Top Five Convertible Car Seats

So you’ve made the decision that you’re ready to purchase a convertible car seat. Now comes the hard part, you have to pick out the seat your child will sit in for years. No pressure! With so many new features (that we definitely didn’t have when we were kids) you might be feeling a little lost. This blog is on the top five convertible car seats sold at Little Canadian

 

Maxi Cosi Pria Max


The Maxi Cosi Pria Max 3 in 1 hit the market in early 2020. Being a three in one convertible car seat, this chair will last your child from rear facing all the way to booster mode! Known for being “cosi” this seat will keep your newborn snug inside premium fabrics and padding for ultimate comfort. Say goodbye to uncomfortable car rides! Did I mention it’s machine washable? That feature is going to come in handy. Maxi Cosi Pria Max 3 in 1 Review ImageWith GCell side impact protection and an anti rebound bar to help stop the rotation of the car seat in the event of a crash, parents can feel confident this seat is designed with their children’s safety in mind. As you can see in the comparison chart below, the Maxi Cosi Pria Max ties for first for longevity! With a 10 year expiry this should be the only chair your child will need. 

 


 

Diono 3RXT


The Diono 3RXT was recently redesigned and hit our shelves in early 2020. This seat has all the famous Diono features parents know and love, with even more bells and whistles added! Did you know Diono keeps our mini me’s rear facing longer, because that’s the safest place for them to be? You can see in the comparison chart below, Diono ranks number one for the longest rear facing capacity. This convertible car seat is a three-in-one, meaning that it rear faces, forward faces and turns into a booster seat. Diono 3RXT 2020 Convertible Car Seat Review ImageNow let’s talk safety! This seat is designed with a steel frame, side impact protection, and multiple different adjustable features for your growing mini. Have comfort knowing this seat is built to last until your child is 120lbs, with a 10 year expiry! Diono has always been a parent favourite, especially since this convertible can fit three seats across the back seat of most cars! Most convertibles can only fit two across as they are often large and bulky, but Diono designed their seats with growing families in mind. This seat also comes equipped with cupholders and an infant insert to help support your tiny newborn!




 

 Clek Foonf


The Clek Foonf is a great option if you’re only looking for a rear and forward facing car seat. This seat doesn’t offer a booster mode, like the two seats mentioned above. This seat’s rear facing capacity starts at 14lbs, meaning it isn’t newborn ready. Clek Foonf Review ImageHowever, they do offer a Infant-thingy insert, to adapt the seat and make it newborn ready (5lbs), but it is an additional purchase to keep in mind. This seat is designed with side impact protection, a padded anti-rebound bar and Rigid-LATCH Energy Absorbing Crumple Technology (REACT). REACT is a safety feature used to direct crash energy away from the child and into the seat. The safety in this seat is not lacking! Did you know that Clek was the first company to introduce car seats without the use of added chemicals and flame retardants? In 2018, they decided to use ethically sourced 100% Merino wool. Not totally sold yet? They also offer a car seat recycle program for expired seats, so they won’t end up in landfills. This Canadian made seat is a fantastic option for parents looking for a two in one car seat. 




Britax Marathon

The Britax Marathon convertible car seat became a parent favourite for many reasons. The Marathon is a rear and forward facing convertible car seat that comes with ClickTight installation! ClickTight installation is an added feature to simplify installs for parents. It eliminates the use of the Rigid Latches and secures the seat belt installation in place by locking it in the middle of the seat (See image below). As we know, if it can’t be installed correctly, it can’t be used safely. This is considered a huge benefit for parents, quick and effortless installation for all my on the go parents. Britax Marathon ClickTight Installation Review ImageGrandparents watching your little mini me? The ClickTight installation makes it easy for anyone! Not to mention, this seat comes with a removable infant insert for better newborn support, side impact protection and SafeCell safety features. This seat is equipped with a SafeCell Impact Absorbing Base, which compresses in the event of a crash to counteract the crash movement and avoid car seat contact with the passenger seat. Also included is a SafeCell Impact Stabilizing Steel Frame, and a SafeCell Impact Absorbing Tether. Britax is designed with your family in mind.




Britax Boulevard


The Britax Boulevard can be considered the Marathon’s “big brother”. With all the added SafeCell features mentioned above, an anti rebound bar and an extra layer of side impact protection. The main difference between the two seats is the additional layer of side impact protection, but differ in price by about $50 which is something to consider when comparing the two. Britax Boulevard ClickTight ImageBoth Britax seats in this article have adjustability that other seats just can’t compare to! These car seats are designed with 14 different adjustable headrest heights, 14 harness positions and seven recline positions. Not all children are the same size, with so much adjustability in these seats, you can be sure your child will fit safe and snug. The Marathon and the Boulevard both have a one year warranty and six year expiry. 




Below is a comparison chart of our top five convertible car seats. Compare their weight capacities, safety features and more to find the perfect car seat for your family. 

Features

Maxi Cosi Pria Max

Diono 3RXT

Clek Foonf

Britax Marathon

Britax Boulevard 

Car seat type

3 in 1 Convertible

3 in 1 Convertible

Rear & Forward Convertible

Rear & Forward Convertible

Rear & Forward Convertible

New born ready?

-

Rear facing capacity

4-40lbs

5-50lbs

14-40lbs

5-40lbs

5-40lbs

Forward facing capacity

22-65lbs

22-65lbs

22-65lbs

22-65lbs 

22-65bs

Booster capacity

40-100lbs

50-120lbs

-

-

-

Machine wash fabric

-

-

Steel frame

-

-

Side impact protection

Adjustable headrest

5 positions

12 positions

10 positions

14 positions

14 positions

Recline positions

3 positions

fixed internal recline angle

3 positions

7 positions

7 positions

Unique features

Comes with an anti rebound bar.

Can fit three seats across most cars.

Steel anti rebound bar, seat made in Canada.

Clicktight installation, anti rebound bar.

Clicktight installation, 2 layers of side impact, anti rebound bar.

Included accessories

2 cupholders

Infant insert, cupholders.

-

Infant Positioning Pillow

Infant Positioning Pillow

Expiry

10 years

10 years

9 years

6 years

6 years

Price

Pria Max 

3 RXT

Foonf

Marathon

Boulevard




It’s important to understand exactly what you want when searching for a convertible car seat that your child will use until they outgrow it. The Diono 3 RXT offers the best longevity, having a 120lb weight capacity and 10 year expiry, but the Britax car seats offer the most adjustability and added safety features.  The 3-in-1 car seats mentioned above offer a ten year expiry, whereas the Boulevard only has a six year expiry. This means you will need to purchase a separate booster seat once your child exceeds the forward facing weight capacity, which may be a deciding factor for some. 


These top five convertible car seats are best seller’s at Little Canadian, so feel comfort knowing whichever you choose, it’s a great choice! If you’re looking for a three-in-one car seat, The Pria Max or Diono 3RXT is your best choice, at an affordable price too! Just looking for a rear and forward facing seat? As you can see in the chart above, the Britax seats rank the highest for adjustability, with 14 headrest and 7 recline positions! These seats are meant to grow with your child from 5-65lbs, that’s a lot of growing! 



If you’re still unsure about what seat to choose and would like to learn more, come visit us in storegive us a call or check out our YouTube channel. Our Little Canadian experts would love to answer all your questions. Come in store and test our floor model in your car before purchasing and ensure it’s the right fit!