10 Best SUVs For Car Seats, Subaru Outback Surprises, Ranks Best

The Subaru Outback outshines them all.

I remember when car seats employed the same seat belts in the back seats that were also used for adults. It took all my patience (which I had little) to thread the seat belts through the car seats in various ways, often resulting in swear words. Or I would have to call my wife for her to install them. (Which was most of the time). 

Today, parents can breathe a sigh of relief with the much simpler-to-use LATCH system that Subaru vehicles employ. This system makes securing car seats a breeze, significantly reducing the stress of installation.

Kelley Blue Book (KBB) says, "Properly securing little ones in their car seats is always a priority when you have kids along for the ride. It's not just about getting the kids buckled into the car, SUV, or minivan. It's a matter of ensuring the proper installation of car seats in your vehicle."

Kelley Blue Book released its Best Vehicles to Comfortably Fit Three Car Seats Across report and found the twelve best mainstream (non-luxury) SUVs and minivans for parents with young kids. Surprisingly, KBB says the 2025 Subaru Outback beats them all.

KBB says that even though installing a car or booster seat is easier today, many children aren't properly restrained. A 2023 report released jointly by AAA and Chicco, a car seat manufacturer, found that nearly five out of 10 (48%) of children injured in car crashes and more than half (51%) of children killed were not using car seats. Instead, they were either buckled into a vehicle seatbelt or completely unrestrained.  

I've listed KBB's picks below that reflect the best SUVs and minivans with sufficient space for 3-across seating.

"However, we further single out vehicles with 3-across LATCH accommodations below because the LATCH system is currently the safest (and easiest to use) child seat system," says KBB.

The best new models are minivans. That's not a surprise since the minivan is designed for families. But what about new SUVs? Are they family-friendly? Here are the rankings.

The best new minivans for car seats. 

• 2024 Toyota Sienna (second and third row)
• 2024 Kia Carnival

The best new SUVs for car seats. 

• 2024 Subaru Outback
• 2024 Hyundai Palisade
• 2024 Toyota Highlander
• 2024 Honda Pilot
• 2024 Nissan Pathfinder
• 2024 Honda Passport
• 2024 Toyota RAV4
• 2024 Honda CR-V
• 2024 Mazda CX-5
• 2024 Subaru Forester

The 2025 Subaru Outback (the same as the 2024 Outback) ranks the best in the SUV category. The 2024 Subaru Forester is also on the top ten list of best SUVs. Here's why. The 2025 Forester has been remodeled and also has the best LATCH system upgrades. 

Subaru makes child safety a priority.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says, "Our LATCH ease-of-use ratings have focused automakers' attention on child seat installation hardware. Subaru is one manufacturer that has made it a priority."

The IIHS began rating automakers' LATCH hardware (which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) on ease of use in 2015.

Subaru ranked highest in 2019 model ratings for ease of use, with seven models earning the top "GOOD+" IIHS rating for LATCH accessibility, followed by Toyota with five and Honda with three. The 2019 Subaru Ascent, Subaru Forester, Subaru Outback, Subaru Crosstrek, Subaru Impreza sedan, Subaru Impreza 5-Door, and Subaru Legacy all scored highest in the latest testing.

IIHS senior research engineer Jessica Jermakian said the LATCH system has been in vehicles for over 15 years and that Subaru has stood out by prioritizing the improvement of its LATCH hardware. 

"They went from, back in our early ratings, having many marginal ratings to now getting the top rating of 'GOOD+,'" she said. "In many of those Subaru vehicles, parents can use LATCH in all three of the rear seating positions in the second row."

NOTE: The IIHS provides LATCH information for nearly every vehicle it safety tests. You can access it by going to "Vehicle ratings" here and typing in the make and model of the car. Once on the vehicle page, scroll down to "Seat belts & child restraints." Click on "LATCH ease of use" to find the number of seating positions equipped with LATCH and their type and location.

Another Subaru scores surprisingly well.

In the Two-Row category, a surprise Subaru SUV emerges as a top performer, earning straight A grades. It's the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek.

I covered this in my report here. If you're a new parent seeking an affordable and practical solution for fitting car seats and accommodating your active lifestyle, the all-new 2024 Subaru Crosstrek is your answer.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek gets top grades. 

Cars says, "Subaru's tiny Crosstrek SUV got redesigned for 2024 with fresh styling, updated powertrains and technology upgrades. The Crosstrek earned straight A's thanks to its easy-access anchors and plentiful backseat legroom."

I was surprised it wasn't the Forester compact two-row SUV or the Outback midsize two-row SUV. But the best overall is the Crosstrek subcompact two-row SUV, which gets the highest score.

You don't have to stop doing fun things. 

Just because a new baby is on the way or has just arrived, it doesn't mean you have to give up the fun things you did before. With some adjustment and acclimation to your new baby, you can still buckle them up in a Subaru Crosstrek and continue exploring.

Check out my report here for more information on the Subaru Crosstrek's superior new parent car rating. 

Subaru has three of the best new SUVs for parents. If you need to fit car seats, Kelley Blue Book says the 2025 Subaru Outback beats them all, and the Forester is among the best new models.

Did you know Subaru ranked high in car seat safety and ease of use? If you found this article helpful, I'll see you tomorrow for more Subaru reports. Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Writer since 2012. I’ve invested over 13 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role, working with every major car brand. I am an experienced Rocky Mountain Automotive Press member. You'll find my expert Subaru analysis here. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Subaru