Britax Regent

The Britax Regent became a hot topic with reviewers after it was mentioned in an emotional YouTube video promoting extended five-point harness use. It's worth noting, though, that while the Regent's harness does have an 80-pound capacity, the seat's LATCH compatibility maxes out at 48 pounds (or less, depending on the vehicle). After that, it must be secured with the vehicle's safety belt just like a standard booster seat. If you don't mind the high price tag -- the highly rated Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 (*Est. $160) costs significantly less -- reviewers say this is a comfy well-padded seat that's especially well-suited to older toddlers and preschoolers. This isn't the seat for tight spaces, though. At 29.7 inches tall and 20.8 inches wide, reviewers suggest fit-testing the Regent in your own vehicle before you commit.

The parenting book "Baby Bargains" is a top-rated baby gear buyer's guide by parents and gear gurus Denise and Alan Fields. Their section on car seats is especially thorough, with most popular models getting individual write-ups and letter grades. CarseatBlog.com and Babble.com have short blurbs on the Regent as part of their recommended car seat roundups. We found a wealth of owner-written reviews at Amazon.com and Buzzillions.com.