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The 2025 Subaru Ascent does not fit three car seats across, in the captain's-chairs model Cars.com tested. Cars.com's grades: A for LATCH, the infant seat, the rear-facing convertible, the forward-facing convertible, the third-row LATCH and the third-row entry; B for the second-row booster, the third-row forward-facing convertible and the third-row booster.
Fit grades from Cars.com's Car Seat Check, conducted by Cars.com editors, including a certified car seat technician. Cars.com's check was written about the 2024 Subaru Ascent; Cars.com says little has changed for 2025.
Car seats we carry, and what to check in the Subaru Ascent
In the Subaru Ascent the booster result is the one to read closely, so we start there. None of them has been tested by us in a Subaru Ascent; the checks under the list come from Cars.com's test of it.
Booster
Infant seats
Convertible seats
What to check in your Subaru Ascent
- Which second row you have. Cars.com tested the Subaru Ascent with second-row captain's chairs, so its three-across answer covers that configuration only. Three-across shoppers should see which cars fit three car seats.
- Booster buckles. Cars.com graded the second-row booster B and noted buckles a child may find hard to work alone. Test the buckle with your child in the seat position you plan to use.
Widths, where shown: manufacturer spec, widest point. Prices update automatically from our store.
Still choosing a stage? The car seat finder asks a few questions and narrows our range, and the compare tool lines up two seats side by side.
The grades at a glance
| Test | Grade |
|---|---|
| LATCH | A |
| Infant seat | A |
| Rear-facing convertible | A |
| Forward-facing convertible | A |
| Booster, second row | B |
| LATCH, third row | A |
| Forward-facing convertible, third row | B |
| Booster, third row | B |
| Third-row entry | A |
Where the anchors are
Lower anchors. Second row: two sets, exposed once you peel back the Velcro flaps in the upholstery. Third row: one set behind the driver.
Top tether anchors. Two midway down the second-row seatback, clearly marked. Three on the third-row seatback, also clearly marked.
Installing an infant seat
Went in easily and fit well, with plenty of legroom for the 5-foot-6-inch front passenger.
Installing a convertible
The rear-facing convertible was easy to install and fit well.
An A in the second row, where Cars.com removed the head restraint before the convertible fit well. The third row is a B: with the head restraint removed it fit well, but the awkward lower-anchor position meant installing it on top of the adjacent buckles, which then could not be used for the middle seat, and legroom there is pretty limited.
Check your vehicle manual before removing or adjusting a head restraint: not every restraint is designed to come out. Your car seat manual says what the seat needs from the vehicle seat behind it.
Boosters and the buckle-yourself years
The booster fits well on the flat seat once the head restraint is raised, but the seat belt buckle sits low in the seat on a floppy strap that Cars.com says could be difficult for kids to grasp and use independently. In the third row Cars.com removed the head restraint for a good fit, but the buckles are floppy too, which could make them tough for kids to use independently.
The third row
One set of lower anchors behind the driver, three clearly marked tethers, and pretty limited legroom.
Three car seats across
No, not in the captain's-chairs model Cars.com tested. Cars.com notes the Ascent also seats eight with a second-row bench; it did not check that build. Our three-across guide covers which vehicles do, and the narrowest seat combinations by published width.
Strollers we carry
These are strollers we carry, with their folded dimensions so you can check them against your own load floor.
| Stroller | Folded (L x W x H) | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Cross Reef 2 Multi-Terrain Modular Stroller | 19.0" x 23.5" x 29.0" | from $1,199.99 |
| Nuna SWIV Stroller | 14.5" x 21.0" x 30.5" | $1,000.00 |
| Maxi-Cosi Fame Modular Stroller | 30.93" x 24.51" x 15.76" | $999.99 |
| Nuna TRVL DUBL Stroller | 19.75" x 30.5" x 27.7" | $950.00 |
| Romer Tura Stroller | 38.5" x 18.5" x 22.25" | $849.99 |
| Veer Switch&Roll Stroller | 15.0" x 25.5" x 36.0" (with seat) | $949.00 |
| Nuna MIXX Next Stroller | 27.5" x 23.6" x 19.0" | $900.00 |
| UPPAbaby Cruz V3 Stroller | 17.0" x 22.5" x 32.4" (with seat attached) | $899.99 |
Folded dimensions: manufacturer spec. Prices update automatically from our store.
Compare every stroller side by side.
Subaru Ascent car seat questions
Does the 2025 Subaru Ascent fit three car seats across?
No. The 2025 Subaru Ascent does not fit three car seats across, in the captain's-chairs model Cars.com tested, according to Cars.com's Car Seat Check.
Where are the LATCH anchors in the 2025 Subaru Ascent?
Second row: two sets, exposed once you peel back the Velcro flaps in the upholstery. Third row: one set behind the driver.
Will a rear-facing car seat fit in the 2025 Subaru Ascent without moving the front seat forward?
Cars.com does not report moving the front seat: with the infant seat installed, its 5-foot-6-inch front passenger had plenty of legroom, and the rear-facing convertible was easy to install and fit well.
Can kids buckle themselves in the 2025 Subaru Ascent?
The booster fits well on the flat seat once the head restraint is raised, but the seat belt buckle sits low in the seat on a floppy strap that Cars.com says could be difficult for kids to grasp and use independently. In the third row Cars.com removed the head restraint for a good fit, but the buckles are floppy too, which could make them tough for kids to use independently.
What is the narrowest car seat to shortlist for the 2025 Subaru Ascent?
Of the seats we carry, the Romer Juni Infant Car Seat with Versa Base is the narrowest by published width, at 16.9 inches.
More car seat help: Car Seat Safety Guide · All buying guides · Car seat finder · Compare car seats · How long to stay rear-facing · LATCH versus the seat belt · Booster readiness · NHTSA's Car Seats and Booster Seats page
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Educational information only. This guide is for general education. It is not professional, medical, legal, or safety advice, and it does not create any advisory or professional relationship between you and SugarBabies. You are responsible for the safe selection, installation, and use of any car seat.
How a car seat fits and installs depends on your exact vehicle (its model year, trim, and seating configuration) and your exact car seat model. The instructions that came with your car seat and your vehicle owner’s manual always control. If anything in this article ever conflicts with those instructions, or with current guidance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), follow the manufacturer instructions, your vehicle manual, and NHTSA, not this article.
Vehicle fit grades are compiled from third-party sources, including independent car seat fit testing by Cars.com editors, among them a certified car seat technician. Product dimensions are the manufacturer’s published figures for the items we stock, and are the widest published measurement where more than one is given. Any combination total is simple arithmetic with no allowance for shell overlap, and is a shortlist to check rather than a guarantee of fit. Specifications, model years, configurations, pricing and stock change, and we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or current status of any of it. This article does not replace a hands-on check of your own installation against those instructions.
Which seats we list on a given vehicle is our own editorial choice from the seats we carry, informed by those published dimensions and those third-party fit findings. It is not the result of testing that seat in that vehicle, and we have not verified any combination of seats side by side in any vehicle on this page. Buckle position, belt-path interference between neighboring seats and recline angle all affect real-world fit and none of them are captured by a width measurement.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, and SugarBabies and its owners, employees, and affiliates are not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential injury, loss, or damage arising from the use of or reliance on this article. Nothing in this disclaimer limits any liability that cannot be limited under Washington law. Some products we recommend and link to are sold by SugarBabies, and we make money when you buy them.
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