The 50 lb. Given that some injuries result from an incorrectly installed car seat, this Britax is a contender for parents concerned with proper installation, thanks to the stupendously easy ClickTight design. The Nuna Rava has similar sensor results earning an 8 out of 10. We rated each seat compared to the competition using a 1-10 scoring system using crash test report analysis. We needed a towel for the rear installation of the Evenflo Tribute to obtain the proper angle of the seat. Got feedback? However, surprisingly, about a third of the options are easier to install using the vehicle belt not the LATCH. It is one of the few seats we tested that retain the straps and clips. However, we feel it deserves a nod and is a worthwhile option to save you money. The Chicco offers a unique chest clip that has two width settings. This Graco also has excellent results for LATCH installation, which can translate to better safety as studies indicate that many real-world injuries are related to errors concerning installation. Shipping & Freight | Refunds & Returns | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions. Subscribe now and be in to WIN one of our monthly $100 Gift Cards. While also an intriguing device, it emits EMF, and each parent will need to decide if this feature is compelling enough to expose their child to EMF. There is no way to tell what each manufacturer means when they use terminology that lacks an agreed-upon meaning (like SIP). The Chicco NextFit Zip has one of the shortest tightening straps in the group, and it took more effort to pull than some of the competition. Some lock-offs work a little better than others, but even those that are challenging, still provide a more secure feeling installation in our tests than seats without a lock-off. Like your favourite workout wear, its cooling and resistant to wrinkling and fading over time. The simplest method is a non-rethread style that involves moving the headrest/harness shoulder strap assembly up and down (above left). The combination of certified crash testing and hands-on testing allows us to evaluate car seat performance from a safety and daily use perspective. As a result of the innovative ClickTight and strap tightening system, this Britax practically installs itself with only a little help from you. Register your restraint on www.babyjogger.co.nz to receive an additional 1 year extended warranty. However, the Graco Extend2Fit is an excellent option for anyone who wants the best crash test results and finds value in the safety potential of a rear-facing seat. With a 7 of 10, the Allegiance is somewhat harder to install using the vehicle belt than some competition. The Evenflo Tribute LX has the lowest score in the group for LATCH installation with a 6 of 10. In our tests, the Britax Boulevard ClickTight ARB earned one of the highest overall results with perfect LATCH and belt installation scores, creating a virtually foolproof convertible car seat anyone can install. rear-facing weight limit combined with the turn feature helps keep children rear-facing longer. The weight difference is the angle adjustment pad and the anti-rebound bar. City Turn smoothly rotates with one hand, then audibly clicks into place for assurance that it is safely secured. Parents will love this easy to install, quality seat with nice features, Quality seat with comfy features and great crash test results, but a high price, Great lightweight seat with excellent crash test results that is very easy to use, Rear-facing up to 50 lbs and the best crash results are a bonus to this budget-friendly seat, Unique features and an easy installation create a seat that is innovative and cool, Budget-friendly, easy to use option with better crash test results make it a standout, Crash test results don't measure up to the impressive functionality of this seat, Easy to use, quality seat that struggled to keep up with the competition, Expensive, high-quality seat with a better crash-test score and unique features, but it is heavy and feels gadgety, Somewhat better than the average option with nothing extraordinary to sing about, Below average crash test results override easy to install, we like the Boulevard better, Nice and easy to install with the "SuperCinch" strap but has only average crash results, Comfy, quality option that is harder to use and install with a higher price, Impressive crash test results and friendly price make this a great budget option, No matter what your goals are, there is a better seat with higher crash scores available, A convertible option with easy to remove, zip-off cover, but it is otherwise generally average with few standout features, For the price, there are easier to install, higher quality choices available, Easy to install and use, quality seat but the price and crash test results are lacking, The risk of head injury related to the HIC result, The risk of chest injury related to the chest clip (g clip) result. However, it has a machine washable cover and better crash-test analysis than many competitors. This fact can be a relief when you need to install the seat with a belt, which is highly likely given the weight limitations of LATCH systems. Nearly all convertible car seats have the LATCH connectors, and most vehicles manufactured after September 1, 2002, offer the anchors on the left and right sides of the back seat. This clean-up process is far better than most contenders that often include handwashing and air drying, such as the Britax ClickTight four-part cover. For more details on the Baby JoggerCity Turnand brand refresh, visitwww.babyjogger.comand follow @babyjogger onInstagram,YouTubeandFacebook. So, the good news is you should be able to utilize the LATCH method until your child outgrows the LATCH connectors' weight limit (please see your safety seat user manual). The Britax Boulevard ClickTight ARB has the highest score for tightening and loosening. BabyGearLab is reader-supported. Rear facing: 1.8 22.7 kg, Forward Facing: 10 29.5 kg. It earned a 9, which is better than the LATCH score of most competitors. Required fields are marked *. The convertible car seats are subjected to more than 39 individual tests to evaluate their performance. If you are looking for a convertible car seat, then your baby is at the age range where many parents are also thinking about a. Some of our stores may still have this option in stock, please. This information makes it an excellent option for those who want top safety indicators. The Evenflow Tribute LX and the Britax Allegiance earned 8s for crash test results and are among the least expensive in this review. Our convertible car seat testing is divided across six rating metrics: Over the last several years, we've purchased more than 18 convertible car seats (two of each, actually). The lowest-priced brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item in its original packaging (where packaging is applicable).Packaging should be the same as what is found in a retail store, unless the item is handmade or was packaged by the manufacturer in non-retail packaging, such as an unprinted box or plastic bag.See details for additional description. The LATCH connectors on the Emblem have a one sides tightening strap which in our experience takes more strength to use than some of the unique LATCH straps with center connectors or self-ratcheting features. The Evenflo Tribute LX is a dark horse compared to our usual selections for best value as it doesn't rank very high in the competition. An analysis of auto crash injuries for children shows that head and chest injuries are the two most significant risks of fatal or severe injuries. Despite these minor hiccups, the Foonf is impressive and includes other safety features. The rear facing Clek Foonf has a recline adjustment attachment and a anti-rebound bar, as well as an under the seat belt pathway that includes a belt lock off. Let us know! With a passion to develop unique products that offer a safe, stylish and convenient way for families to adventure together, Baby Joggercreated this rotating seat to help make in and out of the car easier and more comfortable by allowing parents to maintain a more upright posture throughout. The Graco Extend2Fit also has a reasonable price, the highest crash-test result analysis in the group, and can stay rear-facing longer (a potential safety +). "Baby Jogger recognized a serious need to provide parents, especially those who are recently post-partum or older caregivers like grandparents, with an easier way to get a child in and out of the car," said Laurel Hurd, Segment President, Learning & Development. We collect the details you need to choose the right car seat for your needs and your wallet. Our in-house convertible car seat test protocol development was led by Certified Passenger Safety Technician, Bob Wofford. It is the most innovative seat in the review and includes a rigid forward facing LATCH system. Some seats have additional features that manufacturers claim will improve the seat's safety; we did not consider these features or claims in our crash test score analysis. For this reason, we test how challenging it is to remove the fabric covers for washing. There are primarily two methods for adjusting the harness height on convertible car seats. The Nuna is easy to install using LATCH in the forward facing position. The seats lacking a lock-off did not score as well as those with a lock-off, except for the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible. If your chosen option is challenging, you may not use it as the manufacturer advised, or you could become chronically frustrated. Available in three colorways, including Onyx Black, Phantom Grey and Paloma Greige, the City Turnis a convertible car seat that transforms from rear-facing harness (4-50 lb.) While this method isn't particularly hard or frustrating, it takes more time and requires you to remove your child from the seat for access, and if the car seat is forward-facing, you may need to remove the convertible seat from the car to reach the seat splitter plate. The above image shows the percentage below the federal maximum Chest (G) Clip result (60) achieved by the seats we tested in this review. We've tested more than 60 car seats including 31 convertible seats. All information is provided on an as-is basis for readers in the USA & Canada. A small collection of just some of the convertible car seats we've tested over the years. ; 49 or less; harness height at or slightly above shoulder level, Integrated RAPIDLOCK belt-tensioning technology, 3 rear-facing recline positions, 2 forward-facing recline positions, Premium padding, removeable infant insert & buckle covers, Engineered to help protect in rollover, side, front, and rear collisions. The car seat converts from rear-facing harness (4-50 lb) to forward-facing harness (22-65 lb) to grow with your child. With several award-winning seats offering reasonable prices and better-than-average crash results, you can find a convertible car seat with a potential additional margin of protection without draining the bank. If you are not sure which kind of car seat is right for you, check out our Best Car Seats Review to get the skinny. It isn't challenging, but it requires additional attention to detail. In this update, we bought and crash-tested the top 18 convertible seats available today to find the best. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that "car crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13.". The Clek Foonf is a steel frame convertible car seat that earns top results for LATCH installation and has innovative forward-facing rigid LATCH anchors. The Cybex Sirona S is also heavy at a flat 30 lbs in either configuration. You push the rigid LATCH connectors onto the anchors, and that's it! A lower number is better. The Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) installation method should make it easier to correctly install car seats with fewer opportunities to make mistakes. It is also easier to use than most of the competition. The ease of tightening and loosening the strap is also something to consider. Overall, the Emblem is an excellent choice and one we'd recommend to a friend. This straightforward cover removes quickly, is machine-washable and dryable, and fits back on the shell without a hiccup. Below we compare the chest clip results of each seat, so you can see how your preferred convertible car seat compares to the competition. The Evenflo Tribute LX is a top-performer for removing the cover and straightforward, parent-friendly cleaning. This chart includes the % below the maximum allowed HIC result of each seat we tested in this review. Both can potentially impact overall safety. For proper product use, please refer to the safety and instructions includedonthe packaging and manuals. This convertible option earned the second best-combined crash test results in the competition we tested for this review and it has one of the lowest prices. While it does cost a little more than those already mentioned, it is still less spendy than the average car seat in our tests and is one of the higher-ranking selections. Almost half of the car seats in our review have non-rethread harness adjustment methods. This is one of the easiest adjustment options in the review. We prefer the non-rethread style because it is simple, and we think busy parents will be more likely to keep the harness adequately fitted if they can accomplish this quickly without removing their child from the seat. We consider padding, fabric, and foam and how well they come together compared to the competition. We like handwashing methods over spot cleaning only, but because there is a high potential for throwup, spit-up, and poopy blowouts, it is ideal to have a machine washable cover you can remove quickly. The lock-off works smoothly, and the belt is easy to thread. Alongside innovation and style, safety continues to be a top priority at Baby Jogger. As previously noted, the Clek Foonf doesn't have straps for forward-facing installation, and the Chicco NextFitand Chicco NextFit Zip have the "SuperCinch" method with a 2-step tightening system engineered to do the hard work for you. This seat has also been tested with TRUE Test Plus safety standards, which meet or exceed the US Federal Motor Vehicle Standard (FMVSS) 213 and are engineered to help protect the child in rollover, side, front and rear collisions. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing by people who care. Using the belt lock-off/tensioner on the Sirona S isn't difficult but it is a two-step process. This convertible seat is not the best option for families on a tight budget as it is one of the most expensive seats in this lineup. Hi there, thank you for your inquiry, the city turn does turn 180 either way when in rear facing mode. Were so excited about the launch of the new Baby Jogger City Turn Convertible! A lower number is preferred. We love the non-rethread harness height adjustment with ten levels, seamless soft fabric, a closed outer shell, and three layers of padding for comfort. We measure the weight and width of each car seat we test, including the forward-facing and rear-facing configuration weight and the width at the widest point, as these can vary. This is the third rotating convertible on the market (4th, if you count Orbit Baby) and its clear that this is a new trend in the US market. BabyGearLab contracts with the same crash test facility that the NHTSA uses to perform our convertible seat crash tests. This feature is so helpful, it is a game-changer for installing seats with a vehicle belt, and we believe you'll feel significantly more comfortable installing a seat using the belt if it has one of these nifty lock-offs. The buckle on the Evenflo Tribute LX is one of the easiest in the group to use. Alternatively, the Evenflo Tribute (above right) is basic and functions well despite the lack of additional features and details with a more unfinished look overall. Our testing process begins with buying two units of each car seat. As the latest addition to the Baby Jogger refreshed product line, the City Turnembodies the brand's new look through its bold design as well as chic colors, finishesand fabrics. Each seat has a harness tightening strap and a harness release button to loosen the straps. It also isn't your top contender if you want the absolute best crash test results, as its performance results were only average. Installing the Extend2Fit using the LATCH method isn't difficult, but the one-sided tightening strap made it more difficult to secure the seat than competition with center straps or self-ratcheting features. Flying with a Car Seat? Some of these were harder to pull, and the buttons varied in style and ease of use. However, some offer significantly thicker padding, softer or more durable fabric, steel frames, or foam that doesn't off-gas. Does it turn 180 degrees in either direction, when in rear facing position? The more intricate design includes removing the shoulder straps from a splitter plate on the back and physically moving the straps from one slot height on the seatback to thread them through different slots (above right). The Britax Boulevard ClickTight ARB is also super easy, while the Britax Emblem (above) and Allegiance, and the Chicco NextFit and NextFit Zip are almost as straightforward. While this design is interesting, we think it makes the clip's operation significantly more challenging. Be it a need for a lifestyle change, flexible working hours, developing a territory, building a franchise business that is all yours or simply to help expectant mothers make the right informed decisions to suit their lifestyle. The widest car seat in the group is the Britax Advocate ClickTight ARB at 20 inches, and we believe it will be extremely challenging to use it with more than two car seats in a row in most vehicles. This group has budget-friendly options with winners and lower-priced seats to meet your needs and safety goals. The LATCH straps on the Evenflo Tribute LX are relatively easy to tighten, but we had some difficulty loosening the LATCH strap when trying to uninstall the seat. The scoring helps quantify the products that offer an additional margin of protection, in our opinion, over and above the basic level of protection found in all seats. This seat is a unique choice that we believe many families will love. Baby Jogger is owned by Newell Brands, a leading global consumer goods company. Some seats are easier to install using a seat belt than competitors, and most of these seats have a trick by way of a belt lock-off located on the seat. We conduct side-by-side tests of each convertible car seat over several months to determine the best in metrics like crash test performance, installation, ease of use, quality, and more. One of the most critical aspects of seat installation is ensuring the car seat is securely and tightly anchored to the vehicle. The most important rating is the crash test analysis score based on the crash test results from MGA, which corresponds to 35% of the overall score. We've installed more car seats than anyone on the planet with testing that includes three testers installing in three different vehicles car seats across all categories from convertible and boosters, to infant seats. MaryClaire Cieplymaryclaire.cieply@zenogroup.com, View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baby-jogger-announces-new-innovation-with-city-turn-convertible-car-seat-301426829.html, Baby Jogger Announces New Innovation with City Turn Convertible Car Seat, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baby-jogger-announces-new-innovation-with-city-turn-convertible-car-seat-301426829.html. For this reason, we recommend using the LATCH method whenever possible to increase the chances of installing a seat correctly. The Evenflo Tribute LX earned just 6 (the lowest result), but interestingly is still easier to install with the vehicle belt than LATCH. Most of the top seats are more substantial, likely related to the increased padding and steel (or alloy) frames. Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Top picked items. Baby On The Move Franchise Opportunity Because this is somewhat subjective, the seats are compared side-by-side and ranked in relation to the competition. The integrated RAPIDLOCK belt-tensioning technology and push-button LATCH make for a simple and secure installation in seconds. However, the options diverge in ease of use, with some being significantly easier to use than other contenders, thanks to extra features or better functionality of features like buckles. For us, it feels right to honor a seat that provides an additional margin of safety suitable for almost any budget. The Evenflo has a price significantly lower than the other contenders, a machine washable cover, easy-to-use vehicle belt pathway, and one of the nicest buckles we've seen in testing.