Cosco Scenera

Despite its budget price tag, the Cosco Scenera gets some very positive reviewer attention. In one high-profile review, it even tops the pricey Britax line. Reviewers say it fits easily in most vehicles, something that's not always true of large plush convertibles like the top-rated Britax Marathon Classic (*Est. $270) or even the more compact Britax Roundabout 50 Classic (*Est. $180). The smaller Scenera does have lower height and weight limits than those pricier seats, though -- 43 inches and 5 to 35 pounds rear-facing or 22 to 40 pounds forward-facing. The Cosco Scenera 40RF (*Est. $50) allows children to stay rear-facing up to 40 pounds, but the other limits are the same.

The Scenera convertible car seat lacks high-end features like thick side-impact wings, and some parents say its straps need to be smoothed regularly to keep them from twisting. CarSeatBlog.com notes the lack of energy-absorbing expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam (the stuff used in motorcycle helmets), but calls the Cosco Scenera "a great low-price car seat for folks who need a safe way to transport their child." It's not a luxury seat, and government testers don't find it particularly easy to use -- they say it needs clearer labels to help users install it correctly, and it doesn't have the best installation features. But the proof is in the crash testing: The Scenera earns the highest possible safety rating in one major test -- at less than a third of the price of the least expensive Britax.

The Cosco Scenera is crash tested and rated by ConsumerReports.org, and it's also reviewed in the latest edition of Denise and Alan Fields' baby gear book "Baby Bargains." CarSeatBlog.com also has a detailed analysis by a certified child passenger safety technician. Experts at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rate the Scenera's ease of use. For parent feedback, we turned to Viewpoints.com and Buzzillions.com, both of which host dozens of user reviews.