Five cars with different ISOFIX designs

ISOFIX is a globally recognised standard for securing child restraints in cars that’s now widely used in Australia, but car-makers often take different approaches to how the anchorage points are incorporated into the rear seat design.

We’ve already gone into the nuts and bolts about ISOFIX in an earlier article, so now it’s time to start looking at how cars differ in their approach – especially those that do it well!

Regulations require that all cars have an ISOFIX logo on or above the anchorage points for easy identification, so you should have no problem locating them.

In most new cars, they are in the outboard (window seat) positions in the second row.

In some cars, the anchorage points protrude slightly so you can easily see them, while other cars make them stand out with contrasting (bright) colours.

Other car-makers go to great lengths to conceal them behind flaps in the seat fabric or behind zips or plastic covers.

In those cases, the locations should be easily identified with the ISOFIX logo, and while there might be an extra step in the process of using the anchor points when fitting the child restraint, having them concealed can produce a neater and more elegant rear seat design.

So here are five cars that do ISOFIX a little differently – and, in our opinion, very well…

The battery-electric BYD Seal mid-size sedan has very neat ISOFIX in the two outer rear seats.

They are within plastic guides and behind sprung plastic flaps that push back easily and then spring back into place when you remove them.

These are preferable to removable plastic covers found in some vehicles that are easily lost.

Perhaps the most elegant of all the ISOFIX I have experienced in cars is the set-up found in the Peugeot 2008 and the e-2008 EV pictured here.

This five-seater small SUV has beautifully crafted concealed zips in the seat upholstery that open to reveal the ISOFIX anchorages.

The 2008 is a fabulously designed little SUV, so the zips are very much in keeping with the rest of the car’s styling.

The Subaru Outback is a spacious family SUV and perfect for tall family members.

ISOFIX anchorages in the two outer rear seats are hidden behind a large flap of the seat fabric.

This keeps them well hidden for owners who don’t need to use them, while still offering easy access for those who do. Three Infasecure child seats fit nicely across the back row of the Outback.

The Mazda CX-60 is a premium five-seat mid-size SUV with ISOFIX in the two outer rear seats.

The anchorage points are located within plastic guides and clearly labelled, although these are of the removable plastic cover variety (some cars simply have the plastic surround to the metal anchorage).

Two Infasecure child seats fit nicely in the back of the Mazda CX-60 using the ISOFIX, and a 180cm-tall driver can sit in the front.

The Mitsubishi Outlander is a five- and seven-seat mid-size SUV with ISOFIX anchorages in the two outer second-row seats.

These are exposed with the seat fabric around them, very easy to locate and connect to.

The Outlander has top tether strap anchor points on the back of all three seating positions in the second row, with enough room to fit three Infasecure child seats, but there are no top tether or ISOFIX anchorages in the third row.