Volkswagen Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and ID.4 Make the Cars.com 2024 Best Cars for Car Seats

Volkswagen of America, Inc., is pleased to announce that the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and ID. 4 have been named Cars.com’s 2024 Best Cars for Car Seats. All three vehicles earned A’s in their Car Seat Checks. This marks the third year in a row that Volkswagen SUVs have been given top honors—Tiguan was among last year’s accolades. Volkswagen also has the most cars on this year’s Best Cars for Car Seats list of any OEM—VW models comprise half of all vehicles to earn straight A’s.

Read further to see the complete list of 2024 Best Cars for Car Seats according to Cars.com.

For many, the family mobile goes from aimlessly driving during those first months of newborn sleepless nights to captaining the neighborhood carpool just a few years later — and car seats are there for all of it. While you’re on your own with sleep-training your baby, we can help you find a family car that can handle every stage of car seats.

Cars.com’s 2024 Best Cars for Car Seats list compiles a year’s worth of our Car Seat Checks in 52 vehicles. We test the vehicles as they are made available to us by automakers. Editor-in-Chief Jenni Newman and I are both certified child passenger safety technicians as well as moms of kids who have gone through every car-seat stage.

From minivans and three-row SUVs to tiny crossovers and sedans, we’ve installed child-safety seats into each one and evaluated how well the vehicles accommodate a variety of them. We also rate each car’s Latch system, the lower anchors and top tether anchors, which are supposed to make car seat installation easier but sometimes cause frustrations.

Straight A Grades

Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks launched in 2010, and we’ve installed car seats into more than 800 vehicles over the years. Each year, there are a few cars that ace our Car Seat Checks by earning the top grade of A in all categories. For 2024, the following vehicles are on the honor roll:

• 2024 Lexus RX 450h+: The two-row 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ is the plug-in hybrid version of the RX SUV. It has seats for five and earned straight A grades in our Car Seat Check thanks to ample room for two car seats as well as easy-access Latch anchors.
• 2024 Nissan Pathfinder: Nissan’s people mover was redesigned for the 2022 model year, and 2023 saw some trim-level shuffling. For 2024, the Pathfinder three-row SUV carries over, and it earned straight A grades thanks to easy-access Latch anchors and ample room.
• 2024 Subaru Crosstrek: Subaru’s tiny Crosstrek SUV got redesigned for 2024 with fresh styling, updated powertrains and technology upgrades. The Crosstrek earned straight As thanks to its easy-access anchors and plentiful backseat legroom.
• 2024 Volkswagen Atlas: Volkswagen’s people mover, the 2024 Atlas three-row SUV, has room for seven with a second-row bench seat or six with captain’s chairs. For this Car Seat Check, we tested a model with captain’s chairs, and it excelled thanks to plenty of legroom and drama-free anchor access.
• 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport: Volkswagen’s biggest people mover is available in another flavor, the two-row Atlas Cross Sport. Both SUVs were revised for the 2024 model year with more upscale cabins and new infotainment controls. The two-row Cross Sport model seats five and earned straight As thanks to loads of legroom and easy-access anchors.
• 2024 Volkswagen ID.4: Volkswagen’s all-electric 4 compact SUV seats five and has an all-electric range between 206 and 291 miles, depending on equipment. It scored high grades in our Car Seat Check thanks to easy-access anchors and a backseat that’s roomier than its tidy dimensions suggest.

Not all vehicles are overachievers, however. Below is our 2024 list, grouped by vehicle type. We install a Chicco KeyFit 30 infant car seat, a Graco Contender 65 convertible and a Graco TurboBooster into every vehicle that we test. The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a shorter passenger. The three car seats are installed in the vehicle’s second row, with the booster seat behind the driver. The infant and convertible seats are installed behind the front passenger seat. In three-row SUVs and minivans, we install the forward-facing convertible and booster seat in the third row and assess how easy or difficult it is to access the third row.

And the Winners Are

We’ve listed the scores of our car seat evaluations below. The abbreviations in the tables are:

• Latch: Lower anchors and top tether system (in the second and/or third row)
• Infant: Rear-facing infant seat
• RFC: Rear-facing convertible
• FFC: Forward-facing convertible
• Booster: High-back booster seat
• TRA: Third-row access

Cars.com 2024 Best 2-Row SUV for Car Seats

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport achieved A’s across the board. This spacious and versatile SUV makes it an excellent choice for families. With ample seating, advanced safety features, and a roomy cargo area, it ensures comfort and security for both daily commutes and road trips. Its stylish design and efficient performance add to its family-friendly appeal.

Cars.com 2024 Best 3-Row SUV for Car Seats

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas is an ideal family SUV, offering three rows of spacious seating to accommodate up to seven passengers. It excels in safety with advanced driver assistance features and provides a large cargo space for family trips. The 2024 Atlas received all A’s, combining comfort, versatility, and reliability, making it perfect for families.

Cars.com 2024 Best EV for Car Seats

The 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 is a top EV choice for families, blending eco-friendly performance with practicality. It offers ample interior space, advanced safety features, and a smooth, quiet ride. With its impressive range and fast-charging capabilities, the ID.4 ensures that family trips are both efficient and comfortable.

Test Drive the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and ID.4 at Bill Jacobs Volkswagen

Come to Bill Jacobs VW to experience firsthand why the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and ID.4 were named Cars.com Best Cars for Car Seats. These vehicles offer spacious interiors, top-tier safety features, and effortless car seat installation—perfect for growing families. Whether you’re looking for the versatility of the Atlas, the sporty design of the Atlas Cross Sport, or the eco-friendly efficiency of the ID.4, a Test Drive will show you why they’re top choices for families.