2014 Acura MDX: Car Seat Check
Acura’s MDX was already a hit with families looking for an upscale three-row crossover. The redesigned-for-2014 model is an improvement. Easy, one-button third-row access, a cavernous backseat and three sets of Latch anchors in the second row should make families even happier.
How many car seats fit in the second row? Two. We were able to install three child-safety seats in the second row, but the seats were set too close together to allow a child’s hand to reach the booster seat’s buckle, so it didn’t meet our fit criteria.
How many car seats fit in the third row? Two
What We Like
- Both the rear-facing convertible and the infant seats went in easily and had plenty of room in the second row; we didn’t have to move the front passenger seat forward to accommodate them.
- There are three sets of Latch anchors in the second row;that’s one more set than usual.
- The Latch anchors are in slits in the leather and easy to use.
- The second row slides and reclines.
What We Don’t
- Although the booster was easy to install and had plenty of room in both rows, the second- and third-row buckles are floppy, which makes them harder for kids to use.
- The forward-facing convertible installed and fit well in both rows, but parents might get confused when connecting the top tether strap. There are several cargo hooks behind the second and third rows that should not be used as a tether anchor.
- The second row easily slides forward with the push of a button, but the resulting opening to the third row is pretty small.
Grading Scale
A: Plenty of room for the car seat and the child; doesn’t impact driver or front-passenger legroom. Easy to find and connect to Latch and tether anchors. No fit issues involving head restraint or seat contouring. Easy access to the third row.
B: Plenty of room. One fit or connection issue. Some problems accessing third row when available.
C: Marginal room. Two fit or connection issues. Difficult to access third row when available.
D: Insufficient room. Two or more fit or connection issues.
F: Does not fit or is unsafe.
About Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks
Editors Jennifer Geiger and Jennifer Newman are certified child safety seat installation technicians.
For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide 30 infant-safety seat, a Britax Roundabout convertible seat and Graco TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a 5-foot-8 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. To learn more about how we conduct our Car Seat Checks, go here.
Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat.
Related
Research the 2014 Acura MDX
More Car Seat Checks
More Safety News
