How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek?
Editor’s note: This Car Seat Check was written in October 2017 about the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. Little of substance has changed with this year’s model. See what’s new for 2019 or check out a side-by-side comparison of the two model years.
The verdict: We last tested Subaru’s smallest SUV in 2015, and the Crosstrek did pretty well in our Car Seat Check. For 2018, the Crosstrek gets a makeover with revised styling, a new powertrain and a bigger cabin. The updated Crosstrek’s ample backseat room and easy-access Latch anchors earned it high grades in our Car Seat Check.
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 Subaru Crosstrek.
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A Grade
- Latch: The two sets of anchors sit under Velcroed flaps in the upholstery; they’re easy to use. Three top tether anchors sit on the rear shelf. They’re also easy to find and use.
- Infant seat: This seat was easy to install, and our 5-foot-6-inch front passenger had adequate legroom.
- Rear-facing convertible: Another easy install, and we could move the front seat back for even more legroom.
- Forward-facing convertible: After removing the head restraint, this seat fit well and was easy to install.
B Grade
- Booster: After raising the head restraint, the booster fit well. The buckles are almost flush with the cushion and tilted, however, which will likely make them tough for kids to grasp and use.
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.
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
