In this article, I'll be reviewing and comparing two of the most popular brands of car seats in the world: Britax vs Chicco.
We'll be taking a look at a couple of their most popular convertible car seats models so that you get a general idea of their safety ratings, features, and what sets them apart.
Britax vs Chicco Specifications Compared
Safety
What are the safety ratings of the major models of both brands?
Header | Britax Boulevard ClickTight | Britax Marathon ClickTight | Chicco NextFit IX Zip | Chicco NextFit Sport |
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NHTSA Overall Ease of Use Rating (RF): | 4 stars | 4 stars | 3 stars | 4 stars |
NHTSA Overall Ease of Use Rating (FF): | 5 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars | 4 stars |
Installation Features (RF): | 4 stars | 4 stars | 3 stars | 4 stars |
Installation Features (FF): | 4 stars | 4 stars | 4 stars | 4 stars |
Securing the Child (RF): | 4 stars | 4 stars | 4 stars | 5 stars |
Securing the Child (FF): | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars |
Evaluation of Instructions (RF): | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars |
Evaluation of Instructions (RF): | 5 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars | 3 stars |
Evaluation of Labels (RF): | 5 stars | 5 stars | 3 stars | 3 stars |
Evaluation of Labels (RF): | 5 stars | 5 stars | 3 stars | 1 star |
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Britax vs Chicco - which is safest?
In the table above, I’ve listed out the NHTSA safety ratings for the two most popular convertible car seat models for Britax and Chicco. Overall, you can see that Britax has slightly higher safety ratings than Chicco, seeing as they didn’t drop below a 4-star rating in any category.
In 2015, Britax retained its title as the #1 Safest and Easiest to Use Car Seats in the Industry. They’ve received an overall 5-star rating from the NHTSA, and they’ve also undergone extensive testing with IIHS and received the best rating that IIHS has. Britax has also been rated #1 in Chemical Policy by the Ecology Center for eliminating the use of flame retardant chemicals in their products. And, the Boulevard and Marathon ClickTight have been ranked #1 and #2 by the Leading Consumer Publication for being the best convertible car seats.
From what I could find, Chicco doesn’t have nearly the same amount of accolades that Britax does but based off the numerous reviews left by verified reviewers on Influenster.com, we can see that Chicco is still widely regarded as a high-quality car seat brand that produces safe and reliable car seats and baby products. However, while that may be the case, I believe it’s safe to say that, overall, Britax is the safer car seat brand out of the two.
Ease of Installation
Britax has come up with a revolutionary way to install their car seats quickly and safely with your vehicle seatbelt. This new method is known as the ClickTight Installation System, and it’s made the Boulevard, Advocate, and Marathon the most popular car seats that Britax has to offer.
When installing your car seat with LATCH, there are so many requirements that you have to follow that are easy to miss, and this can be your child at unnecessary risk. The ClickTight Installation System was created with leading car seat experts to create a way to install your car seat correctly with your vehicle seatbelt. That way, you don’t have to worry about the limitations of LATCH. And, unlike LATCH, installation can be done in one easy step with the ClickTight Installation System because it does all of the work for you.
Chicco has also come up with a revolutionary way to install your car seat securely using both your vehicle seatbelt and LATCH. Most Chicco car seats are engineered with a SuperCinch Tightener and LockSure Belt System. The SuperCinch Tightener is a force-multiplying tightener that makes it easy to accurately install your car set and secure it in place using LATCH. The LockSure Belt System provides a clear route for you to thread your vehicle through, and it comes with integrated lock-offs for effortless installation.
While both brands present time-saving and safer ways to install your car seat, I would have to say that Britax has better ease of installation. Their installation method actually makes it easier and safer to install your car seat, and the Chicco installation method seems like it focuses more on the security of installing your car seat rather than the ease of it. But, I will say that Chicco earns points for their belt-locking system since most car seat brands only focus on making LATCH installation easier.
Longevity
For their most popular ClickTight models, Britax has a 10-year expiration date. Chicco, on the other hand, has an 8-year lifespan for their popular NextFit models. Both car seat brands manufacture car seats that will be the first and only car seat your little one will need.
Ease of Use
According to the NHTSA ratings, Britax has a slightly higher Overall Ease of Use rating for their popular models than Chicco. This rating takes into account their installation features, how easy it is to understand the manuals and instructions on the car seats, and how easy it is to get your child in and out of their car seats. Also, by looking and comparing a majority of customer ratings and reviews between each brand, I’ve seen that the NHSTA ratings are backed and confirmed by their consumers.
Comfort & Quality
The Britax ClickTight car seats are made and tested in the US, and they’re engineered with an impact-stabilizing steel frame that provides superior strength and stability at the point where the car seat connects your vehicle. They’re also outfitted in premium machine-washable fabrics with plush foam padding to maximize comfort.
Chicco NextFit car seats are made in China, and they’re engineered with a steel-reinforced frame that’s backed by EPS energy-absorbing foam and creates the ultimate side impact protection. They’re equipped with a padded ComfortFlex harness, a breathable 3D AireMesh backrest that improves ventilation with airflow channels, and a removable infant insert to provide enhanced comfort for your little one.
In terms of quality, I’d have to give it to Britax since most consumers feel more comfortable with products that were manufactured in the US. But, as far as comfort goes, I have to give it to Chicco as it seems that their popular models are equipped with more features designed to enhance your child’s comfort.
Major Similarities Between Britax vs Chicco
Major Differences Between Britax vs Chicco
Pros and Cons of Britax vs Chicco
Britax
Pros
Cons
Chicco
Pros
Cons
The “Bottom Line”
Overall, Britax and Chicco both manufacture high-quality car seats that are specifically engineered to create a highly safe car riding experience.
Both brands are ideal for parents looking for a very easy-to-use car seat that makes their child's safety and comfort a priority. They both build their car seats with enhanced features that make certain models stand out.
For Britax, it’s their ClickTight Installation System that makes installing your car seat super easy, and for Chicco, it’s their SuperCinch Tightener and LockSure Belt System that makes installation quick and easy with both your vehicle seatbelt and LATCH, as well as their various comfort features.
Because of this, it’s hard to choose the best brand out of these two, but I would recommend Britax for its high safety ratings, extensive awards and recognitions, and premium safety, comfort, and installation features that make each car seat special and unique.
In this article, we've compared and contrasted Britax and Chicco by reviewing some of their most popular car seat models. Finding a car seat can be challenging, but narrowing down your search to specific brands rather than car seats can make your search a bit easier. Hopefully, after reading this article, you have a better idea of which brand you feel manufactures the safest car seat and equips it with the features that best suit your needs.
With two kids of my own, I’m passionate about child safety! I’m a research nerd who’s on a mission to make the world a safer place for kids – starting with car seats!
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