Convertible Seats in Small Cars: Is it Possible?

You have decided to buy a convertible seat over a non-convertible type. You realized that it is more practical to choose a seat that will last your child as he/he grows.

The Convertible Car Seat Advantage

One of the main reasons that parents opt to buy a convertible seat over a seat like an infant seat or a booster seat, for example, is because it can switch to different modes. Some seats can transition from a rear-facing infant seat to a backless booster seat, the complete cycle of car seat stages in one unit! Besides the convertibility, these seats typically have higher weight and height limits than non-converting types.

However, the cost of these features leads to a bulky built. Thus, families that have small cars usually choose single seats instead of convertibles. But did you know that even if you have a small car, you can still find a convertible unit? All it takes is expand your research with different models and you’ll find the seat that fits your needs, or car, for that matter.

Car Classification

Now that you know that the answer to our title is yes, we have to discuss car classifications briefly. The Euro Car Segment classifies “small cars” in microcar, A-segment mini car, and B-segment small car categories. While the Euro NCAP Class, on the other hand, categorize them into the city car, supermini, and small family car classifications. Lastly, the US EPA classifies small cars as minicompact, subcompact, and compact.

These classified cars range from models like Suzuki Celerio, Ford Fiesta, Kia Rio, Honda Civic, and Toyota Corolla, to name a few. We have to mention these classifications because there are certain car seats that might fit well to a specific “small car” but not to another small car.

Reasons Why You Can Still Get A Convertible Seat Even if Your Vehicle is Small

More than reasons, the following are telltale signs that a particular car seat is not going to be problematic inside a small car. You can think of them as your guide when choosing a seat as well.

There are different types of car seats with small dimensions

The number of car seat type that the unit can transition is correlated to how big the seat is going to be. The most ideal convertible seat, the 4-in-1 type, transitions from the very first car seat stage (rear-facing) up to the last stage before your child can use the seat belt (backless-booster.) Sadly, this type of convertible seat has a large footprint, and if you want to maximize its usage and the car passengers’ comfort, it will take a lot of space.

Don’t worry. There are other convertible types that do not demand large spaces in the back seat. These seats are the 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 convertibles. Although they cannot give you the full car seat cycle, they are still equally useful. Most of these seats offer higher weight limits, which are an excellent safety advantage since you can keep your child longer in safer car seat modes like harness seats instead of rushing them to the next stage.

The 2-in-1 car seats can transition from a rear-facing infant seat to a forward-facing toddler seat. There are also convertible boosters from high back to backless modes. The 3-in-1 car seats, on the other hand, offers rear-facing harness seat to high back booster or forward-facing harness seat to backless booster.

With a bit of research, you can find 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 models that can fit in small vehicles like 3-door hatchbacks, subcompact SUVs, sedans, or minivans. It would be ideal for you to get a model that has a width and length both under 20 inches so that you wouldn’t need to decrease the legroom of the front passengers, while also not sacrificing comfortability features such as the reclining of the seat. A smaller width is also better to give other passengers in the back seat more space.

There are seats weighing 20 pounds and less

The car seat weight is also among the crucial qualities that you have to keep in mind if you have a small car. More than the size, the weight of the seat can either make your installation or transition a joy or a nightmare.

Think about it, if you’re installing something bulky in a tight space, wouldn’t it be stressful? And because a car seat’s safety is dependent on proper installation, it’s a risk that you shouldn’t overlook.

The good news is there are convertible seats that have small dimensions and at the same time are lightweight enough that can make your installation and transition easy. According to this post, you can find models weighing under 20 pounds and even 2-in-1 seats that are slightly over 10 pounds!

There are seats that you can install 3 across in small cars

If you have 3 children, you might always be on the lookout for models that you can install 3 across. However, your options are limited because of the size of your vehicle. But did you know that there are convertible seats that you can install 3 across in small cars?

A convertible model, the Diono Radian 3RXT is one of the most popular car seats that are suitable for small vehicles that you can install 3 across. It has a dimension of 16.14 x 16.93 x 28.35 inches, and 3 across installations in mid-sized cars is possible. Another example of a convertible seat is the Graco SlimFit that has a dimension of 26.81 x 19.88 x 22.36 inches, and you can install it 3 across in a compact crossover.

However, do take note that there are specific types of vehicles that are not suitable for 3 across installations. Some examples of these are subcompacts, 4-passenger vehicles, 2-door vehicles, and of course, sports cars.

All-in-all, it is possible to use a convertible seat even if you have a small car. There are a lot of choices available in the market that it can be overwhelming to choose, but at the same time, this is actually advantageous. Because different brands have come up with models that target small car users, you only have to create your own checklist and search. So next time that you’re looking into purchasing a new seat, you don’t have to ignore convertible car seats.