How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2018 Ford Explorer?

Editor’s note: This Car Seat Check was written in November 2016 about the 2017 Ford Explorer. Little of substance has changed with this year’s model. To see what’s new for 2018, click here, or check out a side-by-side comparison of the two model years.

With its capable powertrain, ample room and rugged exterior, the Ford Explorer is a hit with many families looking for a third row and the ability to tow boats or campers when properly equipped. In our Car Seat Check, we tested a 2017 Explorer XLT with seating for seven.   

How many car seats fit in the second row? Two

How many car seats fit in the third row? Two

Related: More Car Seat Checks

Solid

• Infant, grade A: This seat installed easily and had ample room.
• Rear-facing convertible, grade A: Again, this seat was easy to install and room was not a problem.
• Third-row access, grade A: Both sides of the second-row bench tumble forward to create a large pathway to the third row. Caregivers should note that with the 60/40, split folding second-row bench, only the smaller part of the seat slides forward and back. The larger portion is fixed in place.
• Third-row booster, grade A: The booster fit well and the buckles in the third row are on stable bases, which should make them easier for kids to grasp and use.  

So-So

• Latch, grade B: The second-row bench has two sets of lower Latch anchors that are easy to access. They sit about 1.5 inches into the seat bight, but the cushions move easily out of the way. The top tether anchors are not clearly marked, however.
• Forward-facing convertible, grade B: The seat was easy to install and fit well, but the second row’s top tether anchors are at the seatbacks’ base. They’re difficult to find and not clearly marked, so parents might not realize they need to use this important anchor.
• Booster, grade B: The booster fit well in the second row, but only two of the three seat belt buckles are on stable bases, which are easier for kids to use independently. The floppy one will be tough for kids to use.
• Third-row Latch, grade B: The Explorer has an additional set of lower Latch anchors in the third row that are exposed and easy to use. The third-row tether, however, sits at the seatback’s base and isn’t clearly marked.
• Third-row forward-facing convertible, grade B: This seat was easy to install, but the top tether anchor sits far down on the seatback and is not clearly marked. Parents could overlook it.

Skip It

• None

Grading Scale

Solid indicates an A grade for optimum ease of use and fit. So-So indicates B or C grades for one to two ease-of-use or fit issues. Skip It indicates D or F grades.

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 third row when available.

C: Marginal room plus one fit or connection issue. Difficult to access 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, Jennifer Newman and Matt Schmitz are certified child safety seat installation technicians.

For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide Classic Connect 30 infant-safety seat, a Britax Marathon 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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