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The Family Fit Factor with Chicco and CarGurus

Chicco Fit3x All-in-One Car Seats with children

From welcoming a new baby to adding a third car seat in the back row, family milestones can quickly change what parents and caregivers need from both their vehicle and their car seats. As those needs evolve, safety ratings, passenger capacity, back seat access, and cargo space take on even more importance, as does ensuring that the car seats a family relies on fit in the vehicle and can be installed securely.

This September during Baby Safety Month, Chicco, a leader in child passenger safety, and CarGurus, an authority on vehicle shopping for all stages of life, are teaming up on The Family Fit Factor to offer free resources, expert guidance, and practical tips to help families navigate vehicle choice, car seat fit, and child passenger safety together.

For growing families, getting that combination right matters. In fact, families with children are nearly twice as likely to cite a lifestyle change - like having kids - as a reason for buying their most recent car compared to households without children.1 But the vehicle is only half of the safety equation. Chicco research found that 52% of parents are juggling multiple car seats in one vehicle, while 23% only occasionally or never check that a seat is properly installed before hitting the road.2 Finding the right fit means considering both, with an eye toward what your family needs today and what comes next.

Finding the right family vehicle goes beyond make, model, and features. It means choosing one that works for your family’s lifestyle and budget today, while accommodating the safety, space, and flexibility to support what comes next.

More than half - 52% - of parents manage multiple car seats in one vehicle

When comparing options, Chicco and CarGurus recommend looking at three kinds of fit:

  • Vehicle Fit: Does the vehicle provide the rear seat space, door access, passenger capacity, visibility, cargo room, and safety features your family needs? Will car seats – especially rear-facing ones – fit in the rear seats while still providing enough room for other passengers in front of or next to them?
  • Car Seat Fit: Can each car seat be installed securely in the intended seating position with enough room for correct use and everyday access? Consider both LATCH and seat belt installation options.
  • Life Stage Fit: Will the vehicle continue to work as your family moves through a new baby, multiple car seats, growing children, road trips, and changing car seat stages?

Families approach vehicle shopping differently than other consumers. While reliability remains a top purchase factor, families are more likely to weigh safety ratings & features, vehicle size, and passenger capacity as their needs change. CarGurus research also found that households with children are more likely to purchase a new vehicle (versus used) or add another vehicle to the household than people without children.1

Households with children are more likely to purchase new vehicles than households without children

When narrowing down the options, CarGurus’ David Undercoffler reminds parents to keep the following in mind:

  • Start with your family, not the vehicle: A vehicle that works for today's routine should also be evaluated alongside the next car seat stage or family milestone. Whether you’re welcoming your first baby or looking to upgrade your vehicle for your growing family, check out CarGurus’ resources on how to select a family car and best cars for new parents.
  • Look beyond the safety rating: Safety ratings are important, but families should consider this in tandem with rear seat space, door openings, second- and third-row accessibility, trunk space, visibility, available safety features, and room for car seats.
  • Map every car seat position: Think through the number and placement of car seats when choosing a vehicle. Review the intended seating positions, available LATCH anchors and seat belt installation options, and the space required for secure installation and daily use. If you’re unsure, check out this car seat comparison guide from Chicco.
  • Test the everyday routine: During the shopping process, open the rear doors to access each row and envision loading and buckling your children. Make sure the vehicle can accommodate strollers and travel gear without making everyday use feel cramped or complicated. This includes installing a car seat in the vehicle, so check out these tips from Chicco on how to install a car seat.
  • Shop the vehicle and car seat together: Don’t treat the vehicle and car seat as separate decisions. Vehicle layout and size can influence which car seat works best, and vice versa, the car seat a family needs can help determine which vehicle is the strongest fit.
  • Plan for multiple car seats: More than half of parents manage multiple car seats in one vehicle.2 For growing families that need to make the most of available back seat space, the Chicco Fit3x Ultra-Slim All-in-One easily fits three across.

As children move from rear-facing to forward-facing seats and eventually boosters, the way a family uses their vehicle changes too. Each stage brings new considerations for seating positions, installation, access and space, especially when multiple children and car seats are part of the mix.

Families are more likely to add an additional vehicle to the household rather than simply replace one

Chicco Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) and dad-of-three Josh Dilts recommends keeping the following in mind as children move through each car seat stage:

  • Let the child and car seat guide each transition: Use the child's age and size together with the car seat manufacturer's guidance to determine when it is time to move from rear-facing to forward-facing, booster, and eventually vehicle seat belt use. Avoid making a change based on a birthday or milestone alone.
  • Reassess before moving to the next mode: Confirm that the child is ready, the next car seat is appropriate, and it can be installed securely in the planned seating position. Each stage may require different space, access, and installation considerations. The Chicco Car Seat Roadmap and Car Seat Comparison Guide can help families identify the right seat for a child’s current stage of development.
  • Check expiration dates before reusing a seat: In order to use an older sibling’s car seat for a new baby, confirm the expiration date to ensure the seat will remain usable.
  • Don’t skip the booster phase: A booster is an important transition between a forward-facing car seat and independent seat belt use. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, car seat usage drops sharply between ages 7 and 8, while the use of seat belts instead of boosters nearly triples between ages 4 and 7.3
  • Make installation checks part of the routine: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that nearly half of car seats are installed incorrectly.4 Revisit the installation, your child’s fit, and the seating plan periodically, not only when a new seat or vehicle is purchased.

When shopping for a vehicle, it is easy to focus primarily on the make, model, price, and safety. CarGurus' guide to selecting a family car can help frame the research. Before narrowing options, Chicco CPST Josh Dilts recommends families ask themselves:

  • How many car seats do I need now, and how many might I need in the next few years?
  • Where will each car seat go?
  • Can each car seat be installed securely in the planned seating positions?
  • Can I easily access the rear seats and reach each child?
  • Is there enough cargo space for strollers, travel gear, and everyday essentials?
  • Will this vehicle still work as my children move through different car seat stages?

The right choice will look different for every family. Rather than simply choosing the largest vehicle, the goal is to find one that makes it easier to properly install and use the right car seats while accommodating the passengers, gear and budget your family needs today with room to adapt for what comes next.

For additional information, watch how vehicle fit and car seat selection come together in “All You Need to Know About Car Seats” on YouTube, and listen to a special episode of The Driveway Podcast hosted by CarGurus’ David Undercoffler featuring Chicco CPST Josh Dilts.

1 In May and June 2025, CarGurus and NIQ Consumer Behavior and Insights surveyed 3,030 U.S. new and used vehicle buyers and sellers, including 2,002 households with children.

2 Conducted in June 2025 on behalf of Chicco, Pollfish obtained a sample of 1,000 U.S. parents with children ages 0-10 living at home.

3 Child restraint statistics are based on U.S. Department of Transportation crash data from 2017-2021 and were analyzed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

4 Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “Consumer Alert: NHTSA Reminds Parents, Caregivers to Find the Right Seat for Their Child,” September 22, 2025.