Fitting three car seats across a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox is challenging and, for most standard car seat combinations, not realistically possible. The vehicle's rear seat is approximately 52 inches wide at the hip point (the narrowest part where car seats are installed), which is simply not sufficient to accommodate three separate child restraint systems safely. While you might manage to squeeze in three narrow, backless booster seats, the safest and most recommended practice for families requiring three car seats is to opt for a vehicle with a wider cabin, such as a minivan or a large SUV.
The primary challenge is the physical width combined with the placement of the lower LATCH anchors. The 2015 Equinox has two complete sets of LATCH anchors in the outboard seating positions. The center seat position only has a top tether anchor; you must use the vehicle's seat belt to install a car seat there. This configuration complicates a three-across setup, as the center seat installation is often more cumbersome.
The type of car seat is the most critical factor. Infant rear-facing seats, with their wide bases, are the most difficult to fit side-by-side. Convertible seats can be somewhat narrower, and booster seats are typically the slimmest option. Success often depends on researching and purchasing specific, known-narrow models.
If you attempt this, follow these steps:
- Measure First: Get the exact width of your car seats.
- Use the Seat Belt: For the center seat installation, using the seat belt often provides more flexibility than trying to "borrow" the inner LATCH anchors from the outboard seats, which is not permitted unless your vehicle manual explicitly allows it.
- Test the Installation: Each car seat must be installed tightly, with less than one inch of movement at the belt path. You should not have to force the seats together to make them fit.
| Car Seat Combination Attempted | Result (Fit/No Fit) | Key Challenge |
|---|
| 2x Convertible Seats + 1x Backless Booster | Marginal Fit | Booster occupant has limited seat belt access. |
| 3x Convertible Seats (standard size) | No Fit | Physical width exceeds cabin space. |
| 1x Rear-Facing Infant + 2x Convertible Seats | No Fit | Infant seat base is too wide. |
| 3x Narrow, Specific Model Boosters | Possible Fit | Highly dependent on specific model dimensions. |
Ultimately, while a specific combination of very narrow boosters might technically fit, the 2015 Equinox is not an ideal vehicle for regularly transporting three children in car seats. For daily use and maximum safety, a larger vehicle is a more prudent choice.
