Car Seats

Best Car Seats

Best Convertible Car Seats of 2026, Lab-Tested and Reviewed

These top convertible car seats provide the best combination of safety and ease of installation

By Emily A. Thomas, PhD
Associate Director, Auto Safety

By Jessica D’Argenio Waller, MS, CNS, LDN, CPST
Baby & Health Writer

Updated May 8, 2026

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Nuna Revv convertible car seat, Chicco Fit360, and Britax Poplar — CR's top-rated convertible car seats are easy to install and versatile, like the (clockwise from left) Nuna Revv, Chicco Fit360, and Britax Poplar.

As the name suggests, a convertible car seat can be installed in different configurations, converting from rear-facing to forward-facing as your child grows. Your baby may start out riding in a convertible car seat in rear-facing mode, or they might make the switch to a rear-facing convertible seat after they outgrow their infant car seat. Either way, a convertible car seat is one good option for staying in step with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation to keep kids rear-facing for as long as possible.

Based on our analysis of thousands of crash tests, Consumer Reports recommends that parents transition their children to a rear-facing convertible seat by age 1.

In this article

Best Convertible Car Seats
How We Test Convertible Car Seats

Best Convertible Car Seats

how we test car seats<\/a> to learn more about our crash test protocol.<\/p>","sortOrder":7}],"recommendationUpdateDate":"2026-04-17T15:02:54.000Z","bestBuyUpdateDate":"2026-04-17T15:00:01.000Z","scoreUpdateDate":"2026-04-17T15:00:01.000Z","overallScoreSortIndex":1,"defaultMpn":null,"walmartId":15028708668,"modelLink":"\/babies-kids\/car-seats\/chicco-fit360\/m419037\/","criteria":[{"attributeId":253,"attributeTypeId":1,"attributeTypeName":"TEST_RESULT","sortOrder":2,"name":"Ease of use","displayName":"Ease of use","description":"Our judgment of how easy each seat is to use including the clarity of labels and instructions, adjustments of clips and buckles, the transition of the seat between modes and installation features such as LATCH connections, belt paths, top tethers and booster guides.","attributeDataTypeId":3,"attributeDataTypeName":"numeric-rating-score","isProductGroupMainAttribute":true,"isAttributeArchived":false,"isFilterSuppressed":false,"value":4,"ratingsBlobScale":"5pt"},{"attributeId":3297,"attributeTypeId":1,"attributeTypeName":"TEST_RESULT","sortOrder":4,"name":"Rear facing fit-to-vehicle","displayName":"Rear facing fit-to-vehicle","description":"A rating of how compatible, easy and secure a child car seat can be correctly installed in the rear-facing direction. This rating is a combination of LATCH system and belt ratings that are available individually on the model page.\n\n","attributeDataTypeId":3,"attributeDataTypeName":"numeric-rating-score","isProductGroupMainAttribute":true,"isAttributeArchived":false,"isFilterSuppressed":false,"value":5,"ratingsBlobScale":"5pt"},{"attributeId":3298,"attributeTypeId":1,"attributeTypeName":"TEST_RESULT","sortOrder":3,"name":"Forward facing fit-to-vehicle","displayName":"Forward facing fit-to-vehicle","description":"A rating of how compatible, easy and secure a child car seat can be correctly installed in the forward-facing direction. This rating is a combination of the LATCH system and belt ratings that are available individually on the model page.\n","attributeDataTypeId":3,"attributeDataTypeName":"numeric-rating-score","isProductGroupMainAttribute":true,"isAttributeArchived":false,"isFilterSuppressed":false,"value":5,"ratingsBlobScale":"5pt"}],"description":"Crash protection:<\/strong> Best Good small car fit: <\/strong>No Easy harness adjustment: <\/strong>Yes Notable: <\/strong>Rotating seat; uses flame-retardant, chemical-free fabrics (look for \u201cClearTex\u201d options) Weight limits: <\/strong>Rear-facing: 4 to 40 lb.; forward-facing: 26.5 to 65 lb.<\/p>\nThe <a href=https://www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/car-seats/best-convertible-car-seats-a1923302931/"https:////www.consumerreports.org//babies-kids//car-seats//chicco-fit360//m419037//">Chicco Fit360<\/a> is a rotating convertible car seat designed for use from birth (4 pounds) to the early school years (65 pounds) that offers excellent crash protection in our independent crash tests.\u00a0The seat has a smooth, 360-degree rotation that makes harnessing simpler, and allows for a single installation, whether you\u2019re using the seat rear-facing or forward-facing. The seat also includes plenty of parent-friendly features designed for long-term use, including a no-rethread harness, 15 adjustable headrest positions, and removable cup holders. The seat base features a lock-off mechanism, which can streamline both a LATCH and seat belt installation for a secure fit, but the LATCH connectors are standard hooks rather than push-on, which can be more difficult to use.\u00a0<\/p>\nThe seat and base together are heavy and bulky\u2014and may not be a good choice for smaller cars. Moving the seat and base between vehicles is easier if you separate them first, which is done through a tethered key. Our testers noted that the strap is long, and your baby could reach it to put the key in their mouth.<\/p>","ratingsLink":"\/babies-kids\/car-seats\/harnessed-car-seat\/c34825\/"},{"_id":408796,"modelName":"City Turn","slugName":"baby-jogger-city-turn-408796","slugModelName":"city-turn","defaultUpc":"47406182367","upcs":[{"upc":"47406182343","isDefault":false},{"upc":"47406182367","isDefault":false},{"upc":"47406182350","isDefault":false}],"mpns":[{"mpn":"2159784","isDefault":false},{"mpn":"2159786","isDefault":false},{"mpn":"2159785","isDefault":false}],"asin":"B001RQXRE2","overallScoreDescription":"Overall score is a combination of crash protection, belt fit, ease-of-use and fit-to-vehicle scores in both harnessed and booster modes. The displayed score is out of a total of 100 points.","overallDisplayScore":81,"price":580,"priceDescription":"An approximate retail price.","brandId":159444,"brandName":"Baby Jogger","brandSlugName":"baby-jogger","productGroupTypeId":6,"productGroupTypeName":"SUBCATEGORY","productGroupClassificationId":1,"productGroupClassificationName":"PRODUCTS","productGroupId":200941,"productGroupName":"Convertible Car Seats","testStateId":1,"testStateName":"Tested","modelAvailabilityId":1,"modelAvailabilityName":"Available","productGroupHierarchy":{"franchiseId":28985,"franchiseName":"Babies & kids","franchiseSlugName":"babies-kids","franchiseCuGroupId":2301,"subFranchiseId":28986,"subFranchiseName":"Baby & toddler","subFranchiseSlugName":"baby-toddler","subFranchiseCuGroupId":2302,"superCategoryId":28987,"superCategoryName":"Car Seats","superCategorySlugName":"car-seats","superCategorySingularName":"Car Seat","superCategoryCuGroupId":2303,"categoryId":34825,"categoryName":"Harnessed Car Seats","categorySlugName":"harnessed-car-seat","categoryCuGroupId":30271,"subCategoryId":200941,"subCategoryName":"Convertible Car Seats","subCategorySlugName":"convertible-carseats","subCategoryCuGroupId":35146},"expertReview":{"summary":"A convertible seat offered by Baby Jogger that features rear-facing rotation for easy access.  <\/p>","bottomLine":"A seat that performs well all-around. The City Turn\u2019s rotation feature is limited to rear-facing mode only, and doesn\u2019t simplify vehicle installation to one installation. The seat needs to be reinstalled when changing orientation. This seat allows for extended rear-facing to 50 lbs.   <\/p>","highs":"<ul><li>Seat rotation simplifies rear-facing harnessing <\/li><li>No-rethread harness<\/li><li>50 lb. rear-facing capacity<\/li><li>Push-on LATCH connectors<\/li><li>Crash protection  <\/li><\/ul>","lows":"<ul><li>Heavy and bulky seat<\/li><li>May require rolled towel to install for a newborn<\/li><li>Some effort to close lockoff in a recessed area  <\/li><\/ul>","review":"Consumer Reports has developed a new crash test that offers consumers comparative performance information on which car seats could provide an additional margin of safety when compared with other models within the same ratings group that have been subjected to the same test protocol. Our Crash Protection Ratings are based on injury criteria measured on standardized child-size dummies, contact of the dummy\u2019s head with the back of a simulated front seat and a car seat\u2019s ability to remain intact during the course of testing. Consumer Reports\u2019 new crash tests are not designed to check whether a seat complies with current federal car seat safety standards. Rather, the purpose of our new tests is to differentiate the seats\u2019 performance on a scale that ranks the performance of tested seats ranging from \u201cbasic\u201d to \u201cbest.\u201d Our focus on providing an \u201cextra margin\u201d of safety, rather than on determining whether a seat is safe or not, is based on the fact that any car seat sold in the U.S. already must provide an essential level of safety under the government standards. The new test conditions were carefully designed to simulate the interior environment and forces encountered during a crash in contemporary vehicles. Changes from the way that convertible seats were rated previously include using a test bench that better simulates the vehicle seat design from a contemporary vehicle, with more representative cushion stiffness and seat geometry and incorporation of a \u201cblocker\u201d to simulate a front seatback. The new test also runs at a higher 35mph speed, with other representative dynamic characteristics that better simulate the behavior of contemporary vehicles during a crash.<\/p>"},"expertRatings":{"isRecommended":true,"isBestseller":false,"isBestBuy":false,"isDontBuy":false},"isPublishable":true,"availabilityUpdDate":"2023-02-02T19:15:45.000Z","lastPublishedDate":"2026-05-05T14:33:27.822Z","firstPublishedDate":"2023-11-14T14:09:09.000Z","profileImage":{"fileName":"408796-convertible-car-seats-baby-jogger-city-turn-10037095","relativePath":"\/prod\/products\/cr\/models\/","cloudFrontDomain":"https:\/\/crdms.images.consumerreports.org","fileFormat":"png","imageTypeId":1},"cuModelId":"11199031791","cuGroupId":35146,"isModelRatingFromSurveyCategory":false,"isPublishedInPCR":true,"recommendationUpdateDate":"2024-04-17T17:44:00.000Z","bestBuyUpdateDate":"2024-04-15T17:31:18.000Z","scoreUpdateDate":"2026-04-17T15:00:02.000Z","overallScoreSortIndex":8,"defaultMpn":null,"modelLink":"\/babies-kids\/car-seats\/baby-jogger-city-turn\/m408796\/","criteria":[{"attributeId":253,"attributeTypeId":1,"attributeTypeName":"TEST_RESULT","sortOrder":2,"name":"Ease of use","displayName":"Ease of use","description":"Our judgment of how easy each seat is to use including the clarity of labels and instructions, adjustments of clips and buckles, the transition of the seat between modes and installation features such as LATCH connections, belt paths, top tethers and booster guides.","attributeDataTypeId":3,"attributeDataTypeName":"numeric-rating-score","isProductGroupMainAttribute":true,"isAttributeArchived":false,"isFilterSuppressed":false,"value":5,"ratingsBlobScale":"5pt"},{"attributeId":3297,"attributeTypeId":1,"attributeTypeName":"TEST_RESULT","sortOrder":4,"name":"Rear facing fit-to-vehicle","displayName":"Rear facing fit-to-vehicle","description":"A rating of how compatible, easy and secure a child car seat can be correctly installed in the rear-facing direction. This rating is a combination of LATCH system and belt ratings that are available individually on the model page.\n\n","attributeDataTypeId":3,"attributeDataTypeName":"numeric-rating-score","isProductGroupMainAttribute":true,"isAttributeArchived":false,"isFilterSuppressed":false,"value":4,"ratingsBlobScale":"5pt"},{"attributeId":3298,"attributeTypeId":1,"attributeTypeName":"TEST_RESULT","sortOrder":3,"name":"Forward facing fit-to-vehicle","displayName":"Forward facing fit-to-vehicle","description":"A rating of how compatible, easy and secure a child car seat can be correctly installed in the forward-facing direction. This rating is a combination of the LATCH system and belt ratings that are available individually on the model page.\n","attributeDataTypeId":3,"attributeDataTypeName":"numeric-rating-score","isProductGroupMainAttribute":true,"isAttributeArchived":false,"isFilterSuppressed":false,"value":5,"ratingsBlobScale":"5pt"}],"description":"Crash protection:<\/strong> Best Good small car fit:<\/strong> No Easy harness adjustment:<\/strong> Yes Notable:<\/strong> Push-on LATCH connectors Weight limits:<\/strong> Rear-facing: 4 to 50 lb.; forward-facing: 26.5 to 65 lb.<\/p>\nThe <a href=https://www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/car-seats/best-convertible-car-seats-a1923302931/"https:////www.consumerreports.org//babies-kids//car-seats//baby-jogger-city-turn//m408796//">Baby Jogger City Turn<\/a> is a rotating convertible car seat designed for use from 4 pounds to 65 pounds. It features a 180-degree rotation, available only in rear-facing mode, and the seat must be reinstalled when used forward-facing. The City Turn performs well across the board, earning our \u201cBest\u201d score for crash protection. The City Turn also allows extended rear-facing use to 50 pounds, and features a no-rethread harness and 10-position headrest. Our testers found the seat easy to install, with clear labeling and instructions, and we were able to get a secure fit in a range of vehicles in both rear-facing and forward-facing positions.\u00a0<\/p>","ratingsLink":"\/babies-kids\/car-seats\/harnessed-car-seat\/c34825\/"},{"_id":419035,"modelName":"Chili Spin SI","slugName":"joie-chili-spin-si-419035","slugModelName":"chili-spin-si","defaultUpc":"5056080689807","upcs":[{"upc":"5056080689760","isDefault":false},{"upc":"5056080689678","isDefault":false},{"upc":"5056080689784","isDefault":false},{"upc":"5056080689807","isDefault":false}],"mpns":[{"mpn":"C2323BASHA900","isDefault":false},{"mpn":"C2323BATHD900","isDefault":false},{"mpn":"C2323BAMOC900","isDefault":false},{"mpn":"C2323BADOV900","isDefault":false}],"overallScoreDescription":"Overall score is a combination of crash protection, belt fit, ease-of-use and fit-to-vehicle scores in both harnessed and booster modes. The displayed score is out of a total of 100 points.","overallDisplayScore":78,"price":340,"priceDescription":"An approximate retail price.","brandId":302537,"brandName":"Joie","brandSlugName":"joie","productGroupTypeId":6,"productGroupTypeName":"SUBCATEGORY","productGroupClassificationId":1,"productGroupClassificationName":"PRODUCTS","productGroupId":200941,"productGroupName":"Convertible Car Seats","testStateId":1,"testStateName":"Tested","modelAvailabilityId":1,"modelAvailabilityName":"Available","productGroupHierarchy":{"franchiseId":28985,"franchiseName":"Babies & kids","franchiseSlugName":"babies-kids","franchiseCuGroupId":2301,"subFranchiseId":28986,"subFranchiseName":"Baby & toddler","subFranchiseSlugName":"baby-toddler","subFranchiseCuGroupId":2302,"superCategoryId":28987,"superCategoryName":"Car Seats","superCategorySlugName":"car-seats","superCategorySingularName":"Car Seat","superCategoryCuGroupId":2303,"categoryId":34825,"categoryName":"Harnessed Car Seats","categorySlugName":"harnessed-car-seat","categoryCuGroupId":30271,"subCategoryId":200941,"subCategoryName":"Convertible Car Seats","subCategorySlugName":"convertible-carseats","subCategoryCuGroupId":35146},"expertReview":{"summary":"The Joie Chili Spin SI is a rotating convertible car seat that can accommodate babies from 4 lb. to kids weighing up to 65 lb. The seat rotates a full 360 degrees, but requires separate installation when transitioning from rear-facing to forward-facing use. While the Chili Spin has plenty of parent-friendly features and luxe finishes at a reasonable price, the seat also has several layers of padding, much of which is required for use, and which need to be removed before installation for proper belt routing. <\/p>","bottomLine":"Joie Chili Spin SI is a rotating convertible car seat designed for use from birth (4 lb.) to the early school years (65 lb.). The rotation feature makes child buckling and unbuckling easy, but it has a major limitation: Even though it spins 360 degrees, you\u2019ll still need to reinstall the seat when it\u2019s time to switch from rear-facing to forward-facing. Overall, the seat is easy to use, though it\u2019s somewhat heavy and bulky and uses a lot of additional padding, some of which is required for use until the child weighs 40 lb. The Joie Chili Spin features a no-rethread harness, two cupholders, push-on LATCH connectors, and a seatbelt tensioner and lock-off. CR\u2019s child safety experts found that in rear-facing position, the seat may be too upright in some vehicles for an infant, even though the recline indicator says the position is in range. The Chili Spin SI scored very well in our rigorous crash tests, offering a high level of crash protection.<\/p> <\/p>This seat may be a good choice for: <\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Families looking to upgrade from an infant car seat<\/li><li>Families looking for a rotating seat to simplify harnessing<\/li><li>Families who don\u2019t need to move their car seat between multiple cars<\/li><\/ul>","highs":"<ul><li>Excellent crash protection in CR\u2019s rigorous crash testing<\/li><li>Seat rotation simplifies harnessing <\/li><li>Includes a tensioning and lock-off bar to help increase installation tension<\/li><li>Harness can be adjusted without rethreading<\/li><li>Uses push-on LATCH connectors<\/li><li>Has a recline bubble indicator to check the incline level<\/li><li>Seat pads are machine-washable<\/li><\/ul>","review":"Ease of use: <\/strong>CR testers rated the Joie Chili Spin SI as very easy to use, with clear labeling and instructions and a straightforward installation process. The lock-off arm built into the base makes tightening the tension easier, for both LATCH system installation and seatbelt installation. <\/p>Fit-to-vehicle LATCH: <\/strong>The Chili Spin SI offers excellent fit-to-vehicle in our tests for both rear-facing and forward-facing LATCH installations, which means you\u2019re likely to get a secure fit across a range of vehicles when installing with the LATCH system.<\/p>Fit-to-vehicle Belt:  <\/strong>The Chili Spin SI offers excellent fit-to-vehicle in our tests for forward-facing seatbelt installation, and very good fit for rear-facing seatbelt installations, which we perform on a range of vehicles in our testing fleet. <\/p>Crash protection:<\/strong> In CR\u2019s crash test protocol, the Chili Spin SI performed very well and did not exhibit significant structural integrity issues.<\/p>"},"expertRatings":{"isRecommended":true,"isBestseller":false,"isBestBuy":false,"isDontBuy":false},"isPublishable":true,"availabilityUpdDate":"2025-08-27T14:37:10.000Z","lastPublishedDate":"2026-05-05T14:33:27.822Z","firstPublishedDate":"2026-04-24T19:30:51.000Z","profileImage":{"fileName":"419035-convertible-car-seats-joie-chili-spin-si-10054168","relativePath":"\/prod\/products\/cr\/models\/","cloudFrontDomain":"https:\/\/crdms.images.consumerreports.org","fileFormat":"png","imageTypeId":1},"galleryImages":[{"fileName":"419035-convertible-car-seats-joie-chili-spin-si-10054169","relativePath":"\/prod\/products\/cr\/models\/","cloudFrontDomain":"https:\/\/crdms.images.consumerreports.org","fileFormat":"jpg","imageTypeId":2},{"fileName":"419035-convertible-car-seats-joie-chili-spin-si-10054170","relativePath":"\/prod\/products\/cr\/models\/","cloudFrontDomain":"https:\/\/crdms.images.consumerreports.org","fileFormat":"jpg","imageTypeId":2}],"cuModelId":"11199042030","cuGroupId":35146,"isModelRatingFromSurveyCategory":false,"isPublishedInPCR":true,"editorialAttributes":[{"name":"Additional Information","value":"Good to know: <\/strong>All child car seats sold in the United States are required to meet government safety standards. <\/p>About our testing: <\/strong>Consumer Reports\u2019 child car seat tests are not designed to test compliance with federal standards. Rather, we evaluate car seat performance under conditions designed by our experts that go beyond the required federal safety standards. <\/p>Consumer Reports\u2019 independent car seat crash test program has been carefully designed to simulate the forces encountered during a crash, while replicating some of the real-world factors that might impact a car seat\u2019s performance. Our testing aims to determine which car seats could provide an extra level of safety when compared to other models in the same category. <\/p>Basic, Better, or Best: <\/strong>CR rates the child car seats we crash test on a scale of Basic, Better, and Best, based on the additional margin of safety they may provide. Read about <a href=https://www.consumerreports.org/"https:////www.consumerreports.org//babies-kids//car-seats//how-we-test///">how we test car seats<\/a> to learn more about our crash test protocol.<\/p>","sortOrder":7}],"recommendationUpdateDate":"2026-04-17T15:02:54.000Z","bestBuyUpdateDate":"2026-04-17T15:00:01.000Z","scoreUpdateDate":"2026-04-17T15:00:01.000Z","overallScoreSortIndex":9,"defaultMpn":null,"modelLink":"\/babies-kids\/car-seats\/joie-chili-spin-si\/m419035\/","criteria":[{"attributeId":253,"attributeTypeId":1,"attributeTypeName":"TEST_RESULT","sortOrder":2,"name":"Ease of use","displayName":"Ease of use","description":"Our judgment of how easy each seat is to use including the clarity of labels and instructions, adjustments of clips and buckles, the transition of the seat between modes and installation features such as LATCH connections, belt paths, top tethers and booster guides.","attributeDataTypeId":3,"attributeDataTypeName":"numeric-rating-score","isProductGroupMainAttribute":true,"isAttributeArchived":false,"isFilterSuppressed":false,"value":4,"ratingsBlobScale":"5pt"},{"attributeId":3297,"attributeTypeId":1,"attributeTypeName":"TEST_RESULT","sortOrder":4,"name":"Rear facing fit-to-vehicle","displayName":"Rear facing fit-to-vehicle","description":"A rating of how compatible, easy and secure a child car seat can be correctly installed in the rear-facing direction. This rating is a combination of LATCH system and belt ratings that are available individually on the model page.\n\n","attributeDataTypeId":3,"attributeDataTypeName":"numeric-rating-score","isProductGroupMainAttribute":true,"isAttributeArchived":false,"isFilterSuppressed":false,"value":4,"ratingsBlobScale":"5pt"},{"attributeId":3298,"attributeTypeId":1,"attributeTypeName":"TEST_RESULT","sortOrder":3,"name":"Forward facing fit-to-vehicle","displayName":"Forward facing fit-to-vehicle","description":"A rating of how compatible, easy and secure a child car seat can be correctly installed in the forward-facing direction. This rating is a combination of the LATCH system and belt ratings that are available individually on the model page.\n","attributeDataTypeId":3,"attributeDataTypeName":"numeric-rating-score","isProductGroupMainAttribute":true,"isAttributeArchived":false,"isFilterSuppressed":false,"value":5,"ratingsBlobScale":"5pt"}],"description":"Crash protection:<\/strong> Best Good small car fit: <\/strong>Yes Easy harness adjustment: <\/strong>Yes Notable: <\/strong>Seat pads are machine-washable Weight limits: <\/strong>Rear-facing: 4-40 lb.; forward-facing: 30-65 lb.<\/p>\nThe <a href=https://www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/car-seats/best-convertible-car-seats-a1923302931/"https:////www.consumerreports.org//babies-kids//car-seats//joie-chili-spin-si//m419035//">Joie Chili Spin SI<\/a> is a rotating convertible car seat that rotates a full 360 degrees, so you can turn it toward you while buckling your child in. The Chili Spin has more features to make harnessing simple: a magnetic chest clip that\u2019s super easy for an adult to attach but difficult for a child to remove, and a no-rethread harness that lets you easily adjust the height as your child grows. The Chili Spin SI is designed for babies and kids from 4 pounds to 65 pounds, and earned the highest score in our independent crash tests.<\/p>\nEven though it spins 360 degrees, you\u2019ll still need to reinstall the seat when it\u2019s time to switch from rear-facing to forward-facing. The seat is easy to use overall, though it\u2019s somewhat heavy and bulky, and uses a lot of additional padding, some of which is required until the child weighs 40 pounds. Our testers also found that the seat recline may be too upright for an infant, even though the recline indicator says it\u2019s within range, so it may be best to use with babies over 6 months.<\/p>","ratingsLink":"\/babies-kids\/car-seats\/harnessed-car-seat\/c34825\/"},{"_id":406704,"modelName":"Revv","slugName":"nuna-revv-406704","slugModelName":"revv","defaultUpc":"8720246544343","upcs":[{"upc":"8720246547597","isDefault":false},{"upc":"8720246547610","isDefault":false},{"upc":"8720246547603","isDefault":false},{"upc":"8720246547009","isDefault":false},{"upc":"8720246549324","isDefault":false}],"mpns":[{"mpn":"CS13602CVR","isDefault":false},{"mpn":"CS13603OCN","isDefault":false},{"mpn":"CS13602HAZ","isDefault":false},{"mpn":"CS13604BRS","isDefault":false},{"mpn":"CS13605CRD","isDefault":false}],"overallScoreDescription":"Overall score is a combination of crash protection, belt fit, ease-of-use and fit-to-vehicle scores in both harnessed and booster modes. The displayed score is out of a total of 100 points.","overallDisplayScore":74,"price":600,"priceDescription":"An approximate retail price.","brandId":170541,"brandName":"Nuna","brandSlugName":"nuna","productGroupTypeId":6,"productGroupTypeName":"SUBCATEGORY","productGroupClassificationId":1,"productGroupClassificationName":"PRODUCTS","productGroupId":200941,"productGroupName":"Convertible Car Seats","testStateId":1,"testStateName":"Tested","modelAvailabilityId":1,"modelAvailabilityName":"Available","productGroupHierarchy":{"franchiseId":28985,"franchiseName":"Babies & kids","franchiseSlugName":"babies-kids","franchiseCuGroupId":2301,"subFranchiseId":28986,"subFranchiseName":"Baby & toddler","subFranchiseSlugName":"baby-toddler","subFranchiseCuGroupId":2302,"superCategoryId":28987,"superCategoryName":"Car Seats","superCategorySlugName":"car-seats","superCategorySingularName":"Car Seat","superCategoryCuGroupId":2303,"categoryId":34825,"categoryName":"Harnessed Car Seats","categorySlugName":"harnessed-car-seat","categoryCuGroupId":30271,"subCategoryId":200941,"subCategoryName":"Convertible Car Seats","subCategorySlugName":"convertible-carseats","subCategoryCuGroupId":35146},"expertReview":{"summary":"A convertible car seat offered by Nuna.<\/p>","bottomLine":"For such an expensive seat, the Nuna Revv has limited use. With its 40-lb harness capacity limit, most children will need another forward-facing harnessed seat before they can switch to a booster per best practice recommendations. LATCH installation is only available up to 30 lbs in both configurations. The Revv’s saving grace is its ability to get a secure installation in most vehicle types with either the lower anchors or seat belt in rear-facing and forward-facing configurations. Also, the seat’s swivel feature works well. Note that the top tether must be attached at all times, even when the Revv is installed rear-facing.<\/p>","highs":"<ul><li>Seat rotation simplifies harnessing and transitions<\/li><li>Excellent rear-facing and forward-facing installation with LATCH or seat belt<\/li><li>No-rethread harness<\/li><\/ul>","lows":"<ul><li>40-lb. Maximum forward-facing harness capacity<\/li><li>Heavy and bulky seat<\/li><li>Difficult to remove cover<\/li><li>Awkward tether routing<\/li><li>LATCH use limited to 30 lbs rear-facing & forward-facing<\/li><\/ul>","review":"Consumer Reports has developed a new crash test that offers consumers comparative performance information on which car seats could provide an additional margin of safety when compared with other models within the same ratings group that have been subjected to the same test protocol. Our Crash Protection Ratings are based on injury criteria measured on standardized child-size dummies, contact of the dummy’s head with the back of a simulated front seat and a car seat’s ability to remain intact during the course of testing. Consumer Reports’ new crash tests are not designed to check whether a seat complies with current federal car seat safety standards. Rather, the purpose of our new tests is to differentiate the seats’ performance on a scale that ranks the performance of tested seats ranging from “basic” to “best.” Our focus on providing an “extra margin” of safety, rather than on determining whether a seat is safe or not, is based on the fact that any car seat sold in the U.S. already must provide an essential level of safety under the government standards. The new test conditions were carefully designed to simulate the interior environment and forces encountered during a crash in contemporary vehicles. Changes from the way that convertible seats were rated previously include using a test bench that better simulates the vehicle seat design from a contemporary vehicle, with more representative cushion stiffness and seat geometry and incorporation of a “blocker” to simulate a front seatback. The new test also runs at a higher 35mph speed, with other representative dynamic characteristics that better simulate the behavior of contemporary vehicles during a crash.<\/p>"},"expertRatings":{"isRecommended":true,"isBestseller":false,"isBestBuy":false,"isDontBuy":false},"isPublishable":true,"availabilityUpdDate":"2022-06-23T13:08:34.000Z","lastPublishedDate":"2026-05-05T14:33:27.822Z","firstPublishedDate":"2022-12-14T18:58:07.000Z","profileImage":{"fileName":"406704-convertible-car-seats-nuna-revv-10032473","relativePath":"\/prod\/products\/cr\/models\/","cloudFrontDomain":"https:\/\/crdms.images.consumerreports.org","fileFormat":"png","imageTypeId":1},"galleryImages":[{"fileName":"406704-convertible-car-seats-nuna-revv-10032474","relativePath":"\/prod\/products\/cr\/models\/","cloudFrontDomain":"https:\/\/crdms.images.consumerreports.org","fileFormat":"jpg","imageTypeId":2},{"fileName":"406704-convertible-car-seats-nuna-revv-10032475","relativePath":"\/prod\/products\/cr\/models\/","cloudFrontDomain":"https:\/\/crdms.images.consumerreports.org","fileFormat":"jpg","imageTypeId":2}],"cuModelId":"11199029699","cuGroupId":35146,"isModelRatingFromSurveyCategory":false,"isPublishedInPCR":true,"recommendationUpdateDate":"2024-04-17T17:44:00.000Z","bestBuyUpdateDate":"2024-04-15T17:33:50.000Z","scoreUpdateDate":"2026-04-17T15:00:02.000Z","overallScoreSortIndex":11,"defaultMpn":null,"modelLink":"\/babies-kids\/car-seats\/nuna-revv\/m406704\/","criteria":[{"attributeId":253,"attributeTypeId":1,"attributeTypeName":"TEST_RESULT","sortOrder":2,"name":"Ease of use","displayName":"Ease of use","description":"Our judgment of how easy each seat is to use including the clarity of labels and instructions, adjustments of clips and buckles, the transition of the seat between modes and installation features such as LATCH connections, belt paths, top tethers and booster guides.","attributeDataTypeId":3,"attributeDataTypeName":"numeric-rating-score","isProductGroupMainAttribute":true,"isAttributeArchived":false,"isFilterSuppressed":false,"value":4,"ratingsBlobScale":"5pt"},{"attributeId":3297,"attributeTypeId":1,"attributeTypeName":"TEST_RESULT","sortOrder":4,"name":"Rear facing fit-to-vehicle","displayName":"Rear facing fit-to-vehicle","description":"A rating of how compatible, easy and secure a child car seat can be correctly installed in the rear-facing direction. This rating is a combination of LATCH system and belt ratings that are available individually on the model page.\n\n","attributeDataTypeId":3,"attributeDataTypeName":"numeric-rating-score","isProductGroupMainAttribute":true,"isAttributeArchived":false,"isFilterSuppressed":false,"value":5,"ratingsBlobScale":"5pt"},{"attributeId":3298,"attributeTypeId":1,"attributeTypeName":"TEST_RESULT","sortOrder":3,"name":"Forward facing fit-to-vehicle","displayName":"Forward facing fit-to-vehicle","description":"A rating of how compatible, easy and secure a child car seat can be correctly installed in the forward-facing direction. This rating is a combination of the LATCH system and belt ratings that are available individually on the model page.\n","attributeDataTypeId":3,"attributeDataTypeName":"numeric-rating-score","isProductGroupMainAttribute":true,"isAttributeArchived":false,"isFilterSuppressed":false,"value":5,"ratingsBlobScale":"5pt"}],"description":"Crash protection:<\/strong> Better Good small car fit: <\/strong>Yes Easy harness adjustment: <\/strong>Yes Notable: <\/strong>Made with flame-retardant, chemical-free materials Weight limits: <\/strong>Rear-facing: 5 to 30 lb.; forward-facing: 30 to 40 lb.<\/p>\nThe Nuna Revv is a rotating convertible seat designed for use from 5 to 40 pounds. It offers 360-degree rotation, but for such an expensive seat, the <a href=https://www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/car-seats/best-convertible-car-seats-a1923302931/"https:////www.consumerreports.org//products//car-seats-28987//convertible-car-seat-28678//nuna-revv-406704//">Nuna Revv<\/a> has limited use, CR\u2019s testers find. With its 40-pound harness capacity limit, most children will need another <a href=https://www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/car-seats/best-convertible-car-seats-a1923302931/"https:////www.consumerreports.org//babies-kids//car-seats//harnessed-car-seat//c34825//#categories=200942">forward-facing harnessed seat<\/a> before they can switch to a booster, per best practice recommendations from CR and the AAP. The Revv\u2019s saving grace is how its design makes it easy to install securely in most vehicle types with either the lower anchors or seat belt in rear-facing and forward-facing configurations. Also, the seat\u2019s swivel feature works well. Note that the top tether, a strap with a hook that connects to a tether anchor on the vehicle (see your vehicle owner\u2019s manual) and helps limit the forward movement of the seat, must be attached at all times, even when the Revv is installed rear-facing.<\/p>","ratingsLink":"\/babies-kids\/car-seats\/harnessed-car-seat\/c34825\/"},{"_id":419039,"modelName":"Poplar","slugName":"britax-poplar-419039","slugModelName":"poplar","defaultUpc":"652182750190","upcs":[{"upc":"652182750169","isDefault":false},{"upc":"652182750190","isDefault":false},{"upc":"652182750220","isDefault":false},{"upc":"652182750251","isDefault":false},{"upc":"652182749941","isDefault":false}],"mpns":[{"mpn":"E1D223M","isDefault":false},{"mpn":"E1D223MDP","isDefault":false},{"mpn":"E1D223N","isDefault":false},{"mpn":"E1D223Q","isDefault":false},{"mpn":"E1D223R","isDefault":false},{"mpn":"E1D423M","isDefault":false}],"asin":"B0DX84W9CM","overallScoreDescription":"Overall score is a combination of crash protection, belt fit, ease-of-use and fit-to-vehicle scores in both harnessed and booster modes. The displayed score is out of a total of 100 points.","overallDisplayScore":73,"price":350,"priceDescription":"An approximate retail price.","brandId":157985,"brandName":"Britax","brandSlugName":"britax","productGroupTypeId":6,"productGroupTypeName":"SUBCATEGORY","productGroupClassificationId":1,"productGroupClassificationName":"PRODUCTS","productGroupId":200941,"productGroupName":"Convertible Car Seats","testStateId":1,"testStateName":"Tested","modelAvailabilityId":1,"modelAvailabilityName":"Available","productGroupHierarchy":{"franchiseId":28985,"franchiseName":"Babies & kids","franchiseSlugName":"babies-kids","franchiseCuGroupId":2301,"subFranchiseId":28986,"subFranchiseName":"Baby & toddler","subFranchiseSlugName":"baby-toddler","subFranchiseCuGroupId":2302,"superCategoryId":28987,"superCategoryName":"Car Seats","superCategorySlugName":"car-seats","superCategorySingularName":"Car Seat","superCategoryCuGroupId":2303,"categoryId":34825,"categoryName":"Harnessed Car Seats","categorySlugName":"harnessed-car-seat","categoryCuGroupId":30271,"subCategoryId":200941,"subCategoryName":"Convertible Car Seats","subCategorySlugName":"convertible-carseats","subCategoryCuGroupId":35146},"expertReview":{"summary":"The Britax Poplar is a convertible car seat designed for use with children weighing between 5 and 65 lb., and can be used rear-facing up to 50 lb. The Poplar offers 14 height positions to grow with your child, and features a slim, 17-inch profile designed to accommodate three-across car seats. Installation is streamlined thanks to the lockoff mechanism, which helps tighten either the lower anchor strap or the seatbelt, though the manufacturer recommends seatbelt installation. <\/p>","bottomLine":"The Britax Poplar convertible car seat is designed to accommodate children between 5 and 65 lb. It offers extended rear-facing use up to 50 lb., making it a good choice for families looking to keep their child rear-facing for longer, which CR experts say is the safest way for children to ride in vehicles. The Poplar offers excellent crash protection and uses flame-retardant chemical-free fabrics, and the seat pads are both machine-washable and dryer safe. This convertible car seat offers plenty of convenient features, such as a tensioning and lock-off mechanism to help secure the seatbelt or lower anchor strap during installation, and a no-rethread harness. <\/p> <\/p>This seat may be a good choice for: <\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Families looking to switch from an infant car seat<\/li><li>Families looking to extend rear-facing use<\/li><\/ul>","highs":"<ul><li>Excellent crash protection in CR\u2019s rigorous crash testing<\/li><li>Promotes extended rear-facing, thanks to a 50-lb. rear-facing weight limit<\/li><li>Uses flame-retardant chemical-free fabrics <\/li><li>Fabrics are machine-washable and dryer safe<\/li><li>No-rethread harness<\/li><li>Includes a tensioning and lock-off feature (\u201cClickTight\u201d) to help easily increase seat belt tension<\/li><li>Has a long lifespan, thanks to a 10-year expiration date<\/li><\/ul>","lows":"<ul><li>LATCH use is limited to 30 lb. in rear-facing mode<\/li><li>LATCH connectors are hook-on only<\/li><li>Recline bubble indicators are large but the ball seems to get stuck, making recline angle assessment inconsistent<\/li><li>Rear-facing recline angle may be too upright for a newborn, even within bubble indicator range<\/li><\/ul>","review":"Ease of use: <\/strong>Our testers found the Britax Poplar generally easy to use, with easy-to-read labeling and large recline indicators. However, the sticky movement of the recline indicator ball can make assessing the recline angle difficult or even inconsistent. We also found that the rear-facing recline angle can be too upright for newborns, even though the indicator says it\u2019s within range. The ClickTight lockoff mechanism simplifies installation, but to access it, you first need to remove layers of padding, which can be cumbersome.<\/p>Fit-to-vehicle LATCH: <\/strong>The Britax Poplar seat offers excellent fit-to-vehicle when used with the LATCH system in forward-facing mode. The manufacturer requires the top tether to be used in forward-facing position. We had some difficulty in some test vehicles with getting an appropriate recline for an infant using LATCH when rear-facing.<\/p>Fit-to-vehicle Belt: <\/strong>The Britax Poplar offers excellent fit-to-vehicle when used with the seatbelt installation method in forward-facing mode. We had some difficulty in some test vehicles with getting an appropriate recline for an infant using the seatbelt in rear-facing mode. The manufacturer recommends using the seatbelt installation over LATCH. <\/p>Crash protection:<\/strong> In CR\u2019s crash test protocol, the Britax Poplar performed well and did not exhibit significant structural integrity issues.<\/p>"},"expertRatings":{"isRecommended":true,"isBestseller":false,"isBestBuy":false,"isDontBuy":false},"isPublishable":true,"availabilityUpdDate":"2025-08-27T14:41:45.000Z","lastPublishedDate":"2026-05-05T14:33:27.822Z","firstPublishedDate":"2026-04-24T19:30:51.000Z","profileImage":{"fileName":"419039-convertible-car-seats-britax-poplar-10054180","relativePath":"\/prod\/products\/cr\/models\/","cloudFrontDomain":"https:\/\/crdms.images.consumerreports.org","fileFormat":"png","imageTypeId":1},"galleryImages":[{"fileName":"419039-convertible-car-seats-britax-poplar-10054181","relativePath":"\/prod\/products\/cr\/models\/","cloudFrontDomain":"https:\/\/crdms.images.consumerreports.org","fileFormat":"jpg","imageTypeId":2},{"fileName":"419039-convertible-car-seats-britax-poplar-10054182","relativePath":"\/prod\/products\/cr\/models\/","cloudFrontDomain":"https:\/\/crdms.images.consumerreports.org","fileFormat":"jpg","imageTypeId":2}],"cuModelId":"11199042034","cuGroupId":35146,"isModelRatingFromSurveyCategory":false,"isPublishedInPCR":true,"editorialAttributes":[{"name":"Additional Information","value":"Good to know: <\/strong>All child car seats sold in the United States are required to meet government safety standards. <\/p>About our testing: <\/strong>Consumer Reports\u2019 child car seat tests are not designed to test compliance with federal standards. Rather, we evaluate car seat performance under conditions designed by our experts that go beyond the required federal safety standards. <\/p>Consumer Reports\u2019 independent car seat crash test program has been carefully designed to simulate the forces encountered during a crash, while replicating some of the real-world factors that might impact a car seat\u2019s performance. Our testing aims to determine which car seats could provide an extra level of safety when compared to other models in the same category. <\/p>Basic, Better, or Best: <\/strong>CR rates the child car seats we crash test on a scale of Basic, Better, and Best, based on the additional margin of safety they may provide. Read about <a href=https://www.consumerreports.org/"https:////www.consumerreports.org//babies-kids//car-seats//how-we-test///">how we test car seats<\/a> to learn more about our crash test protocol.<\/p>","sortOrder":7}],"recommendationUpdateDate":"2026-04-17T15:02:54.000Z","bestBuyUpdateDate":"2026-04-17T15:00:01.000Z","scoreUpdateDate":"2026-04-17T15:00:01.000Z","overallScoreSortIndex":13,"defaultMpn":null,"walmartId":14731907274,"modelLink":"\/babies-kids\/car-seats\/britax-poplar\/m419039\/","criteria":[{"attributeId":253,"attributeTypeId":1,"attributeTypeName":"TEST_RESULT","sortOrder":2,"name":"Ease of use","displayName":"Ease of use","description":"Our judgment of how easy each seat is to use including the clarity of labels and instructions, adjustments of clips and buckles, the transition of the seat between modes and installation features such as LATCH connections, belt paths, top tethers and booster guides.","attributeDataTypeId":3,"attributeDataTypeName":"numeric-rating-score","isProductGroupMainAttribute":true,"isAttributeArchived":false,"isFilterSuppressed":false,"value":4,"ratingsBlobScale":"5pt"},{"attributeId":3297,"attributeTypeId":1,"attributeTypeName":"TEST_RESULT","sortOrder":4,"name":"Rear facing fit-to-vehicle","displayName":"Rear facing fit-to-vehicle","description":"A rating of how compatible, easy and secure a child car seat can be correctly installed in the rear-facing direction. This rating is a combination of LATCH system and belt ratings that are available individually on the model page.\n\n","attributeDataTypeId":3,"attributeDataTypeName":"numeric-rating-score","isProductGroupMainAttribute":true,"isAttributeArchived":false,"isFilterSuppressed":false,"value":4,"ratingsBlobScale":"5pt"},{"attributeId":3298,"attributeTypeId":1,"attributeTypeName":"TEST_RESULT","sortOrder":3,"name":"Forward facing fit-to-vehicle","displayName":"Forward facing fit-to-vehicle","description":"A rating of how compatible, easy and secure a child car seat can be correctly installed in the forward-facing direction. This rating is a combination of the LATCH system and belt ratings that are available individually on the model page.\n","attributeDataTypeId":3,"attributeDataTypeName":"numeric-rating-score","isProductGroupMainAttribute":true,"isAttributeArchived":false,"isFilterSuppressed":false,"value":5,"ratingsBlobScale":"5pt"}],"description":"Crash protection: <\/strong>Best Good small car fit: <\/strong>Yes Easy harness adjustment: <\/strong>Yes Notable: <\/strong>Uses flame-retardant, chemical-free fabrics Weight limits:<\/strong> Rear-facing: 5-50 lb.; forward-facing: 30-65 lb.<\/p>\nThe <a href=https://www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/car-seats/best-convertible-car-seats-a1923302931/"https:////www.consumerreports.org//babies-kids//car-seats//britax-poplar//m419039//">Britax Poplar<\/a> convertible car seat is designed to accommodate children between 5 and 65 pounds. It offers extended rear-facing use up to 50 pounds, making it a good choice for families looking to keep their child rear-facing for longer. Our testing found that the Poplar offers excellent crash protection and several features that can simplify installation, including the ClickTight tensioning and lock-off mechanism. The Poplar has a long lifespan, thanks to a 10-year expiration date. It offers a good small car fit and is less than 17 inches wide, which makes it a good candidate for using <a href=https://www.consumerreports.org/babies-kids/car-seats/best-convertible-car-seats-a1923302931/"https:////www.consumerreports.org//babies-kids//car-seats//how-to-fit-car-seats-three-across-a4512514214//">three-across car seats<\/a> to accommodate siblings.<\/p>\nThough we found installation using the LATCH system easy, the lower anchor connectors are hook-on only, rather than push-on, which can be difficult to work with. Our testers also found that the rear-facing recline angle may be too upright for a newborn, even within the appropriate bubble indicator range, which means it may be better suited for babies over 6 months.\u00a0<\/p>","ratingsLink":"\/babies-kids\/car-seats\/harnessed-car-seat\/c34825\/"}]" hide-index />

Best Car Seats Under $250

You don’t have to compromise on safety to find a seat that fits your budget.

How We Test Convertible Car Seats

We assess every convertible car seat in our ratings through a series of evaluations, focusing on fit-to-vehicle, ease of use, and crash performance. All car seats sold in the U.S. must meet federal safety standards, and our ratings and recommendations are designed to help you differentiate which car seats offer a greater margin of protection and increase your chances of getting them installed securely and correctly.

Here’s more about what we look for in our car seat tests:

Ease of use: How easy is it to install a car seat following the instructions and printed labels? Does the chest clip have an audible click? Can the seat rotate with one hand? These are the types of factors we look for when assessing a car seat’s ease of use.
Fit to vehicle: Our fit-to-vehicle ratings reflect the differences between installing a car seat with LATCH (the anchors that are built into a car) and using the standard three-point seat belt, with separate ratings for the different orientations and installations. We install every car seat in the same five test cars in our fleet.
Crash performance: Consumer Reports’ crash test simulates the inside of a car and the forces that would be encountered in a frontal crash. This way, we can evaluate how well a child car seat might reduce the risk of injuries. CR rates the child car seats we crash test on a scale of Basic, Better, and Best, based on the additional margin of safety they may provide beyond the federal safety standards. Each convertible car seat is crash-tested in all its configurations and installation methods with age-appropriate child-sized dummies.

Read about how we test car seats to learn more about our evaluations and crash test protocol.

@consumerreports
A safe car seat is one of the most important purchases you’ll make as a parent. Here’s an inside look at how we test them, plus the three that came out on top this year. Find more of CR's Top Picks for Baby in 2026 at the link in bio. #CRBabyTopPicks #baby #babysafety #newparents #CarSeatSafety
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Emily A. Thomas, PhD

Emily A. Thomas is the associate director of auto safety at the Consumer Reports Auto Test Center, leading the child car seat and rear-seat safety programs. She joined CR in 2015 after earning her doctorate in pediatric injury biomechanics from Drexel University and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, focusing on the biomechanical differences between kids and adults in far-side low-speed crashes. Involved in automotive safety since 2008, Emily has been a certified child passenger safety technician (CPST) since 2015.

Jessica D’Argenio Waller, MS, CNS, LDN, CPST

Jessica D’Argenio Waller is a baby and health writer and editor at Consumer Reports, covering a range of topics, from strollers to infant formula to safe sleep practices. Before joining CR in 2025, she was editorial director at Motherly. Jessica is a licensed and board-certified nutritionist and a certified child passenger safety technician, a mom of two, and an avid runner and home cook.

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