How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2025 Toyota 4Runner?
The verdict: Toyota redesigned its 4Runner for 2025 — the first major update for the SUV in 15 model years — and Cars.com bought a hybrid version to add to our long-term test fleet. However, the backseat was too tight to fit three car seats across, like the previous generation was able to do. For this Car Seat Check, we tested the TRD Off-Road Premium trim with seats for five; a third row of seats is optional, bringing capacity to seven.
Does it fit three car seats? No; although the 4Runner’s backseat is wide, the way the seat cushion is bolstered and the placement of the buckles prevents the middle seat from being wide enough to hold a car seat.
Take a look at how the Latch system and each car seat scored below in our Car Seat Check of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner.
Related: Search Car Seat Checks
Latch: Grade A
The two sets of lower anchors sit under large Velcro flaps; they’re easy to find and use. Three top tether anchors sit halfway down the seatbacks and are clearly marked for easy connection.
Infant Seat: Grade B
This seat was easy to install, but we had to move the front passenger seat up to accommodate it; our 5-foot-6-inch front passenger’s knees were close to the glove box. Taller passengers will need more space to be comfortable.
Rear-Facing Convertible: Grade B
Installing this seat was also easy but, again, front-passenger legroom was negatively impacted.
Forward-Facing Convertible: Grade A
Installation via Latch was easy, and the convertible in forward mode fit well once we removed the 4Runner’s head restraint to situate the car seat flush against the seatback.
Booster Seat: Grade B
After removing the head restraint, the booster fit well, but the 4Runner has an interesting buckle setup. We installed the booster on the driver’s side, which has a buckle on a long, stable arm. This type of buckle makes it easy for kids to buckle up independently. However, the middle seat’s buckle is sunken into the cushion and tougher to grasp. The passenger side buckle is also short and flush with cushion, so it too might be tough for kids to grasp without an adult’s help.
Grading Scale
A: Plenty of room for the car seat and the child; doesn’t impact driver or front-passenger legroom. Easy to find and connect to Latch and tether anchors. No fit issues involving head restraint or seat contouring. Easy access to the third row.
B: One room, fit or connection issue. Some problems accessing the third row when available.
C: Marginal room plus one fit or connection issue. Difficult to access the third row when available.
D: Insufficient room, plus multiple fit or connection issues.
F: Does not fit or is unsafe.
About Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks
Editors Jennifer Geiger and Jennifer Newman are certified child safety seat installation technicians.
For the Car Seat Check, we use a Chicco KeyFit 30 infant-safety seat, a Graco Contender 65 convertible seat and Graco TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a shorter passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant and convertible seats are installed behind the front passenger seat.
We also install the forward-facing convertible in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and infant seat in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit; a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. If there’s a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible. Learn more about how we conduct our Car Seat Checks.
Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat, and that Latch anchors have a weight limit of 65 pounds, including the weight of the child and the weight of the seat itself.
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