Driving with your typical energetic toddler as a passenger is not a push over task. The safety and comfort of your baby passenger during a road trip is the subject of research and innovation in the all popular convertible car seats industry. These convertible car seats are specially designed to cater to the different developmental stages of the baby. They can contain children of different weight and sizes.
When it comes to getting a convertible car seat that fits well in a small car like the Honda civic, parents have a difficult time making an informed decision. To find the best convertible car seat for Honda Civic, we recommend products that are easy to install, good fit for the car, with a good overall comfort rating. These criteria are important in ensuring your little one enjoys safe comfort and that you get the most value for money spent. A simple look at the options will reveal a staggering number of different brands and models in the market. Here is where we come in to cut down your search and point you in the direction with an outline of three winning products.
1) Graco Contender 65 Convertible Car Seat Review
This popular product from GRACO is the first on our list. It is designed to protect your rear-facing infant from 5 – 40 pounds; and your forward-facing toddler from 20 – 65 pounds. Crash tests are reported to exceed all federal regulations, especially with side-impact tests.
You can get more information on this product at: http://www.gracobaby.com
Here are highlights of its specifications:
- Item Weight 2 pounds
- Product Dimensions 27 x 20.8 x 26 inches
- Minimum weight recommendation 5 pounds
- Maximum weight recommendation 65 pounds
- Maximum height recommendation 49 pounds
- Price £ (Low Priced)
Pros
- Relatively affordable price tag
- Highly rated impact safety rating
- Accommodates your child’s rapid growth.
- Built-in cup-holder which keeps your cups in reach.
- The seat pad is machine washable.
- A level indicator that helps with proper installation.
Cons
- Tricky getting the LATCH and the harness system tight enough
- Difficult handling LATCH when transferring the seat to another vehicle
Our Rating
- Our overall rating (4 out of 5)
- Ease of installation (4 out of 5)
- Fit for the car (5 out of 5)
- Comfort rating (4 out of 5)
GRACO is one of the most recognised baby product companies around the world. From their site, you will find that for over 60 years, the GRACO brand has provided thoughtful, practical and dependable parenting solutions to generations of families.
The GRACO Contender 65 is highly rated for its safety and is a good fit for small cars like the Honda civic. Reports of difficulty in handling the LATCH and harness systems have been observed. Watching some product installation videos will definitely be highly recommended before purchasing this product.
2) Combi Coccoro Compact Convertible Car Seat Review
The Combi Coccoro is also a good fit for a small car. It is lightweight, compact and is designed to accommodate three car seats across the back seat space of most vehicles. It also features a signature side-impact protection with deep side walls. Like any other convertible car seat, it is designed with the maximum safety of the baby in mind e.g. it also has a layer of energy-absorbing foam to distribute crash forces away from your child.
You can get more information on this product at: https://www.combiusa.com
Its basic specifications are as follows:
Item Weight 15.15 pounds
Product Dimensions 28.2 x 16.5 x 16.5 inches
Maximum weight recommendation 40 pounds
Price ££ (Medium Priced)
Pros
- A color indicator to ensure the harness is securely buckled
- An easy-to-remove and washable cover
- Can be used for smaller infant
- Insert pillow keep children comfortable
- Premium push button LATCH connectors for safety and convenience.
Cons
- A higher price point compared to others
- Lower recommended passenger weight
Our Rating
- Our overall rating (5 out of 5)
- Ease of installation (5 out of 5)
- Fit for the car (5 out of 5)
- Comfort rating (4 out of 5)
Combi USA is a subsidiary of the Japanese Combi Corportaion. They have been in operation since 1989 and pride themselves as always striving to provide stylish, practical and innovative juvenile products. Derived from the word “combination,” Combi refers to the critical relationship between children and their caretakers. Combi draws inspiration from modern, sleek Japanese design. The Coccoro Convertible easily installs in tight spaces and smaller cars. It accommodates children 19 to 40 inches, rear-facing from 3 to 33 pounds and forward-facing from 1 year and 20 pounds up to 40 pounds. It is a convertible car seat designed with small spaces in mind.
3) Britax USA Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat Review
Finally, let us also consider a product from the ever reliable Britax USA collections. The Britax ADVOCATE is very similar to the other very popular Britax marathon. However, the ADVOCATE comes with a few additional safety features, especially regarding side impact protection. It has a relatively higher weight capacity than most other car seats on the market today and a forward-facing limit of 65 pounds.
You can get more information on this product at: https://us.britax.com
Its basic specifications are as follows:
- Item Weight 22 lbs
- Product Dimensions 5 x 26 x 21 inches
- Weight recommended 65 lbs
- Price ££ (Moderately priced)
Pros
- One of the easiest harnesses to readjust as your child ages
- Simple seat to transfer between multiple cars
- Conducive for long distance travel
- It is considered a long lasting product
Cons
- It comes in heavier than most others.
- Difficulty in using the LATCH system
Our Rating
- Our overall rating (5 out of 5)
- Ease of installation (5 out of 5)
- Fit for the car (5 out of 5)
- Comfort rating (4 out of 5)
According to their site, Britax has been leading the way in child safety technology for more than 70 years. While being committed to the safety and quality of their product, they recognize the flair for style reflected in the design of all Britax products, as well as the high-quality, easy-to-clean fabrics used on the seat covers. They has evolved from Europe’s best-selling car seat brand, they have become one of the brands most trusted by American families.
The Britax USA Advocate ClickTight is a convertible car seat that is perfect for the family that is always on the move. It has an expiration of about ten years; this means that with good care, it can be used for a number of siblings at a stretch. Accessories and replacement parts can be purchased from Britax as the need arises.
Conclusion
The convertible car seats industry is a multi-million dollar niche with millions of parents buying these products annually. It is important to note, that when buying a car seat for your baby, be sure to actually request a convertible rather than just an infant seat. The convertible car seats begin as a rear-facing car seat for your infant and subsequently transitions to a forward-facing car seat as your baby meets the size and weight requirements. It is strongly recommended that babies stay in the rear-facing car seat for as long as possible.
There so many features to be considered when doing your home work to decide which convertible car seat to buy for your small vehicle like the Honda civic. These features should at the very least ensure your baby is safe and comfortable for the ride. Not many convertible car seats are designed to fit comfortably in a small vehicle. Note that, it is not safe to use poor fitting car seats for your baby. This notwithstanding, with careful online searches and customer reviews, you can get a product that will serve you well.
Our selections represent the very best quality of products from across the industry. We have rated them based on their ease of installation, degree of good fit for the car, and an overall comfort rating. We can say that the Britax Advocate will be our foremost recommendation considering its own ease of installation amongst a few other advantages, especially for people that intend to use their car seats regularly. It has one of the easiest harnesses to re-adjust as your child grows or if you have more than one child using the seat. On the other hand the Graco Contender 65 will give you the greatest bang for your buck. Besides the affordable price, it has the Simply Safe Adjust Harness System which is greatly appreciated by clients that use this product. Furthermore, we recommend you make time to read up more customer reviews and specifications, watch product videos before making you final decision.
