​​How Well Do Child Seats Fit In a Sierra EV​ 

The Sierra EV is what happens when GMC’s best-selling model is run by electrons instead of hydrocarbons. You can look at it and see the future, or just imagine the over 1000 horsepower found in the 3-motor models. Cars.com looked at it and asked how well a child seat fits in there. Valley GMC tells you what they found. 

Cars.com conducts regular tests to evaluate how well child seats fit and how easily they can be installed in various vehicles. These tests are conducted by editors Jennifer Geiger and Jennifer Newman, both certified in installing child safety seats. Since testing every child seat for each vehicle model is impractical, they choose one representative seat from each stage that best reflects the majority of models in that category. These same seats are used in all tests. The seats are as follows: 

• Chicco KeyFit 30 infant-safety seat 

• Graco Contender 65 convertible seat (front-facing and rear-facing) 

• Graco TurboBooster seat 

The seats are tested in the second row because installing child seats in the front row is not recommended when an alternative is available, primarily due to risks associated with front airbag deployment. Historically, the second row has been seen as a safer spot. Infant and convertible seats are positioned behind the front passenger seat, while booster seats are tested behind the driver. The driver’s seat is adjusted to accommodate an average 6-foot-tall adult, and the front passenger seat is set for someone shorter.  

They also test the convertible seat in the forward-facing position in the middle of the second row to check whether three child seats can fit side by side, and they find that they can in the Sierra EV without any problem. They assess the ease and accessibility of the child seat latches. Each test is graded from A to F, with the following definitions for each grade: 

A: Plenty of room for the car seat and the child; it 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.  

B: One room, fit, or connection issue.  

C: Marginal room plus one fit or connection issue.  

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

F: Does not fit or is unsafe. 

Mostly Good With One Marginal Result 

The Sierra EV earned three As, one B, and one C. The C was with the Forward-Facing Convertible seat. Here are the grade explanations in their words: 

Latch: Grade A 

“The Sierra EV has two sets of lower anchors that are exposed for easy access. Three top tether anchors sit partway down the seatback; they’re difficult to get to and caused the forward-facing convertible’s low grade.” 

Infant Seat: Grade A 

“This seat was easy to install via the exposed lower anchors, and our 5-foot-6-inch front passenger had ample legroom in front of it.” 

Rear-Facing Convertible: Grade A 

“As with the infant seat, the rear-facing convertible went in without a problem, and front-passenger legroom was not impacted.” 

Forward-Facing Convertible: Grade C 

“We struggled to install the convertible in forward-facing mode. The Sierra EV’s head restraints flip down but aren’t otherwise adjustable, so they pushed the convertible off the seatback; it should sit flush against it. Although the lower anchors were easy to access, connecting to the top tether anchor was difficult: You have to first fold the seatback to access the anchor, then connect the tether strap to the anchor and set the seat back upright. It’s difficult to remove the slack from the tether strap; we had to do this process multiple times to get it tight. Also, per the owner’s manual, we routed the tether strap to the side of the head restraint.” 

Booster Seat: Grade B 

“Again, the fixed head restraint interfered with fit. The Sierra EV has tall stable buckles that should be easy for kids to grasp and use independently.” 

Smaller vehicles often have issues with the rear-facing seats conflicting with the front seatbacks, unless the front seats are pulled forward to a less comfortable position. However, the Sierra EV’s spacious cabin posed no issue. But if you have a rear-facing convertible seat, it will take extra time to install, and you may want to look into removing the headrest entirely when the seat is needed. We invite you to visit Valley GMC and bring the child seats you plan to use to evaluate the ease of installation in the Sierra EV or any new GMC, or any model in our used vehicle inventory that you may be interested in.