Best Slim Car Seats for Small Cars: I Tested 6 for 3-Across Seating

Ease of Installation: 4/5 | Cleaning: 4/5 | Weights: 5-40 lbs rear, 22-65 lbs forward | Overall Value: 5/5

As a parent always on the lookout for a great value car seat, the Safety 1st EverSlim All-in-One Convertible Car Seat has truly impressed me. It’s a compact, well-thought-out design that’s perfect for families with multiple children or small cars, with a slim width of just 17.3” (without the cup holders). The design is simple yet sleek, and it doesn’t sacrifice safety or comfort to achieve its slim profile. The ease of installation was great, and the red-to-green SecureTech™ chest clip is a nice touch, offering a visual cue that it’s securely fastened.

I installed it rear-facing and found it to be user-friendly, though it did take a little time to get the fit just right. The base recline feature was a great bonus, allowing for more comfort during longer car rides. Cleaning is fairly straightforward, but reassembling the seat can be a little tricky. Overall, though, for the price, the EverSlim is hard to beat. You’re getting a high-quality car seat with excellent safety features and longevity, all at an affordable price. It's definitely a top choice for parents looking for something that lasts from infancy all the way to booster age without breaking the bank.

Ease of Installation: 5/5 | Cleaning: 5/5 |  Weights: 5-50 lbs rear, 22-65 lbs forward | Overall Value: 4/5 

No lie, this one surprised me. I don’t think I had the best brand image of Britax before trying it, but I’m a believer now. First, the all-black color, Onyx, is really sleek. Though it does come in other colors, I just like the simplicity of it – and how it blends seamlessly with our black dogs’ fur! Speaking of fur, everything is machine washable and dryer-safe – what a game changer. It is also very padded, perhaps more than any other car seat I’ve felt. It had me wishing I could ride in it! Installation was the best part though. With their patented ClickTight installation, you pull the seat up, pull the seat belt through, click the belt, and close the seat. I’ve never been so sure I was installing a seat correctly. My only beef with this seat is that it is extremely heavy, so we’d probably never travel with it.

Ease of Installation: 4.5/5 | Cleaning: 3/5 | Weights: 5-40 lb rear, 22-65 lb forward, 40-100 lb booster | Overall Value: 5/5

This was actually the very first convertible car seat we owned when our son came home last summer. Though I had nothing to compare it to at the time, I really did (and do!) like the seat. It is lightweight, but doesn’t compromise on safety. We’ve taken this seat on several planes and trips, never having any issues with ease of transporting or installing in rental cars. Installation is pretty simple, especially for forward-facing. You slide the buckle through a hole and then buckle it, as well as ensuring the hook clips behind the seat. Cleaning is fine as it is machine-washable, though it has a lot of pieces and putting it back together is a bit of a chore. Supporting 5-100 lbs through different configurations and under $200, it is still a really great value for a family and I’d buy it again in a heartbeat!

Ease of Installation: 4/5  | Cleaning: 5/5 |  Weights: 5–40 lbs rear, 30–65 lbs. forward, and 40–100 lbs. booster | Overall Value: 4/5

My youngest son, Theodore, has the nickname “Sweaty Teddy,” so when I read about the first-of-its-kind Pria Chill car seat that has built-in fans, I knew we had to try it. Though technically above the “slim” designation at 19.5” inches across (slim is 19”), it has a very slim profile. It definitely looks and feels the most breathable out of all of the car seats I tried, which makes a lot of sense considering its functionality. The fans run with a simple plug that goes into a cigarette lighter in your car and has an easy on/off switch that you can reach from the front seat. For those of you worried about freezing baby in the colder months, the Pria Chill has a sensor so it knows to cool only when temperatures are high. One of my favorite features is the easy storage of the harness when it isn’t in use; you simply tuck them under the grey notches on each side of the seat to hold them back. Simple and brilliant. Cleaning is also simple, as the fabric is machine-washable and able to be dried on low. Bonus: the cupholders are removable and dishwasher safe. My only beef was with installation. The guide was difficult for me to follow with many steps for rear-facing installation.

Ease of Installation: 5/5 | Cleaning: 4/5 |  Weights: 5-50 lbs rear, 25-65 lbs forward | Overall Value: 4/5

It’s no secret that I’m a long time Nuna fan, but I was still curious if their convertible car seats would live up to the quality I’ve come to know of their other products. The EXEC Convertible Car Seat falls into the slim category at 18.5” inches in width. The EXEC aesthetically is my favorite across the board. It just looks “first class,” according to my husband; the details are exquisite and thought-out. From the footrest to the fabrics, it is obviously well-made. This checks out, as I’ve seen many-a-celebrity with Nuna’s car seats installed for their kids. 

Installation was pretty easy, especially because the brand offers complimentary car seat checks over Zoom. I did one to confirm my installation was correct and the peace of mind was so worth the 15 minutes it took. Most of the pieces on the seat are machine washable, but reassembly is a bit more complicated than other seats. Overall, I am madly in love with this seat. For a premium price, you are getting a premium product. The way it looks, the way it installs, and the safety ratings I know Nuna for make it a favorite!

Ease of Installation: 4.5/5  | Cleaning: 3.5/5 |  Weights: 5-50 lbs rear, 26-65 lbs forward, 40-120 lb booster | Overall Value: 4/5 

Founded in 1949, Peg Perego remains a leader in baby and children’s gear – and it is no accident to be successful with the ever-changing generation of parents for that long. Though I previously didn’t know a whole lot about the brand, I really get the “quiet luxury” vibe from them. The brand focuses on quality and safety above all – and it certainly shows. I tried their newer Primo Viaggio All in One car seat, which is amazingly versatile, sporting the biggest weight range of all the seats I tried. I love the elegant leather details and overall sleekness of the car seat. I also read exceptional crash ratings, which makes sense given some of the built-in features like the extendable, built-in rebound bar and kinetic pods.

I did struggle with installation a little bit, but it ended up being fine once I watched a video on how to do it. I wouldn’t want to install/re-install it on a regular basis, but that is the beauty of a convertible car seat like this usually – you don’t have to install/re-install it often. It also appears to be hand-wash only, which frankly, is tough for busy moms and dads. If safety and quality are your jam (and you maybe care less about cleaning), this is a great, premium car seat option for you at a pretty reasonable price.

Ease of Installation: 4.5/5  | Cleaning: 4.5/5 |  Weights: Rear-facing up to 50 lbs, forward-facing up to 65 lbs | Overall Value: 4.5/5

Romer is a newcomer to the carseat market, but it did not disappoint. I’d call this one “boujee on a budget.” It looks really great and is easy to install (I love the SecureLoc installation). It has super cool technology, like the IsoEnergy material that crumples on impact to absorb energy and keep your kiddo safe. It also has extended rear-facing weights (up to 50 lbs), which is great for those who are seeking to keep their kids rear-facing as long as possible. At just under $500, it puts up a good “fight” as a competitor to even more expensive seats.

Ease of Installation: 4.5/5  | Cleaning: 5/5 |  Weights: Rear-facing up to 50 lbs, forward-facing up to 65 lbs, booster up to 120lbs | Overall Value: 4/5

Two words: machine washable and dryable. Okay, maybe that’s 4 words, but still! Not many carseats are approved to use in the dryer, but this one is. As if that’s not reason enough to buy it, the seat comes at a great price of $399, which is hard to beat. It is a truly slim seat, fitting 3 across with no problem in my ‘. I also love the fact this comes in 4 different color combinations, so you can get the one that suits your personality best. Compared to other carseats, it was somewhat heavy, but not the most heavy one I felt. While it isn’t my favorite in terms of looks, I love the ClickTight technology more. The technology makes it so you can know for certain your installation is good.