Group One car seats – overview

The following categories provide detailed information on all of the seats
in our test. Our parent panel gave the Best Buy award to the Maxi Cosi
Priori XP but make sure you check each individual category as it could
be that a different model performed well in an area that’s significant
to you.

Ease of use/Fitting in car

You’ve done your research, selected your car seat, made your purchase
and got it home -great! Now all you need to do is install it. Fitting
your child’s car seat can be a daunting and somewhat confusing experience
but if you take your time and follow the instructions carefully, it shouldn’t
consume too much of your time.

Our panel were impressed with the Maxi Cosi Priori’s ‘simple, clear and
concise instructions’ and they found it ‘easy to use and fit in the car’.
Similarly, they were impressed with the details that came with the Bebe
Confort Iseos TT and found the ‘instructions on the side of the seat of
great benefit once the seat was installed’. Our panel agreed that the
Concord Comfort Ultimax was ‘the most confusing of the bunch’ with one
of our mums seeking help to get it fitted into the car.

To save you time, your seat should have easily adjustable restraints
that secure your baby into the seat with minimum fuss. The panel praised
the Maxi Cosi, Mothercare Express and Mamas & Papas Pro-Tech for their
‘simple adjustable restraints’ that are ‘quick and easy to use’, but they
found the buckle on the Bebe Confort Iseos ‘a little stiff’ and ‘tricky
to engage’.

Portability

If you own more than one car and need to transport your baby from one
vehicle to another, portability is certainly something you need to consider.
Despite their hefty weights, our panel found the Maxi Cosi and Bebe Confort
Iseos ‘portable and easy to move between cars’. The Mothercare Express
was ‘very light in comparison to the other seats’ making it ‘easy to transport
and fit into another car’ whereas the Concord Comfort Ultimax was described
as ‘relatively heavy, but simple enough to move about once you get the
hang of it’. The Britax Renaissance was ‘by far the heaviest of the models
on test’ and was ‘too bulky to transport from one car to another’.

Comfort

Your baby is going to sleep, eat and play in this car seat and since
it’s likely to last till the grand age of 4, (or until they reach 18kg)
keeping them comfortable is essential. Our panel found that the most comfortable
seats had ‘soft material’, ‘a good head support’, ‘easy recliner’ and
‘a sufficient amount of space for them to relax in’.

The Concord Comfort Ultimax did very well in this category and our panel
loved its ‘fantastic head support’, ‘smooth recline mechanism’ and ‘plush
material’. They also praised the Maxi Cosi for its ‘simple to use recliner’
that allows you to alter the seat position ‘safely and quickly – even
when in the driving seat’. Other seats with a high comfort factor included
the Britax Renaissance which offered ‘an impressive 5-position seat recline’
and the Bebe Confort Iseos which comes with a unique widening system that
‘expands to fit your baby’. Our panel were less impressed with the Mothercare
Express that offered ‘little support for the head’ and like the Mamas
& Papas Pro-Tech, ‘the recline mechanism was very limited’.

Quality/Value for money

Toddlers are a different ball game entirely to that little bundle of
joy you lovingly rocked off to sleep in your spotless infant carrier!
Food stains and finger marks are inevitable so make sure you look carefully
at the materials and purchase a seat that will stand the test of time.

Our panel found the materials on the Maxi Cosi Priori, Britax Renaissance,
Mothercare Express Mamas & Papas Pro-Tech ‘easy to wipe clean’ with ‘good
fabrics that will last well into your child’s fourth year’. They also
liked the ‘removable, wipe clean cover’ that came with the Concord Comfort
Ultimax – ‘a godsend for spilt drinks and snacks’. The Concord can also
be used from birth as a rear facing seat and is ‘ideal as a long-term
investment’ as the ‘fabrics and quality are so good’.

Our panel agreed that you ‘certainly get what you pay for’ and some of
the more expensive models were ‘far more robust with a higher quality
factor’. Those at the top of the list included the Concord Comfort Ultimax,
Maxi Cosi Priori XP, Britax Renaissance and Bebe Confort Iseos TT.

Additional extras

Optional extras can make all the difference to your baby’s comfort and
enjoyment whilst in the car. A major bonus our panel loved was the ‘seatbelt
tensioning systems’ that ‘pulled the seats back into place for a secure
fit’. They also favoured the additional padding that came with the Britax
Renaissance as it made it ‘very cosy for the baby’. The Mothercare Express
can be used in the centre of the rear seat although our panel did comment
that it ‘felt a little unsteady as there is no way of tightening the lap
strap’.

The Concord Ultimax ‘had a real point of difference’ as it can be used
from newborn until they reach 13kg (around 18 months), ‘prolonging the
safer rear-sitting position for babies’. Our panel also loved the ’6-position
head support that adapts to your child as they grow’.

A major plus point with the Maxi Cosi Priori was the ‘height adjustable
shoulder straps’ that can be ‘altered quickly and easily as your baby
develops’. The Maxi Cosi also scored points for its looks and was described
by one mum as ‘the trendiest, most attractive looking car seat in the
test.’

All of the car seats in our test have passed strict European safety standards.
If you’re thinking of purchasing a car seat for your baby, always check
that it complies with current safety standards and regulations.

Results

Got something to say? If you’re a long-term user of one of the car seats
in our test and want to add your opinion, visit our individual parent
panel reviews using the links below and share your views with other babyworld
mums.

Where to next:

• Back to the Group 1 car seats main test page
• Read the parent panel reviews:
  Bebe Confort Iseos TT
  Britax Renaissance
  Concord Comfort Ultimax
  Mamas & Papas Pro-Tech
  Maxi Cosi Priori XP
  Mothercare Express
• Read our safety tips for using and fitting car seats
• Become a parent panel member