Entries tagged with “review” from Car & Caboodle

Maxi-Cosi's new Priori Convertible Car Seat ($199) is newly on the market. Brought to America by the Dorel Juvenile Group, this convertible car seat is designed to support your child from birth to 4 years (up to 40 lbs) AND it has a RECLINE feature (actually 4 position settings for the seat).

I knew when I got pregnant with Luke that the two-row car was out. It was time for the lovely family car. We all cringe when we hear "family car" because it usually means minivan with crumbs and kid paraphernalia all over. I had to find a better solution. I was excited to hear of several new, smaller SUVs that had a third row, so I decided to check them out. Unfortunately, I found that the third row usually means there is trunk that converts into a space where very small children can squeeze into as long as they have very short legs. Another big issue is that the kids would need to move or fold down a seat in order to climb in. I know my girls didn't have the strength required to move the seat and I would be stuck with the task every time we got in the car, in addition to getting baby Luke in his car seat.

Audi Option
I really fell in love with the Audi Q7 because it is beautiful and it offers captain chairs, creating a path for getting to the third row without moving anything. I tried so hard to make it work, but once we fit the family and gear in we couldn't even go grocery shopping.

Please NOT a Minivan!
So, it looked like I could have a huge gas guzzler or a minivan. I checked into the large SUVs to see how much gas they really guzzle...I wasn't about to drive a van! If only VW would remake the bus, vans could be cool again.

It's lighter, cushier and has a smaller footprint than most of the infant carseats on the US market. So it is easy to see why the Maxi Cosi Mico ($169) has long been beloved by Europeans. Note: the same carseat was sold under the model name "Cabrio" in Europe.

The Mico is currently getting a warm welcome stateside. The Mico meets or exceeds US safety standards and this is not surprising, considering that Europe has stricter guidelines than the USA. Saferty features include EPS foam lining and superior side impact protection for the tiniest passenger.  

This carseat is easy to take in and out of the car, thanks to the lighter weight and narrower profile. It latches very quickly and securely onto their base or can be secured using a seatbelt. There are indicators on the seat that let you know when you have attached it properly. Adjustments to the child harness are easy and can be done from the front of the seat via a one-pull mechanism. The handle is ergonomically designed for maximum carrying comfort and the hood is generously sized and extra sturdy. Babies love all the comfy padding and siblings love that there is still room for them in the backseat.

As if all this was not enough, the Maxi Cosi comes in a bunch of hot colors combos. The fabrics are removeable, washable and genuinely fashionable. Rest assured - no overly cutesy bears to avoid here.