The verdict: The Model S is the larger of Tesla’s two electric sedans, but that doesn’t mean its backseat handles car seats well. We had issues installing two car seats into its backseat due to difficult-to-access anchors, a heavily bolstered seat-bottom cushion and fixed head restraints.
Does it fit three car seats? No.
Take a look at how the Latch system and each car seat scored below in our Car Seat Check of the 2021 Tesla Model S.
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A Grade
- None
B Grade
- Infant: The infant seat’s rigid Latch connectors made it easier for us to connect to the anchors than with the convertible seat’s floppy connectors. The front passenger had ample legroom ahead of the infant car seat.
2021 Tesla Model S | Cars.com photo by Jenni Newman
C Grade
- Latch: The Model S has two sets of lower anchors. It was difficult to access the anchors because of the design of the seats and the flap that covers the anchors. This setup left barely enough clearance for the car seat anchors, complicating connection. The three top tether anchors sit on the seatbacks and the two outer tethers are marked with the Latch icon. For a car seat with a dual top tether anchor strap, the straps need to be positioned on either side of the head restraint; for a single tether strap, it should be positioned on the outside of the head restraint with the closest side to the window. For an installation in the center position, the strap should go over the head restraint.
- Rear-facing convertible: We had issues connecting to the lower anchor; it was difficult and time-consuming. As with the infant seat, front passenger legroom wasn’t an issue.
- Forward-facing convertible: Again, connecting to the lower anchors was tough and the fixed head restraint prevented the convertible from sitting flush against the seatback as it should.
D Grade
- Booster: We also struggled with the booster. The outboard seats have large side bolsters that narrow the seating area. For the booster, the seating area wasn’t wide enough to fit the seat. The booster was pushed inward and covered the seat belt buckle, which sits flush with the bottom seat cushion. This complicated buckle access and caused the booster to sit at an angle. The fixed head restraint prevented the convertible from sitting flush against the seatback as it should.
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.
About Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks
Editors Jennifer Geiger and Jennifer Newman are certified child safety seat installation technicians.
For the Car Seat Check, we use a Chicco KeyFit 30 infant-safety seat, a Graco Contender 65 convertible seat and Graco TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a shorter passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant and convertible seats are installed behind the front passenger seat.
We also install the forward-facing convertible in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and infant seat in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit; a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. If there’s a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible. Learn more about how we conduct our Car Seat Checks.
Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat, and that Latch anchors have a weight limit of 65 pounds, including the weight of the child and the weight of the seat itself.
Keyword: How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2021 Tesla Model S?