Is this convertible car seat easy to install rear-facing in a small sedan?

If front seat legroom is your worry, I would go with Evenflo. It is one of the few convertibles that stays compact front to back when rear-facing, so you can put it behind the passenger and still keep some slide and a little recline on the front seat in most small sedans. It is about 16.75 inches wide and has an adjustable recline that lets you set a more upright rear-facing angle once your baby has good head control, which buys the front passenger extra inches.

Install is straightforward with either LATCH or the seat belt. As long as you snug it down well and set the allowed angle using the indicator, you should get a solid fit without the car seat pressing into the front seat. For a newborn you will need the deeper recline, but for an older baby or toddler you can go more upright to reclaim space.

What helps most in small sedans is a convertible with multiple rear facing recline settings and a clear angle indicator, because being allowed to go more upright later is what preserves front legroom. You can fine tune using a rolled towel or pool noodles at the seat bight only if your manual lists that option. I have found the seat belt gives more flexibility to shift the base slightly and keep it from touching the front seat, and as long as it is tight at the belt path and within the angle range you are good. Works great.

would try the center first because in our compact the seat nestles between the two fronts and suddenly both adults have knees that are not on the dash, seat belt install there is usually the ticket and once you know how to lock it the process is quick. If you do go behind the passenger set the rear facing angle to the most upright allowed for your child's stage and check movement at the belt path, under an inch is the goal, then see how much slide and recline you keep on the front seat.

If your cabin is really short the newborn recline is the only time it gets tricky. A center install often gives both front seats more room because the top of the car seat tucks between them, and you can usually use the seat belt there even if center lower anchors are not approved in your car.

Make sure the front seat is not bracing unless both manuals allow it. If you want reassurance a child passenger safety technician can meet you at a check event and try a couple of positions and angles in your exact sedan.

My partner is six foot two and we managed rear facing behind the passenger without turning that seat into a torture device and the trick was to set the passenger seat where we wanted it first, then install the car seat to the allowed angle so it was independently tight. Once our kiddo was older and we could move to a more upright setting it felt like we gained inches, and the passenger seat still had a tiny bit of recline left. Just make sure any contact is allowed by both manuals, or leave a gap if required.

Yes this can work in a tight car if you manage the recline — Go with the deeper angle for a newborn then more upright as soon as head control is steady and you will buy back front passenger space. I lock the belt, press down where little feet will go while tightening, then check for under an inch of movement at the belt path and see how much slide the front seat keeps. No drama.

Rear facing behind the passenger can work in a small sedan if you use the most upright allowed angle and install with the seat belt to shift the base toward the door for extra front seat room. Check both manuals for whether gentle contact is allowed and prioritize the angle indicator since being in range lets the front seat still slide and recline a bit.

Some convertibles take up less space front to back but the shape of your back seat matters too.

If the bench is sloped you may need to adjust the built in foot to bring the recline into the allowed zone and recover front room.

Features like anti rebound bars can add a bit of length in some cars, so check the fit both with and without if your seat allows removal.

Install with the passenger seat set where you want it and make sure the car seat is tight on its own, then confirm the front seat can still move a notch without interference.

Totally doable.