2011 Toyota Sienna LE AWD
"We're expecting a baby and we need to buy a car. What should we get?"
Whether you're about to welcome your first child into the world or just became a family of five, this question is bound to come up at one time or another. Safety features are certainly important to keep in mind when shopping for a family car, as are crash test scores. However, as you zero in on models with all the latest airbags and technology, you should also think about getting a car that fits your kids — and their car seats.
The easiest way to do this is to bring your car seat(s) — and if possible, your children — with you when you go to test-drive your short list of candidates. Key things to look for:
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Deep, flat seat-bottom cushions. The flatter the seat bottom, the easier it is to get the car seat to sit level and securely fastened to the seat. The heavily contoured seats in many sport sedans and coupes can make the installation process harder.
Placement of the seatbelts and LATCH points. The placement and angle of the seatbelt hitch and receiver can greatly affect your ability to get a car seat cinched down to the seat. And the only way to know if a particular seatbelt is going to be a problem is to try it out with your child's car seat. Even if you have a newer, LATCH-compatible seat, you should still check to see that the location of the anchor points allows for a snug fit.
The angle of the seat back cushion. All minivans, and many SUVs, offer a recline feature for the second-row back cushions, allowing you to adjust the seat to a position that is secure and comfortable for your child. If you're going to buy a car that doesn't offer this feature, check to see that the angle of the seat back works well with your car seat.
Ease of access. Wide door openings allow you to maneuver bulky car seats in and out of the car with a minimum of twisting and turning. They also make it easier to get your child in and out. Additionally, the few inches of extra ground clearance offered by minivans, car-based SUVs and tall wagons can reduce the back strain that parents experience when repeatedly bending over to buckle in and retrieve little ones. Some carmakers offer rear seats with fore -and-aft adjustment, allowing you to slide the seat back when you need to climb in to tend to a baby and slide it forward when you need to make room for a double stroller in the cargo bay.
Availability of automatic locking retractor (ALR) seatbelts. Most newer cars have automatic locking retractor seatbelts in the backseat, such that when you pull the belt all the way out, it locks as it retracts. Some manufacturers use a special mechanism that locks only the lap portion of the belt. Either way, it ensures a much tighter, safer fit for car seats. For more information, see our article, "How to Install a Car Seat."
Several of our editors are parents of young children, so they've had the unique opportunity to try their car seats in all the newest models. Here are 10 cars that they say make for easy car seat installation:
Chevrolet Equinox: This value-packed small SUV offers reclining back cushions and fore/aft adjustment in the second row, as well as the ability to fit three car seats across (depending on the size of your kids and their restraints, of course).
Chevrolet Malibu Maxx: A deep, flat seat bottom, wide door openings and fore/aft adjustment in the second row make the midsize Malibu wagon a good bet for families.
Dodge Magnum: The Magnum looks hip on the outside, but inside it's all about practicality — lots of second-row legroom and deep, flat seats make for easy car seat installation.
Ford Five Hundred: Magnum not big enough for you? You can get even more room in the Five Hundred, along with the biggest trunk in the sedan world (20 cubic feet). A slightly elevated ride height also makes it a good bet for parents with bad backs.
Ford Freestyle: Although down on power, the Freestyle compensates with its positively cavernous interior. You can get a roomy bench seat in the second row or opt for twin captain's chairs that offer fore/aft adjustment.
Honda Accord: With plenty of legroom in the backseat and perfectly contoured cushions, you can't go wrong with this well-rounded family sedan.
Honda Odyssey: Always a good bet for families, thanks to its deep, flat, multiadjustable seats, the latest Odyssey adds a neat feature to the mix — a pop-up seat between the second- row captain's chairs, allowing you to carry three kids across in a pinch.
Scion xB: On a tight budget but still need a lot of room? The Scion xB makes an ideal starter-size minivan. This boxy wagon has a comfortably raked rear bench and more legroom than you ever thought possible in a compact car.
Toyota Camry: Like the Accord, the Camry offers lots of rear legroom and soft, flat seat cushions that can readily accept a bulky car seat. Juice box holders in the doors are a nice bonus for those with preschoolers.
Toyota Sienna: Roomy and comfortable rear seats and the availability of both seven- and eight-passenger configurations make the Sienna a good bet. Models with second-row bench seats were specifically designed to accommodate three car seats across.
If you're looking for more detailed information on the compatibility of your car seat(s) with your next car, take a look at the Car Seat Compatibility Database. Here you can search by your exact car seat model to see ratings and comments from certified car seat installers and parents, who have installed your seat in a wide range of vehicle models.
Source: Yahoo Auto
