As has been the case every year for over a decade now, the arrival of autumn heralds the second half of the winter season. crash-test results for car seats carried out by ADAC, TCS and their partners after the first session of the crash tests that took place last May. Despite a somewhat difficult period, no less than 16 new car seats (14 for the ADAC and 16 for the TCS) for different age, weight and height groups were subjected to this battery of tests in order to assess the securitythe operation, ergonomics and the pollutant content. While nine models received a 'good' rating, seven received a 'satisfactory' rating, while two models received an 'unsatisfactory' rating. For this test session, it was the Joie i-Spin Safea Swivel car seat for children from birth to 18 kg (up to approx. 4 years) certified from More Testwith the highest score. New this year, in addition to the traditional tests, the ADAC and TCS have also carried out the following tests several simulations of installation errors in order to use these results for prevention purposes. For this crash-test session, no car booster seat were retained.
ABC Design Tulip + Tulipe Isofix base
Avova Sperling-Fix i-Size
Babystyle Oyster Capsule
Babystyle Oyster Capsule + Duofix Isofix Base
Bébé Confort / Maxi-Cosi Mica
Bébé Confort / Maxi-Cosi Morion
BeSafe iZi Modular X1 + iZi Modular i-Size Base
Britax Römer Advansafix i-Size
Cybex Aton B i-Size + Base M
Cybex Aton B i-Size
Joie i-Spin Safe
Nuna Prym
Recaro Salia
Recaro Salia Elite
Renolux Olymp i-Size
The most common installation errors
As you will no doubt have realised, buying the best car seat of the world is not enough to effectively protect your child if it is incorrectly installed. It is even just the opposite is likely to happen in the event of an accident. In fact, almost 2 out of 3 children are systematically not properly restrained in the car. Incorrect installation simply renders the seat totally ineffective. To avoid this, ADAC recommends that you always to tighten the beltwithout ever twisting it, and position it correctly in the strap guides This is the only way to effectively restrain the child in the event of an impact. Likewise, jackets and/or coats must always be removed to position the belt as close as possible to the child's body. This will prevent the child from slipping between the straps and being thrown violently into the vehicle.
The cars are all different, each car seat will fit differently for example, rear seat recline, available space at the rear or the number of passengers. So, when you have the opportunity, the best thing to do is to take your child and your vehicle with you to try out the different models of interest to you.
Excessive levels of toxic substances
Since 2011, pollutant content contained in the fabrics of each of the car seats tested is one of the criteria taken into account in the final crash test score. Too high a concentration of pollutants systematically leads to an overall downgrading of the rating of each offending model. This is what happened to the Babystyle Oyster Capsulea baby cosy for infants from birth to 15 months, which despite good results in terms of safety, operation and ergonomics, has had its final score downgraded. due to a content of flame retardants TCPP and TDCP exceeding the set limit.
Selection of the Best Car Seats in Crash Tests (October 2020)
- Les Cosy Bébé (from birth to around 18 months)
The baby cosy are suitable for children from birth to 18 months depending on the model. When installed back to the road, the baby cosy guarantees better protection It's the perfect way to support your child's head and spine. The other big advantage of the baby cosy is that it makes it easy to switch from the car to the pushchair without waking your baby.
- Cybex Aton B i-Size (with or without base)
Le Cybex Aton B i-Size is a baby cosy certified according to the R129 (i-Size) regulation for use with children from 45 to 75 cm (from birth to around 18 months). This model can be fitted with either the Cybex Base M or the vehicle's 3-point belt for cars not equipped with one. of the ISOFIX. It also has L.S.P. side protection system which reduces the force of the impact, a large sun visor (UPF50+), an adjustable headrest your child's body shape and a removable reducer for newborns up to 60 cm. Lightweight, the Aton B i-Size is easy to transport outside the vehicle and fits all Cybex / gb pushchairs, as well as those from other manufacturers, thanks to adapters sold separately. The Base M is also compatible with the car seat Cybex Sirona M2 i-Size to extend your child's rear-facing protection up to the age of 4.
Certification | R129 (i-Size) |
Child size | From 45 to 87 cm |
Child's age | From birth to around 18 months. |
Child's weight | 13 kg max. |
Installing the car seat | Seat belt or Base M with strut |
Child restraint system | 3-point harness |
Newborn reducer | |
Swivel car seat | |
Seat position | Back to the road |
CYBEX ATON B I-SIZE
- Children's car seats (from birth to 4 years approx.)
To ensure that your baby's head, which is heavier at this age, is not violently thrown forward in the event of an impact, leading to serious injury, we recommend that you place your child in a position that back to the road as long as possible. And so, neck and cervical spine are effectively protected.
- Joie i-Spin Safe i-Size
Le Joie i-Spin Safe received the best score to this autumn's crash-test session by obtaining very good results in all categories. This model is approved according to the i-Size regulation (R129/03) and is suitable for children from birth to 105 cm (up to approx. 4 years old) to travel exclusively rear-facing. Like car seats Joie Spin 360 and Joie i-Spin 360it is a Swivel car seat which makes it easier to put your child in the car every day. This model features removable inserts for newborn babies, a 5-point harness and 6 tilt positions with its back to the road for absolute comfort. Safety features include an adjustable headrest with memory foam, or even enhanced protection against side impact. Its many safety features have earned it the Swedish Plus TestA rigorous crash test, a guarantee of quality so you can travel with your child in complete confidence.
Certification | R129 (i-Size) |
Child size | From 40 to 105 cm |
Child's age | From birth to 4 years approx. |
Child's weight | 18.5 kg max. |
Installing the car seat | ISOFIX with strut |
Child restraint system | 5-point harness |
Swivel car seat | |
Newborn reducer | |
Seat position | Back to the road |
JOY I-SPIN SAFE
- BeSafe iZi Modular X1 i-Size (with base)
Le BeSafe iZi Modular X1 i-Size is a slightly improved version of iZi Modular i-Size that ADAC tested in 2016. This is a car seat approved in accordance with the latest R129 regulations (i-Size) for children from 61 to 105 cm (from 6 months to 4 years approx.) and a maximum weight of 18 kg. Like its predecessor, the BeSafe iZi Modular X1 i-Size can only be installed using the iZi Modular ISOfix base for use back to the road (from 61 to 105 cm) or facing the road (from 88 to 105 cm). In terms of safety, this seat has been awarded excellent results in frontal and side impact tests. It features integrated side impact protection inside the shell, but is also supplied with a additional removable side protection (SIP+) which attaches to the side of the seat at door level. It is fitted with an adjustable headrest in height, a 5-point harness innovative magnetic system that gives children more freedom of movement and a gearbox for newborns, which can gradually be removed as the child grows. The seat has visual indicators confirming correct installation on the base, 10 tilt positions (6 with their backs to the road and 4 facing the road) and an adjustable anti-bounce bar in 3 positions to give extra legroom when the seat is facing away from the road. The iZi Modular ISOfix base is also compatible with the baby cosy BeSafe iZi Go Modular X1 i-Size and iZi Go Modular i-Size to form a complete safety system from birth to 105 cm (up to approx. 4 years). Note that the car seat iZi Modular X1 i-Size is also available in a version that can only be used rear-facing, the BeSafe iZi Modular RF X1 i-Sizea model certified by the Swedish Plus Test.
Certification | R129 (i-Size) |
Child size | From 61 to 105 cm |
Child's age | From 6 months to 4 years approx. |
Child's weight | 18 kg max. |
Installing the car seat | Base iZi Modular i-Size with strut |
Child restraint system | 5-point harness |
Swivel car seat | |
Newborn reducer | |
Seat position | Road back (61 to 105 cm) Road side (88 to 105 cm) |
BESAFE IZI MODULAR X1 I-SIZE
- Nuna Prym
Le Nuna Prym is a Swivel car seat for children from birth to 105 cm (up to approx. 4 years) which shares the same structure as the Nuna Rebl Plusa model that we have already praised in our selection of best swivel car seats. Le Nuna Prym is an approved model according to European regulation R129 (i-Size) which rotates 360 for easy installation of the child as well back to the road (from birth to 105 cm) than facing the road (from 76 to 105 cm) for a maximum weight of 18.5 kg. It offers a 5-point harness with magnetic hooks to keep the straps open and side guards which deploy automatically when you put your child in the seat. It also has 7 tilt positions, a height-adjustable headrest with memory foam so than an infant reducer easy to remove as baby grows. As an added bonus, it comes with two coversOne for summer and one for winter, easily removable for machine washing.
Certification | R129 (i-Size) |
Child size | From 40 to 105 cm |
Child's age | From birth to 4 years approx. |
Child's weight | 18.5 kg max. |
Installing the car seat | ISOFIX with strut |
Child restraint system | 5-point harness |
Swivel car seat | |
Newborn reducer | |
Seat position | Road back (40 to 105 cm) Road side (76 to 105 cm) |
NUNA PRYM I-SIZE
Complete List of ADAC & TCS Crash Test Scores
Visit the full list of final scores achieved by the car seats assessed in this session of the crash tests in October 2020. For each size categoryCar seats are ranked in order of score, from the best to the worst. To find out more about the criteria assessed and the scoring system used, you can find all the information you need in our article devoted entirely to the car seat crash tests.