Car seats are necessary to keep kids safe, but the needs tend to change as children grow up. For instance, babies and young children should ride rear-facing for as long as possible, while older children require a forward-facing car seat so they’re buckled and supported safely. Convertible car seats aim to take families through years of car riding by offering both rear- and forward-facing options.
First and foremost: It’s important to buy new car seats since you may not know if the manufacturer has recalled a used car seat or whether it’s been in a previous crash. You can check to see how your car seat choice rates on crash tests, including new side-impact tests.
Beyond crash safety, other factors worth considering when choosing the best car seat for your child include price, installation, weight, and comfort features like extra legroom or breathable fabric.
Top 10 convertible car seats
- Best overall: Graco Extend2Fit
- Best under $100: Evenflo Tribute LX
- Best lightweight for travel: Evenflo Sonus 65
- Best for high weight limit: Diono Radian 3R 3-in-1
- Best for easy installation: Britax Boulevard ClickTight
- Best for sun protection: Baby Trend Cover Me 4-in-1
- Best for the environment: Nuna RAVA
- Best three in a row: Clek Foonf
- Best for easy cleaning: Chicco NextFit Max Zip Air
- Best infant seat: Peg Perego Primo Viaggio
How we chose the best convertible car seats
We researched manufacture specifications, including dimensions, seat weight, weight and height ranges, and more to create a shortlist of the top convertible car seats. Then, we combed through detailed product descriptions as well as ratings and reviews to name the best convertible car seat for each category.
Best overall: Graco Extend2Fit
$233
from
Amazon.com
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Best lightweight for travel: Evenflo Sonus 65
What We Like
- 11.5 lbs.
- Machine-washable cover
- More comfortable than competition
What We Dislike
- About 1 lb. heavier than main lightweight competitor
- Buckles can pinch
- Difficult to install
Hauling travel and baby gear is cumbersome, so a lightweight car seat can make a difference for smooth travel. The Evenflo Sonus 65 isn’t the lightest or cheapest convertible car seat available, but we’re happy to accept an extra pound of weight for added comfort. The Sonus 65 has a more comfortably padded seat than the Cosco Scenera NEXT. We like the spacious seat, built-in ventilation, and easy-to-remove (and clean) cup holders. The Sonus 65 is FAA approved for plane travel and can fit three across.
Some drawbacks include complex installation, and some parents said it was difficult to work the buckle, which made it easy to pinch their baby’s legs. The Evenflo Sonus 65 doesn’t come with many bells and whistles, but it’s a compact and fairly inexpensive choice that can be especially useful as a backup seat for travel.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 15.5 x 18.5 x 26 in.
Weight: 11.5 lbs.
Best for high weight limit: Diono Radian 3R 3-in-1
What We Like
- Booster accommodates children up to 120 lbs.
- Fits 3 seats across
- Machine-washable cover
What We Dislike
- Difficult to install
- Tall seats can push against driver's seat when rear-facing
- Have to rethread harness
Children are safest in a car seat or booster seat until they are big enough to sit safely without one, often around 60 to 80 pounds. Sometimes, parents may need a seat that can offer restraint and support for a higher weight limit. The Diono Radian 3R 3-in-1 can accommodate children up to 120 pounds. It’s easy to clean and can fit seats three across (parents say this is easier when one seat is rear-facing). This seat may be a particularly beneficial option for parents whose children are heavier or need to use a car seat for a long time.
The biggest drawback is that when the seat is rear-facing, the tall back can push against the driver’s seat. Taller parents may have trouble balancing their own need for legroom with the room the car seat takes up behind them. Parents also said this seat is especially challenging to install, and they didn’t like having to rethread the harness to adjust the fit.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 16 x 17 x 28.5 in.
Weight: 25.9 lbs.
Best for easy installation: Britax Boulevard ClickTight
$369.99
from
Amazon.com
What We Like
- Easy installation
- Comfortable seat
- No-rethread harness
What We Dislike
- Heavy
- Expensive
Installation woes are a common complaint when it comes to car seats. It’s a breath of fresh air to see a car seat make easy, safe installation a priority. The Britax Boulevard ClickTight is extremely quick to install, either rear-facing or forward. The LATCH hooks and seat belt installation are easy and intuitive, and parents say the car seat doesn’t budge once it’s clicked into place.
The Britax Boulevard ClickTight also has more premium, comfortable seat cushioning than many competitors, including other Britax models. This is the model to beat if you plan to move the seats between cars often and want to give your baby an exceptionally comfortable ride.
Among the downsides, the Britax Boulevard ClickTight is heavy and expensive. The Britax Boulevard also has lower crash performance results than some models. It still meets or exceeds federal safety guidelines and is considered a safe seat; however, proper installation is pivotal in ensuring car seats perform the way they should in a crash. As a result, this option is great for parents who struggle with installation and want to ensure the seat is set up as safely as possible.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 23 x 18.5 x 23.5 in.
Weight: 29.4 lbs.
Best for sun protection: Baby Trend Cover Me 4-in-1
What We Like
- Large UPF 50+ canopy
- Comfortable seating
- 100 lbs. forward-facing capacity
What We Dislike
- Spot clean only
- Buckle is complicated
- Low rear-facing weight limit of 40 lbs.
Many car seats focus on cushioning to maximize infant comfort, but not as many consider sun protection. The Baby Trend Cover Me offers a sizable UV-protective canopy that stands out from the crowd. It’s easy for a child to reach the flip-out panels to get extra sun-blocking coverage mid-drive. This is a solid choice for parents commuting at that time of day when sunbeams pierce directly through the windows.
The Baby Trend Cover Me also features one of the highest weight limits in its class for forward-facing, making this an excellent choice for parents hoping to use the seat long term. Parents praise the luxe feel and cushioned straps as well as the canopy.
While the Cover Me has a high weight limit for forward-facing, it has one of the lowest weight limits for rear-facing, at only 40 pounds. Parents of younger babies said there was less head support than they’d like for an infant. The Baby Trend Cover Me is not machine-washable, so you’ll have to spot clean, which is frustrating considering so many other models offer more convenient cleaning.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 17 x 20 x 33 in.
Weight: 16.3 lbs.
Best for the environment: Nuna RAVA
From
$399.95
from
What We Like
- Greenguard Gold Certified
- Great crash test results
- Premium, luxury quality
What We Dislike
- Heavy
- Expensive
The Nuna RAVA is a luxury convertible car seat that strikes an outstanding balance between safety, environmental consideration, high-quality comfort, and ease of use. The seat meets Greenguard Gold certification requirements, one of the best standards in the industry for low chemical emissions. The fabric is bamboo polyester, a more sustainable textile than some options.
In terms of daily use, parents love the Nuna RAVA’s easy installation and high-quality comfort. The Nuna RAVA also earned impressive crash test ratings via BabyGearLab.
The main drawback of this model is its price. The luxury feel and high performance come with a hefty price tag that may make this car seat out of reach for some families. At just over 27 pounds, this is one of the heavier convertible car seats on our list, so this may not be the perfect option for travel.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 16 x 19 x 25.2 to 31 in.
Weight: 27.2 lbs.
Best three in a row: Clek Foonf
$579.99
from
Amazon.com
What We Like
- Meets Greenguard Gold environmental certifications
- Very easy installation
- Narrow width great for 3 side-by-side seats
What We Dislike
- Heaviest on our list
- Expensive
- Not suitable for newborns
Keeping kids in a car seat as long as possible is recommended for safety, but space can become a challenge if you have a large family. The Clek Foonf is narrow enough (only 17 inches wide) to fit three in a row in most cars, and it also has a straightforward installation process.
If you’re looking for a car seat that’s built like a tank, look no further. The Clek Foonf is designed to look and feel like a smaller version of a full-size car seat. A solid metal skeleton, aluminum honeycomb crumple technology for impact absorption, and energy-absorbing foam all contribute to a super-sturdy seat. You can also add the anti-rebound bar for an extra layer of protection.
“Built like a tank” comes with the predictable downside that this car seat is extremely heavy, clocking in up to 38 pounds. It’s expensive, and you’ll need an extra car seat for newborns. The minimum weight for rear-facing is 14 pounds, and babies must be able to sit upright on their own. The fabric is also spot clean only.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 17.5 x 16.9 x 28 in.
Weight: 38 lbs.
