Best Car Seat Buyer’s Guides: The Top 10 Best Car Seats for Small Cars

A small car seat doesn’t have to be an ineffective one. In fact, there are plenty of well-designed compact car seats made to fit in small cars.

If you have limited space in your vehicle for a car seat, you might have a hard time determining the best car seats for small cars.

Having a small car can make buying a car seat difficult, especially when you add more than one child to the picture. However, there are plenty of compact, lightweight car seats designed to fit in small cars.

In fact, some car seats are so small you can fit up to three side-by-side. Continue reading this guide to learn the top 10 best car seats for small cars.

Product	Image	Rating	Check Price
Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat	[amazon fields=”B01N3MYVZM” value=”thumb” image_size=”large”]		[amazon fields=”B01N3MYVZM” value=”button”]
Diono Radian RXT All-in-One Convertible Car Seat	[amazon fields=”B076PS61XS” value=”thumb” image_size=”large”]		[amazon fields=”B076PS61XS” value=”button”]
Clek Foonf Rigid Latch Convertible Baby and Toddler Car Seat	Image via Amazon [amazon fields=”B01MQTOH0T” value=”thumb” image_size=”large”] Image via Amazon		[amazon fields=”B01MQTOH0T” value=”button”]
Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat	[amazon fields=”B00MS9VTG0″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large”] Image via Amazon		[amazon fields=”B00MS9VTG0″ value=”button”]
Nuna RAVA Toddler Car Seat	Image via Amazon
Britax Boulevard ClickTight Convertible Car Seat	[amazon fields=”B013YCWASA” value=”thumb” image_size=”large”] Image via Amazon		[amazon fields=”B013YCWASA” value=”button”]
Diono Rainier 2AX Convertible Car Seat	Image via Amazon		[amazon fields=”B07DWBS8Q5″ value=”button”]
Evenflo Sonus Convertible Car Seat	[amazon fields=”B01N7T4LM4″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large”] Image via Amazon		[amazon fields=”B01N7T4LM4″ value=”button”]
Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat	Image via Amazon		[amazon fields=”B079PM11WW” value=”button”]
Combi Coccoro Convertible Car Seat	Image via Amazon		[amazon fields=”B01KMMRBXO” value=”button”]

How We Reviewed the Best Car Seats for Small Cars

Since there are many circumstances that will determine what you need in a car seat, we conducted this review by choosing the best car seat for every occasion.

All the car seats we’ve picked for this guide were thoroughly researched and selected for their quality and convenience when fitting in a small car.

Overall Price Range

The car seats in this guide range from $79.99 to $469.99. On average, you should expect to pay between $150 and $250 for a quality car seat

The Top 10 Best Car Seats for Small Cars

Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat

[amazon box=”B01N3MYVZM”]

The Graco SlimFit, one of the best car seats for small cars, is an all-in-one car seat and booster designed with a small car in mind. It is 19.88 inches wide, so it doesn’t take up a lot of space.

If your child is riding in the back alone, then you can have the included cup holders open for him or her to use. However, if someone else is sitting in the back too, you can turn the cup holder to create 10% more space.  

Pros

• Well-insulated
• Comfortable
• Removable cup holders
• Under $200
• All-in-one design

Cons

• Only safe for rear-facing up to 40 pounds
• LATCH system is not considered as safe as using your car’s seatbelt

JDiono Radian RXT All-in-One Convertible Car Seat

[amazon box=”B076PS61XS”]

At only 17 inches wide, this car seat is very compact and will fit even the smallest of cars. The Diono Radian RXT is an all-in-one car seat that will be comfortable for children of all sizes.

This car seat will also keep your child safe with its aluminum supported headrest and EPS energy-absorbing foam. This car seat comes with a cup holder, but you can easily take it off.

Pros

• 12-position headrest
• Good car seat for tall and heavy children
• Only 17 inches wide
• Removable cup holder
• Safe and well-insulated
• All-in-one design

Cons

• Expensive model
• The Diono Rainier is only $10 more and has better support with a higher weight capacity

Clek Foonf Rigid Latch Convertible Baby and Toddler Car Seat

[amazon box=”B01MQTOH0T”]

The Clek Foonf, one of the best car seats for small cars, is a very narrow car seat at only 16.9 inches. It comes with a rebound bar for added safety that you can remove if you need the extra space.

There are other great safety features such as a REACT safety system that helps protect your child in a frontal collision and deep side wings and headrest for side-impact protection.

Plus, this car seat does not contain harmful brominated or chlorinated flame retardants.

Pros

• Only 16.9 inches wide
• Removable rebound bar
• REACT safety system
• Made out of healthy, eco-friendly materials

Cons

• Unless you buy a separate attachment, the minimum weight is 14 pounds, so newborns will not fit in this car seat
• Very expensive model
• Uses LATCH system

Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat

[amazon box=”B00MS9VTG0″]

This Chicco car seat is considered one of the best infant car seats you can get. It is full of great safety features like EPS foam for insulation.

There are also plenty of convenience features like a one-pull harness for securing your baby, a spring-loaded leveling foot for easy installation and a SuperCinch Tightener for easily securing the base to your car.

Chicco packs all these great features into a thin package so that it will fit well in your small car.

Pros

• Tons of great safety and convenience features
• Very thin car seat at 17 inches
• Can be removed from base and used with stroller
• Affordable price
• •High ratings

Cons

• Only for infants
• Very heavy car seat
• Uses LATCH system

Nuna RAVA Toddler Car Seat

Image via nunababy.com

With a price tag of $449.95, the Nuna RAVA, one of the best car seats for small cars, is definitely not for everyone. This convertible car seat is designed to give your infant or toddler the ultimate comfort and security as when traveling with you.

This car seat is larger than some of the other choices on this guide, but at 19 inches wide, it will still fit well in most small or compact cars. You’ll love how easy it is to put your child into this car seat, and won’t put up a fight when you tighten the strap.

Pros

• Premium car seat that is extremely comfortable and safe
• Uses installing system that makes it easy to secure the car seat with the car’s seat belt

Cons

• Very expensive
• Only fits rear-facing children up to 40 pounds

Britax Boulevard ClickTight

[amazon box=”B013YCWASA”]

The Britax Boulevard , one of the best car seats for small cars, is a convertible car seat that uses Britax’s patented ClickTight technology for easily installing the car seat with your car’s seatbelt. It is only 18.5 inches wide, so it works well in small cars.

You can easily adjust the headrest and harness to fit your child’s height by just pushing the button. When the harness is tight enough for your child, the harness will make an audible click.

Pros

• ClickTight technology
• Harness makes audible click to let parents know it’s tight enough
• Extremely safe design

Cons

• Expensive model
• Only fits rear-facing children up to 40 pounds

Diono Rainier 2AX Convertible Car Seat

Image via Amazon

[amazon box=”B076PTFFSH”]

The Diono Rainier is very similar to the Diono Radian but has extra support and a higher weight limit.

The base of this car seat is 17 inches across, but the new extra deep energy-absorbing foam sidewalls on this car seat make the top portion 18.5 inches wide.

For only $10 more, it seems worth it to get the Rainier model since it provides extra protection for your child.

Pros

• Extended rear-facing
• Very comfortable and safe
• Very thin car seat

Cons

• Uses the LATCH system

Evenflo Sonus Convertible Car Seat

[amazon box=”B01N7T4LM4″]

If you want a narrow car seat that won’t break the bank, the Evenflo Sonus is a great pick for you. This bare-bones car seat is 19.25 inches wide and will easily fit in your small car.

It is a convertible car seat that can accommodate children up to 50 pounds. Evenflo is known for being the leader in safety when it comes to car seats, and this car seat is no different. For such a low price, this car seat is a decent pick.

Pros

• Very affordable
• Exceeds the Federal Crash Test Standard

Cons

• Can only accommodate children up to 50 pounds
• Wider car seat choice
• Not convenient to adjust

Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat

[amazon box=”B079PM11WW”]

The Graco Extend 2Fit, one of the best car seats for small cars, is a popular convertible car seat that is only 19.2 inches wide. This car seat is a good choice if you plan to keep your toddler rear-facing for as long as possible.

In a small car with limited space, it can be hard to find a car seat that will fit well while keeping your child comfortable in a rear-facing position. This car allows you to adjust and extend the car seat’s legroom according to your child’s size.

Pros

• Affordable price
• Allows for extended rear-facing
• Easy to adjust

Cons

• Uses LATCH system
• Wider car seat choice

Combi Coccoro Convertible Car Seat

[amazon box=”B01KMMRBXO”]

The Combi Coccoro is a convertible car seat that is very lightweight. It is not suitable for older children or even heavier and taller toddlers since it has a 33-pound weight limit in the rear-facing position and a 40-pound weight limit in the front-facing position.

This car seat is one of the absolute narrowest car seats you can find. It is only 15.5 inches wide, so it will take up barely any room in your car. You can probably fit three side-by-side, even in a small car like yours.

This car seat is very well cushioned and will be very comfortable for your child. It is also designed with deep side-walls to keep your child protected in a crash.

Pros

• The thinnest car seat in this guide
• Very comfortable and safe
• Visual indicator lets you know if the harness is secure

Cons

• Very low weight limit
• Uses LATCH system

Comparison Table

Model	Graco Slim Fit
Price:	$$$
Car Seat Dimensions:	19.69 pounds
Car Seat Weight	65 pounds
Positions	Rear-facing, front-facing, harness
Weight Limit:	5 pounds to 100 pounds
Warranty	One Year
Rating:
Buy At	Amazon.com
Model	Diono Radian RXT All-in-One Convertible Car Seat
Car Seat Dimensions	16 x 17 x 28.5 inches
Car Seat Weight	27.58 pounds
Positions	Rear-facing, forward-facing, booster​​​​
Dimensions:	22.1 inches long, 19.2 inches wide, 25.2 inches tall
Weight Limit	5 pounds to 120 pounds
Warranty	One Year
Rating:
Buy At	Amazon.com
Model:	Clek Foonf Convertible Car Seat
Price	$$$
Car Seat Dimensions	17.5 x 16.9 x 28 inches
Car Seat Weight	38 pounds
Positions	Rear and front facing
Weight Limit	14 pounds to 65 pounds
Warranty	One Year
Rating
Buy At	Amazon.com
Model	Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat
Price	$$$
Dimensions:	27.5 x 17 x 24 inches
Car Seat Weight	17.15 pounds
Positions	Rear-facing
Weight Limit	4 pounds to 30 pounds
Warranty	One Year
Rating
Buy At	Amazon.com
Model	Nuna RAVA Convertible Car Seat
Price	$$$
Car Seat Dimensions	25 x 19 x 16 inches
Car Seat Weight	27.2 pounds
Positions	Front and rear facing
Weight Limit	5 pounds to 65 pounds
Warranty	One Year
Rating
Buy At	Nuna.eu
Model	$350
PRODUCT NAME	Britax Boulevard ClickTight Convertible Car Seat
Price	$$$
Car Seat Dimensions	23 x 18.5 x 23.5 inches
Car Seat Weight	29.4 pounds
Positions	Front and rear facing
Weight Limit	5 pounds to 65 pounds
Warranty	One Year
Rating
Buy At	Amazon.com
Model	Diono Rainier
Price	$$$
Car Seat Dimensions	16 x 18 x 28.5 inches
Car Seat Weight	29.79 pounds
Positions	Front-facing, rear-facing, booster
Warranty	One Year
Rating
Buy At	Amazon.com
Model	Evenflo Sonus Convertible Car Seat
Price	$$$
Car Seat Dimensions	20 x 19.25 x 28 inches
Car Seat Weight	13 pounds
Positions	Rear and front facing
Warranty	90 days
Rating
Buy At	Amazon.com
Model	Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat
Price	$$$
Car Seat Dimensions	22.1 x 19.2 x 25.2 inches
Car Seat Weight	23.2 pounds
Positions	Front and rear facing
Weight Limit	5 pounds to 65 pounds
Warranty	One year
Rating
Buy At	Amazon.com
Model	Combi Coccoro
Price	$$$
Car Seat Dimensions	17.5 x 15.5 x 28 inches
Car Seat Weight	14.3 pounds
Positions	Rear and front facing
Weight Limit	3 pounds to 40 pounds
Warranty	One year
Rating
Buy At	Amazon.com

Best Car Seats for Small Cars: Product FAQs

Image via publicdomainfiles.com

Why Should You Buy a Car Seat?

A car seat is an absolute necessity for having your child ride in any sized car- even small ones. Every time your child gets in a car, there is a risk of him or her getting injured in an accident.

Children need to be in a quality car seat to keep them safe and alive, no matter what happens.

How Do You Choose the Best Car Seats for a Small Cars?

When choosing a car seat for a small car, you will want to consider the dimensions of the car seat. You will want to pick a car seat that is narrower than 20 inches wide.

Where Can You Buy a Car Seat?

You can buy a car seat from retailers like Walmart or Target or online through vendors like Amazon.

Best Car Seats for Small Cars: Final Verdict

Image via Flickr

As you can see, there are a lot of good options when choosing the best car seats for small cars. If you want our recommendation for the absolute best compact car seat you can get, the Diono Rainier is our pick.

This super thin car seat will grow with your child until the end of his or her car seat days and is fit for children of all sizes.

Your child can be safe in the rear-facing position for as long as possible, and will continue to be safe for years to come in this secure, comfortable car seat.

Featured Image via Flickr