Re: LATCH, ISO-FIX Baby/Child Seat Attachments in XC90 (SteveD)
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>As we get closer to purchasing one of the first XC90's, my wife is getting increasingly concerned about Volvo's placement of the LATCH system anchors in the second row (i.e. no anchors for the middle seat). It's a big enough issue to her that she is having second thoughts about buying the vehicle. <p>Can anyone answer the following questions related to this issue:<p>(1) does Volvo believe that it is safer to install an rear-facing infant seat next to a passener door (and side impact air bag) vs. the middle seat? If so, why?<p>(2) Do you think additional LATCH anchors for the middle seat can be installed by my dealer?<p>(3) Will any of the XC90's competitors (e.g. MDX, GX470, X5, M320) have LATCH anchors in the middle seat in the second row for model year 2003?<p>Thanks. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><p><A HREF="http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/LATCH/QandA.html" TARGET="_blank">NHTSA FAQ on LATCH</A>, see 5Q and 6Q of VEHICLE-RELATED QUESTIONS:<p><b>5Q. Why aren't LATCH lower anchors provided for the rear center seat?</b><p><i>A. Two pairs of LATCH lower anchors are required in the back seat of vehicles manufactured after September 1, 2002, and those anchors are required to be a specified distance apart for safety protection in a crash. Because of this required spacing between the lower anchorages, most vehicles do not have a rear seat that is wide enough to accommodate anchorages in the center seating position and in an adjacent outboard position. While lower anchorages are typically installed at outboard seating positions, most vehicles that have a center rear seating position without lower anchors also provide a top tether for additional safety benefit.</i><p><b>6Q. Can I use the two inboard lower anchors (of the outboard LATCH seating positions) to install my child seat in the rear center seating position?</b><p><i>A. No, unless both the child restraint manufacturer's instructions and the vehicle owner's manual specifically state that this is acceptable. A child restraint can be installed using the rear-center seat belt and, if forward-facing, the top tether anchor.</i><BR><BR>
[Modified by crikey, 4:03 PM 10-22-2002]