The ADAC has published the results of this year’s child seat test. 30 child seats from a total of nine size classes were tested – from infant carriers for children up to around one year to child seats for children between the ages of four and twelve. The child seats were tested for the criteria of safety, operation, ergonomics and pollutant content.
Best rating for the Cybex Anoris T i-Size
The Anoris T i-Size child seat from Cybex received the best grade in the test, and was the only model to receive the test result “very good” (grade 1.5). The Cybex seat is the first child seat with an integrated full-body airbag. It is suitable for children aged around one to six years (76 to 115 cm tall). 19 seats were rated “good” by the ADAC, six models were rated “satisfactory”.
ADAC child seat test: results
up to approx. 1 year
Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix i-Size + CabrioFix i-Size Base
Graco Snug Essentials + isofamily i-Size Base
Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix i-Size
up to approx. 1 1/2 years
Cybex Aton B2 i-Size + Base One
Nuna Pipa Next + Base Next
Recaro Avan + Avan/Kio Base
Cybex Aton B2 i-Size
Nuna Pipa Next
Preg Perego Primo Viaggio SLK + i-Size Base
Preg Perego Primo Viaggio SLK
Recaro Avan
up to approx. 4 years
Maxi-Cosi Mica Pro Eco i-Size
Maxi-Cosi Pearl 360 + FamilyFix 360 Base
Nuna Todi Next + Base Next
Graco Turn2Me
Joie Spin 360
Chicco Seat2Fit i-Size
Chicco Seat2Fit i-Size Air
Lionelo Antoon RWF
up to approx. 6 years
Joie i-Spin Grow
approx. 1 to 4 years
Besafe iZi Modular RF X1 + iZi Modular i-Size Base
Recaro Kio + Avan/Kio Base
Britax Römer Dualfix 3 i-Size + Flex Base iSense
Urban Kanga Uptown Model TV107
approx. 1 to 6 years
Cybex Anoris T i-Size
approx. 1 to 12 years
Kinderkraft Comfort Up
approx. 4 to 9 years
Walser Kids Experts Noemi
approx. 4 to 12 years
Britax Römer Kidfix M i-Size
Graco EverSure i-Size
Casualplay Backfix i-Size
The four child seats rated “inadequate” are the models Lionelo Antoon RWF, Walser Kids Experts Noemi, Urban Kanga Uptown Model TV107 and Kinderkraft Comfort Up. The reasons for the bad result: In the case of the two test candidates from Lionelo and Walser, the ADAC found that the upholstery fabrics were contaminated with flame retardants. These are suspected of being carcinogenic. Flame retardants have also been detected in the cover fabric of the Urban Kanga seat. The seat also failed the side impact test.
According to the ADAC, the backrest of the fourth test loser, the Kinderkraft seat, has to be removed to secure older children. The seat then does not offer sufficient protection in the event of a side collision. The ADAC advises against buying the four poorly tested seats.
Tips for buying a child seat
When buying a child seat, the ADAC recommends that parents drive their child and their own vehicle to the shop so that they can try out the models in question. You should make sure that the child seat can be installed tightly and securely in the vehicle. Belts must run as straight as possible and must not have any folds. Especially with infant carriers, it should be checked whether the belt length in the vehicle is sufficient to be able to buckle the seat securely.
More child seats in the AUTO BILD test
inspection sticker
test seat
trial installation
sitting position
belt guide
belt system
side impact protection
Fastening in the car
ventilation
flexibility
The first look should be at the inspection sticker. If the orange ECE test sticker is missing, the seat is not approved in Germany. However, if you stick to proven manufacturers when buying, you have nothing to fear.
You should always take the little passenger to buy the seat. Because the seat has to fit the child and not restrict it too much. If the child feels uncomfortable in the seat, it will not accept it and relaxed car rides are a dream come true.
The car should be ready for the trial installation of the potential new seat. Because especially in smaller cars, some child seats can be problematic. Make sure that the child seat is approved for your car and make sure that the seat is as easy to install as possible and fits perfectly. Important when installing with the vehicle belt: Try the rear seat belts. In some cars they are too short for the baby seat.
For the optimal position of the child, the child seats can be adjusted in many ways. With baby carriers, it makes sense to have adjustment options for the lying surface so that the baby lies as flat as possible. Especially with overlapping group seats (group 1/2/3 but also 2/3) you should make sure that the width of the seat can be adjusted in addition to the headrest. Some seats also offer an adjustable leg rest. In general, you can remember: The better the seat can be adapted to the child, the more comfortably it sits in the seat.
The child safety belts should be easy to adjust so that they always fit snugly, depending on the clothing. The same applies to the belt guide of the vehicle belt on the next seats: it must be easy to operate with one hand.
The belt system of the child seat is particularly important for babies and small children. The most common is the three-point belt system, but some manufacturers also offer a five-point belt system. The advantage: the load is better distributed. Models with an impact shield, i.e. a “little table” in front of the child’s stomach, are particularly common in group 1/2/3. They relieve the critical head and neck area particularly well in the event of an accident, but are not always popular with children. For larger children (group 2/3), the vehicle seat belt is used to secure the child in the seat. Optimal belt routing ensures that the belt sits in the perfect place and cannot cut into the child’s neck.
In a side impact, the shoulders are the first point of contact, causing the head and chest to eject from the seat. It becomes particularly dangerous when the child is on the side of the vehicle where the impact occurs and the doors are pushed inwards. For this reason, manufacturers are developing explicit side impact protection technologies for their seats, with the help of which the forces of the impact are diverted away from the child’s body.
The classic installation is done with the three-point belt of the vehicle. But this is a tricky matter, especially with baby carriers. Most child seats therefore also have Isofix anchor points. Most cars younger than 20 years old are suitable for this. Clamps on the child seat and brackets welded to the vehicle form a rigid connection between the seat and the body. The application is simple: the locking arms are simply inserted between the seat and the backrest until they snap into place. For many seats that have been approved according to the i-Size standard, attachment with a top tether belt or a stand is also necessary.
So that the child does not sweat in the seat, you should make sure that the cover is breathable. Many manufacturers even offer special winter and summer covers. It is also practical if the seat cover is machine washable. There are also in-seat ventilation systems in the form of recesses on the back and seat. This allows the air to circulate better and the seat does not heat up as quickly.
Especially if you change cars more often, you should make sure that the seat fits in as many cars as possible. It starts with the attachment: Some Isofix seats cannot be attached with the seat belt variant. This sometimes limits the flexibility of use in different cars. Weight is also an important factor when changing vehicles.
