Carseats that fit in small car...seats

[karen_s]

Since you want to stay rear-facing as long as possible for safety reasons, you should investigate which seat will allow you to do that safely and fit your car well. It is a shame that the old car seat compatability database that used to exist online has been taken down.

I used to always go for Britax carseats when my children were small. Although pricey, they were so easy to use and install, and that is what made them safest in my opinion. When a seat is easy to use and install (the straps don't twist easily, for example), you are more likely to use that seat safely each and every time. So, in my opinion, that is what you should look for in addition to fitting in your car. When you go to the store, take the display seat down if you can and adjust it and strap in your child. Look for how easy it is to tighten and loosen the straps, and how easy it latches and unlatches. Some of them are really annoying and appear to be tightly latched when they are not, posing a safety hazard. Some of them by design seem to trap dirt and such. I also love the designs where there are infinite height adjustments without rethreading the straps - that is such a lifesaver because you don't have to uninstall the seat from the car when your child grows just to readjust everything.

Found these threads pertaining to your particular car:
Radian or complete air for Subaru outback wagon 2001 - Car Seat.Org - Carseat, Vehicle & Child Passenger Safety Community Forums
Convertible Car Seat for 2001 Subaru Legacy Outback - Car Seat.Org - Carseat, Vehicle & Child Passenger Safety Community Forums

Why rear-facing longer is important:
Rear-Facing Carseats and Safety

Get help if you can. Call for a Safe Kids inspection at 1-866-SEAT-CHECK or visit Safe Kids USA . Go to a free inspection locally. When I purchased my first Britax, the store allowed me to try it out in my car before I bought it (one of the fine perks of buying locally at a small store!). Call ahead - sometimes Toys R Us/Babies R Us will allow this too.

Hope this helps you!

[patriot201]

Britax seats are very short in the leg room and ALSO have less height in the shell than do many other seats. This means that your child will outgrow the seat much sooner than he would outgrow some other brands.

I have owned MANY convertible carseats over the past 16 years (and probably even more infant seats, combination seats, and boosters. ). I have had: Evenflo Ultara V, Evenflo Medallion, Eddie Bauer 5-point, Century SmartMovePlus, Britax Roundabout, Century Bravo, Evenflo Triumph, Fisher Price Safe Embrace, Britax Wizard, Britax Boulevard, Graco SmartSeat 2, Graco MyRide, Cosco Alpha Omega, First Years True Fit, Sunshine Kids Radian 65, Sunshine Kids Radian XT, Cosco Scenera, and Safety First Uptown. I am down to only two convertibles now.

Out of all of those seats, my two favorites BY FAR are my Radians and my TrueFit. They both have super-high shells, are easy to use, and fit a variety of ages well.

I have installed my Radians and TrueFit in very small cars, but with the angle adjuster that Diono now makes for the Radian, it fits VERY well in small cars.

So, I would highly recommend:

Diono Radian XT (with an angle adjuster)

First Years True Fit

[karen_s]

This is why it is SO important to try the child in the seat, as well as the seat to the vehicle(s). My middle son was SO broad in the shoulders that no way would he fit comfortably in the Radian nor in many of the other brands. He fit best in the Husky/Regent of course, but then it reached its expiration date

[ADVentive]

Reposting:
Car Seat.Org - Carseat, Vehicle & Child Passenger Safety Community Forums
is the best site. You can post your child's stats (age, height, weight), your car, your budget, and any other specific concerns, and they will tell you what carseats are good for your situation. I have done it several times and they are great!

[Veracity]

thanks so much