Parents are often searching for the automotive holy grail: a car that's not a minivan and can fit three child-safety seats across the back seat. In our Car Seat Checks, we've found the answer that parents and caretakers need.
In the more than six years that Cars.com editors have been installing car seats into vehicles to test both fit and room, we've come across cars, SUVs, vans and pickup trucks that can comfortably and safely hold three car seats across the vehicle's back seat. The newest models on the list are the 2018 Nissan Titan and 2018 Audi Q7 SUV; both vehicles also made the list last time we tested them. In Platinum Reserve crew-cab trim, the Titan pickup truck easily accommodated three car seats across its wide backseat. Audi's Q7 luxury family hauler also offered plenty of room in its second row as well as easy-access lower anchors.
As we come across more cars, trucks, vans and SUVs that fit three child-safety seats, we'll add to this list. For now, here are the cars from our Car Seat Checks that can fit three car seats in the second row:
Minivans
- 2018 Honda Odyssey
- 2015 Honda Odyssey
- 2014 Honda Odyssey
- 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan
- 2013 Toyota Sienna
- 2011 Chrysler Town & Country and 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan
- 2011 Honda Odyssey
- 2011 Nissan Quest
- 2011 Toyota Sienna
- 2011 Volkswagen Routan
Sedans
- 2015 Chrysler 300S
- 2015 Dodge Charger
- 2014 Ford Taurus
- 2013 Chevrolet Impala
- 2013 Chrysler 300
- 2011 Chrysler 300 and 300C
Coupes
- 2016 Dodge Challenger
- 2015 Dodge Challenger
SUVs
- 2018 Audi Q7
- 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- 2018 Infiniti QX80
- 2018 Ford Expedition
- 2018 Toyota 4Runner
- 2018 Lincoln Navigator
- 2017 Honda Pilot
- 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
- 2017 GMC Acadia (two rows)
- 2017 Lexus LX 570
- 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser
- 2016 Audi Q7
- 2016 Ford Edge
- 2016 Honda Pilot
- 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- 2016 Volvo XC90
- 2015 Ford Edge
- 2015 Ford Expedition
- 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- 2015 Toyota 4Runner
- 2014 Honda Pilot
- 2014 Land Rover LR4
- 2014 Lexus LX 570
- 2014 Toyota 4Runner
- 2014 Toyota Highlander
- 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- 2013 Land Rover Range Rover
- 2013 Lexus GX 460
- 2013 Nissan Armada
- 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser
- 2012 GMC Yukon XL
- 2012 Honda Pilot
- 2012 Land Rover LR4
- 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
- 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- 2011 Land Rover LR4
- 2011 Nissan Murano
Trucks
- 2018 Nissan Frontier
- 2017 Honda Ridgeline
- 2017 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
- 2016 Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab
- 2016 Nissan Frontier
- 2016 Toyota Tundra Crew Cab
- 2015 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Cab
- 2015 Ram 1500 Crew Cab
- 2013 Ford F-150 XLT SuperCrew Cab
Vans
- 2015 Ram ProMaster City Wagon
About Cars.com's Car Seat Checks
For Car Seat Checks, the front seats are adjusted to a comfortable position for a 6-foot driver and a 5-foot-8 passenger. The three child seats — a Graco high-back booster seat, Britax convertible car seat and Graco rear-facing infant-safety seat — are installed in the second row. We install the car seats using the Latch anchors, or with a seat belt if we can't use Latch because of difficulty or unavailability.
The booster seat sits behind the driver's seat, and the infant and convertible seats (in forward and rear form) are installed behind the passenger seat. We also install the infant seat in the second row's middle seat with the booster and convertible 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 and all three seats need to be at proper angles for safety — no wedging them in. In some cases, our three car seats almost fit and narrower car seats would likely fit better. If there's a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible.
Editors Jennifer Geiger, Jennifer Newman and Matt Schmitz are certified child safety seat installation technicians. To learn more about how we conduct our Car Seat Checks, go here. And for more on common car-seat mistakes to avoid, check out the video below.
Editor's note: This story was updated on Nov. 1, 2018.
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