How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2022 Nissan Altima?
The verdict: Nissan’s Altima mid-size sedan got a new Midnight Edition appearance package for 2022, and that version in SR all-wheel-drive configuration is what we tested for this Car Seat Check. While both the lower anchors and top tether anchors were accessible, we struggled with the sedan’s fixed head restraints; they prevented the car seats from sitting flush against the seatback.
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 2022 Nissan Altima.
Related: Search Car Seat Checks
A Grade
- Latch: The two sets of lower anchors sit under a large flap in the upholstery; they’re easy to find and use. The three top tether anchors on the rear shelf sit under hinged plastic covers and were also easy to use, although the fixed head restraints block them.
- Infant: Installing this seat was easy and it fit well. Our 5-foot-6-inch front passenger had ample legroom in front of the seat.
- Rear-facing convertible: Again, this seat went in easily and our front passenger didn’t have any issues with legroom.
B Grade
- Forward-facing convertible: The fixed head restraint didn’t push the convertible seat’s back off of the seatback because the convertible’s adjustable back was in the lowest position. Raising it means the car seat will not sit flush with the seatback because the fixed head restraint pushes it forward. (Note that the owner’s manual says to route the top tether strap over the fixed head restraint.)
C Grade
- Booster: The Altima’s bolstered seat bottom cushions pushed the booster into the buckle. This caused the seat to ride on top of the buckle, complicating access and connection. The buckles are also floppy and sink low into the seat cushion, making them tough for kids to grasp and use independently. In addition, the fixed head restraint pushed the booster off of the seatback; it should sit flush against the seatback.
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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