can an equinox fit 3 car seats

[DelDelaney]

Yes, a Chevrolet Equinox can fit 3 car seats, but it requires careful planning and specific types of seats to be comfortable and safe. The key factor is the vehicle's LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren), which is standardized hardware for installing car seats. The second-row bench in the Equinox has two full sets of LATCH anchors in the outboard seats and a top tether anchor for the center position. This means the safest configuration is often two seats using the LATCH system on the sides and a third, narrower seat secured with the lap/shoulder belt and the center top tether anchor.

The main challenge is the physical width of the second row. While the Equinox offers good legroom, the hip/shoulder room can be tight when three bulky child seats are side-by-side. Success depends heavily on choosing slim-profile or specifically designed "three-across" car seats. You will almost certainly need to forgo the center console cupholders when the seats are installed.

Here is a comparison of the 2024 Equinox's rear seat dimensions with two key competitors to illustrate the space considerations:

Vehicle Model	Second-Row Hip Room (inches)	Second-Row Shoulder Room (inches)	LATCH Configuration (2nd Row)
Chevrolet Equinox	51.5	55.6	Two full sets (outboard), top tether (center)
Honda CR-V	52.5	55.5	Two full sets (outboard), top tether (center)
Toyota RAV4	51.0	54.7	Two full sets (outboard), top tether (center)

The most practical advice is to take your actual car seats to the dealership for a test fitting. This is the only way to be certain they will fit correctly and that you can achieve a proper, tight installation for all three. If regularly transporting three children in car seats is a long-term need, you might want to consider a vehicle with a third row, like a Chevrolet Traverse or similar 3-row SUV, for significantly more space and ease of use.

[AbigailRose]

We managed it in our 2021 Equinox, but it was a puzzle. We used two slim infant seats on the sides and a narrow booster in the middle for our oldest. It’s a tight squeeze—forgetting a dropped pacifier between the seats means a major operation to retrieve it. It works for everyday trips to preschool, but for a long road trip? We’d take my husband’s truck instead. It’s doable, but just barely. You’ll be a pro at climbing over the seat to buckle kids in.

[LeLaura]

From a technical standpoint, the Equinox meets the minimum requirements. It has the necessary top tether anchor in the center seating position, which is critical for safe installation of a forward-facing seat using the vehicle's seat belt. However, the proximity of the outboard LATCH anchors to the center seat can make it difficult to achieve independent, tight installations for all three seats without interference. The seat belt buckles in the center can also be challenging to access. Proper installation is non-negotiable.