Editor’s note: This Car Seat Check was written in May 2019 about the 2019 Audi A7. Little of substance has changed with this year’s model. See what’s new for 2020 or check out a side-by-side comparison of the two model years.
The verdict: Audi’s sleek and luxurious hatchback has a useful side; the 2019 Audi A7 has plenty of room for two car seats and installing them is easy thanks to accessible lower Latch anchors. Rear-facing car seats found plenty of room, but those installing a forward-facing car seat should take note of the A7’s less-than-ideal top tether anchor placement.
Does it fit three car seats? No
Take a look at how the Latch system and each car seat scored below in our Car Seat Check of the 2019 Audi A7.
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A Grade
- Latch: The two sets of lower anchors are exposed for easy access and connection, but the three top tether anchors are obscured by the cargo cover.
- Infant seat: This seat went in easily and our 5-foot-6-inch-tall front passenger had plenty of legroom.
- Rear-facing convertible: Again, we had no trouble installing this seat, and the front passenger still had ample space.
- Booster: We did not need to raise the head restraint. The buckles are on stable stalks that stick up just enough to grasp, which should make it easier for kids to buckle up independently.
B Grade
- Forward-facing convertible: Again, we did not need to raise the head restraint to get the convertible to sit flat on the seatback. This seat lost a grade, however, because the hatchback’s cargo area is so deep and the cargo cover obscures the tether connection; as a result, it was a bit tough to connect to the anchor. I had to climb into the trunk and pull the cover away from the seatback in order to access the top tether anchor.
C Grade
- None
About Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks
Editors Jennifer Geiger, Jennifer Newman and Matt Schmitz are certified child safety seat installation technicians.
For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide Classic Connect 30 infant-safety seat, a Britax Marathon convertible seat and Graco TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a shorter passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant and convertible seats are installed behind the front passenger seat.
We also install the forward-facing convertible in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and infant seat in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit; a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. If there’s a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible. Learn more about how we conduct our Car Seat Checks.
Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat, and that Latch anchors have a weight limit of 65 pounds, including the weight of the child and the weight of the seat itself.
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