Almost half of the parents installed the car seats incorrectly, while 33% test-drive car seats at the dealership before you sign on the dotted line
CHICAGO, August 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The car shopping market Cars.com™ (NYSE: CARS) reports that 60% of parents find installing car seats at least somewhat frustrating, which is no surprise given that nearly half of parents have installed car seats incorrectly—a serious risk for safety. To help current and soon-to-be parents and caregivers, Cars.com today introduced 2022 Car Seat Fit Report Card with researched knowledge of the family vehicles best suited to infant, toddler and toddler car seats.
“Not all vehicles are created equal. Our team has provided car seat checks for more than 650 vehicles over the years to ensure parents and carers can make informed car buying decisions,” said Jennifer Geiger, Cars.com’s news editor and certified child passenger safety technician. “With nearly 60% of parents choosing their vehicle based on car seat fit, it’s encouraging to see this year’s Car Seat Fit Report Card expand significantly to include vehicles in different price points as well as models hybrid and electric. Automakers are listening and offering more options for America’s growing families.”
Cars.com compiled car seat inspection results for 52 vehicles evaluated over the past 12 months by July 2021 through July 2022 by its certified child and passenger safety technicians and assigned a letter grade to each of the 2021-23 model year vehicles evaluated. The full list can be found at Cars.com/News/Car-Seat-Check.
This year, 11 vehicles achieved straight A’s on Cars.com’s Seat Fit Report Card:
Cars.com conducted a consumer survey to learn more about how car seats influence parents’ car-buying decisions and how Americans plan for their growing families when it comes to their vehicles. Here’s what they said:
- Try before you buy. When considering their latest vehicle purchase, 58% of parents based their decision on the fit of the car seat, leading to 33% of parents taking the car seat to the market to test drive the seat before purchasing. to make a purchase decision. The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan is a roomy compact SUV that easily handles all phases of car seats—from rear-facing infant seats to high-back booster seats.
- The larger your family, the more planning is required. Of the more than 58% of parents who said the car seat played a role in their car purchase decision, 85% said the need to upgrade to a larger vehicle occurred when they realized they had too many children in the seats of the car or when they had another child. . Planning ahead with a larger vehicle that your family can grow into will save frustration down the road. For example, the sturdy and stylish 2022 Ford F-150 offers plenty of room for three car seats, and its exposed Latch anchors made their installation a breeze.
- Safety technology is an expectation. Parent-friendly tech features are also a consideration, with almost 3 in 4 parents (73%) saying child safety features like backup cameras, rear seat alarm systems and car seat locking systems were too important when considering a vehicle. Families looking for high-tech should consider the 2022 Honda Odyssey, which excels in car seat accommodation and comes with many standard safety features, including the CabinWatch system, which allows front-seat passengers to monitor with second and third row passengers convenience on the touch screen. a ceiling mounted camera.
METHODOLOGY
The Cars.com Car Seat Fit Report Card compiles 12 months, from July to July, of comprehensive car seat inspections performed by Cars.com’s team of experts. Each car seat check is performed by a Cars.com certified passenger safety technician, who installs three types of car seats — infant, convertible and high-back booster — in each new vehicle and evaluates the system of the vehicle’s closure, as well as how the vehicle accommodates different car seats.
To learn more about how Cars.com conducts its car seat checks or to see how well a car seat will fit in your family vehicle or a vehicle you’re considering purchasing, visit www.cars.com/news/car-seat-check.
Cars.com Consumer Survey; July 27-30, 2022; 1005 answers
CARS is the leading automotive marketplace platform offering a powerful set of digital solutions that connect car buyers with sellers. Started in 1998 with the main market Cars.com and headquartered in Chicago, the company empowers buyers with the data, resources and digital tools needed to make informed purchasing decisions and connect seamlessly with automotive dealers. In a rapidly changing marketplace, CARS enables dealers and OEMs with innovative technical solutions and data-driven intelligence to better reach and influence ready-to-buy buyers, increase inventory turn and gain market share.
In addition to Cars.com™, the Company’s brands include Dealer Inspire®, a technology provider that builds solutions for future-proofing dealerships with more efficient operations and connected digital experiences; FUEL™, an advertising solution that offers dealers and OEMs the benefit of using targeted digital video marketing to Cars.com’s in-market car buyer audience; DealerRater®, a leading auto dealer review and reputation management technology solution; CreditIQ™, digital financing technology and Accu-Trade™, vehicle valuation and appraisal technology. The Company’s portfolio of brands also includes Auto.com™, PickupTrucks.com™ and NewCars.com®.
The full set of CARS properties includes Cars.com™, The Inspire Trader®, FUEL™, Trader Rater®, CreditIQ™, Accu-Trade.com™, Auto.com™, PickupTrucks.com™ AND NewCars.com®. For more information, visit www.Cars.com.
SOURCE Cars.com Inc.
