Are you looking for the best car seats to fit 3 across? You’ve come to the right place. For families who are trying to have the second or third baby in a car seat, parents should consider buying a slim fit model to fit these car seats in a row in the back seat.
That’s why we make this guide and list the best car seats for 3 across.
To make it easy for new parents to pick the best one that suits their family and baby’s needs, I’ve categorized the narrowest car seats into three types: infant, convertible, and booster. You can choose one based on your child’s size and age.
Infant
Narrow infant car seats to fit 3 across
Convertible
Narrow convertible car seats to fit 3 across
All in One
Narrow all-in-one car seats to fit 3 across
Booster
Narrow booster car seats to fit 3 across
I also list the narrowest car seats to fit 3 across by width in these three categories for a quick view.
Narrowest Car Seats to Fit 3 Across
Best Narrow Car Seats fitting 3 across
There are some other narrow car seats for 3 across between 16 to 18 inches wide. We have reviewed and compared them so that you don’t need to.
By Performance
See Our Top Picks Organized by Performance (Width and Size Limits)
By Price
See Car Seats Organized by Price (Prices Start at $99.99)
By Bonus
See Car Seats by Bonus features (e.g. foldable etc)
Best Narrow Infant Car Seats to Fit 3 Across
Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller - Best Travel Car Seat to Fit 3 Across
Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller - 17.3"
Key Features
- Weight Range: 4-35 lbs.
- Height Limit: 32 inches
- Lifespan: 6 years
- Type: Infant
- Stage: 1st
- Suitable for: Birth to 1 year old
The Good
- Combine a car seat and stroller
- Easy in and out
- Support installation without a car seat base
- Smooth transition between car seat and stroller
- Compact size design for storage and carrying
- Friendly and portable to take for air travel
- The handle can be used as an anti-rebound bar
- 2 years manufacturer's warranty
The Bad
- Short handle not friendly for tall people
- A little expensive
- Not include undercarriage basket for storage
- A bit heavy
$550
The Doona is an ideal slim infant car seat for babies thanks to its compact size, portability credentials, and travel-ready foldable design that combines a car seat and stroller into one.
With a maximum weight range of 35 pounds and a height limit of 32 inches, it can handle daily riding babies under 12 months old, or even 18 months old small toddlers.
This size limit aligns with the average in its class. Considering all it has to offer, this affordable car seat is extremely good value for money.
Why We Recommend It:
Portable, slim, and perfect for fitting 3 across? The Doon Infant Car Seat and Stroller fits the bill perfectly, allowing parents to install three car seats in the back row.
Featuring a 17.3-inch width, Doona Infant Car Seat and Stroller can be placed for 3-across fit in any motor vehicle, including small cars like Ford Focus.
Even better, it features a long list of desirable features that are remarkable to see on a baby car seat. Though it costs more than average infant car seats on the market.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the Doona car seat, let’s talk about something that beats other same-level car seats for infants: combination. The Doona combines a car seat and stroller into one.
Convenient
It works as a travel system. You can install it in the vehicle for riding your boy or girl safely rear-facing. Taking it out of the car, you can turn it into a stroller by unfolding the wheels.
That’s very awesome and convenient. You don’t need to take two large pieces – a car seat and a stroller (even if it’s foldable).
From this point, Doona does not cost too much more than other infant car seats if adding another compatible stroller to work with them. The average travel system that contains a baby car seat and stroller is priced around $300-$500.
This smart and creative design makes Doona one of the best car seats for air travel.
This isn’t the only advantage. If you like my friend Mike who prefers additional safety features like an anti-rebound bar and think this will increase the confidence in stronger protection for newborns and small babies, you’ll love Doona instantly.
More Safety
Its handlebar works as an anti-rebound bar and can be adjustable in stroller mode. Some parents commented the handlebar is a bit short for tall dads, but Mike – a tall male at 6’1”, said that it’s okay for him to stroll his little boy. It’s just the hands naturally hanging down, not like other strollers where you can put your hands and relax the forearm.
With a 35-pound weight limit and a 32-inch height limit, Doona Infant Car Seat and Stroller is able to ride infants from birth to 1 year or older.
This weight and height range is fairly high-level for a rear-facing-only child restraint. It might not seem like much, and there are other car seat types out there that can manage a higher range for bigger toddlers and kids, like convertibles of 65-pound and 49-inch or boosters of 100-pound and 57-inch or higher. But for the majority of small infants younger than 12 months, it should be more than enough.
Without any doubt, this car seat is highly-priced, over $500. If you plan to have several car seats in different stages and have enough budget for child safety seats, Doona is worth your consideration.
However, if you think $500+ price is a bit expensive, you may try the cheaper models like the Chicco KeyFit 30, which is also narrower than Doona to fit three car seats in a row, but just costs under $200. The KeyFit 30 is also good for preemies, but it has lower weight and height limits – only 30 pounds and 30 inches. Plus, it is just a car seat, lacking the ability to switch to a stroller.
Longer Warranty
We love Doona also for its warranty. The manufacturer provides an extended warranty for this car seat, up to 36 months over the limited one-year warranty of more than 99 percent of child safety seats on the market.
The extended warranty gives parents confidence in its quality and durability.
Chicco KeyFit 30 - Narrowest Infant Car Seat to Fit 3 Across
Chicco KeyFit 30 - 16.75"
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 4-30
- Height limits: 30"
- Stage: 1st
- Lifespan: 6 years
- Suitable: Birth to 9-12 months old
The Good
- Lightweight for carrying and switching
- Most popular for preemie
- Large and removable canopy
The Bad
- A bit pricey
$199.99
With a width of 16.75 inches and a lightweight body of 9.5 pounds, the Chicco KeyFit 30 is the perfect car seat fitting 3 across from vehicle to vehicle. The 30-pound weight limit and 30-inch height range deliver comfort and enough usage to ride newborn boys or girls to their 9 months.
For less than $200, your baby will get excellent rides with safety and protection.
Why We Recommend It:
Fitting 3 across in the back seat is unlike other installations; you may need a few additional conditions from the vehicle to the car seat itself. The Chicco KeyFit 30 handles this by combining maneuvering with an impressive narrow width that lets you effortlessly place three car seats in a row in the back seat.
Typically, child restraints for 3 across require a narrow width of around 17-inch. The KeyFit 30, on the other hand, achieves this feat with an ultra slender 16.75-inch width. That’s even better than the Diono Radian R series’ 17-inch.
Similarly, the whole piece is compact and lightweight. Measuring 27.5 (D) x 16.75 (W) x 24 (H) inches when folded the handlebar and weighing 9.5 lbs, it’s portable and can easily be switched from vehicle to vehicle.
Not only is the Chicco KeyFit 30 an incredibly practical infant car seat with its 16.75-inch narrow width and a compact-sized and lightweight 9.5-pound body, but it also has lots of safety features. Its ergonomic design, impressively compatibility, and low 4-pound weight requirement mean it’s great to look at and friendly for newborns, even preemies. No other infant car seat at this price provides this combination of specs and features.
The Premium LATCH connectors also aid the KeyFit 30’s easy installation. This is a type of rigid LATCH outperforming common LATCH for a tight installation, reducing the chance of wiggling. Plus, the SuperCinch tightener works as a second confirmation to make sure your KeyFit 30 is installed tightly and properly., and RideRight helps to indicate that your car seat is placed at the perfect angle for safety and comfort.
With a decent padding
When using the Chicco KeyFit 30 for newborns and small infants, you need to know that your little one benefits from the best protection and max comfort. The KeyFit 30 achieves this with a few impressive features.
It has plenty of EPS energy-absorbing foam for decent padding to provide the little one max comfort, with a large canopy protecting him or her from UV and UPF. The frame is made from reinforced steel which ensures a reliable build and that the car seat can withstand daily wear and tear.
Plus, the included infant insert can provide head and body support for babies between 4 and 11 pounds. It’s removable and offers extra space for growing infants until they reach the size limits: 30lbs/30″.
For future models, we would like to see the KeyFit premium models spread the size limit for a longer rear-facing.
This comes true. The Chicco company launched the 35 version later.
There are a few higher-end siblings with the same 30-pound-30-inch limitation, but with superior fabrics and sales at a higher price.
| Car Seats Comparison | Chicco KeyFit 30 | Chicco KeyFit 30 Zip | Chicco KeyFit 30 Zip Air |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 | $229 | $239 |
| Weight limits (lb) | RF:4-30 | RF:4-30 | RF:4-30 |
| Rear Facing Weights | Up to 30" | Up to 30 | Up to 30 |
| Newborn positioner | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Machine-washable fabrics | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Large canopy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Quick-remove seat pad | - | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cozy all-season boot | - | ✓ | ✓ |
| Premium zipper features | - | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3D AirMesh breathable backrest | - | ✓ | ✓ |
UPPAbaby MESA - High-end Infant Car Seat to Fit 3 Across
UPPAbaby MESA - 17"
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 4-35
- Height limits: 32"
- Stage: 1st
- Lifespan: 7 years
- Suitable: Birth to 12 months old
The Good
- Lightweight for carrying and switching
- Made of high-end materials
- Two naturally fire resistant options through innovative use of Merino wool
The Bad
- A bit pricey
$299.99
The UPPAbaby MESA offers exceptional value for money.
If you like the 17-inch width to fit three across, the choice of premium features to deliver safety and comfort, and a top size limit for infants growing to 12-18 months old, then look no further. The UPPAbaby MESA also ticks the portability box and can easily be carried and connected to VISTA and CRUZ strollers for a complete travel system.
At an affordable price and packed full of features, it quickly became one of the most popular infant car seats and is the perfect companion for a small infant.
Why We Recommend It:
If you’re looking for something new and are always passionate to try new brands with innovative technologies like the Internet companies, the UPPAbaby MESA could be exactly what you’re looking for.
The standout feature of this infant car seat is that it’s narrow enough to fit 3 across. The 17-inch width is exactly the same as the Diono Radian 3R, which is one of the most popular 3-across car seats from the Diono Radian Series. This means the UPPAbaby MESA should be as great as them to fit 3 across in most vehicles.
Even better, this narrow infant car seat is more compact than the Diono Radian car seats -primary with a short car seat height (24-inch vs 28.5-inch). This means the UPPAbaby MESA would be suitable for more situations, including small cars like Toyota Camry.
It’s a bit wider than the 16.75-inch Chicco KeyFit 30 but narrower than Doona (17.3″). But all these three narrowest infant car seats are good choices if you have a new baby to ride in the back seat.
The 17-inch width is also responsible for fitting growing babies along with the 26.4” length and 23” height. This is a bit bigger than the Chicco KeyFit 30; however, this allows the MESA infant car seat to accommodate your baby for a longer rear-facing. The MESA has a greater size limit than the KeyFit 30 (35lbs/32″ vs 30lbs/30″).
That means the MESA can be used for older infants, probably up to 12 or even 18 months old. The 35lbs/32″ size is very common for most of infant car seats, even the heavier Doona features the same.
All three are the safest car seats for infants. As the classic model from each manufacturer, they come with a few exclusive safety features.
The UPPAbaby MESA is equipped with a unique tightness indicator, along with the self-retracting rigid LATCH connectors. Parents can easily get a fast, tight, and proper installation for the MESA.
You’ll know that you have installed this 3-across car seat accurately while the tightness indicator turns green. This visual confirmation works for both installation methods. So no matter which you have chosen, LATCH or seat belt, it keeps working to help you get a proper installation.
Given that this 3 across car seat has a similar size (only slightly wider), it won’t come as a surprise that it’s as lightweight as the KeyFit 30, weighing 9.9 pounds (only the carrier). In the world of infant car seats, this is considered to be light. Most moms and dads will be able to carry it easily, although those with smaller hands might find gripping the handlebar a little tricky due to the extra weight with a baby in it which makes it significantly heavier.
Considering its light and compact, the MESA manages to maintain a solid construction. The metal frame and descent of padding reduce any chances of wiggling when meeting any incidents.
Alongside the reliable build of its frame, superior materials increase the comfort when your little one sits in it, also the price. Positioned as a high-end infant car seat to fit 3 across, the MESA is almost $100 more expensive than the KeyFit 30.
However, new parents would find it better matches their tastes with the convenience that the MESA provides.
And it’s not that expensive compared to Doona, which costs $550 or more with a few color options.
It’s a pity that the MESA does not have bright colors like pink or purple for girls. Only one white and gray mixture is more suitable for girls, but it’s much easier getting dirty. Among the four colors, the JORDAN is the most popular one. It’s unisex.
Narrow Convertible Car Seats to Fit 3 Across in a Row
Safety 1st Jive -Narrow Convertible Car Seat
Chicco NextFit Zip
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 5-40 (RF): 22-65 (FF)
- Height limits: ~43" (RF); ~49” (FF)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd
- Lifespan: 8 years
The Good
- Super budget price
- Fits 3 across in the back seat of most vehicles
- Lightweight and portable design
- 10 years of lifespan
The Bad
- Less headrest and recline
- Lack advanced additional features
$99.99
The Safety 1st Jive earns its narrowest convertible car seat credentials with its 17.5-inch slim design, lightweight and compact body, and budget price.
Not only is it good for air travel, but you also use it for an extendable rear-facing for growing toddlers.
Safety 1st is known for its well-built budget car seats, and this one packs a wealth of features into a very budget price tag.
Why We Recommend It:
Under $100, the Safety 1st Jive is the cheapest narrow car seat to fit 3 across on this list. It offers great value with basic safety and comfort features. For example, it includes an infant insert to keep newborns stationary in case of any collision.
In ideal conditions, the 65lbs/49″ size limit will let your child stay in the Safety 1st Jive for up to 4 or 5 years old. Even though you’ll get less than that in realistic circumstances ( 3 or4 years old?), you’ll still have more than enough to get your child to that age range at a budget price.
The 40lbs/40″ rear-facing limitations allow an average kid for extendable rear-facing up to 2 years old, making the Safety 1st a practical option in most states, even those with rules that toddlers younger than 2 years old must ride rear-facing.
The Jive features the Safety 1st classic streamlined design and breathable materials that make it look more similar to premium narrow car seats than those with a budget price tag.
In addition, the frame is robust and made from reinforced steel. Including plenty of padding with EPS foam adds weight, but Safety 1st Jive is one of the lightest car seats to fit 3 across.
It weighs just 14.25 pounds – even lighter than the Doona (16.5 pounds), making it an excellent option for air travel. Unlike other bulky convertible car seats, the slim and lightweight body makes the Jive easy to carry. You can effortlessly lug this narrowest convertible car seat through the airports and navigate back home.
If you’re a family on the go, the Safety 1st Jive seems not bad. But it’s not the best-recommended option for long road trips even though it’s a good car seat to fit 3 across. It has very basic safety features, lacking extra protection and comforts like the Graco Extend2Fit and Chicco NextFit Zip.
The Safety 1st Jive certainly passed the crash tests meeting the federal safety standards. Plus, it would offer side impact protection thanks to the 5-point harness, no matter putting your kid is rear-facing or front-facing. The energy-absorbing padding foam around the frame enhances the protection. That’s all!
These are the very entry-level protection a car seat can provide and every car seat sold in the US should do this according to the official requirements.
The positive point is that this narrowest convertible car seat has two cup holders, holding the drinks and snacks, and even toys and providing additional comfort for your child during the trips. This outperforms another more expensive narrow car seat – Britax Marathon, which has no cup holder on either side and you need to pay extra money if you want one.
Overall, the Safety 1st Jive delivers on every front, from basic safety and comfort to extended rear-facing, portability, and the ability to fit 3 across. It’s a very budget and narrow convertible car seat that will ride your child from birth to preschool and save money for budget-tight families.
Narrowest All-in-One Car Seats to Fit 3 Across
Graco SlimFit3 LX - Narrowest 3 in 1 Car Seat for 3 Across
Graco SlimFit3 LX - 16.75"
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 5-40 (RF): 22-65 (FF); 40-100 (Booster)
- Height limits: ~49" (RF&FF); ~57” (Booster)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
- Lifespan: 10 years
The Good
- Slim design to fit 3 across
- Going through three car seat stages
- Improved breathable mesh AirFlow materials
- Rapid Remove pad for easy taking off to clean
- 10 years of lifespan
The Bad
- Not foldable
$279.99
A great first narrow car seat option. Affordable and safe, the Graco SlimFit3 LX has a kid-friendly size limit from birth to big kids with safety and comfort features for long-time riding, will keep parents happy with a smart seat cover design that makes it an excellent choice for busy parents.
With a 16.7-inch width, the Graco SlimFit3 LX is a great car seat to fit 3 across, making it one of the best narrowest car seats for growing families. This 16.7-inch width makes Graco SlimFit3 LX even narrower than the 17-inch width of Diono Radian 3R which is well-known for its 3 cross fit.
If you have a newborn twin, slim-fit car seats are the best choice. The Graco SlimFit3 LX is the narrowest all-in-one car seat and it has a wide weight range to accommodate newborns till they grow into big kids at 7 or 8 years old. The 40lbs/49″ rear-facing size limit makes it ranks top on the list of extended rear-facing car seats, good for toddlers between 2 and 3 years old.
Constructed with a high-strength steel frame and energy-absorbing foam, the SlimFit3 LX definitely performs well in protecting your child for safe rides. Plus, it uses the company’s exclusive ProtectPlus technology to enhance the protection, ensuring your child won’t get injured in any incidents, even crashes from the front, side, rear, and cases of rollover.
Not only is it a great option for children, but the Graco SlimFit3 LX is also friendly for busy parents.
Made of machine washable fabrics, you don’t need to spend much time hand washing the seat pad. What’s more appealing, the seat cover can be quickly removed for machine washing. The SlimFit3 LX is cleverly designed with a ‘Rapid Remove’ cover, which can be found in premium Graco car seats, including the 4Ever DLX 4 in 1 car seat. You can easily take off the cover and release the snaps to remove the pad in seconds.
This smart seat-cover-removal design is very similar to the ‘zip-off design like the Chicco NextFit Zip (a 19-inch wide narrow car seat but not for 3 across) and its higher-end siblings. Removing the seat cover can be a big challenge for short moms. The Graco SlimFit3 LX (and other Graco car seats with Rapid Remove) and Chicco NextFit Zip outperform other toddler car seats in this aspect, increasing your trustworthiness that it’s a valued car seat for 3 across.
Graco SlimFit3 LX is the best-recommended car seat to fit 3 across at an affordable price tag of under $300. With so many great safety and practical features, it’s a few bucks cheaper than the high-end 4Ever DLX. The latter is one of the best car seats with a 5-point harness for up to 120 pounds and provides a backless mode to save money for a backless car seat.
Multiple colors are available for this 3 across car seat, the Katrina (similar to purple) makes it one of the best purple car seats for toddler girls. When choosing a color on Amazon, you should pay special attention to the style selection. Make sure the SlimFit with 3-across fit is checked. The other SlimFit option may not fit 3 across.
Yes, the SlimFit3 LX is an upgraded version from the SlimFit and is more than 2 inches slimmer than the old sibling. The SlimFit is 19 inches wide, which is not a good car seat for 3 across. My friend Emma made this mistake and returned the wider one and then got slimmer. She has twin girls and chose Katrina based on my recommendations.
Diono Radian 3R - Well-known 3 Across Car Seat
Diono Radian 3R
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 5-40 (RF): 22-65 (FF); 40-100 (Booster)
- Height limits: ~49" (RF&FF); ~57” (Booster)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
- Lifespan: 10 years
The Good
- Slim design to fit 3 across
- Cheaper price tag
- Going through three car seat stages
- FAA approved foldable seat with great portability
- Extended warranty up to 36 months
The Bad
- Lacking head and body insert
- Less reclines
- Not fit well in small car seats in rear facing
$199.99
Who does not know the Diono Radian series? If not, you should learn about this brand and this series of all-in-one car seats now.
The Diono Radian series include the narrowest car seats to fit 3 across. Diono is the first brand to notice and focus on satisfying the need to install multiple car seat side by side for multi-kids families. It released the Radian series.
All products in this series are 17-inch wide in the hip pad section, making them the best car seats for 3 cross fit. The shoulder width might be different based on different models; some may be wider than the 17-inch. Make sure they don’t overlap on the widest part when installing three Radian car seat side by side in a row.
The 3R is an entry-level 3 across car seat from the Diono Radian series. It’s the cheapest, under $200, but lacks advanced features compared to premium siblings and higher-end models in the same series. But it’s still a good option for budget-tight families that want the narrowest all-in-one car seat to fit 3 across.
It has a great rear-facing size limit: 50lbs/44″, good for tall babies for extending the rear-facing rides. This weight and height limit combination outperforms most car seats on the market and extends rear-facing for toddlers between 2 and 3 years old, or even 4 years old kids would comfortably sit in it facing the rear.
However, if you plan to install it rear-facing, the center seat is better than the seats on the side. As high as 28.5 inches, the Diono Radian 3R will take up some space from the front seat, driver, or passenger. It needs a bit more space than the Graco SlimFit3 LX (24.5 inch high). The lack of reclines makes it worse for this situation. You can’t pull it upright for a perfect angle to balance the space between the front seat and the rear-facing car seat.
Weighing up to 26 pounds, you can’t say that the Diono Radian 3R is a lightweight slim fit car seat. It’s heavier than most of the all-in-one car seats, like the Graco SlimFit3 LX (25.9 pounds vs 19.2 pounds). But this does not affect its great portability. The Diono Radian 3R is one of the most portable car seats on the market, just like the Doona.
It comes with a foldable design that makes it easy to carry. You can fold it up through the seat pad and take it through the airports like a backpack.
So if your family likes to travel around the world like others on the go, you should try the Diono Radian 3R. Don’t worry about the safety when using it on a plane. This foldable design is FAA approved for air travel.
Diono Radian 3R provides multiple color options. Besides the most popular black jet, pink blossom and red cherry are good options for girls. The pink blossom makes the 3R one of the best pink car seats for toddler girls.
It’s a pity that no infant insert is included in the package. That means less stability for the baby in the car seat, even though it has a 5-point harness for optimal protection. No additional head support on the top section means that your child may experience a tough time if they fall asleep in the car seat. These are really painful for newborns and kids who like to sleep in their car seats.
That’s why the company launched upgraded versions – the 3RX and 3RXT, which has a head and/or body support and a removable cup holder. We don’t recommend the Safe+ version. It boasts of an anti-rebound bar and 6 layers of side impact protection but is almost $100 more expensive than the Diono Radian 3RX/3RXT.
Look at the comparison table to check what improvements is included in the premium and higher-end models in the Radian series.
Radian Series: 3R vs 3RX vs 3RXT vs 3QX vs 3QXT
| Car Seats Comparison | Radian 3R | Radian 3RX | Raidan 3RXT | Raidan 3QX | Radian 3QXT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 | $269 | $329 | $369 | $449 |
| Weight limits (lb) | RF:5-50 / FF: 22-120 | RF: 5-50 FF: 22-120 | RF: 5-50 FF: 22-120 | RF: 4-50 FF: 22-120 | RF: 4-50 FF: 22-120 |
| Rear Facing Weights | Up to 50lb | Up to 50lb | Up to 50lb | Up to 50lb | Up to 50lb |
| Newborn Protection | - | - | 2-in-1 | Advanced 3-in-1 | Advanced 4-in-1 |
| Safe+ Engineering | - | - | - | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head Support | - | 12 Positions | 12 Positions | Safe+ 12 Positions | Safe+ 12 Positions |
| Cup Holder | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fit 3-across | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Width (in.) | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Best Narrow Booster Car Seats to Fit 3 Across
Cosco Finale DX - Budget Harness Booter for 3 Across
Cosco Finale DX - 18.25"
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 30-65 (FF); 40-100 (Booster)
- Height limits: 32-49"(FF); 43-52"(Booster)
- Stage: 2nd, 3rd
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Suitable: 2 to 7-8 years old
The Good
- Ulta budget price
- Fits 3 across in the back seat of most vehicles
- Lightweight and portable design
The Bad
- Limited padding
- Lack advanced additional features
$69.99
Cosco Finale DX is an optional harness booster seat if you want to use this combination car seat to fit 3 across. It’s not as narrow as others on this list, even though the manufacturer boasts that it’s a good car seat to fit 3 across.
The widest point measures up to 18.25 inches, on the shoulder. Luckily, the seat pad section is obviously narrower. This matches the seat in a vehicle’s design: the hip room is a bit narrower than the shoulder room.
It is probably to achieve 3 cross fit in some large-sized car seats, but not in small cars.
The Cosco Finale DX earns a position on this list of best car seats to fit 3 across for its budget price and lightweight.
It’s low-priced under $100 but will be able to ride your child for a few years. You can use it for toddlers 2 years or older (30-65 pounds in harness) and big kids around 5 or 6 years old (40-100 pounds in a booster) until he or she reaches the 52-inch height limit.
The Cosco Finale DX weighs only 11.5 pounds, making it one of the lightest car seats for travel. It won’t be a big problem for you to take and navigate through the airports if you’re planning for your next air trip with your kids.
The only down point is the limited padding. It’s not as comfortable as those more expensive premium car seats with plenty of padding. So it’s better to be a travel car seat or a backup car seat for multi-car households.
Best Car Seats to Fit 3 Across by Performance
By Width
| Width | Price | Weight Limit | Car Seat | Height Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16.75" | $199.99 | Chicco Keyfit 30 | 30 pounds | 30 in. |
| 16.75" | $279.99 | Graco Slimfit3 LX | 100 pounds | 57 in. |
| 17" | $199.99 | Diono Radian 3R | 100 pounds | 57 in. |
| 17" | $299.99 | UPPAbaby MESA | 35 pounds | 32 in. |
| 17.3" | $550 | Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller | 35 pounds | 32 in. |
| 18" | $99.99 | Safety 1st Jive | 65 pounds | 49 in. |
| 18" | $69.99 | Cosco Finale DX Harness Booster | 65 pounds | 52 in. |
By Weight and Height Limits
| Weight Limit | Car Seat | Price | Height Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 pounds | Chicco KeyFit 30 | $199.99 | 30 in. |
| 35 pounds | UPPAbaby MESA | $299.99 | 32 in. |
| 35 pounds | Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller | $550 | 32 in. |
| 65 pounds | Safety 1st Jive | $99.99 | 49 in. |
| 100 pounds | Cosco Finale DX | $69.99 | 52 in. |
| 100 pounds | Diono Radian 3R | $199.99 | 57 in. |
| 100 pounds | Graco Slimfit3 LX | $279.99 | 57 in. |
| 100 pounds | Chicco MyFit Harness Booster | $299.99 | 57 in. |
Best Car Seats to Fit 3 Across by Price
| Rank | Price | Weight Limit | Car Seat | Height Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $69.99 | Cosco Finale DX Harness Booster | 100 pounds | 52 in. |
| 2 | $99.99 | Safety 1st Jive | 65 pounds | 49 in. |
| 3 | $199.99 | Chicco Keyfit 30 | 30 pounds | 30 in. |
| 4 | $199.99 | Diono Radian 3R | 100 pounds | 57 in. |
| 5 | $279.99 | Graco Slimfit3 LX | 100 pounds | 57 in. |
| 6 | $299.99 | UPPAbaby MESA | 35 pounds | 32 in. |
| 7 | $550 | Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller | 35 pounds | 32 in. |
Car Seats to Fit 3 Across by Bonus Features
Cheapest:
- Narrow infant car seat – Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 ($159.99)
- Narrow convertible car seat – Safety 1st Jive ($99.99)
- Narrow All-in-one Car Seat – Diono Radian 3R($199.99)
Lightweight
- Narrow infant car seat – Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 (7.5 lb)
- Narrow convertible car seat – Safety 1st Jive (14.3 lb)
Best for Travel
- Narrow infant car seat- Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller (folding design with wheels)
- All-in-one – Diono Radian 3R (foldable design)
Three Across Fit
- Narrow infant car seat – Chicco KeyFit 30 (16.7 in.)
- Narrow infant car seat – UPPAbaby MESA (17 in.)
- Narrow infant car seat – Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller (17.3 in.)
- All-in-one car seat – Graco SlimFit3 LX (16.75-inch)
- All-in-one car seat – Diono Radian 3R (17-inch)
- Booster Seat – Chicco MyFit Harness Booster (17.5 inches)
FAQs on Slim Car Seats to Fit 3 Across
Can you fit 3 car seats in a row?
Of course yes. There are a few infant and toddler car seats with a slim design, making 3-across fitting in the back seat possible.
The optimum vehicles are certainly great for installing more than two car seats, like minivans, full-size and midsize SUVs, and full-size cars.
If you want to install 3 car seats in a row in small vehicles, you’d better check the hip room of the back row in vehicles and compare it to the width of the potential fitting-3-across car seats.
In this post, we recommend these narrowest car seats between 16-18 inches wide, like the Doona infant car seat (17.3”) and Diono Radian 3R (17”).
How do you fit 3 car seats in a small car?
First, you should make sure your small car provides pretty room for fitting 3 car seats. Compare the hip room or width between the car seat width.
If the width of your selected slim car seat is less than the width of the narrowest seat in the back row, it’s okay to install 3 car seats. Otherwise, you’d better have another larger vehicle, or choose one of the narrowest car seats.
Then you should follow the installation guide to place the seat in the back row.
Check this video to fit 3 car seats if you have a small car,
Does Graco SlimFit fit 3 across?
No, the Graco SlimFit (18.5-inch) comes with a slim design, but it’s not as good as its successor – SlimFit3 LX, which is one of the narrowest car seats to fit 3 across in the back seat.
Featuring a width of 16.7-inch, the Graco SlimFit3 LX saves space without compromising on the safety you trust and features you need to ride a boy or girl safely.
It’s even a bit slimmer than the Diono Radian 3R that comes from a well-known brand for its 3-across-fit car seat series, even though you can’t distinguish the difference by eyes (16.7 inches vs 17 inches).
What are the slimmest booster seats?
The Narrowest Infant Car Seats of 2022
- Chicco KeyFit 30 (16.75” wide)
- 2018 UPPAbaby MESA Infant Car Seat (17” wide)
- Doona -Nitro Black (17.3” wide)
The Narrowest Convertible Car Seat of 2022
- Safety 1st Jive (17.5” wide)
Narrowest All-in-one Car Seats of 2022
- Graco SlimFit3 LX 3 in 1 Car Seat (16.7″ wide)
- Diono Radian 3R 3 in 1 Car Seat (17″ wide)
Here are the Narrowest Booster Seats of 2022!
- Chicco MyFit Harness Booster Car Seat (17.5″ wide)
- Cosco Finale DX (18”)
Does Chicco MyFit fit 3 across?
Yes, the Chicco Myfit harness booster is as wide as 17.5 inches, making it one of the narrowest booster seats to fit 3 across. The MyFit is comfortable, safe, and has a narrow profile. You can do 3 across with ease with it.
How wide is a slim car seat?
The width is not settled. Commonly, the Diono Radian R series is considered the best slim car seat to fit 3 across. They come with a width of 17-inch.
There are a lot of child restraints that feature this 17-inch width or even narrower.
Infant car seats include Chicco KeyFit 30 (16.75”), UPPAbaby MESA (17”), and Doona (17.3”)
Safety 1st Jive is a 2-in-1 convertible with a very slim width- 17.5”.
Graco SlimFit3 LX is an all-in-one car seat but it is even as narrow as an infant car seat – only 16.75”.
However, if you have a large SUV with more space in the back row, a large car seat may fit 3 in a row as well.
What is the slimmest Graco car seat?
The SlimFit3 LX should be the slimmest Graco car seat. It’s as narrow as 16.75 inches wide.
To provide more space to install more than one car seat in a row, Graco designed the SlimFit series with unique, rotating cup holders that simply rotate away, making the seat 10% slimmer.
But it’s still not as narrow as Diono’s Radian R series. So the manufacturer improved the width performance and finally launched a slimmer one – Graco SlimFit3 LX at 16.7-inch width, which is the slimmest Graco car seat.
Can you fit 3 car seats in a Ford Focus?
Ford Focus interior dimensions:
- Head Room, Front 987
- Head Room, Rear 965 – 1008
- Leg Room, Front 1109
- Leg Room, Rear 918
- Hip Room, Front 1364 mm
- Hip Room, Rear 1325 mm (52.1 inches)
- Shoulder Room, Front 1421 mm
- Shoulder Room, Rear 1395 mm (54.9 inches)
From its dimensions, we know that the Ford Focus is a compact vehicle. It does not have much space in the back row, with the rear hip room at 52.1 inches and the rear shoulder room at 54.9 inches.
That means, if you want to fit 3 car seats in a Ford Focus, the average car seat width should not exceed 17.3 inches. Luckily, most car seats we recommended meet this width requirement. But it’s better to purchase a narrower car seat under 17 inches width.
- Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller (17.3 inches)
- UPPAbaby MESA (17 inches)
- Chicco KeyFit 30 (16.75 inches)
- Graco SlimFit3 LX (16.75 inches)
- Diono Radian 3R (17 inches)
Can 3 car seats fit in a CRV?
The CR-V with a new design that is wide enough to fill up the back seat with kids in car seats. It’s not a big problem even if you need to do 3-across, thanks to its 73-inch wide back seat.
However, if you have an older version like models in 2017, it’s not possible to place 3 car seats in the back row.
What car seat can you fit 3 across?
There are a few car seats with a narrow design, but not all of them are good car seats for 3 across. So we make this list to include all the narrowest car seats in different types to help you find a perfect car seat to fit 3 across.
If you want the narrowest infant car seat to fit 3 across, the Chicco KeyFit 30 (16.7 inches) is the best option; UPPAbaby MESA (17 inches) and Doona Infant Car Seat Stroller (17.3 inches) are good choices as well; especially the Doona. It’s the only car seat with wheels for strolling and the most portable car seat with a folding design.
If you want the narrowest convertible car seat to fit 3 across, the Safety 1st Jive (17.5 inches) is the best. Narrow car seats include Britax Marathon (18.5 inches) and Graco Extend2Fit (19 inches) may not be as good to fit 3 across.
The narrowest all-in-one car seats include the Graco SlimFit3 LX (16.7”) and Diono Radian 3R and its premium siblings (17”). Both (All) are excellent car seats to fit 3 across.
How do you fit 3 car seats in a small SUV?
Can 3 car seats fit in an SUV?
Very probably if you have a large-size SUV.
SUVs are more spacious in the back seat and they are preferable to fit 3 car seats in a row. Compact SUVs like the Subaru Forester have plenty of space to fit three car seats across the back bench without being overwhelming.
If you have a compact SUV and want to fit 3 car seats, make sure the total width of three car seats is not more than the hip room in the rear seat.
The best option is to choose the narrowest car seats like the Chicco KeyFit 30 and Graco SlimFit3 LX. Both are 16.75 inches wide.
Car seats with 17-inch width are also great if your SUV is not as compact as a sedan.
Subaru Forester Interior Dimensions:
- Head Room, Front 990 – 1041
- Head Room, Rear 935 – 1010
- Leg Room, Front 1092
- Leg Room, Rear 965
- Hip Room, Front 1346 mm
- Hip Room, Rear 1346 mm (53 inches)
- Shoulder Room, Front 1448 mm
- Shoulder Room, Rear 1422 mm (56 inches)
Can you fit 3 baby seats in a row?
Yes, of course, if you have three slim baby seats and a spacious car.
The slimmest car seats include Chicco KeyFit 30 (16.7”), UPPAbaby MESA (17”), Doona (17.3”), Graco SlimFit3 LX (16.7”), and Diono Radian 3R (17”).
For the spacious car options, minivans, full-size and mid-size SUVs, and full-sized cars are good.
Can a Rav4 fit 3 car seats?
Probably not. 2022 Toyota RAV4 interior dimensions include:
- Front Headroom: 37.7 inches
- Rear Headroom: 39.5 inches
- Front Shoulder Room: 57.8 inches
- Rear Shoulder Room 56.4 inches
- Front Hip Room: 54.3 inches
- Rear Hip Room: 47.7 inches
- Front Legroom: 41 inches
- Rear Legroom: 37.8 inches
It’s a pity that the 2022 Toyota RAV4 is not spacious enough to fit 3 car seats in the rear row, even the narrowest Graco SlimFit3 LX is not good for three across.
How do you set up 3 car seats?
Get the narrowest car seats if you have a compact car. For the best chance to easily secure three seats, look for a vehicle with a flat rear seat. Deep contours for the outboard seats or raised center humps can limit the flexibility to move car seats side to side.
Check this video to find how to set up 3 car seats,
Can you fit 3 car seats in a Toyota Camry?
Let’s check the dimensions of the Toyota Camry first, the Shoulder Room (Front/Rear): 57.7 / 55.7 inches. Headroom (Front/Rear): 37.5 / 38 inches. Legroom (Front/Rear): 42.1 / 38 inches. Hiproom (Front/Rear): 55.4 / 54.7 inches..
Fitting 3 car seats in a Toyota Camry is not a big problem if the car seats are narrow enough. Good options include the Chicco KeyFit 30 (16.75” wide), Graco SlimFit3 LX (16.75″ wide), and Diono Radian 3R (17” wide).
Can you fit 3 car seats in a RAV4 2022?
2022 Toyota RAV4 interior dimensions include
- Front Headroom: 37.7 inches
- Rear Headroom: 39.5 inches
- Front Shoulder Room: 57.8 inches
- Rear Shoulder Room 56.4 inches
- Front Hip Room: 54.3 inches
- Rear Hip Room: 47.7 inches
- Front Legroom: 41 inches
- Rear Legroom: 37.8 inches
It’s a pity that the 2022 Toyota RAV4 is not spacious enough to fit 3 car seats in the rear row, even the narrowest Graco SlimFit3 LX is not good for three across.
Can you fit 3 car seats in a CRV?
Honda CR-V interior dimensions:
- Head Room, Front 1013 – 1039
- Head Room, Rear 980 – 993
- Leg Room, Front 1042 – 1050
- Leg Room, Rear 972 – 1016
- Hip Room, Front 1384 – 1420 mm
- Hip Room, Rear 1245 – 1387 mm (49 in. – 54.6 in.)
- Shoulder Room, Front 1445 – 1489 mm
- Shoulder Room, Rear 1397 – 1442 mm (55 in. – 56.8 in.)
From the dimensions above, we know that Honda CR-V is not as wide as other large-size or mid-size SUVs. It would be a bit difficult to fit 3 car seats in a CRV. Even the narrowest car seats like the Chicco KeyFit 30 and Graco SlimFit3 LX – both are as narrow as 16.75 inches wide, are impossible to fit 3 across in the back seat.
But if you have an XL or spacious model, the narrowest car seats probably fit 3 across in a CRV.
Or if one of the three car seats includes a backless booster for big kids over 5 years old, it’s possible to fit 3 car seats in a CRV.
Can you fit 3 car seats in a Toyota Corolla?
No. The Toyota Corolla is a very compact vehicle, and the back seat is not that spacious to fit 3 car seats. You may install two child seats in the back row, but that’s the most. Even the narrowest car seats like the Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat and Graco SlimFit3 LX 3 in 1 Car Seat can’t be placed side by side in this small car.
Can 3 car seats fit in a Kia Sportage?
Kia Sportage interior dimensions:
- Head Room, Front 993 – 1020
- Head Room, Rear 978 – 993
- Leg Room, Front 1052 – 1129
- Leg Room, Rear 963 – 970
- Hip Room, Front 1364 mm
- Hip Room, Rear 1247 mm (49.1”)
- Shoulder Room, Front 1440 mm
- Shoulder Room, Rear 1400 mm (55.1”)
The Kia Sportage is not as spacious as those large-size SUVs, but it can fit three child seats in the back if one of the three car seats includes a backless booster for big kids over 5 years old. Backless boosters are the #1 narrowest. While the Kia Sportage has ISOFix points in the two outer rear seats, they are not within plastic guides and are easy to connect to.
Can you fit 3 car seats in a RAV4 2018?
Toyota RAV4 2018 interior dimension:
- Head Room, Front 1011
- Head Room, Rear 988
- Leg Room, Front 1082
- Leg Room, Rear 945
- Hip Room, Front 1379 mm
- Hip Room, Rear 1242 mm (48.9 in.)
- Shoulder Room, Front 1455 mm
- Shoulder Room, Rear 1407 mm (55.4 in.)
It’s possible to fit 3 car seats in a RAV4 2018 if you have the narrowest car seats, better to have a backless booster among the 3 across car seats.
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.
Can 3 car seats fit in a sedan?
It’s dependable to fit 3 car seats in a sedan. If you have full-size sedans with spacious rooms in the back row, along with the slimmest car seats, then it’s not a big problem to fit three car seats in your backseat.
Measure the back seat hip room to find which one is the narrowest and compare it to the width of these narrowest car seats.
The shoulder room is also worth your consideration. Some narrow car seats may have a wider shoulder rest, Diono Radian 3RXT/3QXT for example.
Can you fit 3 car seats in a Ford Edge?
Ford Edge interior dimensions:
- Head Room, Front 1016 – 1021
- Head Room, Rear 998 – 1024
- Leg Room, Front 1029 – 1081
- Leg Room, Rear 1006 – 1031
- Hip Room, Front 1392 – 1420 mm
- Hip Room, Rear 1425 – 1461 mm (56.1” – 57.5”)
- Shoulder Room, Front 1496 – 1532 mm
- Shoulder Room, Rear 1491 – 1537 mm (58.7” – 60.5”)
From the Ford Edge dimensions, we know that the back seats have plenty of room for installing three child seats. Make sure the car seats are not wider than 19 inches. In fact, you could fit three forward-facing or a combination of forwarding and rear-facing car seats. With rear-facing child seats installed there is plenty of room for a 182cm driver in front.
Can you fit 3 car seats across a 4runner?
- Head Room, Front 990 – 998
- Head Room, Rear 965 – 981
- Leg Room, Front 1041 – 1059
- Leg Room, Rear 813 – 836
- Hip Room, Front 1422 – 1435 mm
- Hip Room, Rear 1397 – 1415 mm (55” – 55.7”)
- Shoulder Room, Front 1448 – 1468 mm
- Shoulder Room, Rear 1448 – 1468 mm (57 – 57.8”)
You can fit 3 car seats across a Toyota 4Runner, in the second row. The center of the back seat might be a bit narrower than the seats on the side. So it’s better to place the narrowest car seat in the rear center seat, which is also considered the safest spot for the most vulnerable kids.
Is RAV4 big enough for two car seats?
RAV4 is big enough for two car seats on the back row.
It may also work adjacent or 3-across with similarly the narrowest car seats. Since the RAV4 is a compact vehicle, like any small car or SUV, it may require trial and error and additional effort if you are attempting to install side-by-side or three-across car seats.
Can you fit 3 car seats in Honda CR-V 2021?
Honda CR-V 2021 interior dimensions:
- Hip Room, Front 1400 mm
- Hip Room, Rear 1257 mm (49.5”)
- Shoulder Room, Front 1471 mm
- Shoulder Room, Rear 1412 mm (55.6”)
The Honda CR-V 2021 is not as spacious as the premium siblings. It would be a bit difficult to fit 3 car seats in Honda CR-V 2021. Even the narrowest car seats like the Chicco KeyFit 30 and Graco SlimFit3 LX – both are as narrow as 16.75 inches wide, are impossible to fit 3 across in the back seat.
However, if one of the three car seats includes a backless booster for big kids over 5 years old, it’s possible to fit 3 car seats in a Honda CR-V 2021.
Some parents found there is enough space for three child seats across the second-row seats. In the third row, two child seats fit well but there is another top tether issue. The top tether anchorages for the third row are provided for you to install yourself if you need them.
Can 3 car seats fit in a Hyundai Tucson?
Hyundai Tucson interior dimensions:
- Head Room, Front 966 – 1024
- Head Room, Rear 980 – 1000
- Leg Room, Front 1052 – 1069
- Leg Room, Rear 945 – 996
- Hip Room, Front 1412 mm
- Hip Room, Rear 1384 mm (54.5”)
- Shoulder Room, Front 1438 – 1464 mm
- Shoulder Room, Rear 1400 – 1430 mm (55.1” – 56.3”)
The rear seat of the Hyundai Tucson is wide between 54.5” (hip room) and 56.3” (shoulder room). That means parents are able to fit three child seats in the back of a Hyundai Tucson if they find the narrowest car seats.
Can you fit 3 car seats in a Subaru Impreza?
2021 Subaru Impreza interior dimensions:
- Rear headroom: 37.2 in.
- Rear legroom 36.5 in.
- Rear shoulder room 55.6 in.
- Rear hip room 55.2 in.
If you have a new Subaru Impreza, the rear seat is very spacious to fit 3 car seats in the same row. Of course, it’s better if you got three slim fit car seats for 3 across, like the Graco SlimFit3 LX (16.7”) and Diono Radian 3R (17”).
Can a Ford Escape fit 3 car seats?
Ford Escape interior dimensions:
- Head Room, Front 991 – 1026
- Head Room, Rear 991 – 996
- Leg Room, Front 1057 – 1095
- Leg Room, Rear 904 – 947
- Hip Room, Front 1351 – 1392 mm
- Hip Room, Rear 1246 – 1331 mm (49” – 52.4”)
- Shoulder Room, Front 1420 – 1438 mm
- Shoulder Room, Rear 1402 – 1420 mm (55.2” – 55.9”)
Ford Escape is not as spacious as those large SUVs, but still provides plenty of room in the back row to fit 3 car seats, on the condition that the car seats are narrow enough, better 17 inches or narrower.
Plus, in the back of the 2022 Ford Escape, there are ISOFix points in the two outer seats and top tether anchorages on the back of all three rear seats, making it easy to accommodate the child seats properly and safely.
Can you fit 3 child seats in a Skoda Superb?
Skoda Superb interior dimensions:
- Head Room, Front 991 – 1042
- Head Room, Rear 964 – 1001
- Hip Room, Front 1057 – 1507 mm
- Hip Room, Rear 1519 – 1520 mm (59.8”)
- Shoulder Room, Front 1459 – 1507 mm
- Shoulder Room, Rear 1436 – 1520 mm
Skoda Superb is spacious to fit 3 child seats in the back row. It’s better to have the narrowest car seats if you’re trying to put three children in the same row. Graco SlimFit3 LX and Diono Radian 3R are good options. Both are all-in-one car seats.
Can 3 car seats fit in a Nissan Rogue?
Nissan Rogue interior dimensions:
- Head Room, Front 1057
- Head Room, Rear 978
- Leg Room, Front 1004 – 1092
- Leg Room, Rear 930 – 963
- Hip Room, Front 1372 mm
- Hip Room, Rear 1323 mm (52”)
- Shoulder Room, Front 1438 mm
- Shoulder Room, Rear 1420 mm (55.9”)
Yes. Even though it’s not as spacious as those large-sized SUVs, the Nissan Rogue is capable of fitting 3 car seats in the second row. But you should get three narrow car seats to achieve this.
Can 3 car seats fit in a Jeep Grand Cherokee?
- Head Room, Front 988 – 1013
- Head Room, Rear 993 – 1014
- Head Room, Third Row 947
- Leg Room, Front 1025 – 1059
- Leg Room, Rear 902 – 1000
- Leg Room, Third Row 770
- Hip Room, Front 1448 – 1459 mm
- Hip Room, Rear 1427 – 1429 mm （56.2”）
- Hip Room, Third Row 1090 mm
- Shoulder Room, Front 1491 – 1504 mm
- Shoulder Room, Rear 1463 – 1486 mm （57.6” – 58.5”）
- Shoulder Room, Third Row 1317 mm
Does it fit three car seats? Yes. From the dimensions above, You know that the Jeep Grand Cherokee can fit 3 car seats in the rear row, which is more spacious than the third row. However, you should get the narrowest car seats to fit 3 across. If you’re trying to install a car seat wider than 19 inches, check again to make sure it will fit 3 across or not.
Can you fit 3 child seats in a VW Tiguan?
- Head Room, Front 992 – 1054
- Head Room, Rear 958 – 1012
- Leg Room, Front 1018
- Leg Room, Rear 910
- Hip Room, Front 1503 mm
- Hip Room, Rear 1491 – 1503 mm (58.7” -59.2”)
- Shoulder Room, Front 1482 – 1503 mm
- Shoulder Room, Rear 1459 – 1491 mm (58.7”)
VW Tiguan has simple and flat rear seats, allowing for three child seats to be installed in the same row. But you should confirm if the seat bases are wide enough to accommodate some bulky car seats.
It’s better to find some slim fit car seats for 3 across if you intended to fit three child seats. Graco SimFit3 LX and Diono Radian 3R are good options.
Can you fit 3 car seats in a Ford Explorer?
Ford Explorer interior dimensions:
- Head Room, Front 1052
- Head Room, Rear 1031
- Leg Room, Front 1090
- Leg Room, Rear 1003
- Hip Room, Front 1455 mm
- Hip Room, Rear 1443 mm (56.8”)
- Shoulder Room, Front 1562 mm
- Shoulder Room, Rear 1549 mm (61”)
There’s room for up to seven passengers in the 2018 Ford Explorer and it can accommodate up to four car seats. If you want to fit three car seats in a row, it’s still the best car option.
The outboard seats in the second row and the passenger-side seat in the third row both feature lower anchors and tethers for securing car seats.
How do you fit 3 carseats in an SUV?
Can you fit 3 car seats in a Kia Sorento?
Kia Sorento interior dimensions:
- Head Room, Front 1000 – 1024
- Head Room, Rear 994 – 998
- Head Room, Third Row 935
- Leg Room, Front 1048 – 1120
- Leg Room, Rear 1000 – 1060
- Leg Room, Third Row 752
- Hip Room, Front 1439 mm
- Hip Room, Rear 1433 mm (56.4”)
- Shoulder Room, Front 1500 mm
- Shoulder Room, Rear 1472 – 1475 mm
- Shoulder Room, Third Row 1345 mm
The Kia Sorento is a very spacious 7-seater with ample boot space for the essentials when going out with the family. Three child seats can easily fit across the second row of seats if they are narrow enough with a sum-up width under 56 inches.
Slim fit car seats for 3 across are good options, including Graco SlimFit3 LX and Diono Radian 3R.
There are ISOFIX mounting points on the two outer seats of the second row and top tether points for all three-second row seats.