How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2021 Nissan Kicks?
The verdict: The cheap and cheerful Nissan Kicks is the automaker’s smallest SUV-style model; it got an update for 2021 with some added style and updated technology. There’s nothing cheerful about the backseat where car seats are concerned, however — legroom was a major issue for our seats.
Does it fit three car seats? No
Take a look at how the Latch system and accommodations for each car seat scored below in our Car Seat Check of the 2021 Nissan Kicks.
Related: Search Car Seat Checks
A Grade
- Booster: After removing the head restraint, the booster fit well. The Kicks’ tall, stable buckles should be easy for kids to grasp and use independently.
B Grade
- Latch: The SR model we tested had two sets of lower anchors; most of them are exposed for easy access except the inside Latch anchor on the passenger side. It’s partially covered by the middle seat belt, which complicated access and connection. The three top tether anchors on the seatback are clearly marked.
- Forward-facing convertible: After removing the head restraint, the car seat fit well in its forward-facing mode. Connecting to the top tether anchor was easy, but accessing the inside lower Latch anchor was again hampered by the middle belt.
C Grade
- None
D Grade
- Infant: The installation was easy except for the one difficult lower anchor. Legroom was an issue for our 5-foot 6-inch front passenger with the seat installed behind; she was not comfortable.
- Rear-facing convertible: Again, installation was easy except for the one difficult lower anchor, and legroom for our front passenger was a problem with the seat installed behind.
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: One room, fit or connection issue. Some problems accessing the third row when available.
C: Marginal room plus one fit or connection issue. Difficult to access the third row when available.
D: Insufficient room, plus multiple 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 Chicco KeyFit 30 infant-safety seat, a Graco Contender 65 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.
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