The Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children system (LATCH) is one of the safest child restraint systems in cars, allowing parents to attach car seats to the frame of the vehicle.
Federal regulations make the system mandatory for most cars. Regulated since September 2002, they became a requirement on 2003 models with specifications as "each consisting of two rigid bars 6 mm in diameter and 25-50 mm long, are present in the vehicle seat bight (the crack between the seat back and seat cushion) in specified seating positions in all cars, minivans and pickup trucks.”
However, vehicles weighing over 8,500 pounds or buses over 10,000 pounds are exempt from this category. Other exemptions include the Ford SuperDuty pickups (F-250, F-350, F-450).
An index of quality LATCH holding vehicles includes the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, 2017 Genesis G90, 2017 GMC Acadia, 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid, 2017 Lincoln Continental, 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300, 2017 Subaru Impreza, 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan and 2017 Volvo S90.
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