Is your vehicle’s front-to-back space limited? Are you and/or your partner tall or just leggy? Or maybe you just want the ability to stretch out a little bit more on a long ride. Regardless of why you need a compact rear-facing carseat, the reality is that you’re not alone. It seems like everyone is looking for a good quality, higher-weight-harness convertible that will keep their child happy and comfortably seated in the rear-facing position while still allowing the front seat driver and/or passenger to be safe and comfortable too. Because you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your comfort or safety just to accommodate junior, who is riding rear-facing behind you!
Tall people problems
As a mom and a Child Passenger Safety Technician-Instructor, I know space issues play a role for many parents in their decision to turn their child forward-facing. Hopefully, this blog can help by giving parents some useful info on which rear-facing convertible seats take up the least amount of room so you can keep your child rear-facing longer.
Before we go any further, I must stress that every vehicle is different and our measurements may not translate exactly to your vehicle. For example, if you are installing in a center seating position or have a larger vehicle, you may have plenty of room – even for the space hogs on this list. Since there are too many variables from vehicle to vehicle and even from one seating position to the next within the same vehicle, I can’t and won’t tell you that seat X or Y is going to be the best choice for your child in your vehicle. However, I can tell you that seat X takes up 3″ less room when rear-facing than seat Y when installed properly in the same seating position. The rest of the factors (specs, features, price, etc.) are going to be up to you to take into account. Because even though size matters, it’s not the only thing that matters!
For this project, I chose convertibles that are either on our list of Recommended Seats or just popular higher-weight models. I did not include small convertible seats like the Cosco Scenera Next or Evenflo Tribute because I know that most of our readers are looking for seats that can be used for extended rear-facing. The Scenera Next and the Tribute are great compact little convertibles that don’t take up much room when rear-facing and they are fairly narrow, too. That’s a huge bonus in compact cars. The trade-off is that they are only rated to 40 lbs. and won’t fit many kids past age 3.
Britax Emblem Rear-Facing in Toyota Prius
While this list does include many current convertible models, it is NOT intended to be an all-inclusive list. I was limited to what I had available or had access to during the project period. More models may be added in the future.
Seats have been given letter grades for simplicity. This “Space Grade” relates only to the amount of room that the seat takes up when rear-facing as compared with the other seats on this list. Keep in mind that even seats with an “A” rating aren’t guaranteed to fit rear-facing or install properly in the back seat of your vehicle but they’re a good place to start if you’re on a quest to find a rear-facing convertible or All-in-One that doesn’t take up a lot of room. By the same token, just because a seat has a “C” rating doesn’t mean it won’t fit well rear-facing in a smaller vehicle. There are just so many variables in each specific situation that you really never know for sure until you try it.
The fine print – My installation method for each seat was pretty basic. I didn’t use any tricks to try to get the seats more upright or anything like that. I used the lower LATCH anchors for each install (with the exception of the Britax Boulevard ClickTight) just to be consistent, and because it was easier in most cases. Each seat was installed properly and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. In most cases, I didn’t need any pool noodles to increase the recline angle – but there were a few exceptions. Normally, I like to get behind the rear-facing convertible and use my hips or mid-section to compress the seat down and into the vehicle seat cushion, leaving both hands free to tighten the seatbelt or latch strap. However, I couldn’t do that with these installs because that would have required moving the front seat forward to get my body back there, and that wasn’t an option. The front passenger seat stayed in its precise position throughout the project period. I set the front passenger’s seat in a fixed position and it was reclined to a point where an adult could sit comfortably. I didn’t want the front seat to be too upright because that wouldn’t be realistic. Then, in each case, I measured the distance between the convertible and the point on the back of the front passenger seat or head restraint that was likely to make first contact. That “contact point” varied depending on the height and contour of the car seat. So, this means that these measurements can, and probably will, vary in different vehicles based on the contours of your front seat and the geometry of the head restraints in your vehicle.
In other words – your mileage may vary!
In cases where the convertible had a height-adjustable headrest (HR), I took separate measurements with the HR flush with the shell and also with the HR extended to the maximum rear-facing height allowed. If the convertible allowed more than one recline position on the base to be used for rear-facing, I installed the seat using the different recline positions as long as it installed within the acceptable recline angle range on the angle indicator.
Okay, enough rambling… this is what you’re here for! Below is a table comparing the various convertibles and listing their respective SPACE GRADES. Again, just to be very clear, this grade is based on the amount of space gained in relation to the most space-consuming convertible I tested – which happened to be the Diono Radian without the optional angle adjuster accessory.
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2020
*Tip: when viewing on your phone – turn it sideways to see all 4 columns.
| Convertible Carseat Model (Details) | Space Grade | Space Gained | RF Weight Max | RF Height Limits & Interior Height Measurement |
| Britax Boulevard ClickTight (More upright angle; HR fully extended) | A | +5″ to +6″ | 40 lbs. | 1″ rule with HR fully extended; 28.5″ tall |
| Britax Emblem | A | +5″ | 40 lbs. | 1” rule with HR fully extended; 25.5” tall |
| Chicco NextFit Zip (More upright angle; HR fully extended) | A | +5″ | 40 lbs. | Child height 43″ max and 1” rule with HR fully extended; 26” tall |
| Diono Radian 3R *with* optional Angle Adjuster (sold separately) | A | +5″ | 50 lbs. | Child height 44″ max and 1.5″ rule from top of shell; 25″ tall |
| Graco Extend2Fit (HR flush with shell; No leg rest extension) | A | +4.5″ to +5.5″ | 50 lbs. | 1” rule from headrest adjustment lever when HR fully extended; 27.5” tall |
| Graco Size4Me (HR flush with shell) | A | +5″ | 40 lbs. | 1” rule from headrest adjustment lever when HR fully extended; 27.5” tall |
| Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible (HR flush with shell) | A | +5″ | 45 lbs. | 1” rule with HR in max RF ht position (7th notch); 24” tall |
| Evenflo Triumph | A- | +4.5″ | 40 lbs. | Child height 37″ max; 1” from top of shell; 23” tall |
| Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible (HR extended to max RF height position) | A- | +4.5″ | 45 lbs. | 1” rule with HR in max RF ht position (7th notch); 24” tall |
| Safety 1st Guide 65 (Most upright recline angle, HR fully extended) | A- | +4.5″ | 40 lbs. | Child height 40” max; 24.5” with HR fully extended |
| Evenflo Symphony All-in-One (HR extended to max RF height position) | B+ | +4″ | 40 lbs. | Child height 40″ max; 1” rule with HR in 2nd height setting; 23” tall |
| Graco 4Ever All-in-One (More reclined, HR flush with shell and more upright HR fully extended) | B+ | +4″ | 40 lbs. | 1” rule from headrest adjustment lever when HR fully extended; 27.5” tall |
| Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit All-in-One (More upright, HR flush with shell, no legrest extension) | B+ | +4″ | 50 lbs. | 1” rule from headrest adjustment lever when HR fully extended; 27.5” tall |
| Graco Milestone All-in-One & Graco Landmark All-in-One (More upright angle; HR fully extended) | B+ | +4″ | 40 lbs. | 1” rule from headrest adjustment lever when HR fully extended; 27.5” tall |
| Graco Contender & Graco Admiral (HR flush with shell) | B | +3.75 | 40 lbs. | 1” rule from headrest adjustment lever when HR fully extended; 27.5” tall |
| Chicco NextFit Zip (Max recline angle; HR flush with shell) | B | +3.5 | 40 lbs. | Child height 43″ max and 1” rule with HR fully extended; 26” tall |
| Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit All-in-One (Max recline angle; HR flush with shell AND more upright; HR fully extended; legrest extended 1 notch) | B | +3.5 | 50 lbs. | 1” rule from headrest adjustment lever when HR fully extended; 27.5” tall |
| Graco Milestone All-in-One & Graco Landmark All-in-One (Max recline angle; HR flush with shell) | B | +3.5 | 40 lbs. | 1” rule from headrest adjustment lever when HR fully extended; 27.5” tall |
| Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 (Max recline angle; HR flush with shell) | B | +3.5″ | 40 lbs. | Child height 40” max; 25” with HR fully extended |
| Safety 1st Guide 65 (Max recline angle, HR flush with shell) | B | +3.5″ | 40 lbs. | Child height 40” max; 24.5” with HR fully extended |
| Safety 1st Go & Grow (Very upright angle for children who can sit up unassisted, HR fully extended) | B | +3.5″ | 40 lbs. | Child height 40” max; 27” with HR fully extended |
| Clek Fllo (without optional anti-rebound bar) | B | +3.25″ | 50 lbs. | Child ht 43” max and 1” rule from top of HR when fully extended; 26.5” tall |
| Britax Boulevard ClickTight (Max recline angle, HR flush with shell) | B- | +3″ | 40 lbs. | 1″ rule with HR fully extended; 28.5″ tall |
| Clek Foonf (with required anti-rebound bar) | C+ | +2.5″ | 50 lbs. | Child ht 43” max and 1” rule from top of HR when fully extended; 26.5” tall |
| Evenflo Sonus & Sonus 65 | C+ | +2.5″ | 40 lbs. | Child height 40” max and 1” rule; 25” tall |
| Evenflo Stratos | C+ | +2.5″ | 40 lbs. | Child height 40” max and 1” rule; 25” tall |
| Evenflo SureRide | C+ | +2.5″ | 40 lbs. | Child height 40” max and 1” rule; 25” tall |
| Safety 1st Grow and Go (Moderate recline angle for children who can sit up unassisted; HR fully extended) | C | +2″ | 40 lbs. | Child height 40” max; 27” with HR fully extended |
| Clek Fllo (with optional anti-rebound bar) | C- | +1.5″ | 50 lbs. | Child ht 43” max and 1” rule from top of HR when fully extended; 26.5” tall |
| Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit (max upright; HR fully extended; leg rest fully extended) | C- | +1.5″ | 50 lbs. | 1” rule from headrest adjustment lever when HR fully extended; 27.5” tall |
| Graco Extend2Fit (More upright; HR fully extended; legrest fully extended) | C- | +1.5″ | 50 lbs. | 1” rule from headrest adjustment lever when HR fully extended; 27.5” tall |
| Graco Size4Me (HR fully extended) | C- | +1.5″ | 40 lbs. | 1” rule from headrest adjustment lever when HR fully extended; 27.5” tall |
| Graco Contender & Graco Admiral (HR fully extended) | C- | +1.25″ | 40 lbs. | 1” rule from headrest adjustment lever when HR fully extended; 27.5” tall |
| Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit All-in-One (more upright; HR fully extended; legrest fully extended) | C- | +1″ | 50 lbs. | 1” rule from headrest adjustment lever when HR fully extended; 27.5” tall |
| Safety 1st Grow and Go (Max recline for babies who can’t sit up unassisted yet, HR flush with shell) | D | +0.5″ | 40 lbs. | Child height 40” max; 27” with HR fully extended |
| Diono Radian 3R | D | +0″ | 50 lbs. | Child height 44” or less and 1.5” rule from top shell; 25” |
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Interior Height Measurement refers to the measurement of the car seat from the bottom of the seated area to the top of the restraint in its maximum rear-facing height position. The overall “Child Height”, or standing height limit is also noted for seats that list one in their owner’s manual. The “1 Inch Rule” also applies to some carseats. In these cases, the child has outgrown the seat by height when there is only 1″ of shell or adjustable head support structure above the child’s head (this varies from seat to seat so check the notes in the chart above).
Breakdown of each carseat model tested with additional details:
Britax Boulevard ClickTight (results also apply to Marathon ClickTight & Advocate ClickTight)
Specs: RF 5-40 lbs.; RF height limit 1″ rule from top of headrest when fully extended; RF seated height 29″; FF 20-65 lbs. or up to 49″ tall.
Space Grade: A (when installed at a more upright recline angle)
Space Gained +5″ to +6″ depending on recline angle for toddlers or older kids (the more upright the seat, the more space is gained)
Space Grade: B- (when installed at a more reclined angle appropriate for a newborn or young baby)
Space Gained +3″
Notes: Any of the 7 recline positions on base may be used to achieve an appropriate RF recline angle as per the angle indicator. These options create more potential for finding a suitable recline angle and taking up less space. Britax Boulevard CT review here & Marathon CT review here.
Britax Emblem (results also apply to Britax Allegiance model)
Specs: RF 5-40 lbs.; RF height limit: 1″ rule from top of headrest when fully extended; RF seated height 25.5″; FF 20-65 lbs or up to 49″ tall.
Space Grade: A
Space Gained +5″
Notes: Only 1 recline position (#3) allowed for rear-facing installation. Recline may be increased, if necessary, by using a pool noodle or tightly rolled towel under base.
Chicco NextFit Zip (results also apply to NextFit Sport model)
Specs: RF 5-40 lbs.; RF height limit: 1″ from top of headrest when fully extended and child height 43″ or less; RF seated height 26″ tall; FF 22-65 lbs. or up to 49″ tall. NextFit Sport model omits the newborn insert and is therefore rated from 12-40 lbs. rear-facing.
Space Grade: A- (when installed at a more upright recline angle with headrest fully extended)
Space Gained +4.5″
Space Grade: B (when installed at a more reclined angle appropriate for a newborn; headrest flush with shell)
Space Gained +3.5″
Notes: Any of the 9 recline positions on base may be used to achieve an appropriate RF recline angle as per the angle indicator. These options create more potential for finding a suitable recline angle and taking up less space. Chicco NextFit Review Here.
Specs: RF 14-50 lbs.; RF height limit: 1″ from top of headrest when fully extended and child height 43″ or less; RF seated height 26.5″ tall; FF 20-65 lbs or up to 49″ tall.
Space Grade without Anti-Rebound Bar: B (same grade with headrest flush or with headrest fully extended)
Space Gained +3.25″
Space Grade with Anti-Rebound Bar: C- (same grade with headrest flush or with headrest fully extended)
Space Gained +1.5″
Notes: Single recline position for rear-facing installation. Anti-rebound bar is optional. Recline may be increased, if necessary, by using a tightly rolled towel (pool noodles are prohibited) under base. Clek Fllo Review Here.
Specs: RF 14-50 lbs.; RF height limit: 1″ from top of headrest when fully extended and child height 43″ or less; RF seated height 26.5″ tall; FF 20-65 lbs or up to 49″ tall.
Space Grade: C+ (same grade with headrest flush or with headrest fully extended)
Space Gained +2.5″
Notes: Single recline position (position #3) for rear-facing installation. Must use rear-facing base and anti-rebound bar for rear-facing installations. Recline may be increased, if necessary, by using a pool noodle or tightly rolled towel under base. Clek Foonf Review Here.
Diono Radian 3R (results also apply to Radian 3RX & 3RXT models)
Specs: RF 5-50 lbs.; RF height limit: 1.5″ from top of shell and child height 44″ or less; RF seated height 25″; FF 20-65 lbs. or up to 49″ tall.
Space Grade with angle adjuster (sold separately): A
Space Gained +5″
Space Grade without angle adjuster accessory: D
Space Gained +0″
Notes: The only way to adjust the rear-facing recline angle is with the optional angle adjuster (foam block) which is sold separately. The Radian installs very upright with the Angle Adjuster accessory. Angle adjuster allowed only if the child has complete head control and can sit up unassisted. Without the angle adjuster, the Radian takes up more room than any other seat in this comparison. Diono Radian RXT Review Here.
Specs: RF 5-40 lbs; 19-37″ tall; RF seated height 23″; FF 22-65 lbs. or up to 49″ tall.
Space Grade: A-
Space Gained +4.5″
Notes: Only 1 recline position (#1) allowed for rear-facing installation. Recline may be increased, if necessary, by using a pool noodle or tightly rolled towel under base. Triumph Review Here.
Specs: RF 5-40 lbs.; 19 – 37″ tall and 1″ from top of headrest in second height setting; RF seated height 23″ tall; FF 22-65 lbs. or up to 49″ tall.
Space Grade: B+
Space Gained +4″
Notes: 2 lowest headrest height positions may be used for RF. Only 1 recline position (#1) allowed for rear-facing installation. Recline may be increased, if necessary, by using a pool noodle or tightly rolled towel under base. Evenflo Symphony Review Here.
Specs: RF 5-40 lbs.; RF height limit: 1″ from top of shell and child height 40″ or less; RF seated height 25″ tall; Sonus FF 22-50 lbs.; Sonus 65 FF 22-65 lbs. or up to 54″ tall.
Space Grade: C+
Space Gained +2.5″
Notes: Sonus has single position recline stand for rear-facing installation. Sonus 65 has dual position recline stand. If necessary, recline may be increased further by using a tightly rolled towel under recline stand.
Specs: RF 5-40 lbs.; RF height limit 1″ rule from top of shell and child height 40″ or less; RF seated height 25″ tall; FF 22-65 lbs. or up to 54″ tall.
Space Grade: C+
Space Gained +2.5″
Notes: Stratos has dual-position recline stand. If necessary, recline can be increased further by using a tightly rolled towel under recline stand.
Evenflo SureRide (results apply to Titan 65)
Specs: RF 5-40 lbs.; RF height limit 1″ rule from top of shell and child height 40″ or less; RF seated height 25″ tall; FF 22-65 lbs or up to 54″ tall.
Space Grade: C+
Space Gained +2.5″
Notes: Single position for rear-facing installation. Recline may be increased, if necessary, by using a tightly rolled towel under recline leg (pool noodle won’t work in this case). Results also apply to Evenflo Titan 65. Full SureRide review here.
Specs: RF 4-40 lbs.; RF height limit 1″ rule from bottom of plastic headrest adjustment lever when headrest fully extended; RF max seated height 27.5″ tall; FF 22-65 lbs. or up to 49″ tall.
Space Grade: B (when installed more reclined with headrest flush with main shell)
Space Gained +3.5″
Space Grade: B+ (when installed more upright with headrest fully extended)
Space Gained +4″
Notes: Recline positions 1, 2 or 3 on base may be used to achieve an appropriate RF recline angle as per the angle indicator. These options create more potential for finding an appropriate recline for your baby or older RF child. Full Graco 4Ever Review Here.
Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit All-in-One
Specs: RF 4-50 lbs.; RF height limit 1″ rule from bottom of plastic headrest adjustment lever when headrest fully extended; RF max seated height 27.5″ tall; FF 22-65 lbs. or up to 49″ tall.
Space Grade: B (when installed with no legrest extension; head rest flush with shell; using max recline position #1 on base OR when installed with legrest extended 1 notch in recline position #2 which is more upright); Space gained +3.5″
Space Grade: B+ (when installed with no legrest extension; head rest flush with shell; using recline position #2 on base); Space gained +4″
Space Grade: C- (when installed with max legrest extension; head rest fully extended; using recline position #3 or #2 on base); Space gained +1″ to +1.5″
Notes: You may use base positions 1, 2, 3 or 4 to achieve an appropriate RF recline angle as per the angle indicator. These options create more potential for finding a suitable recline angle and taking up less space. Once you start using the legrest extension feature, the seat definitely takes up more room. I lost about 2.5″ of space in my vehicle when I extended the leg rest – even though I was making the seat more upright at the same time. See Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit: Rear-Facing Space Comparison article for additional details and pictures.
Specs: RF 5-40 lbs.; RF height limit 1″ rule from bottom of plastic headrest adjustment lever when headrest fully extended; RF max seated height 27.5″ tall; FF 22-65 lbs. or up to 49″ tall.
Space Grade: B (when installed more reclined with headrest flush with main shell)
Space Gained +3.5″
Space Grade: B+ (when installed more upright with headrest fully extended)
Space Gained +4″
Notes: Recline positions 1 or 2 on base may be used to achieve an appropriate RF recline angle as per the angle indicator. These options create more potential for finding an appropriate recline for your baby or older RF child. Full Graco Milestone Review Here.
Specs: RF 5-40 lbs.; RF height limit 1″ rule from bottom of plastic headrest adjustment lever when headrest fully extended; RF max seated height 27.5″ tall; FF 22-65 lbs or up to 52″ tall.
Space Grade: B (when installed with headrest flush with main shell)
Space Gained +3.75″
Space Grade: C- (when installed with headrest fully extended)
Space Gained +1.25″
Notes: Only 1 base position (#1) allowed for rear-facing installation. Recline may be increased, if necessary, by using a pool noodle or tightly rolled towel under base. Full Graco Contender Review Here.
Specs: RF 4-50 lbs.; RF height limit 1″ rule from bottom of plastic headrest adjustment lever when headrest fully extended; RF max seated height 27.5″ tall; FF 22-65 lbs or up to 49″ tall.
Space Grade: A (when installed with no leg rest extension; head rest flush with shell; using recline position #1 or #2 on base)
Space Gained +4.5″ to +5.5″
Space Grade: C- (when installed with max leg rest extension; using recline position #3 or #4 on base)
Space Gained +1.5″
Notes: You may use base positions 1, 2, 3 or 4 to achieve an appropriate RF recline angle as per the angle indicator. These options create more potential for finding a suitable recline angle and taking up less space. Once you start using the leg rest extension, the seat definitely takes up more room. I lost about 3″ of space in my vehicle when I extended the leg rest – even though I was making the seat more upright at the same time. Full Graco Extend2Fit Review Here.
![DSCN5842[1]](https://carseatblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/DSCN58421.jpg)
![DSCN5846[1]](https://carseatblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/DSCN58461.jpg)
Specs: RF 4-40 lbs.; RF height limit 1″ rule from bottom of plastic headrest adjustment lever when headrest fully extended; RF max seated height 27.5″ tall; FF 22-65 lbs or up to 49″ tall.
Space Grade: A (when installed with headrest flush with main shell)
Space Gained +5″
Space Grade: C- (when installed with headrest fully extended)
Space Gained +1.5″
Notes: Only 1 base position (#1) allowed for rear-facing installation. Recline may be increased, if necessary, by using a pool noodle or tightly rolled towel under base. Full Size4Me Review Here.
Specs: RF 14-40 lbs.; RF height limit: Child height 40″ and top of head below top of headrest; RF max seated height 25″ tall; FF 22-85 lbs. or up to 52″ tall.
Space Grade: B (when installed in recline position #3; headrest fully extended)
Space Gained +3.5″
Notes: Recline position #3 (full recline) or #2 (semi-reclined) may be used to achieve an appropriate RF recline angle as per the level-to-ground-line angle indicator. These options create more potential for finding a suitable recline angle and taking up less space. Recline may be increased, if necessary, by using a pool noodle or tightly rolled towel under base. Full Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 Review Here.
Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 5-70
Specs: RF 5-45 lbs.; RF height limit 1″ rule from top of adjustable headrest when extended to 7th height setting; RF max seated height 24″ tall; FF 22-70 lbs or up to 49″ tall.
Space Grade: A (when installed with headrest flush with shell)
Space Gained +5″
Space Grade: A- (when installed with headrest extended to max RF height setting)
Space Gained +4.5″
Notes: Only 1 base position allowed for rear-facing installation. Headrest height positions 1-7 may be used for RF. Positions 8, 9 & 10 are FF only. Recline may be increased, if necessary, by using a pool noodle or tightly rolled towel under base. Full Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible Review Here.
Specs: RF 5-40 lbs.; RF height limit is child height 40″; RF max seated height 27″ tall; FF 22-65 lbs., at least 2 years old, up to 49″ tall.
Space Grade: B (when installed using base position #2 for children who can sit upright unassisted; HR fully extended), Space Gained +3.5″
Space Gained: C (when installed using base position #3 for children who can sit upright unassisted; HR fully extended), Space Gained +2″
Space Grade: D (when installed at recline angle for babies who cannot sit up on their own yet; base position #3 plus pool noodle; HR flush with shell), Space Gained +0.5″
Notes: Even with the base in recline position #3 (most reclined), I still needed to add a pool noodle to achieve the necessary recline angle for a baby who can’t sit up on their own yet. Children who can sit up unassisted (which is most babies over 7 months old) may have the seat positioned more upright using either position #2 or #3 on the base to achieve a recline angle that is consistent with the child’s comfort. These options create more potential for finding a suitable recline angle and taking up less space.
Safety 1st Guide 65 (results also apply to Eddie Bauer XRS)
Specs: RF 5-40 lbs.; RF height limit is child height 40″; RF max seated height 24.5″ tall; FF 22-65 lbs. or up to 49″ tall.
Space Grade: A- (when installed at most upright angle allowed for children over 22 lbs.; HR fully extended)
Space Gained +4.5″
Space Grade: B (when installed at max recline angle for babies under 22 lbs.; HR flush with shell)
Space Gained +3.5″
Notes: Single recline position for rear-facing installations. This carseat has a dual level-line indicator for rear-facing. Babies under 22 lbs. should be positioned at the max recline angle. Children over 22 lbs. who can sit upright unassisted may have the seat positioned more upright as long as the angle is still within the dual line indicator. Even at the most upright angle this seat would have required the use of a pool noodle or thin rolled up towel to achieve an appropriate recline. Several noodles would have been necessary to achieve the maximum reclined needed for babies under 22 lbs.
Conclusion:
There are so many variables that go into every carseat/vehicle compatibility scenario that it’s impossible to accurately predict which seat is going to be the “best” convertible for rear-facing *your* child in *your* vehicle. The complexity of the situation is amplified by the plethora of options and features available on various convertibles. Still, it was our intention here at CarseatBlog to put together a comprehensive comparison that would serve as a resource for parents and caregivers searching for an extended-use convertible that would keep their rear-facing toddler or older child safe and comfortable without sacrificing the safety and comfort of the driver and/or front seat passenger.
As always, the best advice for any carseat purchase is to “try before you buy”. However, in cases where that isn’t possible then the next best thing is to order from someplace with easy, free returns in case it doesn’t work out. For example, Amazon offers a wide selection of carseats at competitive prices and they offer free shipping AND free returns on all seats that they sell directly.
We hope this info was helpful to you! It was an exhausting but enlightening process for me too!
Check out our other blogs on the subject of rear-facing convertibles:
Best Convertible Carseats for Extended Rear-Facing: the definitive guide for savvy shoppers!
Comparison of Budget-Priced Convertible Carseats under $100
Compare Convertible Carseat Specs, Measurements & Features
See our Extensive List of CarseatBlog Carseat Reviews for additional information!
I have a 2014 Kia Soul. Currently have a 2.5 year old RF on the passenger side just fine in a Britax Boulveard Click Tight.
I am pregnant and need to put the infant in the middle and am looking for the most compact seat. Do the infant bucket seats give the most room over these convertibles at the infant reclines? I’d rather go with a convertible but thinking I may need to wait until after baby can be less reclined if the infant buckets are really smaller. Help!!
Where does the Nuna Rava rank?
did u ever get a response?
Kecia doesn’t have a Rava yet, so she hasn’t been able to measure it. Sorry!
This is unbelievably helpful, however I am still trying to make complete sense of all of this. We have *very* limited space in a 2-door (I know…) Jeep Wrangler. We’re interested in a convertible carseat that will work for an infant–I know this will be a pain, but I don’t think we’ll be able to get an infant car seat in and out of the car anyway. There is really not much space to work with in the car if you want a working (and safe) front passenger seat. I am a little confused about the “space gained” criterion, and then also a little confused about how to read these reviews for being able to use the seat for an infant. Any additional help would be MUCH appreciated!
For really small back seats, you may also consider a few very small convertible seats not mentioned here. These include the Cosco Scenera NEXT and Combi Coccoro. Both tend to fit most full term newborns well and are smaller than any of the extended range convertibles mentioned here. As smaller seats, they are also outgrown sooner than the larger convertibles, but for the smallest cars, sometimes they are the best choices.
Hi Emily, what year is your Wrangler? The bigger issue with the backseat in this vehicle is the very shallow seat depth (only 15″ of seat cushion in the current generation Wrangler). You might not have enough vehicle seat cushion back there to properly install a rear-facing convertible. You need to make certain that there is enough seat cushion to properly support a rear-facing convertible. Some rear-facing convertibles allow a little bit of overhang, some don’t allow any overhang at all. You might actually be better off with an infant seat with a short base length. Good luck!
We are expecting twins and bought a 2017 Rav4 before we found out. My husband likes to sit back in his seat so finding car seats has been a major pain. I researched and picked the Cybex Aton 2 for the infant stage because of its small size and some nice safety features. I am looking to buy a convertible seat (or rather two of them) that will fit best and based on your reviews above was thinking the Maxi Cosi Pria 70 might be best. I know you can’t say for each specific car, but do you think based on spacing alone that this might be a nice option? I saw above that maybe the Chico NextFit would work in a small car? I would like to keep the kiddos rear-facing but want my husband to be comfortable when driving too!
Hi Rachel, the best advice I can give you right now is to wait before purchasing convertible seats. New and improved products are always alround the corner and it’s possible that by the time the twins actually need convertible seats that there will be more or better options available.
Hello, We are getting ready to transition our son out of his infant seat. We have a 2011 Subaru Forrester and are trying to find a seat that will still allow my husband (5’11”) to drive comfortably. The space between car seat and driver seat is pretty tight with the infant seat in the center so I’m concerned about our options for a convertible seat. Ideally we’d like our son in the center, but will move to outer seat if needed. He’s only in the 50th percentile for height/weight, so not going to exceed limits of most seats. We’ve narrowed down between the Britax Boulevard ClickTight and the Graco 4Ever All-in-One. Would appreciate any recommendation/advice. Thanks & Happy Holidays!
Hi Allison, both are excellent choices. I don’t think you can wrong with either one of those seats. If you’re lucky enough to live near a Babies R Us, or BuyBuyBaby (which carry both seats), you can ask to take them out to the parking lot to try them in your vehicle. They will send a store associate with you but they will usually accommodate that request. Good luck! Let us know if you find that one seat is significantly better than the other in your vehicle.
Hi Kecia – I can not reply to your comment for some reason. You asked more about my granddaughter. She was a premie and was failure to thrive but is gaining weight now. She is 13 months old and about 20 lbs but short for her age, I am not sure how short. She does not sit well by herself just yet and she does not crawl or walk. She has Williams Syndrom and so that is quite common for kids with WS her age. I want her rear facing and slightly reclined to make sure she can breathe and is generally safe in case of impact. We have an infant seat right now but it is only up to 22lbs. Even the infant seat nearly touches the back on of the front seat
Hi Suzanne, please send me an email at [email protected]. It will be easier to discuss some possible options by email rather than going through blog posts. Thanks! –Kecia
Thank you for all your hard work! I am trying to choose a rear-facing car seat for my 18 month old who is 1 inch from the top of her Graco Classic Connect 35. We have a second-hand Safety-first convertible seat, but the instruction manual says it has to be at max recline when rear facing. Our car is a Kia Forte, which is pretty small – so max recline does not fit. I am thinking about the Diono Radian because we will probably have more kids and apparently the Radian is one of the only seats that will fit three across in the back seat. However, I looked at the instruction manual for the Radian and it also says that you need max recline for rear facing. My question is the following – in order to allow for extended rear-facing, do I need to disregard the part of the instruction manual that stipulates max recline? If so, will the lack of recline make the seat less safe? Thanks again.
Is the Max Cosi 65 comparable to the 75 or 80? My kiddos are little and I figure I may as well save some money and just get the 65.
Hello,
Have greatly appreciated all the information on your website! First time mom with baby due late November. Looking to skip over an infant car seat and go right to a convertible. I drive a 2013 Honda Fit and am looking for a seat that will allow me to rear face as long as possible. Was at BBB today and tried to fit a Britax Marathon (I believe…it was the cow print) and that didn’t seem to fit at all…and also the Pria 85 and Graco 4Ever All in One. After more research found out we would need the Pria 70 Tiny fit but that seemed to have so many parts to it…and the Graco 4Ever seems to have issues with rattling/children getting hot in it. I’m just confused and looking for any insight into whether there is a better option we didn’t try (another Britax perhaps?) or maybe that I’m just finding all the really critical reviews. Help 😉
I have a Honda FIt too and there was a person above who said the Chicco next fit worked
I went with the Graco extend 2 fit and it actually fit well. I can comfortably sit in the front seat.
or would the Diono Radian or Rainier be a better option?
Laura – after checking out some pics of the backseat of a 2015 Fit here are my thoughts…
Center install is going to be problematic and you might wind up needing to put the carseat behind the passenger (or the driver). The width of that center seating position seems very narrow and you need to fit the carseat between the seatbelt anchors. If the beltpath on the carseat is wider than the spacing for the seatbelt you won’t be able to achieve a proper (tight) installation. Also, the seatbelt for the rear center seating position must come from the ceiling and be detachable because I don’t see the center seatbelt in ANY picture that I can find online. Those from-the-ceiling center seatbelts also make it really difficult to achieve a solid installation. Based on this information my top recommendations are:
1. Britax Boulevard ClickTight or Marathon ClickTight (we prefer the better SIP on the Blvd model)
2. Chicco NextFit or NextFit Zip
I don’t know that either one will fit width-wise in the center but if they do, you have a better chance of getting a proper installation because of the built-in lockoff devices (the ClickTight mechanism is also a lockoff). Plus both of those seats allow multiple recline positions on the base to be used RF. These options create more potential for finding a suitable recline angle and also taking up less space. Try each of these seats in both the center and the outboard seating position. Hopefully one or both will get the job done! Good luck and let me know how you make out.
We ended up getting the Chicco NextFit and decided to put it behind the passenger seat. The middle really is small, so we didn’t even bother trying it there. It fits very nicely behind the passenger. They still have loads of leg room. We can push the passenger seat all the way back and it still doesn’t touch the carseat! Very happy with our choice. Thank you so much for all your help and advice 🙂
Oh this was incredibly helpful!!! I have a 2015 Honda Fit 4 door and was wondering what to use. The cost of the seats it was scares me the most. It is for my granddaughter and she is well worth it – but I only have her one day a week – to take her to church and back. She is now 20 lbs and 13 months and she has dome developmental issues that make me want to keep her rear facing as much as possible. Kecia – is there a different seat you can recommend that would work for the FIT that may only go up to 40 lbs?
Hi Suzanne – can you be more specific about her developmental issues? I don’t like making general recommendations about seats without knowing important details. Does she crawl or walk? How is her muscle tone? Does she have difficulty sitting upright without support? Once I know more I should be able to guide you to some good options for fitting in your vehicle.
Hi Kecia – I can not reply to your comment for some reason. You asked more about my granddaughter. She was a premie and was failure to thrive. She is 13 months old and about 20 lbs but short for her age, I am not sure how short. She does not sit well by herself just yet and she does not crawl or walk. She has Williams Syndrom and that is quite common for her age. I want her rear facing and reclined to make sure she can breathe and is generally safe in case of impact. We have an infant seat right now but it is only up to 22lbs.
Your website is incredibly helpful, but there is just so much! lol. Every time I think I’ve made a decision on a carseat I find more information that makes me rethink my choice. Any advice or suggestions you can give me what be really appreciated. I currently drive a Honda Fit and want to rear face as long as possible. My daughter is 14 months, 22lbs and 30 inches. What carseat would you recommend?
Hi Laura – since your daughter’s height and weight are average there are plenty of seats that she will fit in rear-facing for a long, long time. What’s your budget? Are you planning to install the seat in the center with seatbelt or are you planning to put it outboard where you can take advantage of the lower LATCH anchors? Will you be moving the seat to other vehicles frequently or is it going to stay put once it’s installed?
I’d prefer to have her in the middle seat, happy to use a seat belt. I’m pretty sure we have the ability to latch from the middle seat in our car. My main concern was which car seat would be too big for our tiny car. The honda fit is really quite small. The car seat will be permanent in our car, the likelihood of it being move is very very low. We’d like to spend no more then $300, but are willing to spend a little more for the right seat.
Hi again, if you put the carseat in the center you will need to install with seatbelt. Honda does not allow LATCH installation in the center because the spacing between the lower LATCH anchor bars isn’t the standard 280mm spacing. There is a tether anchor for that center position but no lower anchors. Eventually when she is forward-facing, if the carseat is still in the center you will install using seatbelt plus the top tether anchor.
The key right now it to find a carseat that installs more upright AND is hopefully narrow enough to fit in between the 2 front seats. What year is your Fit? Once I know that, I can look up pictures of your backseat and hopefully make some specific recommendations based on what I see.
it is a 2015. would the chicco nextfit zip be a good option? we currently have the keyfit 30 and love it
Will you be updating this anytime soon to show how the Extend2Fit measures up?
The Graco Extend2Fit was added in our most recent update. 🙂
Big thank you from Canada! This guide has been really helpful to me. Even though several of the models are not available in Canada, it has helped me narrow down my choice.
Hi Dawn, the Pria still did well (it got a “B” rating for space) when it was installed more reclined so the line was level. When this seat is installed with the line level to the ground, it takes up more room front-to-back than when it’s installed more upright but the child has more legroom this way. In general, with most convertible seats, you lose legroom space when you make the seat more upright. It’s a tradeoff. Luckily for you, you have a spacious back seat so you probably have enough room for any rear-facing carseat. Even the ones that are space hogs. If you like the Pria, go for it! Just keep the receipt and the box until you know for sure that it’s going to work out for you. Good luck!