The 2025 Grand Highlander's second row is strong, with an A for LATCH, the infant seat and the rear-facing convertible and no hit to front passenger legroom. It does not fit three car seats across, because the tested build uses captain's chairs. The third row is the weak spot, earning a C for both the forward-facing convertible and the booster, because the fixed head restraint gets in the way.
Compiled by our gear team from Cars.com's Car Seat Check. Published July 18, 2026. Car seat fit findings from Cars.com's Car Seat Check, conducted by certified child passenger safety technicians.
The grades at a glance
| Test | Grade |
|---|---|
| LATCH | A |
| Infant seat | A |
| Rear-facing convertible | A |
| Forward-facing convertible | B |
| Booster, second row | B |
| LATCH, third row | A |
| Forward-facing convertible, third row | C |
| Booster, third row | C |
| Third-row entry | B |
Three car seats across: no, in the captain's-chair configuration Cars.com tested. The seven-passenger hybrid XLE Cars.com tested uses captain's chairs, so there is no middle seat. Cars.com did not test a bench-seat version, so treat this as a finding about that configuration rather than about the model.
Where the anchors are
Lower anchors. Second row: two sets, exposed for easy access. Third row: one set on the passenger side, in slits in the seat but still easy to use.
Top tethers. Two in the second row, clearly marked but buried in the seatback carpet. Two more in the third row on the passenger side and middle seatbacks, also marked and also buried.
NHTSA recommends always using the top tether with a forward-facing car seat, whether it is installed with the lower anchors or the seat belt, as long as both the car seat manufacturer and the vehicle manufacturer permit it. Check both manuals for your specific combination, and check your car seat's tether weight limit: NHTSA directs you to stop using the tether once your child exceeds it, even while they still fit the seat. Our car seat safety guide covers how to use it.
Infant car seats
LATCH connection was easy and the 5-foot-6-inch front passenger had ample legroom.
That matters more than it sounds. In a lot of compact vehicles a rear-facing seat pushes the front passenger forward until the front row is unusable. Browse the infant car seats we carry, and if you are weighing whether a rotating base is worth it, see our comparison of rotating versus standard infant seats.
Convertible car seats
Rear-facing. No problems, and front passenger legroom was not affected.
Forward-facing. A B in the second row and a C in the third, where the fixed head restraint is in the way.
Some vehicles need the head restraint removed or raised to seat a car seat flush against the seatback, and some have fixed restraints that cannot be moved at all. Check your vehicle manual before forcing anything, and note that where a fixed restraint holds the seat off the seatback, that is a fit problem rather than something you can work around. See our convertible seats.
Boosters
Fits in the second row once the head restraint comes out, though Cars.com notes the floppy buckles could make it difficult for kids to buckle up on their own. The third row is a C: the fixed head restraint pushes the booster off the seatback when it should sit flush against it.
Getting to the third row
LATCH grades an A, but both the convertible and the booster drop to a C because of the fixed head restraints.
Will your stroller fit?
Cars.com's Car Seat Check does not measure cargo volume, so the stroller guidance below is ours rather than theirs.
Cubic feet is the wrong number to shop on anyway. What decides whether a stroller fits is its folded footprint against the width between your wheel wells and the height to your cargo cover. A trunk can have generous volume and still refuse a wide fold.
Measure the space you will actually load into, whatever shape it is: how deep it is, its narrowest width (usually between the wheel arches, or between the bed rails on a pickup), and the height of the opening you have to lift over. Then compare against the folded dimensions of whatever you are considering. If the numbers are close, a compact fold like the Cybex Beezy leaves room for everything else; if you have space to spare, a full-size frame like the UPPAbaby Vista V3 earns it back in storage and expandability. Browse all strollers.
Toyota Grand Highlander takeaway
Buy it for the second row, not the third. If your third row will carry a booster-age child regularly, the fixed outboard head restraints are a genuine and permanent problem rather than something you can work around. The third-row middle restraint does come out.
Across every vehicle: Which cars fit three car seats · Which cars let kids buckle themselves
More car seat help: Car Seat Safety Guide · All buying guides
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.
Our fit findings are compiled from third-party sources, including independent car seat fit testing performed by Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians and manufacturer specifications, that we believe to be reliable, and we provide all of it “as is.” Specifications, model years, and vehicle configurations 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 by a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). If you are near Sumner, Washington, our in-store CPST check is free with every infant seat we sell, and we encourage you to use it or to find a certified technician near you.
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 mention or link to are sold by SugarBabies, and we may earn money when you buy them.