Your child's safety is one of the main factors decision when buying a new car. car seat baby. Crash tests have been developed with the aim of controlling the safety and reliability of car seats by subjecting them to a battery of strict tests. To preserve the impartiality of crash tests vis-à-vis manufacturers, they are totally independent bodies whose purpose is to monitor and rate the overall safety of baby car seats which they test each year according to different criteria. So how exactly do these crash tests work, and who are the organisations that carry out these assessments? That's what we're going to look at in more detail in this article.
What are the main organisations that assess the safety of baby car seats?
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The ICRT Organisation (International Consumer Research & Testing)
THE ICRT (or International Organization for Research and Consumer Testing) is the main international organisation responsible for testing car seats. It brings together several consumer organisations and associations in over 30 countries around the world. All these member organisations are independent, free from commercial, economic and political interests. They must therefore act solely with the aim of protect consumers. The tests carried out by these bodies are stricter than those required by European standards ECE R44 and R129. They take into account factors such as safety, comfort, risk of misuse or even the presence of harmful substances. Every year, the ICRT carries out two major test campaigns, generally in May and October, to evaluate different car seat models according to a very precise set of specifications.
The various automobile clubs members of the ICRT as ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club), the TCS (Touring Club Switzerland), ÖAMTC (Österreichischer Automobil-, Motorrad- und Touring Club) or the consumer association Stiftung Warentest work closely together in carrying out these crash tests to offer future buyers all the necessary guarantees in terms of safety. Together, they carry out a number of specific tests on different car seat models to analyse a range of parameters in minute detail, including :
- the behaviour of the seat in the event of an accident, particularly on frontal and side impacts
- ease of use;
- the child's comfort ;
- ease of cleaning ;
- the general ergonomics of the seat ;
- the content of harmful substances.
At the end of these tests, the various organisations are free to establish an overall score and recommend or not recommend certain car seat models. ADAC, ÖAMTC and Stifung Warentest use the same scoring system, ranging from 0.5 (best) to 5.5 (worst). The TCS provides percentage scores up to a maximum score of 100% (best). The results are then published in each country, so that consumers can better distinguish between models that benefit from the TCS and those that do not. the highest level of safety and comfort.
Where can I find the results of my crash tests?
Today, the crash test results on car seats are published throughout Europe with the collaboration of various consumer associations and automobile clubs ICTR members who set the standard for safety. The various consumer associations responsible for disseminating these results include :
- Que-Choisir in France ;
- Stiftung Warentest in Germany ;
- Which? in the United Kingdom ;
- the Altroconsumo in Italy.
These results can also be found online on the websites of the various automobile clubs:
To help parents choosing the best car seat for their children, the TCS also publishes a downloadable document containing all the important information, such as the test protocol followed or the results of tests carried out to date (pp. 29-47).
The rating scale used for organisations
To present crash test results to the general public, organisations such as ADAC and TCS use criteria and scoring system which is important to know when consulting the scores for each seat.
How to distinguish the best car seats?
To recognise top-rated car seatsWhen it comes to crash-test results, brands do not hesitate to display small labels clearly showing the good crash-test results of their various models, both in shops and on their websites. Of course, when the results are less glorious, they don't appear. It's up to you to consult the websites of the various testing bodies to find out.
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Plus Test Swedish Certification
To find out more about the tests carried out on car seats, VTI (the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute)VTI, an independent research institute with an international reputation in the transport sector, has introduced an even stricter certification system for the best-performing car seats. Since 2009, the VTI, in collaboration with the NTF (Swedish National Road Safety Company), Folksam, SIS and Volvo, has developed the PLUS TESTa certification that analyses the direct consequences of a head-on collision on children's spines. To do this, it precisely measures the forces acting on a child's neck and head in the event of a collision. This test, which is not compulsory and complements the previous ones, represents an additional guarantee of safety. It is certainly the most difficult test to obtainThis is because, at present, only around fifteen car seats rear-facing) have succeeded in obtaining it, as has the Britax-Römer Max-Way or the BeSafe iZi Modular i-Size RF X1 i-Size. A contrario, no forward-facing seat was unable to obtain certification from the Swedish PLUS TEST.
What are the best Crash-Tested Car Seats?
The most recent crash tests have enabled analyse the performance of new baby car seats recently launched on the market to meet the needs of the new European i-Size (or R129) standard. To help you quickly find the car seats with the highest crash test ratings, we have selected some of the models offering the best performance in terms of safety and comfort for your child. Whether used with or without an ISOFIX base, all these baby car seats are approved to the latest European standards.
OF THE BEST CRASH-TESTED CAR SEATS
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Kiddy Evoluna i-Size
The Evoluna i-Size from Kiddy is one of the only cosy for baby to have been awarded top marks by the Stiftung Warentest and ADAC in the crash tests carried out in 2016. Its originality lies in the fact that it is possible to put baby in an almost lying positionWhether at home (where it can be used as a lounger), on a pushchair (from Kiddy, with adaptors) or in the car. Its successor, Evoluna i-Size 2also approved under the i-Size standard (R129) takes up these main features with a few minor improvements. During the tests carried out in May 2018 by the various organisations, Evoluna i-Size 2 has once again proved itself to be one of the safest baby car seats in its category.
Features of the Kiddy Evoluna i-Size & Kiddy Evoluna i-Size 2
Certification | R129 (i-Size) |
Child size | From birth to 83 cm |
Child's age | Up to approx. 15 months |
Child's weight | Max. 13 kg |
Old classification (R44/04) | Group 0+ |
Installing the car seat | On ISOFIX 2 base with strut |
Child restraint system | 3-point safety harness |
Swivel car seat | |
Seat position | Back to the road |
- BeSafe iZi Kid X2 i-Size
The iZi Kid X2 i-Size ranks among the safest car seats for safety children travelling with their backs to the road from 61 to 105 cm (approx. 6 months - 4 years). The BeSafe Kid X2 i-Size is also one of the few seats to have obtained the very strict PLUS TEST Swedish and reached one of of the highest scores awarded by ADAC in terms of safety. It also stands out for its innovative SIP+ system ("Side Impact Protection +"), which offers maximum protection in the event of a side impact.
Features of the BeSafe iZi Kid X2 i-Size
Certification | R129 (i-Size) |
Child size | From 61 to 105 cm |
Child's age | From 6 months to around 4 years |
Child's weight | Max. 18 kg |
Old classification (R44/04) | Group 0+/1 |
Installing the car seat | ISOFIX (without base) with strut |
Child restraint system | 3-point safety harness |
Swivel car seat | |
Seat position | Exclusively rear-facing from birth to 105 cm |
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Cybex Sirona M2 i-Size
Le Sirona M2 i-Size is part of the Cybex Sirona car seats. It offers optimum safety and comfort for the child, who can be placed with his or her back to the road from birth, thanks to with an integrated removable infant reducerFor children up to 105 cm (approx. 4 years). The Cybex Sirona M2 i-Size is R129 (i-Size) approved and can only be used with the ISOFIX M base associated. This baby car seat features a Integrated Linear Lateral Impact Protection (L.S.P. System) to reduce the force generated by a side impact.
Features of the Cybex Sirona M2 i-Size
Certification | R129 (i-Size) |
Child size | From 45 to 105 cm |
Child's age | From birth to around 4 years |
Child's weight | Max. 19 kg |
Old classification (R44/04) | Group 0+/1 |
Installing the car seat | On Isofix M base with strut |
Child restraint system | 3-point safety harness |
Swivel car seat | |
Seat position | Back to the road from birth to 105 cm Facing the road after 15 months (approx. 76 cm) |
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Maxi-Cosi Pearl Pro 2 i-Size
Le Pearl Pro 2 i-Size from Bébé Confort is quite simply the replacement for the 2wayPearl, one of the first i-Size rear-facing car seats on the market. Like its predecessor, the Pearl Pro is an i-Size car seat. i-Size approved (R129) particularly suitable for children from 67 cm to 105 cm (18.5kg max) from 6 months to 4 years. It can be used for travelling rear-facing from 67 to 105 cm (compulsory up to 15 months) or facing the road 84 to 105 cm. Le Pearl Pro is used in conjunction with the new 3wayFix base from Bébé Confort. You'll also find another model that's virtually identical to the Pearl Pro, the Pearl SmartA version with a few less comforts.
Features of the Bébé Confort Pearl Pro i-Size
Certification | R129 (i-Size) |
Child size | From 67 to 105 cm |
Child's age | From 6 months to around 4 years |
Child's weight | Max. 18.5 kg |
Old classification (R44/04) | Group 1 |
Installing the car seat | On ISOFIX 3wayFix base with strut |
Child restraint system | 5-point safety harness |
Swivel car seat | |
Seat position | Rear-facing from 67 to 105 cm (approx. 4 years) Facing the road from 15 months (from 84 to 105 cm) |
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Concord Reverso Plus
The Concord Reverso Plus is a car seat approved to the European i-Size standard. Thanks to its ultra-light weight, its ease of use and its shell specially designed for infants, it is particularly suitable for children from birth to 105 cm (approx. 4 years) or up to a maximum weight of 23 kg. Plus Test holder, the Reverso Plus is used exclusively rear-facing with a ISOFIX attachment and a strut for maximum protection in the event of an impact.
Features of the Concord Reverso Plus
Certification | R129 (i-Size) |
Child size | Up to approx. 105 cm |
Child's age | From birth to around 4 years |
Child's weight | Max. 23 kg |
Old classification (R44/04) | Group 0+/1 |
Installing the car seat | ISOFIX (without base) with strut |
Child restraint system | 5-point safety harness |
Swivel car seat | |
Seat position | Back to the road |
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Britax Römer Swingfix i-Size
Le Britax Römer Swingfix i-Size is an i-Size approved 360° swivelling car seat with the redoutable Plus Test Suédois. This seat can therefore only be used with your back to the road for maximum safety. Unlike its little brother, the Swingfix M i-Size, which can only be used from 61 cm (approx. 3 months), the Swingfix i-Size, which has a reducer for newborns, is perfect for babies and children from birth to 105 cm (approx. 4 years). Unfortunately, Swingfix is hard to find in France. However, its equivalent, the Britax Dualfix i-Sizecan be used rear-facing from birth to 105 cm and forward-facing from 76 to 105 cm.
Features of the Britax Römer Swingfix i-Size
Certification | R129 (i-Size) |
Child size | Up to approx. 105 cm |
Child's age | From birth to around 4 years |
Child's weight | Max. 18 kg |
Old classification (R44/04) | Group 0+/1 |
Installing the car seat | ISOFIX (without base) with strut |
Child restraint system | 5-point safety harness |
Swivel car seat | |
Seat position | Rear-facing only |