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Graco My Ride 65 Review

*Est. $140

Reviewed

August 2012

by ConsumerSearch

Best convertible car seat under $150

Pros

High crash ratings
High rear and forward facing weight limits
Lots of features for the price

Cons

No rear-facing top tether
Harness must be manually rethreaded
Bulky

Where to Buy

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Our Review
Specs
264 Amazon Reviews

With high weight ratings of 65 pounds in the front-facing position and 40 pounds in the rear-facing position, the Graco MyRide (*Est. $140) is a standout in its price class. Although parents and reviewers find the seat bulky it also offers multiple convenience and comfort features like cup holders and energy absorbing foam for comfort and protection.

Performs in crash test, but can't stabilize

The MyRide 65 performs just as well in crash tests as the most expensive models. . The seat offers side impact protection with foam padding. The MyRide's top tether only stabilizes the seat in the front-facing position and not in the rear facing position.

Not highly rated for ease of use

Some of the MyRide's attachment features aren't as easy to use as higher-end car seats. The seat attaches to the car's LATCH anchors with clips rather push-button clips. Because the LATCH anchors are hidden between the seats, this attachment method will require digging, especially to remove the straps. The MyRide also lacks a quick harness-height adjuster. You must remove the car seat and re-thread the harness from the back to change the harness height.. The cover is machine washable.

A fairly plush ride but bulky

The MyRide is a wide-bodied seat with a good amount of padding to keep kids comfortable. However, other back seat passengers may not appreciate the seat's bulk, and it is harder to fit multiple car seats into one row of seating with the MyRide. The MyRide has cup holders that are built into each armrest. While children will enjoy this feature, the cup holders aren't easily removable for cleaning and they add to the seat's width. The MyRide also comes with a removable infant insert to keep small babies snug. Its upper weight limits of 40 pounds rear-facing, 65 pounds forward-facing are the real value in the Graco MyRide 65. The ability to use this seat until your child no longer needs a car seat makes it a great value.

Respectable customer service

The Graco name is ubiquitous in baby and child equipment. The MyRide carries a one year warranty with proof of purchase and has a usable lifespan of six years from date of manufacture. The manual can be easily downloaded from the website.

The bottom line

For the price, the Graco MyRide is a great value for parents who want to keep their kids in a car seat longer in both the forward- and rear-facing positions. It does take up a lot of seat space, but it may be the only car seat you'll ever need to buy for your child.

Where to Buy Graco My Ride 65

Graco My Ride 65 Convertible Car Seat, Cuddle
(264 reviews) Buy new: $159.99 1 New from $199.99

Store Rating	Notes	Total Price
235 store reviews	In Stock. Fantastic prices with ease & comfort of Amazon.com!	$155.98	See It
483 store reviews	In Stock.	$275.00	See It
293 store reviews	In Stock. Free Shipping	$149.99	See It
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Our Sources: Graco Car Seat Reviews

1. ConsumerReports.org

ConsumerReports.org editors crash-test the Graco My Ride 65 and other car seats in their roundup. Editors also evaluate each seat's ease of use and fit to vehicle.

Review: Convertible Car Seats, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, May 2012

2. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

The Graco My Ride 65 earns 4 stars out of 5 for overall ease of use in the NHTSA's tests. It's one of only a few seats to rate this high.

Review: Child Safety Seat Ease of Use Ratings, Editors of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

3. CarSeatBlog.com

The professional child passenger safety technicians and instructors who run this website name the Graco My Ride 65 to their list of the best convertible car seats, saying it's "very easy to install in many vehicles and a nice value for the money." In this full review, Heather Watson evaluates all of the seat's features and tests its installation.

Review: Maybe the Graco My Ride 65 Could Be *My* Ride? A Review, Heather Watson, May 28, 2009

4. Baby Bargains

Baby Bargains offers a comprehensive professional review of convertible car seats, including a discussion of the Graco MyRide 65. The assessment is based on parent feedback, features and safety ratings.

Review: Convertible and Forward Facing-Only Car Seats, Denise and Alan Fields, Ninth Edition, 2012

5. RaisingSmallSouls.com

Raising Small Souls provides a detailed review of the Graco MyRide 65 that covers safety, installation, comfort, maintenance, pros and cons, and dimensions. The MyRide 65 is described as an affordable seat with higher weight ratings.

Review: Convertible Car Seat Reviews, Editors of RaisingSmallSouls.com, Aug. 2012

6. Good Housekeeping

The Graco My Ride is one of eight car seats reviewed in Good Housekeeping's Best Convertible Car Seat Reviews. Reviewers note ease of use and adjustability as pluses to this seat.

Review: Best Convertible Car Seat Reviews, Editors of Good Housekeeping, 2012

7. Parents.com

The Graco MyRide 65 makes the list of Parents' "Best Car Seats for Babies and Toddlers." Editors note that the seat fits small babies well and fits compactly in the rear facing position.

Review: Best Car Seats for Babies and Toddlers, May 2012

8. About.com

Heather Corley, About.com's guide to baby products, names the Graco My Ride 65 to her list of the best convertible car seats. She tests the seat's ease of installation and she does a thorough job of pointing out its pros and cons. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Review: Graco My Ride 65 Car Seat Review, Heather Corley

9. Buzzillions.com

More than 600 owners review the Graco My Ride 65 here, giving it an average of 4.2 stars out of 5. It gets especially high marks for being comfortable, durable, safe, stylish and easy to install, but many owners point out that it is heavy and bulky.

Review: Graco My Ride 65 Convertible Car Seat, Contributors to Buzzillions.com

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