As they do every year, our experts have tested 20 child car seats in all available sizes. While some models stand out, others struggle to impress.
Our recent child seat test put 20 models through their paces, and the majority were found to be ‘safe’. The majority of seats offer good safety performance and our measurements show that differences remain in terms of ergonomics (space required, seating comfort, child’s view) and ease of use (risk of incorrect installation, installation/fastening sometimes complicated, weight, difficulty in removing the cover). This highlights the importance of choosing the right model and even testing it before purchase.
Overall, we found that car seats offer a good level of safety, with a low risk of injury in the event of a collision. They are often praised for their ease of use, thanks in particular to their simple installation, quick size adjustment and washable covers. Ergonomics is also a strong point overall, with good seating comfort and generous space for the child. The build quality is often rated as good to excellent, and the instructions are generally clear. Finally, the presence of harmful substances is very low in the majority of models.
The seats that were penalised generally showed significant weaknesses in terms of ease of use, with installation sometimes complex and models considered too heavy. Some models lost points because the cover was difficult to remove. In terms of ergonomics, some models require a lot of space and restrict the child’s view, reducing comfort, especially for younger children. In terms of safety, a few seats pose a medium to high risk in the event of a collision. Finally, two models stand out negatively due to their above-average PFAS content, namely the Cybex Anoris T2 i-Size and the Chicco Seat105 i-Size.
Top 3 car seats
Of the 20 seats we tested, three models stood out. These are the Nuna Pipa Lite + Base Next 40-83 cm with an overall rating of 4.0 out of 5.5, the Joie Sprint 40-75 cm with an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5.5 and the Maxi-Cosi Pebble S + FamilyFix S 40-83 cm with an overall rating of 4.2 out of 5.5.
In detail:
Maxi-Cosi Pebble S + FamilyFix S 40-83 cm
(Overall rating: 4.2) – Rated ‘Good’
This combination of a shell and Isofix base (40-83 cm) offers very good protection in the event of a frontal impact and good side protection. It is lightweight (the shell) and very easy to install thanks to its Isofix base. Fastening is easy and the risk of incorrect installation is low. It is part of a modular system and is approved for use in certain aircraft. A few drawbacks include a less than ideal leg support and thin padding.
Joie Sprint 40-75 cm
(Overall rating: 4.1) – Rated ‘Good’
This is a baby seat (40-75 cm) that stands out for its safety in the event of a frontal impact (very low risk) and side impact (low risk), its easy Isofix installation and its overall ease of use with a low risk of incorrect installation. It also offers good comfort and plenty of space for the child. Its main drawback is that it can only be installed with Isofix.
Nuna Pipa Lite + Base Next 40-83 cm
(Overall rating: 4.0) – Rated ‘Good’
Similar to the Maxi-Cosi Pebble S + Base, this is a very lightweight shell (40-83 cm) with an Isofix base, offering good safety in the event of a frontal or side impact. Installation is easy with the Isofix base, and the shell can be rotated to make fastening easier. Please note that it cannot be installed without the Isofix base (no belt guides for the vehicle seat belt).
At the bottom of the ranking is the Lionelo Braam i-Size (40–150 cm) model, with a rating of 2.4, which is the minimum required. Although it appears sturdy and durable, with convenient side rotation and good fastenings, and is comfortable, well padded and contains few harmful substances, it is difficult to install. Weighing 13.4 kg, it is heavy and bulky. Our tests revealed an average level of safety in the event of a collision. In addition, fastening and removing the cover is inconvenient. Finally, it restricts the child’s view.
List of models tested
List of models tested
- 10 seats with a ‘good’ rating: Joie Sprint, Maxi-Cosi Pebble S + FamilyFix S, Nuna Pipa Lite + Base Next, Avionaut Pixel Pro 2.0 C + IQ Orbit, Graco Turn2Me DLX i-Size R129, Joie i-Pivot 360, Thule Elm RWF + Alfi Base, Cybex Solution G2, Recaro Axion 1, Joie i-Trillo FX.
- 9 seats rated ‘satisfactory’: Maxi-Cosi Pebble S, Avionaut Pixel Pro 2.0 C, Chicco Seat105 i-Size, Maxi-Cosi Pearl S + FamilyFix S, Thule Elm + Alfi Base, Cybex Anoris T2 i-Size, Britax Römer Advansafix Pro, Osann Flux Isofix, Britax Römer Kidfix Pro.
- One seat rated ‘minimum requirement’: the Lionelo Braam i-Size.
Our rating system
Our tests evaluate car seats on several key criteria, mainly grouped into safety, ease of use and ergonomics, in addition to harmful substances and environmental pollutants. Each seat receives an overall assessment and a numerical rating, which is then converted into a quality category according to the following scale:
- 4.6 – 5.5: Very good
- 3.6 – 4.5: Good
- 2.6 – 3.5: Satisfactory
- 1.6 – 2.5: Minimum requirement
- 0.5 – 1.5: Poor
Of the 20 models tested, none received a rating of ‘very good’ or ‘poor’. This in itself shows a certain degree of consistency among the brands. However, ten seats were rated “good” and nine were rated ‘satisfactory’. Only one seat was rated ‘minimum requirement’.
