The I European Report 2023 on Child Restraint Systems reveals which are the safest seats on the market
Buying a Child Retention System (SRI) for your child must be a very thoughtful decision. Not only does the price count, the most important thing is to confirm that it meets the standards that will guarantee the safety of the child in the event of an accident. Also that while you travel you will make it comfortable @ and in a space suitable for your size and weight. To help you in the selection, we show you the safest car seats for sale in Spain.
The selection is not signed by us but by mobility experts from the main European automobile clubs, including RACE, which has presented the I European Report 2023 on Child Restraint Systems.
Safety, ease of use, ergonomics and composition
Twice a year, RACE and other European clubs crash test various child seats for sale in Europe. The objective is to verify that they offer safety guarantees in the event of an accident due to a frontal collision, going off the road… During the tests, their ergonomics are also analyzed, that is, whether the boy or girl will travel comfortably; and composition, rejecting those that show high levels of toxic substances.
They also value the ease of use, based on whether it is easy to assemble and disassemble. This aspect is important since it has been proven that a badly placed seat is as dangerous as not carrying it, hence the Traffic Law includes carrying a CRS incorrectly, which is penalized with 200 euros and 4 points.
The safest car seats on the market
The results of the first report of 2023 (there will be a second edition in the last quarter of the year) reveal which are the 10 safest car seats on the market and, therefore, the most recommended.
In total, the safety, ergonomics, ease of use and composition of 20 i-Size models of different sizes have been analysed. Eleven have obtained a 4-star classification (with the maximum being 5 stars) and eight have been classified as three stars. The best scores and, therefore, the most recommended chairs right now are these:
Brand and model | Homologation | Security | Use | Ergonomics | Toxic substances | Total score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joie i-Snug 2 (with and without base) | 40-75cm | ***** | **** | **** | ***** | **** |
Joie Calmi + Foundation Encore | 40-75cm | **** | **** | **** | ***** | **** |
Nuna Arra Next + Base Next | 40-85cm | **** | **** | **** | ***** | **** |
Joie i-Harbour + i-Base Encore | 40-105cm | **** | **** | **** | ***** | **** |
Bugaboo Owl by Nuna + 360 Isofix base | 40-105cm | **** | *** | **** | **** | **** |
Britax Romer Dualfix Plus | 40-105cm | **** | *** | **** | ***** | **** |
Britax Romer Dualfix M Plus | 61-105cm | **** | *** | **** | ***** | **** |
Cybex Solution G i-Fix | 100-105cm | **** | **** | **** | ***** | **** |
Nuna Aace LX | 100-105cm | **** | **** | **** | ***** | **** |
Swandoo Charlie | 100-105cm | **** | **** | **** | ***** | **** |
The only chair that fails the exam
In general, the results of the RACE safety report are satisfactory. There is no chair that reaches the maximum score (of stars); but there is none that obtains a two-star rating (considered the minimum recommended) and there is only one that is not recommended for purchase.
The Besafe iZi Twist M is an approved CRS for children over 60 cm and under 105 cm. The results in the crash tests are satisfactory (4 stars), it also obtains a good classification in ergonomics (4 stars) and use (3 stars). But it is in the composition where it fails since it has been discovered that the material of the cover is contaminated with naphthalene, a substance that, according to the report, is “suspected of being harmful”.
i-Size seats only
The I European Report 2023 on Child Restraint Systems is the first to only analyze seats with i-Size approval. These were more common in the latest reports than those approved as RCE 044, but they have disappeared from the latest edition because a major change in the regulations will take effect in September 2023.
As of September 1, 2023, only seats approved as i-Size can be marketed. There will be a transition period in which the RCE 044 will coexist in stores (only the sale of units in stock will be allowed) and from the first day of September 2024 the latter must be withdrawn.