How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2019 Tesla Model X?
Editor’s note: This Car Seat Check was written in September 2018 about the 2018 Tesla Model X. Little of substance has changed with this year’s model. See what’s new for 2019 or check out a side-by-side comparison of the two model years.
The verdict: Larger families interested in a hybrid or electric vehicle don’t have a lot of choices. Tesla’s Model X is one option, but you’ll have to pony up quite a bit for it; it starts in the $80,000 range. The SUV has seating for up to seven in three rows and is a mixed bag when it comes to ease of car-seat installation in both rows. The second-row lower Latch anchors were easy to use, and although we appreciated the addition of third-row anchors — a nice bonus not often found in three-row vehicles — they caused some problems.
Does it fit three car seats? No
Take a look at how the Latch system and each car seat scored below in our Car Seat Check of the 2019 Tesla Model X.
Related: Search Car Seat Checks
A Grade
- Infant seat: This seat was easy to install, and our 5-foot-6-inch-tall front passenger had ample room.
- Rear-facing convertible: Another easy install. This seat and our front passenger also had plenty of room.
- Booster: In the second row, the fixed head restraint didn’t affect how the booster sat on the seat. Also, the Model X’s stable buckles will make it easier for kids to buckle up independently.
B Grade
- Latch: In the second row, two sets of anchors sit just within the seat bight, where the back and bottom cushions meet; connection was easy. There are three tether anchors, but they’re buried in carpet and you have to fish around for them to make connection.
- Forward-facing convertible: In the second row, the fixed head restraint didn’t interfere with how the car seat fit on the seat. It was easy to connect to the lower Latch anchors, but we had to dig in the seatback carpet to connect to the top tether anchor.
- Third-row booster: Again, the fixed head restraint wasn’t an issue with fit, but the buckles are on arms that fold into the seat. Also, the buckle button is black instead of black and red, which decreases visibility. Both of these issues make it hard for kids to buckle up independently.
C Grade
- Third-row access: The opening to the third row is small, and the step-in height is tall. What’s worse, the gullwing doors don’t open high enough, so banging your head is inevitable.
- Third-row Latch: The two sets of anchors in the third row are deep-set and the upholstery is stiff, complicating access. Two top tether anchors are clearly marked, but they’re also buried in the seatback’s carpet, making it a chore to connect.
- Third-row forward-facing car seat: The fixed head restraint didn’t push the car seat off the seatback, but the install wasn’t easy due to buried Latch and tether anchors.
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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.
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
