Maxi Cosi Pria 85 Convertible Car Seat Review
The car seat comes with a detachable soft carrier which reduces the weight of the car seat by 50 percent. This is an excellent choice for parents who want to get the most out of their investment.
The belt comes with a visible indicator that changes from red to green to show when it has been correctly tightened. This ensures that your child is secure in their seat during an accident.
Height
Dorel Juvenile Group (Dorel) is recalling certain Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 convertible car seats due to the fact that the head movement when using the lap belt without the tether in forward facing mode may surpass Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213, "Child Restraint Systems." This can cause your child to be less protected from injury in the event of an accident. To determine the model number and date of manufacture of the seat your child is using go to their recall website here.
This seat is extremely comfortable and has plenty of padding in the headrest to provide comfort to your child while riding. It also offers torso side impact protection, which is a nice feature to have to protect your child's head from injury in the event of a collision. It's shell is easier to clean than other seats since it's open. It's possible to clean dirt from the buckle and the seat back. maxi cosi car seat newborn has two integrated cup holders with the rim of rubber. However, they are too small for larger sippy cups.
The crotch buckle cover is pretty hard to remove and can cause children to complain that it pinches their thighs when they try to use the seat. The cover also covers rigid belt stalks that could be difficult for older children to use when buckled up in booster mode. The seat has a more rigid path than its rivals which makes it more difficult to install and could require the assistance of an adult.
For rear-facing use, the Pria has three crotch buckle slots that differ in size and position however, it only allows them to be used with children who weigh 85 pounds or 52" tall. This is a lot and many children will outgrow the seat well before reaching that height especially if they're placed in the most upright harness position, which requires that their shoulders be above the top of the headrest that is fully extended.
It has a nice line of a decal for the vehicle belt but there is no color-coding or lock off that tells you when it's at the right angle for install and is secure enough. It is also very top heavy, and it requires some effort to keep it in place when installing. The LATCH anchors were mediocre, while the tether was a lot easier to use.
Weight
Maxi Cosi has a reputation for quality and this seat is not a exception. The fabrics are extremely soft and soft, and the seat is super comfortable to ride in, even on long journeys (though getting kids out and in can be a gruelling exercise). The seat comes with three ways to adjust the height of the headrest as well as the harness height. It also comes with built-in harness holders that keep the straps out the way when a child is taking a ride in or out. The seat also features two machine-washable, removable cup holders with an open design that can hold sippy cups and bottles with handles.
The seat has an upper rear-facing limit than the majority of its competitors, at 40 pounds and 43 inches. That means it will be a bit difficult for most children to reach five years old before they need to switch to a high-back booster. The crotch strap only has one forward-facing position and we believe that most children will outgrow it before they reach the belt-positioning booster.
This seat has a padded harness cover to protect the chest sensor while using the crotch buckle in forward-facing mode. We found it a bit more difficult to remove than other models and we're curious how it will stand up to repeated washings, but it's machine washable and dryer-safe. The Pria 85 Max comes with the magnetic ClipQuik chest clips that are designed to make it easy for caregivers to operate but difficult for children to release themselves.
Similar to the Pria 85 Max, this seat has a fairly low rear-facing limit at 39 pounds and 41 inches. It's a bit difficult for many children to use until they reach the five-year mark, and there's only one forward facing position on the crotch strap. Fortunately, the process of installing is less difficult than most other seats we've tested. The LATCH anchors are effective and the molded line that appears on the decal when the seat is correctly angled to allow for belt installation in the vehicle can be helpful to first-time parents.
Head Circumference
This seat is well-padded with a headrest as well as a SIP space that is comfortable for children to ride in. It comes with 14 height adjustments for the headrest. This lets you raise your child's head when they get older. This will ensure that their head doesn't get too close to the seat back, which can result in serious injuries in the event of a crash. The headrest also comes with an infant insert that will provide additional padding for your child to feel more comfortable.
The fabric of the Maxi-Cosi is soft and feels luxurious. It's a little more difficult to remove the cover and clean than other models however, you can wash it at a low setting. We also like that the user's manual is kept inside the cover, instead of being attached to harness straps. This makes it easier for caregivers to access it while installing or using the car seat.
One thing to keep in mind when you are considering this car seat is that it utilizes clips for the top tether that is designed to minimize head movement during an accident. The tether is not required by the iSize regulations, but it could be a beneficial addition to your child's safety. The manual suggests attaching your child to a tether if they weigh less than 65 pounds. It also advises caregivers to keep their hands from getting in the way when putting on the harness.
It is also worth noting that the Cosi car seat weighs slightly more than other seats in its class and its larger dimensions could pose a challenge for families who are using it in rental vehicles or taxis. It also comes with two recline positions for forward facing children, the second one being more reclined than the other. This could cause a gap to form between your child's head and the car seat in a crash.
This seat has great results in sled crash tests which is a sign of its overall safety. It also has a huge amount of padding and is easy to install and use. It's a great choice for parents who want to make sure their child is protected in all situations.
Neck Circumference
This isn't as big of a concern as head circumference in relation to safety in car seats, but it is important to think about your child's neck size. A properly-fitted seat should allow your child's head to be properly supported. Check this by placing your child's face in the car and observing if their head touches the back of the seat. If so, it's probably time to upgrade them to the latest car seat.
The new iSize car seat differs from the older R44/04 car seat in that it utilizes length instead of weight to determine the appropriate grouping for a particular seat. This is due to the fact that children of the same age can differ greatly in height (tall/short) and weight (light/heavy). The length factor also considers that a child could have an upward growth spurt and outgrow their car seat earlier than they anticipated.
The Pria 85 Max convertible car seat is designed for up to 85 pounds, and can be used by children as tall as 52 inches tall. The crotch strap can be too long and can be a problem for the legs of children who sit in the seat for long periods. Maxi Cosi provides a crotch-buckle cover to ease this problem.
In sled crash tests, the Pria 85 Max performed better than its rivals in sled crash tests. This is a sign the seat is built to high standards of safety and should provide your child with some additional protection in the event of a collision.
This seat has only one drawback in that installation is arduous. While it does come with an built-in ISOFIX base, it does not feature a locking mechanism, and it can be difficult to install the belt using the routing through the lower anchors. It is also top-heavy. This means you'll need to fight with the seat in order to keep it straight and then thread the belt through. It's a bit difficult and could take a few tries to get this right.