How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2026 Toyota RAV4?
Key Points
- The 2026 Toyota RAV4 compact SUV performed OK in our Car Seat Check. Sometimes tricky Latch anchors earned some seats lower grades.
- For this Car Seat Check, we tested the Limited trim. For 2026, the RAV4 is only available with a hybrid powertrain.
- The Toyota RAV4 does not fit three car seats.
Take a look at how the Latch system and each car seat scored below in our Car Seat Check of the 2026 Toyota RAV4.
Related: Search Car Seat Checks
Latch: Grade B
The RAV4 has two sets of lower anchors that are partially exposed and set snug against the cushions, complicating access for skinnier, hooklike connectors. Three top tether anchors sit halfway down the seatback; they’re marked, but the anchors themselves are buried in the seatback carpet.
Infant Seat: Grade A
The infant seat was easy to install via its chunky, rigid Latch connectors. Legroom for our 5-foot-6-inch front passenger was good.
Rear-Facing Convertible: Grade B
It was tougher to install this seat because some muscle was required to attach its skinny, hooklike connectors to the anchors. As with the infant seat, however, our front passenger had a comfortable amount of legroom.
Forward-Facing Convertible: Grade C
Again, we had to use some force to connect the convertible’s hooklike connectors with the lower anchors because the lower anchors are placed snug against the seat cushion. Also, the top tether anchor is buried in the seat cushion, making it easy to overlook. After removing the head restraint, the seat fit well.
Booster Seat: Grade B
After removing the head restraint, the booster fit well. The outboard buckles are on very short stalks that sit flush with the seat bottom cushion, and the middle buckle is floppy. Kids will likely have a problem buckling up independently with either setup.
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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