Best Convertible Car Seats for Small Cars

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Best Convertible Car Seats for Small Cars

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How to Choose the Best Convertible Car Seat for Small Cars

Whether you have a compact car or are trying to fit 3 car seats in the back seat of your midsize sedan, finding the best convertible car seat for small car will save you a lot of time and aggravation. To help you find the right one, we researched some of the best-selling, highest-rated car seats available. Before we get into our picks for best products, let’s take a look at some of the main features to look out for.

Best Convertible Car Seats for Small Cars

Weight Limit: This is the highest weight limit for each seat when in the forward facing position. Some of these seats can also be used as boosters so, believe it or not, you’ll see weight limits of over 100 pounds!

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Machine Washable Seat Cover: Babies and toddler are messy. Very messy. Having a car seat with a removable, washable cover is so important because it means you can clean up even the nastiest messes quickly and easily.

How to Choose the Best Convertible Car Seat for Small Cars

Item Weight: If you’re going to be switching your car seat between different vehicles or if you plan on traveling a lot, pay special attention to the weigh. Some weigh about 15 pounds but we found one that’s only 9.1.

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Maximum Height: Height limits are just as important as weight limits because if your child gets too tall for the seat, the buckle and straps won’t sit in the right spot and the seat will no longer be safe.

Best Convertible Car Seats for Small Cars

Dimensions: To make sure the seat will fit in a compact car or that you can fit 3 across your backseat, pay special attention to the dimensions. Especially in width. Most of these are really narrow. The smallest is only 15.5” wide.

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Warranty: Warranties are always important but because this seat ensures your child’s safety, the warranty is more important than most. All of them are covered for 1 to 2 years. Make sure you read the fine print so you know what’s covered.

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Now that you know the key things to consider, let’s move into our product reviews. Here’s how it works. We put our top and budget picks first so that, even if you’re in a hurry, you can get a good idea of the range that’s available. We put a lot of time into researching these products so stick around if you can. They’re all great but very unique and you never know which one will work best for you. Alright, let’s get going.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight Car Seat

Britax Boulevard ClickTight Car Seat
The best convertible car seat for small cars is the Britax Boulevard ClickTight Car Seat. One of the best things about this product is that installation is really simple in part because you never have to rethread the seat. That’s not all, the harness has 14 different positions and even has a Click & Safe Snug Indicator that gives you an audible click sound when the harness is tight. With a steel frame, impact absorbing base, and 2 layers of side impact protection, you can rest assured that your little one is safe. This seat can be used rear-facing up to 40 pounds and forward-facing to 65 pounds which means your little one can continue using it for years to come.
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Evenflo Tribute Sport Car Seat

Evenflo Tribute Sport Car Seat
Our pick for best car seat for compact car that’s budget-friendly is the Evenflo Tribute Sport Car Seat. This may be our budget pick but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still an awesome car seat. In fact, it was designed to meet Evenflo’s rigorous test standards which include tests at nearly twice the federal crash test standard. This car seat has a 5-point harness that you can adjust as your baby grows. There are actually 4 different harness positions as well as 2 crotch positions to accommodate your child up to 40 pounds. When rear-facing, the seat reclines which provides a little more space so you can keep your little one rear facing for a longer period of time.
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Graco SlimFit Darcie Car Seat

Graco SlimFit Darcie Car Seat
When it comes to convertible car seats for small cars, the Graco SlimFit Darcie Car Seat is pretty remarkable. Why do we say that? Because it fits your child from 5 to 100 pounds. This is actually three seats in one: a rear-facing car seat, front facing car seat, and a belt-positioning booster. Here’s the kicker: this could be the only car seat you ever have to buy. If you’re really short on space, the cupholders rotate in which makes the seat about 10% slimmer. Removable, machine washable plush supports keeps your little one comfortable when rear and forward facing. One more thing, when used as either a rear or forward facing car seat, there are 4 different reclines for increased comfort.
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Diono Radian RXT Car Seat

Diono Radian RXT Car Seat
Another impressive convertible car seat for compact car is the Diono Radian RXT. This is a wonderful an all-in-one design that can accommodate your child from 5 to 120 pounds. It’s a rear and forward facing car seat as well as a booster for older children. This is another seat that’s so awesome, it could be the only car seat you ever need. Another great thing about it is that you can actually fit 3 of these across the backseat of a midsize car. So, if you have 2 kids and are expecting a third and you aren’t quite ready to upgrade to a minivan, this seat could help you fit everyone in your current car. And get this, it’s available in 15 different colors.
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Eddie Bauer XRS 65 Car Seat

Eddie Bauer XRS 65 Car Seat
The Eddie Bauer XRS 65 is another convertible car seat for small car that you can easily adjust as your child grows. This simple 2-in-1 can be used both rear and forward facing and features side impact protection and a 5-point harness for the utmost safety. There’s also an infant insert to use when your baby needs some extra support and positioning. This car seat is so compact, you can actually fit three of them across the back seat of most vehicles. It’s LATCH equipped and certified for airplane use so this car seat can go anywhere. And, because you can use it until your child it 52” tall or 65 pounds, there’s a chance you could use this car seat throughout the toddler years.
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Combi Compact Convertible Car Seat

Combi Compact Convertible Car Seat
For a compact car seat that also packs a lot of style, check out this one from Combi. First of all, this seat is available in 4 different colors and they’re all much brighter and stylish than what you typically see. With deep side walls and a layer of energy-absorbing foam, this seat distributes energy from any impact away from your baby or toddler. At only 15.5 inches wide, this is hands down the best infant car seat for small cars. It’s also easy to travel with because it’s FAA certified as well as super small and lightweight. One of the best things about this car seat is the buckle. It has an indicator that lets you know when the harness is secure.
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Graco Size4Me 65 Car Seat

Graco Size4Me 65 Car Seat
Another great option for best compact convertible car seat is the Graco Size4Me 65 Car Seat. It has a Safety Safe Adjust Harness System that has 8 different positions for the harness and headrest that lets you make sure your child is always properly secured. The cover comes off quickly and easily so you can toss it in the wash and get it back on without a lot of frustration. The 5-point harness and side-impact safety system keep your little one safe whether they’re rear or forward facing. This car seat can accommodate a child up to 65 pounds and 49” which means that you can use it throughout the toddler years and beyond. One more thing, installation is really easy, too.
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Safety 1st Guide 65 Car Seat

Safety 1st Guide 65  Car Seat
Our next item is a great compact toddler car seat that can even grow with your child beyond the toddler years. Think about it, with a weight limit of 65 pounds and a maximum height well over 4 feet tall, your child can use this seat even beyond their preschool years. The Guide 65 seat from Safety 1st has a 5-point harness that has 5 different height and 3 different buckle adjustments so you can make sure you always get a proper fit. This is also a great choice for small cars and is lightweight for convenient travel. Plus, it lets you keep your child in the rear-facing position longer because it’s designed to give them plenty of room and keep them comfortable.
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Evenflo Tribute LX Saturn Car Seat

Here’s another great option from Evenflo, the Tribute LX Saturn Car Seat. The best thing about this car seat is that it weighs only 9.1 pounds. Not only is it perfect for travel, but it’s also ideal for caregivers who switch seats between cars frequently. This seat is meant for children up to 40 pounds which gets you well into the toddler years. You can actually use it until your child is ready for a booster. The 5-point harness has 4 different shoulder positions and 2 different crotch positions so it can be adjusted to the perfect fit as your child grows. That’s not all, it even reclines when in rear-facing so you can keep your little one even more comfortable.
Here’s another great option from Evenflo, the Tribute LX Saturn Car Seat. The best thing about this car seat is that it weighs only 9.1 pounds. Not only is it perfect for travel, but it’s also ideal for caregivers who switch seats between cars frequently. This seat is meant for children up to 40 pounds which gets you well into the toddler years. You can actually use it until your child is ready for a booster. The 5-point harness has 4 different shoulder positions and 2 different crotch positions so it can be adjusted to the perfect fit as your child grows. That’s not all, it even reclines when in rear-facing so you can keep your little one even more comfortable.
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Cosco Mighty Fit 65 DX Car Seat

Our last pick for a compact convertible car seat is the Cosco Mighty Fit 65 DX Car Seat. The 65-pound weight limit and 49” maximum height mean this seat will accommodate your little one for years to come. That’s not all, it’s compact size allows you to fit 3 across most vehicles. Plus, it’s designed to take up less room when rear facing which means it gives parents more leg room in the front seat. The 5-point harness has 5 different heights and 3 different buckle positions so it can keep your child safe as she grows. Here’s another thing parents will love. The deluxe fabrics are machine washable and dryer safe, making it easy to clean up messes and get right back on the road.
Our last pick for a compact convertible car seat is the Cosco Mighty Fit 65 DX Car Seat. The 65-pound weight limit and 49” maximum height mean this seat will accommodate your little one for years to come. That’s not all, it’s compact size allows you to fit 3 across most vehicles. Plus, it’s designed to take up less room when rear facing which means it gives parents more leg room in the front seat. The 5-point harness has 5 different heights and 3 different buckle positions so it can keep your child safe as she grows. Here’s another thing parents will love. The deluxe fabrics are machine washable and dryer safe, making it easy to clean up messes and get right back on the road.
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About the Author

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Jennifer Trimbee

Expert Researcher and Writer

Jennifer Trimbee, a lead researcher and writer at GeekWrapped, is an expert writer with many years of experience. Jennifer writes about technology, sports, outdoor, and gear products.

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Article last updated on:

September 30, 2019

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Britax Boulevard ClickTight Car Seat

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