The extended rear facing car seats we look at in this post have some features in common; they have all been tested to R129 standard; they have all been through the Swedish Plus Test; they are all suitable for a child upto the height of 125cm. However, they are not all the same. Here we look at the key differences to try and help you decide which one is right for you and your family.
Length of the Back Rest
Besafe Stretch - 67cm Besafe Beyond - 58cm Axkid Minikid 4 - 68cm Axkid Movekid - 69cm Axkid One 3 - 63cm Avionaut Sky 2.0 - 57cm Britax Max Safe Pro - 66cm Britax Safeway M - 66cm
Ease of Installation
Besafe Stretch - 7/10, A very sophisticated system and self tightening tether straps. Seat Belt routing could be easier.
Besafe Beyond - 9/10, an isofix rotating extended rear facing seat. Includes a base levelling mechanism.
Axkid Minikid 4 - 8/10, Super easy seatbelt routing and self tightening tether straps.
Axkid Movekid - 7/10, Super easy seatbelt routing and manual tether straps
Axkid One 3 - 9/10, an isofix extended rear facing seat.
Avionaut Sky 2.0 - 5/10 very awkward belt routing and manual tether straps.
Britax Max Safe Pro - 6/10 very awkward belt routing, self tightening tether straps.
Britax Safeway M - 5/10 very awkward belt routing and manual tether straps.
How much space they take up in the car
Besafe Stretch - 80cm
Besafe Beyond - 78cm
Axkid Minikid 4 - 70cm
Axkid Movekid - 73cm
Axkid One 3 - 75cm
Avionaut Sky 2.0 - 76cm
Britax Max Safe Pro - 81cm
Britax Safeway M - 81cm
To Sum Up
The Besafe stretch is suitable from 61cm (approximately 6 months.) It has a good back height and BeSafe have tried to make it reasonably easy to fit. It is the only seatbelt and tether one on the list you can adjust the recline without having to uninstall the seat and it has magnets to hold the harness out of the seat whilst you get your child in and out. However, it is a big seat and if you want to make use of the stretch feature you will need even more than the 80cm which is needed to accommodate the seat.
BeSafe make a newborn version of this seat called the BeSafe Stretch B which includes a really nice newborn insert.
The Besafe Beyond is suitable from 61cm (approximately 6 months.) It is easy to install because of the isofix and it is the only one in the list that rotates. It will allow for extra leg room if you have the space and it has magnets to hold the harness out of the way. It is not the tallest seat and Besafe themselves cite the seat as suitable to age six rather 7 because of this.
The Axkid Minikid 4 is suitable from 61cm (approximately 6 months.) We find this the easiest of the seatbelt and tether seats to install. It is possible to give extra leg room and change the recline. The automatic head rest is not the easiest to use especially with smaller children, but you lock it off so it doesn't move unless you want it to. It has to be uninstalled if you want to change position or angle of the seat.
The Axkid Movekid is suitable from 61cm (approximately 6 months.) We find this the easiest of the seatbelt and tether seats, with no automation, to install. It is possible to give extra leg room and change the recline. It has to be uninstalled if you want to change position or angle of the seat.
The Axkid One 3 is suitable from 61cm (approximately 6 months.) The isofix makes it really easy to install. It has handy handles to aid your child climbing into the seat. If you have the space in your car, you can adjust the leg room you give your child. It has the tallest seat unit of the isofix seats.
Axkid make a newborn version of this seat called the Axkid One 3 Plus which includes a newborn insert.
Avionaut Sky 2.0
The Avionaut Sky 2.0 comes suitable from newborn. Their seat is certified by AGR (German organisation for back health) and if you are in accident, in the first 2 years of owning the seat, and your insurer will not replace it to its full value, Avionaut will replace it for free. However, this is not the easiest to install. It is the smallest of all the seats, but does not take up the least amount of space in the car.
The Britax Max Safe Pro is suitable from 61cm (approximately 6 months.). The automatic tethers are helpful and it is a reasonable size seat. However, it is a bit awkward to install and it has no adaption in terms of recline. To give extra leg room it requires the use of a wedge (included) which only give a small amount of extra space at the front.
Britax Safeway M is suitable from 61cm (approximately 6 months.). It is a reasonable size seat. However, it is a bit awkward to install and it has no adaption in terms of recline. To give extra leg room it requires the use of a wedge (not included) which only give a small amount of extra space at the front.
We recommend trying a seat in your car before you buy it. We hold all these seats in our showroom for you to try.
Please contact us if you have further questions or visit our showroom.
P and CS
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