Big Family? Cars That Fit Three Car Seats

These sedans have enough second-row space to perhaps make minivans and SUVs take a back seat.

Warren Clarke | 

Dec 14, 2021 | 4 min read

Dodge

Are you looking for cars that fit three car seats? Of course, it's a given that minivans like the Toyota Sienna and many SUVs are up to this task, but if you're looking to buy a vehicle, know that there are also some sedans on the market that are big enough to fit three car seats in the second row.

A vehicle needs adequate width in the second row to accommodate three car seats. You can gauge width by looking at a car's hip room and shoulder room. At their widest point, car seats range in width from 17 to 21 inches. That means a vehicle needs second-row hip and shoulder room ranging from 51 to 63 inches to fit three car seats in the back seat. It's never advisable to cut things too close, so we've given you some wiggle room; all of the cars on our list have at least 54 inches of hip and shoulder room in the second row.

So, how are these car seats secured? Some cars have three full sets of LATCH connectors in the second row, but this is rare. It's more common for a car to provide two sets of these connectors in the outboard seats. A tether is typically used with the middle seat to hold the car seat in place.

Below, we've listed five cars that fit three car seats. Our picks are in descending order based on combined hip and shoulder room.

Dodge

2021 Dodge Charger

Classed as a full-size sedan, the Dodge Charger provides 56.1 inches of rear hip room and 57.9 inches of rear shoulder room. The second row has three sets of LATCH connectors.

The Charger is available with engines offering up to 797 hp, so it's an excellent option if you're an enthusiast seeking a family car with muscular performance. Additionally, this Dodge comes standard with family-friendly tech like Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, and it's available with safety features like blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert. Pricing starts at around $31,000.

Chrysler

2021 Chrysler 300

The Chrysler 300 is a full-size sedan with 56.1 inches of rear hip room and 57.7 inches of rear shoulder room. It comes with three sets of LATCH connectors in the second row.

This Chrysler is notable for its bold exterior design, so it's a good choice if you want a family car that doesn't look too tame. It also provides a spacious, quiet cabin, and it's available with driver-assistive features like blind-spot warning and forward collision mitigation.

The Chrysler 300 has a base price of roughly $32,000.

Nissan

2021 Nissan Altima

The Nissan Altima is a mid-size sedan with 54.5 inches of rear hip room and 57.1 inches of rear shoulder room. It has two sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats and a tether for the seat in the middle.

With the Altima, you enjoy a smooth ride and great fuel economy. Additionally, this Nissan comes standard with features designed to prevent accidents. The list includes forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning, and driver attention warning. Pricing kicks off at around $25,000.

Honda

2021 Honda Accord

With the Accord, you get 55 inches of rear hip room and 56.5 inches of rear shoulder room. There is a full set of LATCH connectors for each outboard seat in the second row, and the middle seat provides a tether anchor.

The Accord has a reputation for dependability, and it has a spacious trunk, an upscale cabin, and engaging handling. In addition, this mid-size family sedan comes standard with driver-assistive features like lane-keeping assistance and forward collision mitigation. Pricing starts at roughly $25,000.

Toyota

2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid

The Camry Hybrid has 54.6 inches of rear hip room and 55.7 inches of rear shoulder room. This mid-size sedan comes with a full set of LATCH connectors for each second-row outboard seat. There's an upper tether anchor available with the middle seat.

With a fuel economy of up to 52 mpg combined city/highway, the Camry Hybrid is a great choice for families who want to save money on long commutes. In addition, this Toyota comes standard with features that can keep your family safe, such as forward collision mitigation and lane-keeping assistance. Pricing starts at around $27,000.

Next Steps

As we've mentioned, car seats vary in width. You may need to purchase narrow car seats if you want three of them to fit easily in the second row. Narrow car seats typically have a width of around 17 inches.

Also, cars that can fit three car seats may differ in the placement and design of their tethers and LATCH connectors, and you may find some setups easier to work with than others. With this in mind, use car seats to test the models on your list before you buy. Doing this can help ensure your purchase suits your preferences.

Warren Clarke

A car purchase is a big decision. And once you've made the purchase, you'll be faced with countless other choices that will affect your ownership experience one way or another. Throughout my career in the automotive industry, I've written everything from vehicle reviews to articles covering topics such as car insurance and leasing. My mission is to help you make the best decisions regarding your vehicle.