Dual cup holders transport favorite drinks and snacks, and are easily removable and dishwasher-safe. Getting kids in and out of the car is made easier with harness holders that keep harness straps out of the way. A car seat must be locked in place for safe installation, and outside of the US and Canada, vehicle seatbelts typically don’t have the same locking mechanism as US and Canadian vehicles do. But the great thing about the Graco 4Ever DLX Grad is that it has a built-in seat belt lock-off! This means you don’t need to worry about using a locking clip when traveling internationally.
If you run into this issue, you can turn the child back rear-facing until they reach at least 40 pounds. Kids’ car seats undergo significant messes and require regular cleaning (whether you like it or not). For this reason, we test how challenging it is to remove the fabric covers for graco turbobooster washing. We prefer machine-washable covers that are easy to remove and replace. We like handwashing methods over spot cleaning only, but because there is a high potential for throwup, spit-up, and poopy blowouts, it is ideal to have a machine-washable cover you can remove quickly.
We have not tested them because the other Graco models that we did test are more popular and widely available. However, the SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1 is only 16.7 inches wide and designed to fit three across in a back seat, which may be appealing to some families. From a value standpoint, it can be hard to justify spending over $500 on a car seat when there are great alternatives that cost about half as much—including our top pick, the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible. And it’s irritating that if you do decide to shell out half a grand on a Foonf, you’d still have to buy a cupholder. It is available in a range of colors, with either white or black plastic sides.
Both Dr. Hoffman and Moriarity stress that all car seats have to meet the same safety requirements, so paying more does not mean you’re getting something better. You might be paying for convenient but unnecessary features, aesthetics, or even just the brand name. If that’s all important to you and it works for your budget, that’s fine. But if you’re only concerned about safety, then don’t feel you have to spend a lot to get a safe seat. The Uppababy Knox debuted in 2019, but that first version of the seat was voluntarily recalled in April 2020 due to an issue with the design of the base. (The base could cause the seat to tip when installed.) The Knox was relaunched with a new base in March 2021.
Combining unbiased crash testing and hands-on testing allows us to evaluate car seat performance from a safety and daily use perspective. Also, the Extend2Fit 3-in-1 has graco car seat a shoulder-harness height that’s over an inch shorter than the Convertible’s. We would never want any caregiver to move their child into a booster seat prematurely.
We tested the Diono Radian 3QXT all-in-one, which is part of Diono’s line of seats specifically designed to fit three across. (In 2018, we tested the similar Diono Radian RXT, which has since been discontinued.) Like our also-great convertible pick, the Clek Foonf, the Radian 3QXT is a slender 17 inches wide. The design of Radian seats may help stave off carsickness, as well, since they have an L shape, rather than a more typical C shape. “For some kids who get queasy, sitting in a C-shaped seat isn’t great because it puts pressure on the stomach,” said CPST Lani Harrison. However, we found the Radian 3QXT more difficult to install than other seats we tested; it requires a lot of physical effort to get a snug install.
The height limit for rear-facing is generally between 40 and 49 inches. For forward-facing, most convertible seats have a limit of 65 pounds graco convertible car seat and a height limit of 49 inches. For booster seats, it’s generally between 100 and 110 pounds, with a height limit between 50 and 57 inches.
To switch the 4Ever Extend2Fit from high back to backless booster mode, lift the red tabs on the seat pan and slide them towards the middle of the seat. They are attached to pins that hold the frame of the back of the seat into the base. When the pins are moved out of the frame, lift off the back of the seat to reveal a backless booster seat.
Changing the shoulder straps took some pulling though, and we think that would be difficult for people with mobility issues. By contrast, the buckle is easy to use, and the headrest and harness can be adjusted together with the click of a button. The Nuna RAVA is a very high-end convertible car seat with deep comfort padding, super soft fabric, and a sleek look with quality construction and impressive attention to detail. The Nuna offers top performance for comfort and quality and is easy to install, no matter which option you prefer. We like that it is the easiest option to use and has some of the best crash test analyses, indicating a potential margin of safety over the average seat in this review.