At the Seattle Auto Show we imagined how families would fare installing multiple CRs in the MY 2010 models. In general, we found dual trends that are at odds for families: the seating space inside vehicles tends to be shrinking, while newer CR designs with higher weight limits tend to be taller and wider.
More Than Minimum LATCH
      Only 25 MY 2010 vehicles that we saw offered more than two LATCH positions that can be used simultaneously, down from 31 in 2009. This reduction is due to the net effect of seven discontinued models and one new one. The demise of Pontiac (which had four such vehicles) and the discontinuation of Hyundai Entourage, Nissan Quest, and Suzuki XL7 were losses to the extra-LATCH vehicle ranks. Offsetting these is the new Lincoln MKT.
      The vast majority of vehicles with more than two LATCH positions have three positions. The same four vehicles as in past years have four LATCH positions (Audi Q7, Honda Pilot, and Mercedes R- and GL-Class). Toyota Sienna, with five, continues to be the vehicle that offers the most LATCH positions (though this is only true in versions with the optional eighth seat added; seven-seat Siennas have four LATCH positions).
      In larger vehicles with extra LATCH, the additional location is frequently not a center seat. For instance, the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT place the third LATCH position in an outboard position of the third row. None of the four LATCH positions in the Audi Q7 or the Mercedes Benz GL-Class is in the center.
     The Toyota Sequoia is included among the group with three LATCH positions in its eight-seat version only; the seven-seat Sequoia only has two positions.
Overlapping Seat Belts
     We noticed many vehicles that have the anchor point of one seat belt within the seating space of another position. In some cases, we felt the small overlap would not create a serious installation problem.
However, in a surprising number of cases, the overlap was significant, and it seemed clear that that seat belt could not be used at all if a CR were attached in the adjacent seating position, either using the seat belt or LATCH, because the CR would interfere with that belt.
     For example, on the Lexus IS 250, we found that an elastic cord inside the bight holds the center shoulder belt, keeping it at an extreme width from its buckle and well inside the seating area for the out-board position (see photo).
Minivan Segment Continues Decline
     The minivan, arguably the only platform truly designed for transporting families, continues its decline. For MY 2010, the Hyundai Entourage and Nissan Quest minivans have been discontinued. So, while just three years ago there were 15 minivan models, now there are only six: Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona, Toyota Sienna, and VW Routan.
     With fewer minivan options, families will look to crossovers and SUVs to transport multiple children. A Center for Injury Research and Prevention study from February 2009 compared the protectiveness of SUVs versus minivans. Though both types provided excellent protection to child occupants who were properly restrained, researchers found the risk of low-to-moderate severity injury to be 35 percent lower in minivans. Also, the fatality risk for SUVs was higher in tow-away crashes, perhaps due to the greater tendency for these vehicles to roll over. The good news is that nearly all MY 2010 SUVs have electronic stability control to greatly reduce this risk.