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As July 1st approaches, the date when regulations requiring child car seats, or other child safety devices, to be installed in vehicles come into effect, the demand for these products has increased significantly.
Among the many people looking for solutions for a family with three young children, all of whom are old enough to use car seats.
Speaking to Tri Thức - Znews , Ms. Diệu Như (from Hải Dương), the owner of a VinFast VF 5, shared that her family has three children: two older children aged 3 and 4.5, and the youngest is only 11 months old. Ms. Diệu Như is still trying to find child car seats that fit in the second row of the car. However, she has not yet found a suitable solution.
"The second row of seats in our VF 5 is quite small; I'm not sure if it will fit three people, and I'm not sure which type of installation would be suitable," said Ms. Dieu Nhu.
So, can popular urban SUV models on the market fit three child seats, or will families with many young children have to look for more spacious car models?
Tri Thức - Znews has tested installing child seats in the Toyota Corolla Cross, one of the best-selling urban SUVs in Vietnam, with a standard second-row space that is nearly the same size as other models in the same segment.
Not enough space for 3 full-size seats.
The dimensions of the Corolla Cross are 4,460 x 1,825 x 1,620 mm, with a wheelbase of 2,640 mm. Based on experience, the second row of the Toyota Corolla Cross can barely accommodate three seats equipped with a 360-degree swivel system.
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After installing a swivel seat and a height-increasing cushion, the second-row space in the Toyota Corolla Cross is almost completely full. Photo: Dan Thanh. |
These are models with large surrounding frames and swivel bases, significantly impacting the space on both sides. Both seats are being installed using the ISOFIX locking system. On the left side of the second row, the car is fitted with a Cybex Solution G2 Plus booster seat for children aged 3-12 years. On the right is the Nuna Exec child seat with a 360-degree swivel base.
Both models share a common feature: a large, multi-layered frame that provides excellent body support. This extensive protective capability means these full-size seats take up too much space and, in practice, cannot fit in all three second-row seats.
Will three mattress pads fit?
To ensure optimal space in the second row of the vehicle's cabin, the reporter tried replacing the 360-degree swivel seats with a smaller booster seat. To the right of the second row is the SEEC Max I-zin 2 Junior booster seat for children aged 0-12, while the left side retains the foldable Cybex Solution G2 booster seat.
It can be seen that when changing to a padded seat with lumbar support, the size of the middle section of the second row increases, but it is still not enough to install an additional safety device in the middle.
The space between these two seats is still large enough for one adult to comfortably sit, meeting the needs of many parents who want to seat their children in the second row. Of course, the person sitting needs to be small in stature because the space is only "acceptable" and not very comfortable for sitting for extended periods.
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Two raised cushions increase the space in the center, enough for one person to sit. Photo: Dan Thanh. |
As mentioned, the safety equipment tested in this article consists of full-size seats and booster seats from familiar European brands, meeting international standards. Therefore, the surrounding frame is reinforced to comply with standards such as ECE R44/04 or FMVSS No. 213, ensuring distribution in demanding markets like Europe and the US. This is also why they are somewhat "oversized" compared to the space in the second row.
Currently, the Vietnamese market also offers models of seats and booster seats with simpler structures. Thanks to the reduction of impact-resistant frame layers or design changes, these seats and booster seats can fit into the second row of vehicles. To do this, car owners need to choose to install all seats using seat belts.
The advantages of these types of car seats and booster seats are their compact size and more accessible price. However, they may not meet international safety standards for children.
In summary, after the test, it can be seen that for urban SUVs of similar size to the Toyota Corolla Cross, the second row is almost impossible to fit full-size, multi-purpose child seats with full protective functions.
If a family has three children who are old enough to need car seats or booster seats, parents can consider choosing models based on their family budget, travel habits, and children's weight. The best solution is to upgrade to similarly priced models with more rows of seats or more spacious second-row seating, such as a popular 7-seater MPV or a C-segment SUV with optimized passenger compartment.
In the next article, Tri Thức - Znews will test a larger C-segment SUV to see if, with more spacious interior and still a 5-seat configuration, the second row can accommodate three child seats.
Source: https://znews.vn/suv-do-thi-lap-duoc-3-ghe-tre-em-khong-post1663086.html
