Interior space is an important consideration when installing car seats, but the market is packed with vehicles with features that make your motoring life with kids much less stressful. The models with these features can make installing and using car seats easier, and some make the trip easier by keeping your little ones more comfortable and entertained on the road. Let’s get rolling.
Configurable Seating Positions
The convenience of choosing your own seating positions cannot be overstated. While generally limited to minivans and 3-row SUVs, configurable seating systems make it much easier to accommodate multiple car seats or a combination of passengers and seats. Some models offer removable seating that can clear space for cargo, and others have convenient sliding seats that do not require removal.
Captain’s Chairs
Captain’s chairs add convenience for car seats at the expense of an extra middle seat in the second row of many SUVs and minivans. It’s often easier to install and use car seats with captain’s chairs, and the lack of a middle seat can give kids a little extra “demilitarized” space. They can also make it easier to reach the third-row seat by providing an aisle between the second-row seats rather than requiring you to fold a second-row bench.
Easy-Access LATCH Anchors
All new cars in the U.S. feature LATCH anchors to secure car seats, but the anchors are easier to access in some models than others. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) issues ease-of-use ratings for many models as part of its annual safety testing process, which can be a great resource if you’re shopping for car-seat-friendly vehicles.
Hands-Free Automatic Doors
Some minivan models offer foot-operated or automatic sliding doors, making installing car seats or loading children much easier. Those without hands-free access often have remote-access doors with buttons on their key fobs. Many SUV models offer similar options for the rear liftgate, but they are generally more helpful for loading cargo than for loading children.
Removable Headrests
Headrests are an essential part of passenger safety, but they can also make it hard to install and level larger car seats. Most headrests are removable with the press of a button at their base, but it’s worth testing your car seat and the headrests if you’re considering a new vehicle.
Generous Interior Dimensions
On-paper specifications don’t tell the whole story, but they can be a good starting point for determining a vehicle’s car seat friendliness. Look for models that maximize headroom and legroom, two of the most impactful measurements for car seat installations. Check out our guide for more information on how interior dimensions can make installing car seats easier and less stressful.
Rear-Seat Entertainment Systems
While it’s true that screens in the back seat don’t make it easier to install or use car seats, they do help keep little ones occupied on longer trips. Many vehicles offer rear-seat entertainment systems, but it’s also easy and relatively inexpensive to mount an iPad or other tablet using one of the dozens of kits available online.
Car Seat-Friendly Accessories
You might find some of these available on a vehicle’s options sheet, but most are easy and affordable to add after the fact.
- Rear-window shades: Some vehicles come with retractable second-row window shades, but aftermarket products are available for those that don’t. Shades can help keep your child cooler and reduce the risk of sunburn on children’s more sensitive skin.
- Protective seat covers or mats: Children eat, drink, and sleep in their car seats, and they can become sick in them. None of those are things most people want spilling onto their car’s upholstery, and covers can also help reduce the marks and damage caused by tightly securing heavy car seats.
- In-cabin cameras and microphones: Honda and Toyota offer in-vehicle microphone systems that allow the driver to speak with rear-seat passengers more easily, and Honda also equips some Odyssey minivan models with a camera system. Installation can be a bit tricky, but there are several aftermarket systems available.
