The Toyota Sequoia is the largest SUV Toyota makes, which makes sense since it’s derived from the Toyota Tundra, which is the largest pickup by the Japanese automaker. Built for the US market in Toyota’s Indiana factory, it competes with other mega-SUVs locally like the Chevrolet Tahoe, Dodge Durango, GMC Yukon, Nissan Armada, Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Ford Expedition, as well as with some extra-large variants like the Chevy Suburban. However, being a Toyota, it’ll run longer than any of them. It’s also one of the safest vehicles you can buy as judged by IIHS driver death rates, and was one of the few vehicles to make the recent “zero” driver death list.

As a result, it’s no surprise that the Sequoia is a popular vehicle among families interested in safety, utility, and reliability. It seats 7-8 passengers, depending on which generation you’ve purchased, and is one of the hardiest vehicles on the road. However, I wanted to figure out just how well it did when it came to fitting car seats across the 2nd and 3rd rows.

Before going into which seats worked (a lot of them) and which ones didn’t (very few), let’s take a quick look at which kinds of seats you’ll want to use with your children, when you’ll want to use them, how you’ll want to face them, and why.

For me, the most basic and essential part of car seat safety involves rear-facing. It’s the safest position we know of, and the longer our kids rear-face, the safer they’ll be, regardless of what kind of vehicle they travel in. I recommend keeping children in rear-facing infant or convertible seats as long as possible (ideally until 4!), then keeping them harnessed in forward-facing seats for several years more (ideally until at least 6!), and then only switching them out of booster seats when they pass the 5 step test (which typically happens between 10 and 12). The goal is to keep kids in the safest kinds of seats for as long as possible to increase their odds of surviving serious car crashes.

With that all in mind, I got to work with my seats to create what I believe to be the most detailed 3 across guide for the Toyota Sequoia 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.

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 taken by yours truly or are courtesy of Wikipedia.

The second generation Sequoia is currently just over 205 inches long and just under 80 inches wide. As a result, you’re going to be able to fit pretty much anything you want inside it in the 2nd row (presuming you have the SR5 or Limited trim levels) and a great many seats in the 3rd row as long as you’re willing to use seat belts in both rows as needed. To be honest, you’ll probably be able to get away with using LATCH on both seats, but do keep in mind that some seats will be wide enough to make using seat belts the better option.

The generous amount of room between the 1st and 2nd row also means you shouldn’t struggle with front-to-back room, although you’ll struggle more with the installation of rear-facing seats if you try to use them in the 3rd row. Forward-facing seats won’t be an issue in any of the rows, although you will have to deal with a limited number of tethers available in the Sequoia overall. Remember that you always want to tether forward-facing seats to limit head excursion.

The first generation Sequoia is just under 204 inches long and between 76 and 79 inches wide, depending on whether you own an ’01-’02 (76″), an ’03-’04 (78″), an 05-’07 (79″), or an ’03-’04 SR5 2WD (76″).  What this means is that you’re going to be able to fit most car seats you can think of in the Sequoia as long as you’re willing to use seat belts with the widest seats instead of LATCH, which robs you of valuable real estate. Remember that seat belts are as safe as LATCH, and often the easier of the two options when it comes to 3 across setups.

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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 Acura RLX, which is also known as the Honda Legend overseas, is the current flagship of Acura, the luxury division of Honda. Manufactured in Japan and released in 2013 for the model years 2014 onward, it’s designed to succeed the Acura RL, and comes with FWD and AWD versions like its full-sized luxury sedan competitors, including the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Volvo S80, and Lexus GS, as well as its smaller twin, the Acura TLX.

Like the vehicles it competes with, the RLX hits the ground running with a range of top notch crash scores and safety features, including side airbags and ESC, as well as frontal crash protection in the latest models. In fact, it’s one of the few vehicles with superior levels of front crash protection as a default feature at every trim level, which is why I’ve ranked it among the very safest vehicles on the road in my Safety Level 4 threshold.

As a result,even if you aren’t an executive or business-type, the RLX is worth considering if you’re a parent interested in one of the safest sedans money can buy. As a result, I got up close and personal with the initial generation of the RLX to see just how car-seat friendly it would be for interested families.

Before looking at which car seats did and didn’t fit in the RLX in 3 across setups, it’s worth reviewing a bit of car safety, in terms of which kinds of seats to use and when.

For me, the most basic and essential part of car seat safety involves rear-facing. It’s the safest position we know of, and the longer our kids rear-face, the safer they’ll be, regardless of what kind of vehicle they travel in. I recommend keeping children in rear-facing infant or convertible seats as long as possible (ideally until 4!), then keeping them harnessed in forward-facing seats for several years more (ideally until 6, 7, or 8!), and then only switching them out of booster seats when they pass the 5 step test (which typically happens between 10 and 12). The goal is to keep kids in the safest kinds of seats for as long as possible to increase their odds of surviving serious car crashes.

With that all in mind, I got to work with my seats to create what I believe to be the most detailed 3 across guide for the Acura RLX 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.

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 taken by yours truly or are courtesy of Wikipedia.

The initial generation RLX is 196 inches long and just over 74 inches wide, which gives you a good amount of interior room to work with for many 3 across situations. Due to the substantial doors and padding in the RLX interior (for safety and comfort), the back row isn’t the widest, but it’s definitely wide enough as long as you’re willing to use your seat belts instead of LATCH for the installation. Remember that seat belts are as safe as LATCH, and in some cases, safer, depending on the weight limits of your car seats.

Because the RLX isn’t one of the longest vehicles out there as far as luxury sedans go, you might find yourself compromised on front-to-back space, especially if you’ve got taller drivers or passengers. If you’re interested in which safe seats take up the least space, you’ll definitely want to check out my front-to-back comparison chart for rear-facing convertibles.

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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 HHR, or Heritage High Roof, was a retro-themed station wagon sold by Chevrolet from model years 2006 through 2011. It shared a platform with the Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Ion, and Pontiac G5, and was replaced by the Chevrolet Trax in the small crossover wagon / SUV range. Reminiscent of the similarly-designed Chrysler PT Cruiser, the HHR sold well in the US but was ultimately ended by Chevrolet due to lower than expected sales. However, enough sold for me to receive a steady stream of emails from parents asking me which car seats will fit 3 across in a Chevy HHR, and I figured putting together a 3 across guide would help all of the parents who have yet to email me.

The Chevrolet HHR was definitely a compact wagon, but it was also a decent one for families with up to 3 children, and it offered more storage options than most compact sedans due to the hatchback. The flat load floor, 60/40 split bench, and fold-flat front passenger seat also helped with fitting a variety of family and child gear.

Before looking at which car seats did and didn’t fit in the HHR in 3 across setups, it’s worth reviewing a bit of car safety, in terms of which kinds of seats to use and when.

My first recommendation for all parents is to start their kids out rear-facing (it’s also the law), and to keep rear-facing long after the law requires them to. Specifically, I suggest keeping children in rear-facing infant or convertible seats as long as possible (ideally until 4!), then keeping them harnessed in forward-facing seats for several years more (ideally until 8!), and then only switching them out of booster seats when they pass the 5 step test (which typically happens between 10 and 12). The goal is to keep kids in the safest kinds of seats for as long as possible to increase their odds of surviving serious car crashes.

With that all in mind, I got to work with my seats to create what I believe to be the most detailed 3 across guide for the Chevrolet HHR on the Internet, covering every model year of the crossover / wagon ever made. 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, although I’ll prioritize vehicles currently manufactured over ones.

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 taken by yours truly or are courtesy of Wikipedia.

The Chevrolet HHR was a small car at just over 176 inches long and just over 69 inches wide. In fact, it’s one of the narrowest vehicles I’ve ever had the displeasure of fitting car seats into. Many folks think you can’t do 3 across in it, but you defnitely can; you need the right seats, though, and you absolutely need to use your seat belts instead of the LATCH system, which will work nicely for 2 seats but not at all when trying for 3. Remember that seat belts are as safe as LATCH, and in some cases, safer, depending on the weight limits of your car seats.

Given the length of the HHR, if you’re concerned about making things work in terms of front-to-back space, you’ll also want to check out my front-to-back comparison chart for rear-facing convertibles.

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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 Infiniti Q50, which is also known as the Nissan Skyline in its native Japan, is Nissan’s update to the long-loved G sedan. It’s sleek, angular, and designed to compete with other compact-to-midsized luxury sedans like the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Volvo S60, Lexus ES, and Acura TLX.

Like the vehicles it competes with, the Q50 hits the ground running with a range of top notch crash scores and safety features, including side airbags and ESC, as well as frontal crash protection in the latest models.  As a result,even if you aren’t an executive or business-type, the Q50 is worth considering if you’re a parent interested in a luxurious Nissan with top-notch safety features. As a result, I got up close and personal with the initial generation of the Q50 to see just how car-seat friendly it would be for interested families.

Before looking at which car seats did and didn’t fit in the Q50 in 3 across setups, it’s worth reviewing a bit of car safety, in terms of which kinds of seats to use and when.

For me, the most basic and essential part of car seat safety involves rear-facing. It’s the safest position we know of, and the longer our kids rear-face, the safer they’ll be, regardless of what kind of vehicle they travel in. I recommend keeping children in rear-facing infant or convertible seats as long as possible (ideally until 4!), then keeping them harnessed in forward-facing seats for several years more (ideally until 8!), and then only switching them out of booster seats when they pass the 5 step test (which typically happens between 10 and 12). The goal is to keep kids in the safest kinds of seats for as long as possible to increase their odds of surviving serious car crashes.

With that all in mind, I got to work with my seats to create what I believe to be the most detailed 3 across guide for the Infiniti Q50 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.

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 taken by yours truly or are courtesy of Wikipedia.

The initial generation Q50 is 188 inches long (except in the Chinese-only Q50L, which is 191 inches long) and just under 72 inches wide, which gives you about as much space as you’ll find in typical mid-sized luxury cars on the market. The back row isn’t the widest, but it’s definitely wide enough as long as you’re willing to use your seat belts instead of LATCH for the installation. Remember that seat belts are as safe as LATCH, and in some cases, safer, depending on the weight limits of your car seats.

The biggest issues you’re likely to deal with in the Q50 involve the bucket seats in the outboard positions and the strange hump in the center seat; it makes it hard to balance a seat in the middle, and you might need to resort to rolled up towels or pool noodles to get the proper recline angle. Make sure your car seat permits this; most do, but a few (e.g., the Clek seats) are more particular. Read your manuals!

Because the Q50 isn’t on the shorter end as far as luxury sedans go, you might find yourself compromised on front-to-back space, especially if you’ve got taller drivers or passengers. If you’re interested in which safe seats take up the least space, you might want to check out my front-to-back comparison chart for rear-facing convertibles.

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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 Fiat 500L is one of the most distinctive small cars you can buy today in the United States, and also one of the safest cars for surviving side impact collisions. It competes with a bevy of small cars currently sold throughout the US, including the Mini Cooper Countryman, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Ford Focus, Nissan Sentra, Kia Soul, Kia Forte, Dodge Dart, Chevrolet Cruze, Mazda 3, Toyota Prius, Scion xB, Volkswagen Golf, and Subaru Crosstrek. It’s the larger version of its smaller cousin, the Fiat 500.

It’s a crowded market, but the 500L is slowly carving out a niche for itself. Besides its great side impact performance, it also features ESC, side airbags, a good roof, and a good moderate overlap score. Its greatest weakness as of 2015 is its poor small overlap front score, which Fiat Chrysler America needs to address, and soon. That said, it’s an increasingly popular choice among families interested in a peppy hatchback that stands out in a crowd. I wanted to find out how good of a choice it would be for families hoping to install 3 car seats across the back row. The bad news is that the fit is a tight one. The good news is that it’s possible with a surprising number of seats, particularly when you use your seat belts for the installations.

Before going into those details, though, I always like to briefly review some of what I consider to be the basics of car seat safety. It doesn’t matter what you’re driving if you don’t safely restrain your children, and the best practices of safe restraints change with the kind of seat used and the age of your child.

For me, car seat safety starts with rear-facing your kids as long as you can (ideally until 4!). That’s the safest position and is worth doing as long as possible before forward-facing your little ones in harnessed convertible or combination seats (ideally until 8!). Once they outgrow their harnessed seats, I suggest keeping children 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 kids as safely restrained for as long as possible, as it’s far too late to do anything for your child’s safety in the moment before 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 Fiat 500L. 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.