The interior of the Nissan GT-R is designed with the idea that it can provide a balance of function and comfort for its driver and passengers with seating for four while maintaining its sporty look and feel. The rear seat is a novel idea, but let's face it, it's going to be a tight fit for most average-size adults. But what if your passenger is two-and-half years old and by law is required to ride in a child safety seat?

The idea of having to put one of these safety contraptions into the rear seats of any sports car is unheard of and never a primary thought in anyone's mind when buying a car of this caliber. And if you're like me, you're not the type of person willing to make a compromise where your child (or my nephew, in this case) is concerned. Nor will you pass up the chance to get behind the wheel of a driver's dream car like the GT-R. It doesn't have the rear legroom and space of our long-term F-150 SuperCrew cab, nor does it have the cargo space of the Subaru Forester, but the GT-R's rear seats are equipped with all the hooks and latches necessary to install a child safety seat when the necessity arises.

The GT-R is equipped with a slew of safety features to keep you protected behind the wheel. All four seats are fitted with three-point ELR (emergency locking retractor) seatbelts. Driver and front passenger SRS airbags are standard, and a curtain airbag system is offered as an option.

Godzilla vs. the Child Safety Seat

Player One: 2009 Nissan GT-R
Player Two: Recaro Young SPORT Child Seat

Round One: Getting It in the Car
The Nissan GT-R's door opening is roughly 35 in. tall, 23 in. wide at the top and 38 in. wide in the middle all the way down to the doorsills. With the front passenger seat adjusted as far forward as possible, it provides the back-seat passenger with 9 in. of legroom. That's plenty of room for little legs to dangle, but might prove annoying if those little legs kick the back of the front seat. After propping the front seat forward, I'm left with only a 28-in. wedge shape to squeeze the safety seat into the back seat. Mind you, I'm fitting a 18.1-in-wide/26.0-in-long/27.0-in.-high object through this opening. With a little twisting and angling, The GT-R eventually throws in the towel, and the seat makes its way into the cockpit. Godzilla: 0. Child Safety Seat: 1.

Round Two: Latch This
The GT-R's rear seats are labeled with two hooks located near the bottom of the seat that can be located by running your finger slightly between the seat cushions. There's also a third hook behind the headrest. The straps and latches of the child seat reach these hooks with little trouble and tighten up nice and snug to the bucket-shaped seat. I've moved this child seat in and out of almost all the vehicles that come into our hands; the GT-R has to be one of the easiest vehicles to latch the seat in fast and properly. This round is a tie. The vehicle safety latches and the child safety seat fit together like a hand and glove. Godzilla: 1. Child Safety Seat: 2.

Round Three: Enter the Child
With the seat in place, it's time to face the final challenge. It's no surprise to me when my nephew takes a minute to check out the GT-R. Most kids his age are learning the alphabet by associating an animal to a letter: A is for alligator, B is for bear. But with an aunt like me, he's learned A is for Audi and N is for Nissan GT-R. I let him check out his life-size Hot Wheels opponent before placing him in the vehicle. I have the upper hand when I put him in the child seat. I've had lots of practice due to the fact that we do this sort of thing every day in a Mini. Within seconds the belts are snapped, the front seat is returned to the upright position, and the passenger door is shut. The child has a good amount of legroom, but I pity the person who dares to try to sit in the front passenger seat. Only four inches of legroom is left up front. Godzilla: 1. Child Safety Seat: 3.

Bonus Round: Out Like a Light
Within minutes of our drive, I turned to check on my little passenger in the back seat and notice he's sound asleep. Score another point for the GT-R's ride comfort. I switch the suspension to "comfort" mode for our long drive to ease the harshness of the ride. The Nissan's sporty, teeth-chattering reputation has lulled a two-year-old into naptime within moments. Godzilla: 2. Child Safety Seat: 3.

Even thought the child safety seat has scored a 3-to-2 victory, it's good to know the awesomeness of the GT-R can coexist with the notion of a family hauler. Perhaps performance and sensibility can mix, and the idea of putting your little one into a high-performance sports car can be realized with little sacrifice—at least for today, anyway.