Convertible Car Seats: Reviews

It's one of the most expensive car seats on the market, but expert and user reviews agree it's also the best. Because of the Britax Marathon 70's high weight limits (40 pounds rear-facing, 70 pounds front-facing), you'll… expandbe able to use this car seat for much longer than competing models. Safety features include new steel bars to stiffen the frame and internal "SafeCells" designed to collapse and lower the seat's center of gravity to keep it stationary during a crash. Convenience features include the ability to change the harness height without rethreading the straps, a big plus for parents. The downside, other than the high price, is this car seat's bulk and heft, which may make it a tight fit for small cars. If you want something smaller, the Sunshine Kids Radian65SL (*Est. $230) accommodates up to 65 pounds in the forward-facing position, and the smaller Britax Roundabout 50 Classic (*Est. $180) has most of the same safety features as the Marathon 70, but has a 50-pound weight limit. The Marathon 70 is an update of the Britax Marathon Classic, which also received excellent reviews. collapse

The Roundabout 50 Classic is the least expensive car seat from Britax, the brand rated as best most often in reviews. In crash tests and car seat reviews, the Roundabout has proven itself one of the safest car seats on… expandthe market, and parents say it is easy to install and use. The Roundabout can be used in the rear-facing position for babies up to 35 pounds; in the front-facing position, the Roundabout 50 Classic is rated for kids up to 50 pounds. This car seat is smaller and less bulky than the Britax Marathon 70 (*Est. $280), which can be used for kids up to 70 pounds. If you want to spend even less, the Cosco Scenera (*Est. $50) has fewer features, but it's also highly regarded, and it costs more than two-thirds less than the Britax car seat. collapse

The latest standout budget seat is the Cosco Scenera, which gets similar scores in safety tests to Britax car seats. The Scenera doesn't come with Britax-level features -- no oversized side wings, deluxe no-twist straps… expandor rear-facing top tether -- but reviewers say the Cosco Scenera is an easy-to-use convertible seat that fits well in most vehicles. Despite the lack of high-end extras, parents say the Scenera isn't lacking in convenience. There's a two-position recline, a cup holder and an up-front harness adjuster which makes it easier to customize the fit each time. The Scenera is rated for LATCH use from 5 to 35 pounds in the rear-facing position and from 22 to 40 pounds forward-facing. For additional features, the Britax Roundabout 50 Classic (*Est. $180) and Britax Marathon 70 (*Est. $280) are viewed by experts to be the best convertible car seats on the market, but they carry an obvious price premium. collapse

The Sunshine Kids Radian65SL convertible car seat is another option for parents of heavier babies, since it is rated in the forward-facing position for children up to 65 pounds (rear-facing up to 40 pounds). The… expandRadian65SL uses a steel frame instead of plastic, so the whole car seat is narrower than others. Parents say the slimmer design makes better use of rear-seat space. Another plus is that this car seat folds for travel. The downside is that the seat itself weighs 23 pounds, meaning it's too heavy for many parents to carry around in subways and airports. The Sunshine Kids Radian seats don't get the best ease-of-use ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but they passed all government crash testing. If rear-seat space is less of a concern and you have a bigger budget, the Britax Marathon 70 (*Est. $280) is rated for up to 70 pounds, and it's considered the best convertible car seat overall. collapse