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We got the Chicco Nextfit because it fit the best in our saturn ion. I don't have it in the middle seat but i am fairly certain that we could install it there if we wanted to.

ETA: the thing I love most about it is that it is so easy to install. definitely worth it for me.

@Mrs. Lion: same, we got the Nextfit because it fit best in our smallish backseat. It has one of the smallest front to back footprints.

We tried the diono radian and there was just no way. I did not try the angle adjuster, which I have heard helps, but it didn't even look close. Plus it was so tall that it would have blocked my vision.

C is only 23 lbs now so the weight and height limit are still way off for me.

Eta- if you have latch in the center seat, the Nextfit is a breeze to install. With the seatbelt it's really not bad if you have room, but in our old car with a small backseat it was pretty difficult. But I blane the car not the seat.

I have the Clek foonf. You can fit 3 in a row in a compact car if necessary. It has extended rear facing up to 50 pounds/43" and ff up to 65 pounds. It also has a longer life then a lot of carseats, I believe it's 9 years.
We love it and I just ordered a second one for my husbands truck. Right now you can't use them until about 6 months/child can sit on their own, but the retailer that I ordered from yesterday mentioned they're coming out with an infant insert now too.

@MrsLilybugg: the seatbelt is not too difficult, although it takes a lot of muscle to get it tight (my neighbor has a device that helps "ratchet" it so it gets really tight and doesn't wiggle.) Also, the Graco seat extends to a huge height (I'm talking probably the height of a 7 year old), so it's a good erf seat. Full disclosure, it's very clunky, but it's our only seat for now, so we don't mind.

@MrsLilybugg: We don't have ours in the middle seat mostly because it is easier to get him in and out from the side. I figure with our small back seat and side airbags it really isn't that much safer in the middle and it is MUCH less hassle for me.

@MrsLilybugg: latch

I drive a Yaris as well. We have the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio convertible seat. I use it behind the passenger seat because my husband is super tall and needs the leg room when he's driving, but I think if both people were average height it would actually be better in the middle, rather than behind the passenger seat pushed all the way forward.
I really like the seat in general though. Installation was super easy, it has a rebound bar for rear facing. It doesn't say exactly what height it's good for for extended rear facing (1 inch below top of the headrest isn't super definitive), but the review on carseats for littles shows somebody with their five year old in it still not surpassing the height or weight limits (45lbs rear facing). It's really easy to adjust, and lengthen/shorten the straps. Everything kind of moves, so no rethreading needed when it's time to upsize.

http://csftl.org/peg-perego-primo-viaggio-5-70-convertible-car-seat-review/

The only things are that it's a pretty heavy seat, so not ideal for traveling, and I wish it had a cup holder, and the straps get twisted easier than our other seat... and it was pricey. But otherwise I find that it looks really comfortable and plush.

ETA: My cousin had a baby the same time I did and ALSO drives a Yaris. She has the Britax Boulevard and claims it fits in her car just fine.

http://carseatblog.com/22818/the-ultimate-rear-facing-convertible-space-comparison-review-size-matters/

You should find that link quite helpful. The Radian is an excellent choice with the angle adjuster, which helps QUITE a bit.

@MrsLilybugg: we got our Advocate yesterday and it was soooo easy to install!! I highly, highly recommend one of the Click Tight seats if you're going to be doing a seat belt installation (the three types of convertibles are all the same size for height and depth, it's just the width that varies). I have ours reclined a little less than halfway and it fits great, but DH and I are both on the shorter side so we don't need the front seats back too far. I did put one of the seats way back and it was tight with the recline level of the carseat, but if I'd set the carseat to a more upright position it would have worked just fine. I don't know how the space in our Civic compares to a Yaris but I think the Britax seats are well worth a try!

We have a diono and I don't think the install was that bad...