The Tucson was a frontrunner due to easy-access anchors and ample legroom to accommodate four different child passenger seat styles – forward-facing convertible seat, rear-facing convertible seat, infant and booster and the latch system itself. Cars.com examined 51 of the newest vehicles, 14 of the most-popular two-row SUVs, in a series of tests to determine which models performed best in each of the car seat evaluations.

“Correct installation and proper use of car seats is critical and can help prevent child tragedies, should a crash occur,” said Brian Latouf, chief safety officer, Hyundai Motor North America. “The all-new Tucson provides an array of technology and safety features proving ideal for any family, while the recognition by Cars.com for Tucson’s exemplary performance in their Car Seat Fit Report Card evaluation reminds consumers on the importance of proper child passenger restraints and installation.”

Any 2021 and 2022 model vehicles, regardless of introduction or refresh date, can be considered for Cars.com Car Seat Fit Report Card evaluations.

Editor-in-Chief at Cars.com and certified child safety seat installation technician, Jenni Newman said, “The 2022 Hyundai Tucson received a perfect car seat score based on multiple variables including plenty of room for the car seat and the child; car seat placement that didn’t impact driver or front-passenger legroom; latch and tether anchors that are easy to access and use, as well as no fit issues involving head restraint or seat contouring.”

The verdict: Hyundai redesigned its compact Tucson SUV for 2022 and added the model’s first hybrid to the lineup. For this Car Seat Check, we tested the Tucson Hybrid, and it received a perfect score of straight-A grades thanks to ample legroom and easy-access anchors. The hybrid’s headroom and legroom dimensions match the non-hybrid version, so these results apply to both models; a plug-in hybrid version will join the lineup at a later date.

2022 TUCSON A GRADES

• Latch: The two sets of anchors peek out from the seat bight, where the back and bottom cushions meet; they’re easy to use. Three top tether anchors sit on the seatback; they’re clearly marked and have good clearance around the anchors for quick connection.
• Infant seat: Our rear-facing infant seat was easy to install, and a 5-foot-6-inch front passenger had ample legroom with the seat installed behind them.
• Rear-facing convertible: As with the infant, this seat was easy to install, and the front passenger was comfortable.
• Forward-facing convertible: After raising the head restraint, the seat fit well, and we had no issues connecting to the lower anchors or top tether anchor.
• Booster: After removing the head restraint to situate the booster flush against the seatback, the booster fit well. The outboard buckles have short but stable stalks, which should be easy for kids to use independently. The inboard buckle is floppy, however.

2022 TUCSON B GRADES

• None

2022 TUCSON C GRADES

• None

GRADING SCALE

A: Plenty of room for the car seat and the child; doesn’t impact driver or front-passenger legroom. Easy to find and connect to Latch and tether anchors. No fit issues involving head restraint or seat contouring. Easy access to the third row.

B: One room, fit or connection issue. Some problems accessing the third row when available.

C: Marginal room plus one fit or connection issue. Difficult to access the third row when available.

D: Insufficient room, plus multiple fit or connection issues.

F: Does not fit or is unsafe.

If you’re interested in test driving a 2022 Hyundai Tucson please click the button below. Depending on current conditions, traditional test drives may not be available so we’ll contact you to discuss what is possible. Thank you in advance for your understanding and patience.

Please Note: The details of this article were accurate at the time it was written. Manufacturers may change the details of any vehicle’s specifications, at any time, without notice.