Just a note that we have updated our Ultimate Rear-Facing Convertible Carseat Space Comparsion blog. It’s one of our most popular articles and for good reason! If you are installing a rear-facing convertible behind the driver or passenger, especially in a compact vehicle, you already know why! Not all carseats are created equal. Some take up a lot more room than others and this is a big deal if you are tall or have a small car. In our chart, we assign a “Space Grade.” This is not an overall rating of the carseat, but only a guide to show which models may conserve some legroom for front seat passengers or in other vehicle seating positions with limited space. It is also not an indicator of compatibility for any particular vehicle.
So what is it? It’s a guide to give you an idea of what carseats may be worth trying in small cars or cramped positions. We carefully measured many popular models, including most from our Recommended Carseats list. It’s not all inclusive, but we will add more in the future. New additions include the Clek Foonf, Diono Rainier, Graco 4Ever and Safety 1st Guide 65 among others. We emphasize that our results only apply to our test vehicle. Your vehicle will vary, because of the contour of the seat, different geometry or adjustment of the front vehicle seat and head restraint or simply because installations can vary from one person to the next. So, as always, YMMV! (Your Mileage May Vary)
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Ultimate Rear-Facing Convertible Carseat Space Comparsion
Thanks to Kecia for all her hard work on this project! Measurements are subjective and good comparsions usually mean that one person must do most of the dirty work.