Convertible Car Seats: Reviews

Updated February 2011
Having children is expensive. One of the ways you can save a few dollars is to buy a convertible car seat — an automobile haven for your child from birth until he or she is 40 to 50 pounds. The editors of ConsumerSearch analyzed reviews from consumer testing sites, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, professional child passenger safety technicians and instructors, as well as users like you, to determine which car seat will best fit your car safety needs.
 

Best convertible car seat

Britax Marathon 70 *Est. $280 Compare Prices

CarSeatBlog.com: This thorough review is well illustrated with photos of children of various ages sitting in the seat both forward- and rear-facing.

Baby Bargains: The Britax Marathon 70 and other new Britax seats earn "Baby Bargains" authors Denise and Alan Fields' highest recommendation in this short review.

BabyGizmo.com: The Britax Marathon 70 makes Hollie Schultz's list of the five best convertible car seats.

Viewpoints.com: The Britax Marathon 70 is one of the highest-rated convertible car seats here, averaging 4.66 stars out of 5, with 80 owners posting reviews.

Amazon.com: With 55 owner reviews posted, the Britax Marathon 70 earns an average of 4.5 stars out of 5.

Best convertible car seat under $200

Britax Roundabout 50 Classic *Est. $180 Compare Prices

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org crash-tests the Britax Roundabout; the new Roundabout 50 Classic differs mainly in its higher height and weight limits, so the crash results still apply.

Baby Bargains: "Baby Bargains" covers several Britax car seats, including the Roundabout.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: The federal government tests how easy car seats are to use.

CarSeatBlog.com: Heather Watson posts short reviews of her favorite convertible car seats, including the Britax Roundabout 55.

Amazon.com: Forty users have posted reviews here for the new Britax Roundabout 50, and nearly all give it 4 or a perfect 5 stars.

Buzzillions.com: The new Britax Roundabout 50 Classic hasn't had time to accumulate many reviews, but its predecessor, the Roundabout, averaged 4.5 stars in about 670 reviews and was a Reviewers' Choice Finalist for 2010.

Budget convertible car seat

Cosco Scenera *Est. $50 Compare Prices

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org goes a step further than other reviewers by subjecting a small selection of convertible car seats to its own crash tests.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: The Cosco Scenera scores only 2 stars out of 5 in the NHTSA's ease-of-use tests.

Baby Bargains: The Cosco Scenera gets a short review in this comprehensive and trusted baby gear guide.

CarSeatBlog.com: Heather Watson has contributed a detailed post on the Cosco Scenera to this relatively new blog about "all things child passenger safety." The Scenera makes the site's list of recommended car seats.

Buzzillions.com: What sets Buzzillions.com apart among user review sites are its easy-to-use interface and aggregate pros and cons lists.

Viewpoints.com: Viewpoints.com hosts more than 150 owner-written reviews of the Cosco Scenera, which gets a thumbs-up recommendation from over 90 percent of contributors.

Compact car seat

Sunshine Kids Radian65SL *Est. $230 Compare Prices

Baby Bargains: Denise and Alan Fields include a review of the Sunshine Kids Radian65 in their section on convertible car seats.

BobbysBest.com: Editors recommend the Sunshine Kids Radian65 as a narrower, more portable alternative to the top-rated Britax Roundabout.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: The Sunshine Kids Radian65 scores 3 stars out of 5 for forward-facing ease of use, and 2 stars rear-facing.

Amazon.com: About 20 parents post their feedback on the Sunshine Kids Radian65SL to Amazon.com.

ExpoTV.com: ExpoTV.com tends to get far fewer posts in each category than other user review sites.

Convertible Car Seats Runners Up:

Britax Marathon Classic *Est. $270

9 picks including: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Baby Bargains…

Britax Boulevard 70 *Est. $310

5 picks including: Amazon.com, Baby Bargains…

The First Years True Fit *Est. $130

5 picks including: Amazon.com, Baby Bargains…

Evenflo Triumph Advance LX *Est. $140

3 picks including: Amazon.com, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration…

Graco My Ride 65 *Est. $140

3 picks including: About.com, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration…

Graco ComfortSport *Est. $95

2 picks including: Amazon.com, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration…

Sunshine Kids RadianXTSL *Est. $270

2 picks including: Amazon.com, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration…

Britax Advocate 70 CS *Est. $370

2 picks including: Amazon.com, Baby Bargains…

Combi Coccoro *Est. $195

2 picks including: Amazon.com, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration…

Evenflo Triumph 65 *Est. $140

2 picks including: CarSeatData.Org, Target.com…

The First Years True Fit Premier *Est. $215

2 picks including: Amazon.com, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration…

     
 
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Britax Marathon Classic - Solstice
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Evenflo Triumph 65 LX Convertible Car Seat, Santee
In Stock.
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Graco My Ride 65 Convertible Car Seat, Cuddle
In Stock.
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Graco Comfort Sport Convertible Car Seat, Jordan
In Stock.
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Combi Cocorro Lightweight Convertible Car Seat, Licorice
In Stock.
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