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Many parents want not just one, but two car seats.
Why?
Because for everyday use, a car seat needs to be safe, rugged, easy to clean, comfortable, and adjustable. And to maximize safety, many of the most protective car seats have metal frames, heavy bases, and large profiles.
But those features aren't necessarily what you want in a convertible car seat for occasional use, during travel, or as a backup. For a second or backup car seat, you don't want to sacrifice safety, but you need something more light in weight, compact, and portable.
While the Evenflo SureRide has the long lifespan of a convertible, able to hold children up to 65 pounds, and Evenflo's extensive crash testing, it's also a lightweight and portable car seat, ideal for travel and to act as a backup.
Who is the Evenflo SureRide Most Suitable For?
The lightweight, easy-to-transport Evenflo SureRide is a favorite car seat for air travel, rental cars, family visits, and vacations of all kinds.
Because it is so easy to carry, and has a long lifespan that continues to fit children as they grow, it's an excellent choice for a safe convertible car seat that can go anywhere you go.
For daily use, the tall back and steep recline in the rear-facing position can take up a lot of leg room, even in larger vehicles. Some parents also find the harness a bit cumbersome to fit and adjust.
The Evenflo SureRide is so affordable and versatile that it's a great travel and backup car seat.
Pros and Cons of Evenflo SureRide
Pros
Cons
Overview of the Evenflo SureRide
The Evenflo SureRide protects children from 5 – 65 pounds, or up to 54 inches in height, or up to the 6 year expiration date of the seat itself. It converts from rear-facing to forward facing, and is lightweight and slim.
The side cup holder folds away when not in use, preserving the narrow frame of the car seat for 2-across or even 3-across installations. The easy-adjusting harness has six harness positions to fit children for longer, and the seat is easy to clean and maintain.
For a car seat in this price range, the Evenflo SureRide has excellent safety, a long life, and good comfort and usability. It's incredibly popular, both as a primary car seat and as a backup.
Safety
What are this model’s NHTSA ratings? All car seats sold in the USA must meet or exceed strict federal safety standards, so the NHTSA does not rate car seats for safety. Instead, they offer ratings and evaluations for ease of use. According to the NHTSA, the Evenflo SureRide has earned (for the rear-facing installation):
- Side impact protection? Reduces impact by up to 50%
- Energy-absorbing base? Energy absorbing foam
- Metal frame? No
Longevity
Ease of Use
Ease of Installation
Comfort and Quality
Expiration
Video Overview of Evenflo SureRide
Evenflo SureRide Specs
FEATURE | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
Rear-facing child weight | 5 -40 pounds |
Rear-facing child height | 19 - 40 inches |
Top of child’s head should be at least 1 inch below the top of the child restraint seat back. | |
Forward-facing weight | 22 - 65 pounds |
Forward-facing height | 28 - 54 inches |
Car seat weight | 9.8 pounds |
Car seat dimensions | 18” wide x 23.5” high x 19” deep |
Evenflo SureRide Features
FEATURE | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
Safety features | |
Ease of use | |
Longevity features | |
Quality and comfort features |
What is included with the Evenflo SureRide?
The Evenflo SureRide doesn't come with any accessories. Because the harnesses are very close-set, many parents will want to add harness strap covers to help prevent rubbing, but the small space means that smaller strap covers will be needed. This set from Travel Bug is a great option, since the set of covers come in two sizes that will fit even the smallest children, and they are available in two colors.
Evenflo SureRide Installation
YouTube channel Car Seats for the Littles has some helpful videos that show the set up and installation of the Evenflo SureRide.
This video shows a rear-facing installation with the LATCH system,
while this video shows a forward facing installation. Evenflo also offers video support that will help you with product installation. Simply book an appointment online, and the company will video chat one-on-one and help install the car seat.
Evenflo SureRide Manual
The English version of the Evenflo SureRide owner's manual is available here:
Evenflo SureRide vs. Evenflo Sonus
The Evenflo SureRide and the Evenflo Sonus are very similar car seats. Both are compact convertible seats, with an affordable price, and backed by the extensive safety testing and free video support of Evenflo. Both car seats have the up-front adjustable harness, similar installation, and similar usability.
Depending on the size of the child, the SureRide has a longer lifespan than the Sonus. While both car seats convert from rear-facing to front-facing and have a 6 year expiration date, the Sonus is only rated for children up to 50 pounds in weight and 50 inches in height. The SureRide is rated for children up to 65 pounds and 54 inches.
The Sonus is slightly bigger than the SureRide, measuring 29 x 19 x 19 and weighing 11.28 pounds, while the SureRide measures 28.5 x 18 x 19 and weighs 9.8 pounds.
In terms of comfort and usability, the Sonus has some nice features the SureRide doesn't. The Sonus has a wider seat base to hold larger children in comfort. It has dual cupholders, and an air-flow ventilation system that keeps the car seat cool.
The SureRide costs a bit more than the Evenflo Sonus, but it will hold children for longer, with a higher weight and height limit. Even with these higher limits, the SureRide car seat itself is slightly smaller and lighter in weight than the Sonus. All in all, while the Evenflo Sonus is a great convertible car seat, the SureRide seems like a better investment.
Kimberly Gallo's Evenflo Sureride Review
Conclusion
Cheap convertible car seats are hard to find. Newborns to toddlers are safe and comfortable in the Evenflo SureRide model at an affordable price. The size and versatility are definitely a bonus.
The Evenflo SureRide is a convertible car seat that is both rear-facing and forward-facing. It is safe for children up to 8 years old. Its crash test results are better than average, and it has added collision protection. The lower anchors keep the car seat secure and steady, even when it is empty.
Evenflo SureRide (click image for more info)
The ease of use is not perfect. The labeling on the SureRide is hard to read, and you might need a belt locking clip for some installations, especially rear-facing. The labeling for the harness use restrictions and recline indicators come molded into the seat, and it is difficult to read, too.
Families with smaller cars benefit from Evenflo SureRide the most. Many seats take up a lot of backseat room. The SureRide is narrow, compact, and lightweight. It makes vacations easier when everyone fits comfortably.
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!
To contact me directly please click here.
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