Convertible Car Seat: Our Top 10 Brands

Every parent wants their child to be safe wherever they go. That includes in the car, which makes having the best convertible car seat a must. Picking the right car seat can be difficult due to the number of articles and promotions advertising different models, but picking a model with a high level of functionality and safety can make all the difference if your family is in a car accident. A convertible car seat is different from a normal infant car seat, and it will typically have a longer useful life because it can be converted from a rear-facing car seat for babies to a forward-facing car seat for toddlers. Designed to be installed in the car and left in a fixed position until they’re converted, this type of seat eliminates the work and hassle of getting the car seat in and out of the car for every trip. Picking the best car seat for your baby is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a new parent. That’s why we chose to cover this subject and evaluate product options in detail for you. We’ve put together a list of the ten best convertible car seats on the market today. Read on to find the perfect car seat to keep your little one safe, secure, and comfortable on regular car trips.

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COMPARISON TABLE

BEST CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT FAQ

1. In What Ways Is A Convertible Car Seat Better Than The Average Car Seat?

These car seats are designed to be extremely stable and stay in position reliably. This eliminates the need to readjust the seat every time you go for a drive. This seat type will also serve you and your child well for a longer time due to its convertibility.

2. What Is The Recommended Age Range For Use Of Convertible Car Seats?

These car seats can be used from infancy, as a rear-facing seat, through early toddlerhood as a forward-facing seat. Note that some parents still choose a specially designed, infant-only car seat for the first few months and then install a convertible seat at that point.

3. Are Convertible Car Seats Easy To Install?

These car seats take more initial work to install than a standard, portable seat, but most options on our list come with detailed instructions. One installed, you’ll save time on each trip because you’ve performed that initial step carefully and properly

4. Are Convertible Car Seats Safe For My Child?

All the car seats on this list have been safety-tested and are designed to keep your child securely in his or her seat in the event of a sudden stop or crash.

5. Where Can I Find The Best Convertible Car Seats?

The ten car seats on this list are available from Amazon, and some can also be found at major baby-supply and department stores.

HOW WE REVIEWED CONVERTIBLE SEATS

We evaluated the following car seats based on the following parameters: affordability, safety features, comfort and security, ease of installation, ease of conversion, ease of removal, and suitability for children ranging from infancy to toddlerhood.

OVERALL PRICE RANGE

The ten car seats on this list range in price from about $70 to $350. The higher-priced options often offer greater durability due to the use of higher-quality materials, and some carry prestigious brand names within the industry. The lower-cost car seats are priced in line with other well-designed, standard (non-convertible) car seats.

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WHAT WE REVIEWED

• Evenflo SafeMax Platinum All-in-One Convertible Car Seat
• Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible
• Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat
• Graco Contender 65 Convertible Car Seat
• Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat
• Maxi-Cosi Pria 70 Convertible Car Seat
• Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
• Chicco NextFit Convertible Car Seat
• Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 Special Edition Car Seat
• Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible Car Seat

EVENFLO SAFEMAX PLATINUM ALL-IN-ONE CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT

Features

Highly rated for safety, this Evenflo SafeMax seat is all about keeping your kids secure. One of its safety features is its easy-to-install latch. It takes only seconds to install, and the integrated steel frame provides valuable support in the event of any crash. Its impact-absorbing headrest helps to prevent head injuries during an accident.As part of the first line of car seats to be extensively rollover-tested, this product meets and exceeds all federal safety standards. It can accommodate children up to 120 pounds. Its versatility and easy use make it one of the best high-end options on our list.

Pros

• Highly rated and extensively tested for safety
• Elements can be separated and usable to handle kids up to 120 pounds as a booster seat
• Easy to install and convert

CONs

• Has an eight-year “expiration date”
• On the higher end. price-wise, for the category

Price ($, $$, Or $$$): $$$

Comfort And Safety

Safety-wise, this is clearly among the best options on the market. It’s on the high end of the scale for comfort as well, due in part to its ample padding and well-designed headrest.

PEG PEREGO PRIMO VIAGGIO CONVERTIBLE

Features

Made by a highly regarded Italian manufacturer, this car seat can support your child from infancy through the toddler years. It’s easy to convert from back-facing to front-facing, and it’s very comfortable due to the use of high-quality materials such as Fresco Jersey performance fabric. This gives it superior ventilation and moisture resistance, both of which can be essential on long trips. This convertible Peg Perego seat’s safety features include side-impact protection to support your child’s head and back during an impact. It can be shifted among 10 different positions as your child grows. Also, this seat is lined with energy-absorbing foam to ensure the gentlest ride possible.

Pros

• High-quality, moisture-resistant fabric
• Able to support kids from infancy through toddlerhood
• Ten different positions for maximum comfort
• Side-impact protection and energy-absorbing foam

CONs

• The most expensive seat on this list

Price: $$$

Comfort And Safety

This seat’s array of safety features is strong, and comfort is excellent due to its adjustability.

BRITAX MARATHON CLICKTIGHT CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT

Features

A great all-around model, the Britax Marathon seat is another of the higher-end models on the list, and its performance largely justifies its price point. Its included safety features are top-of-the-line, including an integrated steel frame, an impact-absorbing base, and a twelve-point harness. Easy to install and highly comfortable for infants and toddlers, this Britax product comes with side-impact protection that will protect your child’s head and neck. It works as a rear-facing seat for little ones from five to forty pounds and as a forward-facing seat for kids from twenty to sixty-five pounds. With seven different recline positions, it is one of the most versatile and easy-to-use seats. Our reviewers enjoyed the convenient ClickTight installation approach used here, too.

Pros

• Highly protective baseClickTight installation is simple and quick
• Harness and recline positions are extensively adjustable
• Side-impact protection
• ClickTight installation is simple and quick

CONs

• One of the higher-priced models on the list
• Limited to use for children 65 pounds and under

Price: $$$

Comfort And Safety

The safety features built into this seat are among the best on our list. The harness and recline positions make for a comfortable ride for kids of differing ages and sizes.

SAFETY 1ST GROW AND GO 3-IN-1

CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT

Features

A solid, low-cost car seat, the Safety 1st Grow and Go can handle kids from five pounds to sixty-five pounds, and it can be converted to a front-facing seat for any child over twenty-two pounds. Designed to meet or exceed U.S. safety standards, it gives safety-conscious parents ample peace of mind. The harness system adjusts automatically to find a comfortable fit for your child, and you only need one free hand to adjust the height and fit of this car seat. The head and body supports are removable for cleaning and can be readily adjusted for longer trips. This seat also has an easily accessible cup holder.

Pros

• Low price point
• Adjustments require just one hand
• The harness never needs re-threading
• Meets or exceeds all applicable safety standards

CONs

• Maximum weight limit of 65 lbs.

Price: $$$

Comfort And Safety

The harness on this Graco seat is designed for extra comfort, and its design meets or exceeds U.S. safety standards. The removable head and body support make it highly customizable.

GRACO MILESTONE CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT

Features

This model gets high marks as a rear-facing car seat, and its low price point makes it ideal for families on a budget. Rear-facing car seats are the safest choices, and this model allows children up to two years old to use it as a rear-facing seat. Its weight limit for the rear-facing position is 50 pounds, the highest on this list. The maximum weight limit for the seat, when used in rear-facing mode, is 65 pounds. In addition to multiple layers of side-impact protection and an easy-to-adjust harness, this seat comes with comfort- and convenience-oriented features like a headrest and two built-in cup holders. Another unique feature is a panel that extends outward from the footrest, allowing this seat to grow with your child and offer more legroom.

Pros

• Highly rated rear-facing car seat
• The high weight limit for the rear-facing position
• Strong side-impact protection
• Extendable panel for extra leg support

CONs

• Limited capacity in the forward-facing position
• Takes a bit of effort to clean the cover

Price: $

Comfort And Safety

As a rear-facing car seat, safety features and ratings are category-leading. This seat is also highly adjustable for extra comfort.

MAXI-COSI PRIA 70 CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT

Features

Promoted as providing an ideal fit for any vehicle, this Maxi Cosa seat leverages the company’s proprietary Flex Tech technology, making it one of the safest seats on the market as well. Multi-directional crash management and enhanced side-impact protection guard your child against crash trauma. It’s one of the easiest car seats we found to shift around, adjust, and switch from rear- to front-facing mode. This seat is rated for children up to 70 pounds, and yet it is one of the most compact seats on the market. This means more room for other passengers in the car. The rear-facing option can handle kids up to 40 pounds, and the forward-facing option up to 70, with both modes having comparable safety features.

Pros

• Flex Tech technology adds support and safety assurance
• Strong side-impact protection
• Compact design is easy to fit into smaller cars
• Easy to adjust and convert

CONs

• Not as many variable positions as some other seats
• Higher-end price point

Price: $$$

Comfort And Safety

The safety features incorporated here are among the best on the market. Reviewers note that comfort is sufficient across its weight ratings but best for smaller children.

SAFETY 1ST GROW AND GO 3-IN-1 CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT

Features

A reliable, low-cost option, this car seat is easy to switch from rear-facing to forward-facing mode, and it can carry up to 50 pounds in the first mode and 65 in the latter. The QuickFit harness lets you adjust the height and harness in a single motion, making it easy to customize this Safety 1st seat for your child’s body type, comfort, and safety. Provided with dual cup holders and a padded headrest for side-impact protection, this model can be converted to a booster seat with an additional kit. It’s also machine-washable when you detach the easy-to-remove, cushioned pad.

Pros

• Compact, low-cost option
• Rear-facing option rated for kids up to 50 pounds
• Strong side-impact protection
• Machine-washable pad
• Easy height and harness adjustments

CONs

• Limited weight range as a forward-facing seat

Price: $

Comfort And Safety

This is a very safe rear-facing seat. The adjustable harness and height allow for a comfortable, customized fit.

CHICCO NEXTFIT CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT

Features

If you want a no-hassle car seat that provides maximum comfort and safety, the Chicco NextFit may be the high-end model for you. Able to support your child from infancy, its rear-facing position supports kids up to 40 pounds, and the forward-facing position allows a maximum of 65 pounds. One of the premier features here is the Chicco seat’s ReclineSure 9 positioning, which enables nine reclining positions to achieve the perfect fit for any baby or toddler. It fits in a wide range of vehicles easily, and the five-point harness adjusts automatically when you raise the headrest for your growing child.

Pros

• Simple to install
• ReclineSure 9 positioning ensures the perfect fit
• Compatible with most vehicles
• Harness adjusts automatically in tandem with the headrest

CONs

• Higher-cost model

Price: $$$

Comfort And Safety

The headrest provides added protection for a child’s head and neck, but this Chicco seat lacks some high-end safety features found on other premier-level models. It is highly comfortable due to those nine recline settings.

MAXI-COSI PRIA 85 SPECIAL EDITION CAR SEAT

Features

This mid-priced car seat comes with all the features you need to keep your child safe on the road. It is rated to support children starting at 14 pounds and up to 40 pounds in rear-facing mode, as well as kids up to eighty-five pounds when put in its front-facing position, it’s easy to adjust thanks to its well-designed harness and customizable headrest. The multiple recline positions allow you to find the perfect fit for your child, and the integrated cup holder gives your child easy access to a cup or bottle. The seat pad is easy to remove and machine-washable, and side-impact protection is emphasized in this Maxi-Cosi design.

Pros

• High-end performance at a reasonable price
• High maximum capacity when forward-facing
• Easy-to-adjust headrest and harness
• Side-impact protection

CONs

• The 40-lb. the rear-facing limit is lower than some competitive options

Price: $$

Comfort And Safety

This seat’s safety features are on par with other, similar models. Comfort is enhanced by an easy-to-adjust harness and headrest.

EVENFLO TRIBUTE LX CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT

Features

The lowest-cost option on this list, this is a budget car seat that’s best for smaller children. It can handle babies from five to 30 pounds in its rear-facing position, as well as growing kids from 22 to 40 pounds when set in forward-facing mode. Despite its low price point, this Evenflo Tribute seat has been crash-tested at 2x federal standards and has side-impact protection.The removable head insert adds extra comfort and support, and the reclining base allows for more resting positions. This seat has four harness slots for added security and the seat pad is machine-washable. It probably won’t last your child well into the toddler years, but it’s a great solution for parents on a budget.

Pros

• High-end performance at a reasonable price
• High maximum capacity when forward-facing
• Easy-to-adjust headrest and harness
• Side-impact protection

CONs

• The 40-lb. the rear-facing limit is lower than some competitive options

Price: $

Comfort And Safety

This seat is very comfortable for smaller children, and it has many of the same safety features as higher-cost models, including side-impact protection.

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THE VERDICT

All ten convertible car seats on this list deliver excellent protection and comfort for your child. With high-end safety features like side-impact protection and easy-to-adjust systems to make installation and conversion a snap, these car seats are all good investments for the early childhood years. In our view, one product stood out for its combination of a low price point, top-of-the-line safety features, and strength as a rear-facing seat. We give the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat our endorsement as the overall best convertible car seat on the market today.