3 carseats in a Chevy Impala?

[XmasEve]

(Please excuse me that I can't right now remember the year of the Impala, I know it is a recent model, but not the MOST recent one. I'll update when I find out.)

Can you safely LATCH 3 car seats in the back seat of a Chevy Impala? We have 2 Britax Marathons, plans to ttc dc3 later this year, and the opportunity to get the above mentioned Impala.

Thoughts?

Thanks for your help!

[Amaris]

I'm pretty sure you can't. Chevy allows latch use for outboard positions only. If you were to latch 3 seats there then you would have to latch connectors in each inner anchor, and that's a big no no unless the manual actually states that it's ok to do that. Also, latch anchors look like this
[_______] [_______] They are connected by a bar, and they are a set distance away from each other. Again, unless your manual specifically states that you can use latch for the center position, and that you can place 2 latch connectors on one anchor then I would use latch for the outboard positions, unless I could get a better install with the seatbelts, and use the seatbelt for the center position. I've put a marathon in the center position of DH's impala with the seatbelt and gotten a really solid install with it.

[Jeanum]

I know recent model years ('06 through '07) of the Impala have 3 full sets of lower LATCH anchors according to this link which lets you look up LATCH positions in current Chevrolet models: http://www.chevrolet.com/safety/during/latch/index.jsp

GM is generally pretty good about including 3 full sets of lower LATCH anchors in their recent car models, even in models smaller than the Impala like the Saturn Ion or Chevy Cobalt I believe. If the Impala is an '03 or newer (and maybe even an '02 model since some GM cars had lower LATCH anchors even before they were required for the 2003 model year), it probably has 3 full sets, but I'm not 100% certain. How's that for a rambling answer, lol? :)

[XmasEve]

Thanks for the help! Turns out the Impala was an '05, but my inlaws recinded their offer to give it to us. (So MIL didn't get back to me on if it has 3 full sets of lower anchorages in the back or not.) Oh well, we're pretty happy- though squished- in our Toyota Echo for the time being.

Just wanted to thank you all for your replies.:)

[scatterbunny]

One thing I want to mention is that even in vehicles with three full sets of LATCH, sometimes getting three across is only possible with one or more of the seats installed with a seatbelt. LATCH installs tend to position a carseat more towards the middle of the vehicle, away from the doors. Installing with a seatbelt allows you to get the most out of your space.

[LuvBug03]

check your manual, it should say if you can use all 3 sets at once. Assuming you have the newer model with the 3 full sets.
What are chevy's latch rated to? 40 or 48lbs?

[scatterbunny]

48 pounds.

[MySweetAGL]

FWIW, I had on '02 Impala and it had 3 sets of anchors in the back seat, all of them could be used at the same time. It had a nice, flat bench seat and easily fit 3 across. :)