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Crash Course:

The best convertible car seats are the Chicco Fit4, Britax Advocate, Graco Extend2Fit, and Maxi-Cosi Pria.

Convertible car seats typically cost anywhere from $80 to $300. Spending more on a car seat may mean larger adjustment ranges and more comfortable materials.

To ensure your car seat is properly protecting your child, it’s important to choose the right size and install it correctly.

The first concern on every parent’s mind when comparing convertible car seats should be safety. Then there’s ease of installation, adjustability, and a variety of other factors that may be important to you personally. Our product research team has tested dozens of car seats and combed through thousands of parent testimonials to recommend some of the best convertible car seats on the market today.

Convertible Car Seat Reviews

There are many good options for convertible car seats for parents. Choosing the best will depend on your preferences or even those of your child. Every car seat that we recommend meets or exceeds federal safety standards. The scores in each of our team’s review categories are compiled into a single overall rating that ranges from 1.0 to 5.0 stars.

What Are the Best Convertible Car Seats?

Based on our testing, some of the best convertible car seats assessed by ease of use, adjustability, and material quality are the Chicco Fit4, Britax Advocate, Graco Extend2Fit, and Maxi-Cosi Pria.

Brand/ModelOverall RatingAwardCostChicco Fit45.0Best Convertible Car Seat$285Britax Advocate4.5Easiest Installation$300Graco Extend2Fit4.3Easiest to Maintain$200Maxi-Cosi Pria4.0Most Comfortable$270

*Because cost data fluctuates, the prices in the table above are approximate values that our team regularly updates.

Convertible Car Seats: Our Testing Process

The convertible car seats on our list went through two rounds of reviews. We started by searching retailers like Amazon for top products, looking at factors such as safety ratings, extra features, customer ratings, and prices.

For testing, our team ordered the car seats that performed best in these categories. We installed each seat in a sedan and tried every adjustment mechanism. We evaluated each car seat based on ease of use, adjustability, and material quality.

1. Chicco Fit4: Best Convertible Car Seat

Chicco Fit4 Review

Cost: $285

Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5.0

Weight range: 4 to 100 pounds

Height limit: Up to 57 inches

Car seat weight: 25 lbs.

The Chicco Fit4 is easy to install and highly adjustable, making it our top pick for convertible car seats. It has four configurations and nine recline positions. Many features of this car seat are adjustable (including a rising headrest and removable padding), the instructions are easy to follow, and setup is simple. You can even access detailed instructions through your phone.

You can see how the Chicco Fit4 performed in each category below:

Review CategoryScore (Out of 5.0 Stars)Ease of Use5.0Adjustability5.0Quality of Materials5.0Overall Rating5.0

Pros and Cons

Pros

Multiple configurations for children between 4 and 100 lbs.

Steel-reinforced frame and EPS foam lining

Bubble leveling system ensures perfect recline angle

10 recline positions

Cons

Bulky

Some reports of headrest deteriorating after a couple years

Our Experience

Having tested more than a dozen child car seats of various types and sizes, we found the Chicco Fit4 had the easiest instruction guide to understand. In addition,  the buckles and latches are easy to attach and secure.

The interior padding is soft and easily removable as your child grows. The high number of inserts means you can configure the Fit4 to perfectly encapsulate your little one. The cupholders are removable to make extra room. However, the seat did take up quite a bit of space. The passenger sitting in front of this car seat may not have much legroom in a small sedan.

What Customers Are Saying

Amazon review score: 4.8 out of 5.0 (over 2,100 reviews)

Positive reviews say the Fit4 is easy to install and clean. Parents are pleased that the seat is comfortable and safe. Because the seat is usable by children of all ages, it can last to its expiration date of 10 years. This may be the only car seat a parent would need to buy. The Chicco Fit4 scores the most points with reviewers for its comfort.

The car seat does take up a lot of space in your backseat, but this is not uncommon among the best seats in this category. Some Amazon reviewers complain that the seat doesn’t detach from its base, which is a feature many infant car seats include (though not often a feature of convertible car seats).

A couple of reviewers say the foam material in the headrest deteriorated after a few years, but others report many years of successful use.

2. Britax Advocate: Easiest Installation

Britax Advocate Review

Cost: $300

Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5.0

Weight range: 5 to 65 lbs.

Height limit: Up to 49.0 in.

Car seat weight: 30.6 lbs.

The Britax Advocate employs a patented ClickTight system for easy installation and configuration. The five-point harness is padded for comfort and features three layers of side-impact protection.

This seat is suitable for newborns up to children six years old. This likely won’t be the only booster seat you’ll ever buy, but few car seats last more than six years.

Below are the Britax Advocate’s ratings in each category:

Review CategoryScore (Out of 5.0 Stars)Ease of Use4.5Adjustability4.5Quality of Materials4.5Overall Rating4.5

Pros and Cons

Pros

Supports children between 5 and 65 lbs.

Lasts up to 10 years

15-position headrest and harness

Cons

Expensive

Heavy at 30 lbs.

Our Experience

The Advocate is simple to install and features high-quality padding, like many of the car seats on this list. What makes the Advocate stand out is the ClickTight system—a button in the front of the seat allows you to open the Advocate to reposition the straps for front- or rear-facing configurations. This makes the Advocate one of the easiest seats to safely install compared to most other options on the market.

The buckles are covered with soft padding, and the straps are easy to adjust. However, the Advocate uses metal anchor clasps, which make it slightly harder to secure than the Chicco Fit4.

What Customers Are Saying

Amazon review score: 4.7 out of 5.0 (over 730 reviews)

Happy customers like the safewash fabric, which is free of chemical flame retardants. Parents with infants especially appreciate how easy it is to remove and clean the padding.

Parents with small cars often note that the Advocate is bulky. Some users couldn’t recline their own seats while using the Advocate. While we like the ClickTight button, some people find it hard to turn.

3. Graco Extend2Fit: Easiest to Maintain

Graco Extend2Fit Review

Cost: $200

Overall rating: 4.3 out of 5.0

Weight range: 4 to 65 lbs.

Height limit: Up to 49.0 in.

Car seat weight: 19 lbs.

The Graco Extend2Fit is a solidly made convertible car seat that features an adjustable headrest and leg rest. It comes with a no-rethread harness and six recline positions. The soft padding is removable and machine-washable. At around $200, this car seat rivals the quality of pricier alternatives such as the Fit4 and the Advocate.

The Graco Extend2Fit’s ratings are highlighted below:

Review CategoryScore (Out of 5.0 Stars)Ease of Use4.0Adjustability4.5Quality of Materials4.5Overall Rating4.3

Pros and Cons

Pros

10-position headrest

Built in cup holders

Machine-washable pad

Easy installation

Cons

Large size might be tight in small vehicle

Difficult to tighten straps

Can be hard to reinstall after washing

Our Experience

The Extend2Fit features some of the softest padding, and all of the buckles and latches are of high quality. We found it easy to install the seat in forward- and rear-facing positions. However, it’s a pain to reposition the anchor latches, as this requires removing almost all the outer fabric layers. It can also be difficult to adjust the incline position.

While some of the adjustment mechanisms take a bit of strength to operate, they’re all robust and secure. The process is straightforward but can take some finagling.

This seat uses the LATCH connector system for easy installation, and a helpful ball indicator tells you if the seat is properly positioned.

What Customers Are Saying

Amazon review score: 4.8 out of 5.0 (over 73,000 reviews)

Many reviewers say they’ve bought several Graco seats throughout the years and that the Extend2Fit is their favorite. The removable lining is easy to wash, and the seat is relatively painless to maneuver even at 19 lbs. Reviewers claim their children are comfortable, and this durable car seat can last several years (the manufacturer says this seat is good for 10 years).

Some users note that the cupholders are square-shaped, which is not ideal for most beverage containers. Others say it’s difficult to tighten the lower LATCH straps (though we didn’t find this to be the case).

4. Maxi-Cosi Pria: Most Comfortable

Maxi-Cosi Pria Review

Cost: $270

Overall rating: 4.0 out of 5.0

Weight range: 4 to 100 lbs.

Height limit: Up to 52.0 in.

Car seat weight: 22.5 lbs.

The Maxi-Cosi Pria is a convertible car seat with three configurations available in 10 colors. Supporting children from 4 to 100 lbs., the Pria features a QuickFit shoulder harness, easy-to-connect anchor latches, and two removable cup holders.

Based on our experience with this car seat, we’ve deemed the Pria the Most Comfortable convertible car seat. The removable, adjustable padding is great for gently securing children and the softness and plushness of its material is unmatched by any other convertible car seat.

The Maxi-Cosi Pria’s ratings are highlighted below:

Review CategoryScore (Out of 5.0 Stars)Ease of Use4.0Adjustability3.5Quality of Materials4.5Overall Rating4.0

Pros and Cons

Pros

Comfortable and adjustable padding

3 configurations for children between 4 and 100 lbs.

Fits in smaller cars

Steel frame

Cons

Difficult to adjust

Some complaints about rear-facing mode

Our Experience

While the Maxi-Cosi Pria is simple to install and uses the best type of anchor latch, it’s difficult to adjust. The reclining mechanism is finicky, and we had some trouble tightening the anchor straps.

However, when it comes to material quality, the Pria shines. The padding was the softest of the car seats we examined, and the removable inserts ensure a safe, snug fit for your infant or toddler.

We’re thankful the padding is machine-washable and simple to remove. While available colors are not one of the most important features of a car seat, it’s worth noting the Pria offers the widest range of style choices.

What Customers Are Saying

Amazon review score: 4.6 out of 5.0 (over 4,600 reviews)

Most Amazon reviews for the Maxi-Cosi Pria praise the car seat’s comfort. The fabric stays cool on hot days while offering a lot of cushion. Reviewers, especially parents of multiple children, also like the color options.

While there’s a lot of praise for the Pria’s comfort when all of the padding is attached, some reviewers complain that this vehicle seat is not the best for older children. Once the infant padding is taken out, the seat becomes less comfortable. Other reviewers note, like us, that the Pria is hard to tilt and adjust.

While we didn’t experience this issue, some customers also say the Pria doesn’t easily fit in small vehicles when used in extended rear-facing mode.

Convertible Car Seat Buyers Guide

Choosing a car seat for your child is an important decision that requires considering many different factors. 

Compare Convertible Car Seats

Brand/ModelWeight RangeHeight LimitCar Seat WeightChicco Fit44 to 100 lbs.Up to 57 in.25 lbs.Britax Advocate5 to 65 lbs.Up to 49 in.30.6 lbs.Graco Extend2Fit4 to 65 lbs.Up to 49 in.19 lbs.Maxi-Cosi Pria4 to 100 lbs.Up to 52 in.22.5 lbs.

When deciding which of the best convertible car seats to purchase, consider the following:

Peace of Mind

While every car seat sold in the United States must meet certain federal safety regulations, these regulations aren’t necessarily as strict as they could be. Only recently has side-impact crash testing been mandated by the federal government. 

What’s more, companies are responsible for their own testing. Most major brands have rigorous testing standards proven out over the years by their continued reliability. But even the best car seat is not safe if improperly installed. For these reasons, parents should conduct their own research on the safest car seats for their children. It is also worth registering your car seat on the manufacturer’s website to receive updates on recalls or safety notices for that specific model. You can read even more about car seat safety below.

Ease of Use

In addition to installing your car seat, you’ll also need to continually adjust it so that your child is properly secured. Some car seats have features that make them easier to install and adjust. There are also car seat travel systems that make it easy to transition your child from the car to a stroller.

Comfort

You’ll want to take a closer look at padding, fabric, and harness dimensions to evaluate whether a car seat will be comfortable for your child. Padding is important for keeping infants’ heads still, and it can be helpful for kids who nod off as you run errands. If your baby often wears onesies or your little one loves to run around in shorts, be sure to prioritize soft fabric and flexible straps to protect their sensitive skin against irritation.

Your Family’s Lifestyle

Do you and your partner switch baby duties throughout the week? You’ll want to consider all the vehicles your child will travel in. If the car seat will stay in one car for most of the week, you might be more comfortable investing in a bulkier or more complex seat. Simple installation and a lightweight design will be more important if you regularly transfer the seat from car to car.

What Is a Convertible Car Seat?

Broadly speaking, there are three car seat configurations, each appropriate for a different age and height of a child: rear-facing, forward-facing, and high-backed booster. Many car seats are installed in one of these three configurations, and parents must purchase new car seats as their child grows.

A convertible car seat has the ability to be installed in both rear- and forward-facing positions. It is designed to last longer than other car seats by accommodating a broader range of children. Instead of buying a new car seat when it’s time to switch from a rear-facing to a forward-facing position, you can readjust a convertible car seat. While car seats do expire, this is typically after around 10 years, and an infant will need to switch between a rear- and forward-facing car seat after only a couple of years.

For this reason, convertible car seats are a popular option among parents as they can help save quite a bit of money without compromising child safety. Buying a new car seat for a baby can be nerve-racking. To help you find a safe, comfortable, and long-lasting car seat, our products team researched and tested some of the best convertible car seats on the market.

Convertible Car Seat Safety

Safety is the most important consideration when selecting a car seat. In fact, most hospitals will not allow parents to drive their newborns home unless they have an approved infant car seat.

Technically, every car seat sold in the United States must meet federal safety standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This is typically indicated by an NHTSA sticker that includes wording like, “This restraint is certified for use in all motor vehicles and aircraft.” 

While the NHTSA safety standards are rigorous, they are not perfect. For instance, companies self-certify their own crash test results privately with the NHTSA. The only way to know if a certain seat failed the NHTSA’s specific crash test metrics is if there is a publicized product recall for that seat. Therefore, it is also good practice to research the manufacturer and model of any car seat before you buy it. Read reviews from other parents and child safety advocacy groups (like the American Academy of Pediatrics). It is also good practice to check if the car seat you’re considering has been subject to any recalls.

In addition to ensuring your seat meets federal safety guidelines, you need to buy the best convertible car seat for your child based on their height and weight. Consult this chart, developed by the NHTSA, to determine which type of car seat you need.

Lastly, a car seat is only safe if it is properly installed. To check your installation, a professional can inspect your car seat. The NHTSA website features a handy tool for locating the nearest child passenger safety technician.

Are Used Car Seats Safe?

Used car seats can be safe to use, but it’s not advisable to buy one secondhand simply because it’s impossible to know for sure. There are several reasons a used car seat may be unsafe:

The seat has expired. Be sure to check the expiration date on any car seat you find. This should be clearly listed on a label attached to the car seat. If it is not, do not use that car seat.

The seat has been recalled. Buckle Up NC’s recall list is a useful tool for checking if any particular seat has been recalled.

The seat has been involved in an accident. Car accidents impact a car seat’s integrity, rendering it unsafe for use.

The car seat is a counterfeit. Some counterfeit car seats are offered on the secondary market that closely resemble major brand seats.

The car seat is missing parts. A used car seat is unlikely to come with a box or instruction manual and may be missing important pieces.

Who Is a Convertible Car Seat for?

Buying a car seat is something all new parents face, and it is something they’ll likely have to do more than once as their child grows. The best convertible car seats replace the car seats designed for infants as children surpass the rear-facing weight limit or grow too large for a seat’s harness straps.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), all children should be in forward-facing car seats until they outgrow the manufacturer’s harness holders or weight limit, and can utilize the vehicle’s seat belt path.

So new parents have two options: buy an infant car seat and then buy a new car seat as the child ages, or buy a convertible car seat. Petra Stanton, the Safe Kids Supervisor at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, recommends starting with a seat that will support a child as they grow in weight and height.

“The advantage of getting a new car seat is: It’s going to be brand new. It’s not going to have spills, leaks, and so on. The advantage of having the all-in-one is that it may just be the only car seat you ever have to buy.”

What Is the Difference Between a Convertible Car Seat and an All-In-One?

A convertible car seat is intended to support your child from the time they are an infant to a toddler and can go from rear-facing to forward-facing. An all-in-one convertible car seat can do that in addition to being used as a booster seat for older children. It is meant to last a child from birth through almost the first decade of life.

Convertible car seats are some of the bulkiest when it comes to baby gear, and may have a difficult time fitting in smaller cars.

At What Age Should a Child Transition to a Booster Seat?

Your child should be at least four years old, over 40 lbs., or taller than the harness before transitioning to a belt-positioning booster seat. Some convertible car seats can transform into high-backed boosters. Older children may need a backless booster seat.

How to Install a Convertible Car Seat

Parents should refer to their product manual for instructions on how to install a car seat. However, we can offer the following tips that are common across most car seats:

Tether or buckle: Most car seats can be installed using the car seatbelt or the LATCH (lower anchors and tethers) system. Both are safe, but do not use both methods at the same time—only one or the other.

Upper anchor: Attach the upper anchor for forward-facing car seats. Do this if you are using the LATCH system or using the vehicle belt. The upper anchor connector is typically located on the back of the seat or near the headrest.

Lower anchors: Make sure you use the appropriate lower anchor connectors. In many cars, there are two sets of lower anchors, on the left and right rear passenger seats. Some vehicles and car seats allow you to “borrow” one anchor from each side to install the seat in the middle, but this is uncommon. Check the owner’s manuals for your car and car seat before using lower anchors for middle seat installation.

Auto retractor: If you install a car seat using your vehicle’s seat belt, be sure that you engage the automatic retractor by pulling the seat belt out as far as it can go. Some older vehicles may not have an auto retractor, in which case you’ll need to use a belt clip.

Testing stability: Tighten your seatbelt or tether anchors so that the seat moves no more than one inch from side to side. When testing stability, grip the seat at the base (more wiggle at the top of the seat is acceptable).

Harness position: Generally, you want the harness straps to be level with your child’s shoulders. For rear-facing car seats, straps should be at or below the shoulders. For forward-facing car seats, straps should be at or above the shoulders.

Pinch test: After you’ve buckled your child into their car seat, try to pinch the belt material at your child’s shoulders. You should not be able to gather more than an inch of material this way.

If you are new to car seats, it may be a good idea to have your car seat installation inspected for proper installation. Find a local station on NHTSA’s website for a free car seat inspection by a certified technician. A Safe Kids Worldwide study conducted in 2011 found that only around 58 percent of parents (among a sample of over 79,000) correctly installed their seat tethers.

What Is the LATCH System?

The LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) harness system is installed in cars made after 2003. These anchors and tethers make installing a car seat in any position in your car—even the middle seat—easier.

The top tether is located above the back seat. It secures the car seat in place when the driver makes a sharp turn or sudden stop, and it’s compatible with leather or vinyl upholstery. If you have an older car, you’ll use the seat belt rather than the lower anchors that are built into cars today.

Convertible Car Seat Terminology

No-rethread harness: As your child grows, you will need to reposition the shoulder straps in your car seat. With a rethread harness, straps must be removed and rerouted through different slots in the car seat. A no-rethread harness only has one slot for shoulder straps, and strap height is adjusted by raising and lowering the headrest.

EPS foam: Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam is essentially Styrofoam™. EPS foam is excellent at dissipating the force of high-speed impacts and so is a standard material for crash safety devices like helmets and car seats.

Five-point harness: A five-point harness is a seatbelt design that is secured at five points (over both shoulders, at each hip, and between the legs). This strap system provides increased safety over a three-point strap system typical in passenger automobiles.

Click Connect™ (Graco): Click Connect is the name of the connection system Graco uses for its detachable car seats. Graco car seats that feature Click Connect can be detached from the car seat base and connected to a compatible stroller. When a Click Connect carrier is attached, it produces an audible clicking noise so that the user can be certain it is properly connected.

ClickTight® (Britax): ClickTight is Britax’s system for securing a car seat to your vehicle. Rather than connecting via lower seat anchors, the ClickTight system is a series of guides through which the car seatbelt is threaded. The result is a self-tensioning system that doesn’t require adjustment or guesswork from the parent.

QuickFit (Maxi-Cosi): The QuickFit system is what Maxi-Cosi calls its proprietary no-rethread harness design. The shoulder straps and headrest are raised together without rethreading required.

Helpful Resources

CDC Car Seat Safety Guidelines

NHTSA Car Seat Sizing Chart

NHTSA Car Seat Inspection Locator

NHTSA Used Car Seat Safety Checklist

NHTSA Car Seat Ease of Use Ratings

American Academy of Pediatrics Car Seat Safety Recommendations

Convertible Car Seats: Bottom Line

Over the course of our car seat testing, the average overall score for convertible car seats ended up being 4.2, which shows how impressive the Chicco Fit4’s perfect score really is. Based on ease of use, adjustability, and material quality, we rated the following as the best convertible car seats:

Best Convertible Car Seat: Chicco Fit4

Easiest Installation: Britax Advocate

Easiest to Maintain: Graco Extend2Fit

Most Comfortable: Maxi-Cosi Pria

Convertible Car Seats: FAQ

Below are some common frequently asked questions about convertible car seats:

Original article: Best Convertible Car Seats