Cars.com’s Best Cars for Car Seats
In the 2022 Cars.com Car Seat Fit Report Card, eight cars got perfect scores. Find out which models could work best for your family here.
Written by Allison Stone
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Cars.com
compiled a list of the best cars for car seats, and the car-ownership experts at Jerry are here to break it down for you. Read on to see which vehicles made the cut, the methodology behind Cars.com’s ranking, and why child passenger safety is so important. How did Cars.com choose the best cars for car seats?
The 2022 Car Seat Fit Report Card was compiled with a year’s worth of data across 52 vehicles. For each vehicle selected, a variety of child-safety seats were installed, and the editors at Cars.com assessed how well each vehicle accommodated them.
Additionally, latch systems, lower anchors, and top tether anchors were also assessed for ease of installation and functionality. Seats of all sizes, from baby to booster, were tested.
The best small SUVs for car seats
It’s not surprising that
compact SUVs
dominated the top earners in all categories. These compact SUVs earned A’s in all categories according to Cars.com’s assessment and would be a great choice for your growing family. The 2022 Acura RDX got a refresh this year, and the updated styling and safety features take the cake. The RDX scored highly because it offers easy-access Latch anchors and can easily fit two car seats.
Both the 2021 and 2022 Audi Sportback made the cut as well for an excellent car-seat fit. If you want something that stands out in the parking lot from all the other SUVs, the coupe-like styling and convenient hatchback of the Audi Sportback delivers.
Lastly, there’s the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan. Buyers have a choice of either two or three rows of seating with this compact SUV. The SEL Premium R-Line tested by Cars.com earned straight A’s in the Car Seat Check.
The best hybrid and electric cars for car seats
SUVs are appealing to families for their
advanced safety features
and roomy interiors, but not every new parent wants to rack up the gas bill that an SUV entails. For the eco-conscious parent, there are a few choices of hybrid and electric cars that passed Cars.com’s Car Seat Check with flying colors.
First up are the 2021 and 2022 Ford Escape PHEV. Hybrid powertrains tend to trade cabin space to accommodate the rechargeable battery, but the plug-in hybrid variation of the Ford Escape still scored A’s across the board in the Car Seat Check for easy-to-access anchors and ample legroom.
The 2022 Hyundai Tuscon Hybrid also went through a redesign this year and added a hybrid version to the powertrain options. A well-designed latch system helped this SUV score highly.
For an all-electric option, take the 2022 Kia EV6 or Volkswagen ID.4 for a test drive. Both of these all-electric SUVs boasted roomy interiors, easy-access latches, and the added bonus of a fully-electric powertrain.
Mid-size SUVs, trucks, and sedans
If you want something a little roomier than a compact SUV, the 2022 Cadillac XT5 also received a perfect score from Cars.com, and easily accommodated two car seats.
Among the three pickup trucks tested, the 2022 Ford F-150 was the only model to receive a near-perfect score across the board. Both the 2022 Ford Maverick and 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz struggled to accommodate 3 out of 5 car seat types, receiving a “C” or lower in each category.
While sedans may have fallen out of favor in recent years, they can still be a great bet for families. The 2022 Genesis G70 scored best in its segment, earning itself three “A’s” and two “B’s”.
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