If you look at the best SUVs for families, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. There are so many safety tests to look at, criteria to consider, and features to choose from. One way to start your search is to look at the top safety awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). If you also want to put car seats in your vehicle, you will also want an SUV with great LATCH systems for car seats. Here are the only two 2022 midsize SUVs with the safest car seat LATCH systems.
The 2022 Nissan Murano is one of the safest SUVs for families
The top 15 midsize SUVs from 2022 have one thing in common
The 2022 Nissan Murano is one of the safest new family midsize SUVs. That’s because of the combination of great crash test scores and the excellent LATCH car seat safety systems. The Nissan Murano is an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ winner. That means it has all good crashworthiness ratings, as well as acceptable or good headlights on all vehicles, and advanced or superior safety systems.
In addition, the Nissan Murano has a good + (G+) rating for the car seat LATCH system. That is the highest award a vehicle can win for car seats.
The Subaru Ascent 2022 has a G+ LATCH system rating
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The 2022 Subaru Ascent is another mid-sized SUV with both a Top Safety Pick+ award and a G+ rating for its LATCH car seat system. LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. It’s a way for car seats to be securely attached to vehicles, and it should make it easier, and hopefully therefore safer.
The Subaru Ascent is a great choice for families because not only is it safe, but it also has great car seat safety latches. If you’re looking for something your kids can feel comfortable in, the Ascent might be for you.
How does the IIHS rate LATCH system?
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If you plan to place your child in a forward-facing car seat, you must use the LATCH system. The IIHS says that “tether anchors are always necessary when installing forward-facing restraint systems, whether the lower anchors or the seat belt are used. The top tether keeps the child seat from tipping forward in a crash.”
Some of the things that the IIHS evaluates include bottom anchor accessibility, force, and clearance angle. In addition, it pays attention to location, any hardware that could be confusing, and how many LATCH systems are available in the vehicle. To receive a good+ rating, the SUV must have a good rating and also “A good+ rating is awarded to vehicles that meet the criteria for a good rating and that feature additional LATCH-equipped seating positions for maximum flexibility. For a two-row vehicle, that means a third good or acceptable LATCH seating position. The third position can use either special anchors or borrowed anchors.
While there are many great SUVs out there, the best SUVs for families combine safety, great car seat LATCH systems, and ease of use. The 2022 Nissan Murano and 2022 Subaru Ascent are both among the best SUVs you can buy if you have young children.
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