure out just how many different car seat combinations I could get into my neighbor’s Soul (pun intended).

Before looking into car seat combinations, though, I always like to review the basics of car seat safety. For me, that starts with rear-facing. Ideally, you’ll want to rear-face as long as possible (ideally until 4!), and then forward-face as long as possible (ideally until 8!), and then booster until a regular belt fits your child (which typically happens between 10 and 12). These guidelines keep your kids in the safest positions for the longest amounts of time, which is a major factor in injury prevention.

However, for this information to be helpful, you need to know if a particular car seat will fit in your particular vehicle. Here are my experiences fitting a range of seats inside various years of the Kia Soul. I’ll periodically update each page as I try more seats in more positions.

You can access the complete 3 across guide for every vehicle here and the complete list of recommended seats here. Canadians can find recommended car seats here. 3 across car seat images are courtesy of Wikipedia.

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 Dodge Grand Caravan is one of the longest-running American minivans in the United States, competing with alternatives like the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Kia Sedona, Nissan Quest, and of course, its Chrysler twin the Town & Country. As a result, it was high on my priority list to try a number of car seats in it to see which ones fit well and which ones didn’t, especially when it came to 3 across configurations. This list is not exhaustive, but it’s off to a good start, and I’ve got many more seats to borrow in order to try out installations in the Dodge Grand Caravan.

You know the basics of best practices in car seat safety: rear-face as long as possible (ideally until 4!), and then forward-face as long as possible (ideally until 5, 6, or 7!), and then booster until a regular belt fits your child (which typically happens between 10 and 12). The goal in these recommendations, which I follow with my own children, is to keep children as safe as possible by keeping them in the safest configurations we know of for as long as possible.

However, for this information to be helpful, you need to know if a particular car seat will fit in your particular vehicle. Here are my experiences fitting a range of seats inside various years of the Dodge Grand Caravan. I’ll periodically update each page as I try more seats in more positions.

You can access the complete 3 across guide for every vehicle here and the complete list of recommended seats here. Canadians can find recommended car seats here. 3 across car seat images are courtesy of Wikipedia.

2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan (Gen. V)

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

2nd / 3rd row – Clek Fllo (x3).

2nd / 3rd row – Clek Foonf (x3).

2nd row – Diono Radian / RXT (x3).

2nd row – Graco Snugride 35, Diono Radian / RXT, Clek Foonf.

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

Tips and Tricks:

This generation of the Dodge Grand Caravan is 203 inches long and 77 inches wide, which should make almost any 3 across installation a rather straightforward affair. 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.

Besides that, something else to keep in mind is that it’s quite difficult to fit a booster seat in the 3rd row, and that it’s basically impossible to fit a Diono seat in the center 3rd row position.

The 2001-era Grand Caravan has 5 tether anchors, while every year beyond it is limited to only 3 tether anchors in total.

2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan (Gen. IV)

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

2nd / 3rd row – Clek Fllo (x3).

2nd / 3rd row – Clek Foonf (x3).

2nd row – Diono Radian / RXT (x3).

2nd row – Graco Snugride 35, Diono Radian / RXT, Clek Foonf.

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

Tips and Tricks:

The 2001-2007 generation of the Dodge Grand Caravan is 189 inches long in the short wheel base version and 201 inches long in the “Grand Caravan” lnog wheelbase version and 79 inches wide, which means it’s actually easier to install car seats in 3 across positions in this generation than int he following generation. However, once again, 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.

Besides that, something else to keep in mind is that it’s quite difficult to fit a booster seat in the 3rd row, and that it’s basically impossible to fit a Diono seat in the center 3rd row position.

The 2001-era Grand Caravan has 5 tether anchors, while every year beyond it is limited to only 3 tether anchors in total.

The Toyota Prius is easily the most popular hybrid vehicle in the United States, and is chosen by millions of families around the United States as a safe and efficient way to transport their families. In the hybrid market, it has few competitors; only the now-defunct Honda Insight and Chevrolet Volt are on the map in the small car category, and neither offers the reliability of the Prius, although the Volt certainly equals it in safety.

As a result, it’s no surprise fuel- and environment-conscious families look to the Prius to get their kids from point A to B. However, in order to transport multiple children, you need to know which car seats fit well next to each other and which ones don’t. If you’ve got 3 kids, you also need to keep in mind which seats will fit 3 across in a Toyota Prius. That’s what this guide is designed to help you figure out.

First of all, I always like to begin with the basics of best practices in car seat safety. These suggestions are based on research on the kinds of crash forces children face at different ages and in different kinds of car seats (harnessed seats, booster seats, forward-facing, rear-facing, etc). The research is rather clear: rear-face as long as possible (ideally until 4!), and then forward-face as long as possible (ideally until 6, 7, or 8!), and then booster until a regular belt fits your child (which typically happens between 10 and 12). Keeping your kids in safer configurations for as long as possible increases their odds of surviving collisions of all kinds.

However, for this information to be helpful, you need to know if a particular car seat will fit in your particular vehicle. Here are my experiences fitting a range of seats inside various years of the Toyota Prius. I’ll periodically update each page as I try more seats in more positions.

I have archived the complete 3 across guide for every vehicle here and the complete list of recommended seats here. Canadians can view recommended seats here. 3 across car seat images are courtesy of Wikipedia.

2016, 2017, 2018 Toyota Prius (XW50)

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Clek Oobr (x3).

Peg Perego Flex 120 (x3).

Maxi-Cosi RodiFix (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.

Chicco KeyFit 30, Clek Fllo, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Harmony Youth Booster, Diono Radian / RXT, Harmony Youth Booster.

Britax Parkway SGL, Harmony Youth Booster, Diono Radian / RXT.

Diono Radian / RXT, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Parkway SGL.

Britax Boulevard / Marathon, Harmony Youth Booster, Diono Radian / RXT.

Tips and Tricks:

The current generation of the Prius is just under 179 inches long and just over 69 inches wide, which means, practically speaking, your 3 across possibilities aren’t going to change from the previous generation. You technically have a shade more front-to-back room, but it isn’t going to make a significant difference in comfort; you’ll still want to use angle adjusters if you’re rear-facing with Radians, for example. You’ll definitely still want to use seat belts with all 3 seats; the back row is too narrow to make LATCH practical or even feasible with 3 seats.

2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Toyota Prius (XW30)

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Clek Oobr (x3).

Peg Perego Flex 120 (x3).

Maxi-Cosi RodiFix (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.

Chicco KeyFit 30, Clek Fllo, Chicco KeyFit 30.

Harmony Youth Booster, Diono Radian / RXT, Harmony Youth Booster.

Britax Parkway SGL, Harmony Youth Booster, Diono Radian / RXT.

Diono Radian / RXT, Diono Radian / RXT, Britax Parkway SGL.

Britax Boulevard / Marathon, Harmony Youth Booster, Diono Radian / RXT. 

Tips and Tricks:

The 2010-2015 generation of the Prius is 176 inches long and 69 inches wide, which is 1 inch longer and 1 inch wider than the previous generation. As a result, it will be slightly easier to 3 across in this generation than in the previous, although it will still be a challenge with a number of installations. As usual, when dealing with vehicles this narrow internally, you’ll need to use seat belts from the start; don’t even bother with the LATCH anchors, as they aren’t nearly as efficient with the limited space you’ve got.

2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Toyota Prius  (XW20)

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Clek Oobr (x3).

Peg Perego Flex 120 (x3).

Maxi-Cosi RodiFix (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.

Tips and Tricks:

The second generation of the Toyota Prius is 175 inches long and 68 inches wide, which means you’re going to struggle with 3 across installations unless dealing with particularly narrow seats, such as the Fllos, Foonfs, and Radians I mention above. However, there are probably other seats you might be able to squeeze in between those seats with a bit of patience and elbow grease. Remember to use the seat belts instead of LATCH to increase your odds of successful installations.

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” Cruze (whose luxury equivalent is the Buick Verano) is one of the best selling small cars in the United States today, although it’s not quite as popular as the Honda Civic, Toyota Prius, or Toyota Corolla. However, it’s still a popular choice for small or young families looking for a safe and affordable vehicle to transport their children in, and like the Mazda 3 or Hyundai Elantra, the Cruze offers an alternative for parents looking for something beyond the typical Honda / Toyota fare. This is why it’s important to know how the Chevy Cruze rates when it comes to puzzling car seats inside it, especially when it comes to making 3 across installations possible or impossible.

However, for this information to be helpful, you need to know if a particular car seat will fit in your particular vehicle. Here are my experiences fitting a range of seats inside various years of the Chevrolet Cruze, and I believe it to be the most detailed guide on the Internet. If you find my guide helpful, you can shop using the Amazon links below. I’ll periodically update each page as I try more seats in more positions.

You can access the complete 3 across guide for every vehicle here and the complete list of recommended seats here. The guide to recommended Canadian car seats is here. 3 across car seat images are courtesy of Wikipedia.

2016, 2017, 2018 Chevrolet Cruze

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 Chevrolet Cruze is just under 184 inches long and just under 71 inches wide, making it 3 inches longer but no wider than the previous generation. Because the internal design is more or less the same (although the cosmetics have been refined), fitting car seats in the current Cruze will be just about the same as fitting them into the previous Cruze. You’ll want to use seat belts to get all 3 seats in, and save LATCH for when you only need to install one or two seats.

2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Chevrolet Cruze (J300)

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Diono Radian R120 / RXT (x3).

Combi Coccoro (x3).

Combi  Coccoro, Evenflo Sureride, Graco Connext.

Evenflo Sureride, Combi  Coccoro, Graco TurboBooster.

Tips and Tricks:

The initial generation of the Chevy Cruze is 181 inches long and 71 inches wide, which makes it more challenging than the average vehicle to pull off a 3 across installation in. However, it’s definitely possible to do so. Be sure to use a seat belt installation for all three seats to make this a more feasible affair.

The Scion xB is (was, since its discontinue in 2015) a small car popular with people interested in saving gas, reducing their environmental impact, buying affordable vehicles, and hauling large things with small spaces. It competes with other small sedans and hatchback wagons like the Ford Focus, Toyota Prius, Toyota Corolla, Kia Soul, Hyundai Elantra, and Honda Civic. It’s also a pretty popular vehicle with young families, which is why it’s important to know which kinds of car seats are compatible with the xB, especially when trying to install 3 car seats across in a Scion. Here are the results of my research, several scraped knuckles later!

I always like to begin by advocating best practices in car seat safety, regardless of the vehicle involved: rear-face as long as possible (ideally until 4!), and then forward-face as long as possible (ideally until 8!), and then booster until a regular belt fits your child (which typically happens between 10 and 12). The goal is to keep our kids safe by keeping them restrained in the right kinds of seats at the right ages.

However, for this information to be helpful, you need to know if a particular car seat will fit in your particular vehicle. Here are my experiences fitting a range of seats inside various years of the Scion xB. I’ll periodically update each page as I try more seats in more positions, as it’s my goal to make this the most thorough list for the Scion xB online.

You can access the complete 3 across guide for every vehicle here and the complete list of recommended seats here. Canadians can see recommended car seats here. 3 across car seat images are courtesy of Wikipedia.

2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Scion xB

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3). 

Diono Radian / RXT (x3).

Combi Coccoro (x3).

Britax Boulevard / Marathon, Combi Coccoro, Kiddy CruiserFix Pro.

Graco Snugride 35, Kiddy CruiserFix Pro, Diono Radian / RXT.

Britax Boulevard / Marathon, Chicco KeyFit 30, Kiddy CruiserFix Pro.

Tips and Tricks:

This final generation of the Scion xB is 167 inches long and 69 inches wide. Make no mistake; it is a small car. However, it’s definitely possible to do 3 across successfully in it, especially with the use of seat belts for each seat. Because of how short the vehicle is front-to-back, if you’re going to rear-face with a Radian, you’ll definitely want to consider the angle adjuster so there’s enough room to keep the driver and front-passenger happy; it’s cheap and it makes a world of a difference in a car as short as the xB.

2004, 2005, 2006 Scion xB

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT (x3).

Combi Coccoro (x3).

Graco HeadWise 70, Baby Trend Flex Loc, Graco My Ride 65.

Tips and Tricks:

This generation of the Scion xB is 155 inches long and 67 inches wide, which means fitting 3 across will be more of a challenge than it is in nearly any other sedan on the road. It’s definitely possible, though, as long as you’re using the right seats. Once again, you’ll absolutely want to use seat belts to have a chance with these installations; save LATCH for when you’re only dealing with one car seat.

As is the case with the following generation xB, because of how short the vehicle is front-to-back, if you’re going to rear-face with a Radian, you’ll definitely want to consider the angle adjuster so there’s enough room to keep the driver and front-passenger happy; it’s cheap and it makes a world of a difference in a car as short as the xB.

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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.