Graco High Chairs

2012 Mazda5: Car Seat Check

Regular MotherProof.com readers should be familiar with the 2012 Mazda5. Chief Mom Kristin Varela is driving it as part of a long-term test drive , and she’s been putting it through all kinds of daily driving. The Mazda5 is a small minivan that seats six passengers in three rows of seats. The second-row captain’s chairs can travel forward to create more legroom when it’s needed in the third row.

For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide 30 rear-facing infant-safety seat, a Britax Roundabout convertible child-safety seat and Graco high-back TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted to a comfortable position for a 6-foot driver and a 5-foot-8 passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant seat and convertible seats are installed behind the passenger seat. We also install the infant seat in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and convertible in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit. If there’s a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible.

Here’s how the 2012 Mazda5 did in MotherProof.com’s Car Seat Check:

Latch system: The Mazda5 has two sets of lower Latch anchors in the second row. While the anchors aren’t visible in the seat bight (where the back and bottom cushions meet), they’re just between the cushions and can be easy to use depending on the style of Latch connectors. There are two tether anchors in both the second and third rows. The second row’s tethers are at the base of the seatbacks. In the third row, the tethers are midway down the seatbacks.

Booster seat: In the second row, our high-back booster seat fit well. The seat belt buckles are on stable bases and sit high enough for kids to easily use.

The booster fit well in the third row, but we ran into a few problems with the seat belt buckles. The buckles are floppy and sit close to the booster’s base. This increases the likelihood that the car seat will ride over the buckle, making it difficult for kids to buckle up independently.

Convertible seat: Our convertible car seat’s rigid Latch connectors made it difficult to hook them to the anchors in the second row. We solved the problem by reclining the seatback to open up the seat bight. Our car seat’s large base caused problems when installing it in the second row, too. We had the same problems when installing the convertible in a rear-facing position in the second row. Once installed, there was plenty of room for this car seat in either position.

Graco | 2011 Chrysler 300 And 300C: Car Seat Check

Chrysler redesigned its iconic 300 sports car is to 2011 model year. The 300 and more absolute 300C are somewhat wider and longer than the car it replaces. This authorised it to fit 3 child-safety seats in the backseat. For our Car Seat Check, you commissioned seats in the 300C.

For the Car Seat Check, you use a Graco SnugRide 30 rear-facing infant-safety seat, a Britax Roundabout automobile child-safety chair and Graco high-back TurboBooster seat. The front seats are practiced to a cozy location for a 6-foot motorist and a 5-foot-8 passenger. The 3 youngster seats are commissioned in the second row. The upholder chair sits at the back the driver’s seat, and the baby chair and automobile seats are commissioned at the back the newcomer seat. We moreover setup the baby chair in the second row’s center chair with the upholder and automobile in the outboard seats to see if 3 car seats will fit. If there’s a third row, you setup the upholder chair and a forward-facing convertible.

Here’s how the 300 and 300C did in MotherProof.com’s Car Seat Check:

Latch system: We were jovially astounded to find 3 sets of descend Latch anchors in the sedan, giving any seating location its own dedicated set of anchors. The center seat’s anchors are unequivocally recessed and the outboard sets are surrounded by unenlightened cushions, creation them somewhat tough to use. There are 3 fasten anchors on the rear shelf at the back the head restraints. There’s not a lot of authorization around the anchors.

Booster seat: Our high-back upholder chair fit good and wasn’t detained by the prearranged head restraints. The chair leather belt buckles did result in a few problems, though. The buckles are recessed and placed as well shut to the upholder chair base. When buckling up the upholder seat, the center seat’s bend got in the way.

Convertible seat: This car seat’s stiff Latch connectors simply pushed past the stiff chair cushions to squeeze onto the Latch anchors. The prearranged head patience pushed the forward-facing automobile deliver slightly, so its back couldn’t rest against the seatback. When in the rear-facing position, the automobile fit without having to pierce the front newcomer chair forward.

Infant-safety seat: With this car seat’s normal Latch connectors, you had a harder time installing it. We had a tough time pulling past the chair cushions to find the Latch anchors. Once installed, this chair fit in the second row.

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