Cars.com’s 2022 Car Seat Fit Report Card
As any seasoned parent can tell you, families grow fast — is your vehicle up to speed? Parents and caregivers go from aimlessly driving during those first months of sleepless nights to captaining the neighborhood carpool in a blink. Although we can’t help sleep-train your infant, we can help you find a family car that can handle hauling every car seat from infant to booster and beyond.
Related: Cars.com’s 2021 Car Seat Fit Report Card
Cars.com’s 2022 Car Seat Fit Report Card compiles a year’s worth of our Car Seat Checks in 52 vehicles. Editor-in-Chief Jenni Newman and I are both certified child passenger safety technicians as well as moms of kids who have gone through every car-seat stage. From large three-row SUVs and minivans to tiny crossovers and sedans, we’ve installed child-safety seats into each one and evaluated how well the vehicles accommodate a variety of them. We also look at each car’s Latch system, the lower anchors and top tether anchors, which are supposed to make car seat installation easier, but sometimes cause frustrations.
Best Cars for Car Seats
Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks launched in 2010, and we’ve installed car seats into more than 650 vehicles over the years. Each year, there are a few cars that ace our Car Seat Checks by earning the top grade of A in all categories. For 2022, the following vehicles are on the 2022 honor roll:
- 2022 Acura RDX: Acura refreshed its smallest SUV for 2022, giving the RDX updated styling as well as added safety and connectivity tech. Like its predecessor, the 2022 RDX offers easy-access Latch anchors and ample room for two car seats.
- 2021 and 2022 Audi Q5 Sportback: The Q5 Sportback takes the luxury compact SUV and adds coupelike styling to its rear. Car-seat fit is excellent in the Q5 Sportback, making it a good option for families who want something that stands out from the crowded compact SUV field.
- 2022 Cadillac XT5: The XT5 is a mid-size luxury SUV that seats five. Thanks to easy-access Latch anchors and ample legroom, the XT5 easily accommodated two car seats in our test to receive top grades across the board.
- 2021 and 2022 Ford Escape PHEV: Ford’s Escape compact SUV is also available in plug-in hybrid form as the Escape PHEV. Because of its battery placement, there’s slightly less legroom in the backseat of the PHEV, but that didn’t hold it back from getting straight A grades in our Car Seat Check thanks to easy-access anchors and ample legroom for two car seats.
- 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid: The South Korean automaker redesigned the Tucson for 2022 and added a hybrid version. Ample legroom and a well-designed Latch system helped it achieve all A grades in our test.
- 2022 Kia EV6: Kia’s new 2022 EV6 electric vehicle impresses with its appealing range and affordable prices; families will also like the five-seat SUV’s roomy backseat and easy-access Latch anchors, which helped it earn high grades in our Car Seat Check.
- 2021 and 2022 Volkswagen ID.4: Volkswagen’s latest all-electric vehicle is a small SUV that seats five, with a backseat that’s roomier than its tidy dimensions suggest. The ID.4 scored all A grades thanks to easy-access anchors and ample legroom.
- 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan: The Tiguan, a roomy compact SUV, has been updated for the 2022 model year and can be had with two or three rows of seating. The SEL Premium R-Line we tested earned all A grades in our Car Seat Check.
Not all vehicles are overachievers, however. Below is our 2022 Car Seat Fit Report Card, grouped by vehicle type. We install a Chicco KeyFit 30 infant car seat, a Graco Contender 65 convertible and a Graco TurboBooster into every vehicle that we test. The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a shorter passenger. The three car seats are installed in the vehicle’s second row, with the booster seat behind the driver. The infant and convertible seats are installed behind the front passenger seat. In three-row SUVs and minivans, we install the forward-facing convertible and booster seat in the third row and assess how easy or difficult it is to access the third row.
Related: Search Car Seat Checks
We’ve listed the scores of our car seat evaluations below. The abbreviations in the tables are:
- Latch: Lower anchors and top tether system (in the second and/or third row)
- Infant: Rear-facing infant seat
- RFC: Rear-facing convertible
- FFC: Forward-facing convertible
- Booster: High-back booster seat
- TRA: Third-row access
We use letter grades to rate each vehicle. For more info on a specific car, click through to the related Car Seat Check.
2022 Car Seat Checks by Body Style
Two-Row SUVs
Two-row SUVs come in a variety of sizes, from the popular compact SUVs to the roomier mid-size version. For families with one to two children, they easily handle family life.
| Vehicle | Latch | Infant | RFC (2nd) | FFC (2nd) | Booster (2nd) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 BMW IX | A | A | A | B | C |
| 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid | A | A | A | A | B |
| 2023 Mazda CX-50 | A | B | B | B | B |
| 2022 Acura RDX | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2022 Audi Q5 Sportback | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2022 BMW X3 M | A | B | B | A | B |
| 2022 Cadillac XT5 | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2022 Ford Bronco | B | C | C | C | B |
| 2022 Ford Bronco Sport | B | C | F | B | C |
| 2022 Ford Escape PHEV | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2022 Genesis GV70 | A | B | C | A | B |
| 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 | B | B | A | A | A |
| 2022 Hyundai Kona | B | C | C | B | B |
| 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe | B | A | B | B | B |
| 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2022 Jeep Compass | A | A | A | A | C |
| 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee | A | A | A | B | C |
| 2022 Kia EV6 | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2022 Lexus NX | A | B | B | B | B |
| 2022 Subaru Forester | A | A | B | A | A |
| 2022 Subaru Outback | B | A | A | A | B |
| 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge | B | C | C | C | C |
| 2021 Audi Q5 Sportback | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2021 Ford Bronco | B | C | C | C | B |
| 2021 Ford Escape PHEV | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge | B | C | C | C | C |
Three-Row SUVs
Three-row SUVs have dethroned minivans as the family hauler of choice. Families will want as much functionality as possible out of that third row, so they should pay attention to how many top tether anchors are back there and how easy or difficult it is for their child to get to the third row with minimal help.
| Vehicle | Latch | Infant | RFC (2nd) | FFC (2nd) | Booster (2nd) | Latch (3rd) | FFC (3rd) | Booster (3rd) | TRA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Cadillac XT6 | A | A | A | A | B | A | A | B | B |
| 2022 Hyundai Palisade | A | A | A | A | B | A | A | B | B |
| 2022 Jeep Wagoneer | B | B | B | B | B | B | B | B | B |
| 2022 Kia Sorento | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | C | B |
| 2022 Kia Telluride | A | B | A | A | B | A | A | B | B |
| 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander | B | A | A | B | C | N/A | N/A | B | B |
| 2022 Nissan Pathfinder | A | A | A | A | B | N/A | C | C | A |
| 2021 Land Rover Discovery | A | A | A | A | B | A | B | B | C |
| 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L | A | A | A | A | B | N/A | B | B | B |
Minivans
It’s safe to say we love minivans at Cars.com, especially after completing our deep dive into the class, declaring the Kia Carnival the best minivan during a recent comparison. Minivans know how to family with their incredible use of space, helpful family-friendly tech — a vacuum! — and more.
| Vehicle | Latch | Infant | RFC (2nd) | FFC (2nd) | Booster (2nd) | Latch (3rd) | FFC (3rd) | Booster (3rd) | TRA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Honda Odyssey | A | A | A | A | B | A | A | B | B |
| 2022 Toyota Sienna | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | B | B |
Pickup Trucks
Americans love their pickup trucks, and many pickup trucks can easily handle family life. Roomy crew cabs often have plenty of room for all kinds of car seats, and they can often hold three across the backseat. Using the top tether anchor correctly in a pickup truck can sometimes be more frustrating than negotiating bedtime with your toddler, however.
| Vehicle | Latch | Infant | RFC (2nd) | FFC (2nd) | Booster (2nd) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz | B | D | C | C | A |
| 2022 Ford F-150 | A | A | A | B | A |
| 2022 Ford Maverick | A | D | D | D | B |
EVs, PHEVs and Hybrids
If you’re concerned about the planet and getting your kids to daycare on time, these cars are a good place to start.
| Vehicle | Latch | Infant | RFC (2nd) | FFC (2nd) | Booster (2nd) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 BMW IX | A | A | A | B | C |
| 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid | A | A | A | A | B |
| 2022 Ford Escape PHEV | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2022 Ford F-150 | A | A | A | B | A |
| 2022 Ford Maverick | A | D | D | D | B |
| 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 | B | B | A | A | A |
| 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2022 Kia EV6 | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2022 Tesla Model S | C | B | C | C | D |
| 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge | B | C | C | C | C |
| 2021 Ford Escape PHEV | A | A | A | A | A |
| 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge | B | B | A | A | A |
Sedans
Sedans have fallen out of favor with many car shoppers, but they’re worth a look for families, especially with the current inventory shortage. You might find a good deal on an overlooked sedan, making your wallet happy.
| Vehicle | Latch | Infant | RFC (2nd) | FFC (2nd) | Booster (2nd) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Genesis G70 | A | B | B | A | A |
| 2022 Genesis G80 | B | B | B | B | A |
| 2022 Honda Civic | A | A | A | B | C |
| 2022 Nissan Altima | A | A | A | B | C |
| 2022 Toyota Camry | A | A | A | B | C |
Hatchbacks
Is it a hatch or a small SUV? We can go round and round on it, but the functionality of hatchbacks can be great.
| Vehicle | Latch | Infant | RFC (2nd) | FFC (2nd) | Booster (2nd) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Audi A3 | A | C | C | A | B |
| 2022 Nissan Kicks | B | D | D | B | A |
| 2022 Tesla Model S | C | B | C | C | D |
| 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross | A | D | C | B | B |
With 52 vehicles tested for 2022, it’s clear that families have lots of options. When shopping for your next family vehicle, there’s a lot to consider, including what vehicle fits your needs right now as well as in a few years. Does that mean more car seats or — gasp — a teen driver?
More From Cars.com:
- Which Cars Fit 3 Car Seats?
- How Cars.com Conducts Car Seat Checks
- How to Install a Car Seat With a Seat Belt
- Which 3-Row SUVs Offer Captain’s Chairs?
- Find Your Next Car
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