When it comes to your child’s safety, choosing the right car seat is crucial, regardless of the size of your vehicle. This is especially true in the event of an accident, where you want to ensure that your child is protected. However, finding the best car seat for small cars can be a challenge. Many car seats are bulky and difficult to install in a tight space.
Fortunately, there are car seats on the market that are specifically designed for smaller cars. The best car seat for small cars is lightweight, compact, and provides a soft and supportive seat for your child. In this article, we’ll highlight our top picks for the best car seats for small cars to help you make the right choice for your child’s safety.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall Car Seat For Small Cars: Diono Radian 3R, 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
- Best Budget-Friendly Car Seat For Small Cars: Cosco Mighty Fit 65 DX Convertible Car Seat
- Best Infant Car Seat For Small Cars: Chicco KeyFit 30
- Easiest To Install Car Seat For Small Cars: Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat
- Most Comfortable Car Seat For Small Cars: Maxi-Cosi Pria™ All-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
- Best Booster Car Seat For Small Cars: Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best Car Seats For Small Cars Picks
Diono Radian 3R, 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat – Best Overall Car Seat For Small Cars
- Very comfortable due to the foam cushioning of the seat
- Narrow footprint at an excellent price point
- Very solid build
- Folds in half
- No head support for when kids fall asleep
This slim-fit car seat can safely accommodate kids weighing anywhere from 5 to 120 pounds (2.2 to 54 kg) and comes with a booster seat, providing up to 10 years of safety. Made with a steel-reinforced frame, the Radian offers top-of-the-line protection with its automotive-grade steel construction.
Not only is the Radian designed with safety in mind, but it’s also practical for growing families. The slim-fit design allows for three car seats to fit comfortably across most vehicles, without sacrificing passenger comfort or kid safety. With SuperLATCH technology, installation is quick and extremely secure.
Diono has included practical features that make the Radian even more convenient for parents. The unique fold allows for easy transport and storage, while the machine washable covers are easily removable for cleaning. Plus, with FAA approval, you can travel with the Radian and know your child is safe and secure.
- Dimensions: 16 x 17 x 28.5 inches
- Maximum Weight: 120 lbs
Cosco Mighty Fit 65 DX Convertible Car Seat – Best Budget-Friendly Car Seat For Small Cars
- Great rear-facing height and weight limits
- Relatively compact size, with straight sides that make it easier to fit next to another seat
- Machine washable cover
- Comfortable, cool fabric. Won’t absorb heat like a dark seat if you live somewhere hot
- The button you have to push to loosen the straps is buried under the cover and not marked, so it isn’t easy to find and use
This car seat is designed to accommodate children weighing between 5 to 65 pounds, with two modes of operation for both rear-facing and forward-facing positions.
Adjusting the five-point harness is a breeze with three clasp positions and five height settings located conveniently in the front of the car seat. The Cosco Mighty Fit 65 DX also includes built-in side-impact protection for extra security.
This convertible car seat is perfect for parents who value space as it takes up less room when used in rear-facing mode. It’s also slim enough to fit three car seat side by side in most vehicles.
Not only is this car seat practical but it’s also designed with your child’s comfort in mind. The velvety foam cushioning and premium fabric ensure a cozy ride. Plus, the car seat cover is machine washable and dryer safe, making it easy to keep clean.
- Dimensions: 17 x 22 x 23.5 inches
- Maximum Weight: 65 lbs
Chicco KeyFit 30 – Best Infant Car Seat For Small Cars
- Easy to get baby in and out of with the harness loosener button at the foot of the car seat
- Grows with baby out of infancy
- Easy to use as a travel system
- Good safety features
- Chest buckle tilts back into the chest, not flat
This infant car seat is super lightweight at only 9.5 lbs, and the carrier clicks easily into the stay-in-car base.
The base of the KeyFit® 30 is equipped with two bubble-level indicators and a leveling foot to ensure that the seat is installed perfectly every time. Plus, the LATCH connections and SuperCinch® tightener make it a breeze to secure the base in your car with less effort.
The five-point harness system is easy to use and can be tightened with just one pull, keeping your little one safe and secure while on the road. The carrier shell is coated with EPS energy-absorbing foam to provide extra impact protection, and the adjustable and detachable canopy offers sun protection for your baby’s delicate skin.
And when it comes to cleaning up messes, the seat pad is easily removable and machine washable, making maintenance a breeze.
- Dimensions: 27.5 x 16.75 x 24 inches
- Maximum Weight: 30 lbs
Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat – Easiest To Install Car Seat For Small Cars
- This seat is very easy to take apart and clean
- Very secure and sturdy
- Easy to install
- The child harness buckles and unbuckles smoothly
- It is a bit heavy
The Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat is designed with your child’s safety in mind. Its unique ClickTight Installation System makes it incredibly easy to install, and once you’ve got it installed, you can be confident that your child is protected from harm.
The car seat is equipped with Britax’s SafeCell Impact Protection system, which includes a steel frame, an energy-absorbing base, a V-shaped tether, and phased-release stitches. This system is designed to slow and restrict forward movement in the event of an accident, keeping your child safe and secure.
In addition, the Marathon ClickTight Car Seat features a thick layer of side energy absorption and foam shell, protecting your child from side impacts. The plush foam cushioning and fabric also ensure that your child is comfortable during long car rides.
With 7 reclining positions, the car seat can be adjusted to suit your child’s needs, and the 14-position easy-adjust harness grows with your child, without requiring you to rethread it. The car seat can be used for rear-facing children up to 40 pounds and forward-facing children up to 65 pounds.
- Dimensions: 23 x 18.5 x 23.5 inches
- Maximum Weight: 65 lbs
Maxi-Cosi Pria™ All-in-1 Convertible Car Seat – Most Comfortable Car Seat For Small Cars
- Many cushions for the growing baby/toddler
- Several adjustments with visual cues for guaranteed proper set-up
- Bucket-like seat for comfort and sleep support
- Easy to tweak for each child/age/size
- The cup holders are not the largest
The Pria All-in-One car seat has everything you need to keep your child comfortable and safe from infancy to age 10! This versatile car seat can be used as a rear-facing seat for babies weighing 4 to 40 pounds, and as a forward-facing booster for children weighing 65 to 100 pounds.
Switching between modes is a breeze, and you can be confident that your child is secure and comfortable at every stage. It also features three different reclining positions, five different headrest heights, and a QuickFit shoulder harness, which allows for a wide range of adjustability.
The headrest is designed to provide excellent side impact protection and absorb shocks to protect your child’s head from harm. As your child grows, the QuickFit shoulder harness adjusts automatically to accommodate their changing height, ensuring a comfortable and secure fit.
- Dimensions: 34.49 x 20 x 30.47 inches
- Maximum Weight: 100 lbs
Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 – Best Booster Car Seat For Small Cars
- Folds for storage
- Cleans easily
- Recline feature
- Wings expand so much
- A bit pricey
The Viaggio Flex 120 is a one-of-a-kind booster seat with an amazing feature: the 4D Total Adjust Technology! This feature lets you customize the booster to your child’s growth in four different ways! You can adjust the headrest to 5 vertical positions, the upper backrest to 3 vertical positions, the side wings to 3 extension positions, and the seat to 5 different reclining positions!
The best part is that you can make these adjustments independently of one another, making it super comfy and personalized for your little one! The Viaggio Flex 120 also comes with rigid LATCH connectors and a blind lock attachment system to keep your child’s seat safe and secure in the car.
In the event of a collision, the aluminum-reinforced backrest provides extra protection against whiplash and ensures maximum safety for your child.
- Dimensions: 17.25 x 22 x 26.75 inches
- Maximum Weight: 120 lbs
How To Choose The Best Car Seats For Small Cars?
- Comfort: You want to make sure that you choose a car seat that is comfortable for your child. You want to make sure that they can sit in it for long periods of time without getting uncomfortable. You also want to make sure that the seat is easy to get in and out of.
- Size: It’s important to know the measurements of your car seat before making a purchase so that you can be sure it will fit in your vehicle. Some car seats are designed specifically to fit in three-across seating arrangements, so if that is a priority for you, be sure to look for those models.
- Weight Limit: When you are choosing a car seat for your child, it is important to make sure that the seat can support your child’s weight. Some car seats are designed for smaller children and may have lower weight limits.
- Budget: When it comes to car seats, there is a wide range of prices. Small vehicle car seats may be considered specialty car seats and thus come with a higher price tag. It’s important to decide before you start shopping whether or not the price is a major factor for you.
- Extra Features: If your child is taller than average, you may want to consider skipping car seats with cup holders. A car seat travel bag and car seat travel tray might be useful if you’re planning to travel with your child. Getting a separate car seat protector is also another option if you have the extra funds Decide what features are most important to you so you can be sure to get a seat that meets your needs.
What Are The Car Seat Types for Small Cars?
Certain car seats are made with compact areas in mind. You might need to buy a booster seat or an infant-only car seat, depending on your child’s age. Convertible car seats provide the most adaptability and the smallest footprint. Convertible car seats can serve as both rear- and forward-facing seats and they can accommodate children of different sizes. This makes them ideal for families with limited space, as you won’t need to purchase multiple car seats.
There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a convertible car seat for your child. First, each seat will have a recommended weight range for both forward- and rear-facing use, depending on where you live (1). These ranges may sometimes overlap. Second, convertible car seats are designed for long-term use, so they should be comfortable and adaptable enough to last from infancy through elementary school. Lastly, convertible car seats are a great option for small cars, but they can also be used in larger vehicles.
How Do You Put A Car Seat In A Small Car?
It can be difficult to put a car seat in a small car, but there are some things you can do to make it easier.
- Make sure that the car seat is the right size for your car.
- Read the instructions carefully so that you know how to properly install the car seat.
- Use a towel or other soft object to help protect the car’s seats from scratches.
- Make sure that the car seat is properly secured before putting your child in it.
Need help installing your car seat? You can contact your local service providers for help, or search for a nearby inspection location on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website (2).
How Do I Know If A Car Seat Will Fit In My Car?
There are a few ways to know if a car seat will fit in your car. You can use a car seat fit guide, which can be found online or at a local car seat retailer. Another way to know if a car seat will fit in your car is to measure the seat. Seat height and width are the two main measurements you’ll need to take. Once you have these measurements, you can compare them to the car seat’s dimensions to see if they will fit.
Can Any Car Seat Fit In Any Car?
Most car seats are designed to fit a wide range of cars, but there are some exceptions. For example, some car seats may not fit properly in certain types of vehicles, such as those with limited space or specific seat configurations. Additionally, some car seats may require special adapters in order to be properly installed in a particular vehicle. Just make sure to follow child safety rules from the CDC (3).
