Car seats play a pivotal role in the vehicle buying decision for 60% of parents, according to Cars.com. In a news release, they also noted that some consumers will go as far as bringing a car seat to the dealership for a test fit.
The data is based on the company’s Best Cars for Car Seats Report, which aims to help consumers feel empowered to make the right decision for their family when buying a vehicle. Based on the study, 84% of the parents who brought a car seat to the dealership said their questions were answered effectively, making the process smoother for the consumer.
“As a mother of three children, I understand firsthand how frustrating car seat installation can be,” said Jennifer Geiger, News editor at Cars.com and certified child passenger safety technician, in a statement. “Those parents who bring a car seat to the dealership are proactive and likely to save themselves some additional stress.”
The company evaluated 52 model-year 2023-2025 vehicles in its report. It found only six vehicles (all SUVs) were worthy of top spots on its 2024 list. The top performing models are the 2024 Lexus RX 450h+, 2024 Nissan Pathfinder, 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, 2024 Volkswagen Atlas, and the 2024 Volkswagen ID.4.
“The Cars.com 2024 Best Cars for Car Seats Report compiles 12 months (July 2023 to July 2024) worth of comprehensive Car Seat Checks conducted by Cars.com’s team of experts,” said the company.
A Cars.com certified child passenger safety technician installs three types of car seats — infant, convertible, and high-back booster — into each new vehicle. They evaluate the vehicle’s Latch system and how well the vehicle accommodates the different car seats.
