Best Car Seat Reviews – Consumer Reports

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What's behind our car seat Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 116 models in car seats to see which ones perform best.

We look for:

Overall score
Overall score is based on crash protection, scores for ease of use and fit to vehicle, in LATCH and belt modes, using the car seat with its base. The displayed score is out of a total of 100 points.
Maximum weight
The maximum weight of a child that a model will accommodate.
Crash protection
Evaluation of a seat’s potential for providing an additional margin of safety in simulated 35mph frontal crashes when compared to the performance of similar models. Evaluation is based on injury criteria measured on standardized child-size dummies, head contact with the back of a simulated front seat, and the car seat’s ability to remain intact during the course of testing.
Ease of use
Includes the clarity of instructions, installing the seat, adjusting harness positions, placing a child in the seat, securing the harness, and removing the child.
Fit to vehicle LATCH
A rating of how easy it is to securely and correctly install each seat using the LATCH system in a variety of vehicles and how well the seats fit each vehicle once installed.
Fit to vehicle BELT
A rating of how easy it is to securely and correctly install each seat using the vehicle belts in a variety of vehicles and how well the seats fit each vehicle once installed.

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Recommended car seats

Recommended car seats are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices, weigh features, price, and attributes that matter to you.

Recommended car seats

Car seat buying guide

To find the car seat that is right for you, read our expert advice on which features to consider and how to find the best value.

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Why shop here?

In addition to finding Ratings for the latest models, you can now shop online using an ad-free interface where you can buy car seats in a safe-shopping environment.

Learn more about our Price & Shop program

A child should be restrained in a car seat from the moment you take your baby home from the hospital until she grows into adult seat belts, typically around the age of 7 or 8. Every state requires that kids up to 4 years old ride in car seats; most require booster seats for older children. If you're looking for information about car seats, Consumer Reports is your best resource. Consumer Reports’ car seat reviews will give you honest buying advice that you can trust. Use our car seat buying guide to discover which features are most important to consider. We also provide unbiased ratings and car seat reviews to help you choose the best car seat for your needs.

Ratings & recommended car seats

Infant car seats (32)

The ratings rank infant car seats by overall performance.

Convertible car seats (32)

Convertible seats accommodate children rear facing (most up to 40 lbs.) and then can be turned forward facing to accommodate children into their toddler years and beyond (seats range from 40 to 80 lb. forward facing harness limits). As such they offer a good value as they can be used for a number of years with multiple modes of use.

Consider features that help you install the seat properly and fit your child securely. A few are called out in the model pages by clicking on a model name.

Recommended models include those that provide the best balance of crash protection, ease-of-use, and fit-to-vehicle; as well as some others that deserve consideration for some special applications. Though many attributes are weighed in the determination of a model's overall performance, those below may prove particularly important.

Booster seats (25)

Booster seats are generally for children weighing 40 to 120 lbs. Boosters should be used until a child is at least 57 inches tall, the minimum height at which a car's seat belts will fit him or her appropriately, typically between the ages of 8 and 12 years.

The booster models listed below include those that offer the best balance of crash protection, ease-of-use, and the best potential to fit your child and vehicle at a reasonable price within each of their respective seat types.

All-in-one car seats (10)

The Ratings rank all-in-one car seats by overall performance.

Toddler booster seats (17)

These forward-facing seats are used with an internal harness for toddlers weighing between 20-90 pounds depending on the seat and then transition to use as a booster seat. They're either LATCH-attached or secured using the vehicle's safety belt when used in harness mode. Though a child as small as 20 lbs. is allowed for these forward facing seats, research shows that children are safer when rear facing. We recommend they stay rear-facing in a higher weight infant seat or rear-facing convertible seat until they reach 23 months of age or the weight limits of those seats which are typically between 30 and 35 lbs.

When kids reach the weight limit of the seat's internal harness, the seat can be used as a belt-positioning booster seat, in which the child is restrained using the vehicle's safety belt. Kids can ride in belt-positioned boosters until they reach 80 to 120 pounds, depending on the model.

Recently reviewed car seats

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Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30

(Tested)

One of multiple seats offered by Maxi Cosi for sale in the U.S.

Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30

phil&teds Alpha

GB Asana 35 DLX

Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35

Car seat buying guide

Of all the things you'll buy for your baby, a car seat should be at the top of your list. As the child grows, you'll need to buy new ones to maintain a consistently safe and comfortable fit.

Selecting a car seat isn't as simple as just grabbing a discounted model off a shelf. There are a number of things you'll need to get familiar with to choose and successfully install a child seat in your car. Although you may be tempted to put off some of that homework, don't. You may be surprised to find that some child seats can be difficult to install securely and others may not fit at all. It's best to not put it off until your baby is ready to arrive.

Here are some important things you'll need to know:

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