Bebylux Alexa Group 1/2/3 car seat review

Going up against Group 1/2/3 car seats including the Cosatto Hubbub (£185), the Kiddy Guardianfix Pro 2 (£220), and the Joie Transcend (£180), the Bebylux Alexa promises more than just luxury but also safety and innovative design. It is at a higher price point than some of its competitors, however, starting at £295 for the Classico version.

Like many families, we have two kids with a two-year age gap so we tested out two seats and they really did make the back of our car look great.

The seats were tested on short and long journeys in our SUV with my trusty assistants Roselyn, 22 months, and Jasmine, who is 4.

Buy the Bebylux Alexa Group 1/2/3 car seat direct from Bebylux.

The Bebylux Alexa is a Group 1/2/3 seat – what age child can it be used for?

The seat can be used from 9kg to 36kg/12 years.

The seat is sold on combining luxury and safety – does it feel luxurious, and what do you think of the design?

I love the design! We have a leather car interior and it makes sense to me that our kids’ car seats should match.

I tested two of the designs and especially liked the quilted seat design – it looks very plush.

The seats do look and feel luxurious, however it’s worth noting that they are made from “bicast leather”. This is a modern material that cleans well - repelling dirt more like a plastic than a leather – because it is made from a layer of leather coated with polyurethane.

However, bicast leather can’t legally be called “genuine” or “100% leather” in the UK, and some believe it does not tend to improve with age.

How does the Bebylux Alexa install in the car – is it ISOFIX?

Yes, the seat is ISOFIX, however as a Group 1 or 2 seat you still should also use the car seatbelt to secure the seat while your little one uses the 5-point harness. The seat is also non-ISOFIX compatible.

Car seat safety - what is ISOFIX?

Is it easy/hard to install the seat into the car?

Installation using ISOFIX took mere seconds once we got the hang of it. Threading the seatbelt took longer as it’s more involved but was much easier than our previous seat. The instructions were helpful and easy enough to understand.

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How comfortable is the Bebylux Alexa?

Very comfortable. My 4-year-old can express her likes and dislikes – her initial reaction was “I love that chair better”. She did however say “no more?” about the recline.

It is more comfortable than our previous car seats. I pressed down on our previous seats vs. the Bebylux and there’s a lot more cushioning in the Alexa.

Does the Bebylux Alexa feel sturdy?

It does. It’s also reassuring to know there is additional crash protection by utilising a top tether which further reduces the chance of your child hitting the front seat in the event of a crash.

How is strapping your children in?

My 22-month-old is VERY wriggly. Our last seat, a Maxi Cosi Axiss was rotating which made the battle a lot easier for me to win.

The crotch strap often gets tucked underneath my toddler so I then have to lift her up again - without her escaping – to find the strap. It can also be fiddly getting the straps lined up so that they can be placed in the buckle. All of this while twisting myself in the most awkward position.

My 4-year-old was previously in her cousin’s old Britax high back booster. Although she found it uncomfortable, the benefit for me was that she could strap herself in. She’s unable to do this with the Bebylux as it’s just too fiddly and she grows frustrated. The seatbelt buckle needs to fit through a narrow hole situated right in the inside corner of the seat – it’s like threading a needle. Although she doesn’t resist as her sister does, she talks and bounces around making it another struggle for me to strap her in. Perhaps she’ll master doing the seatbelt herself with more practice.

The Bebylux Alexa would benefit hugely from a carved out seat belt nook such as with the Recaro Young Sport HERO or Britax ADVANSAFIX II SICT car seat. It would be even better if it also rotated! Although I’m not sure this would be possible up to 12 years old.

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What did you think of the harness, and what age does it go up to?

The harness is not too bad. It does tend to tangle but there’s not a seat yet that I’ve not experienced this with.

The harness can be used up to 18kg – that’s about how much my 4-year-old weighs.

What’s the headrest like?

Great – adjusts to just the right position for both my girls and has soft padding.

Bebylux state that it’s an energy absorbing headrest providing protection for little one’s head & necks. Just one part of three levels of side impact protection.

How many positions does the headrest have?

There are 5 headrest positions.

How many seat positions are there and how easy is it to adjust the seat?

There are 4 recline positions which are activated by a lever positioned underneath the base of the seat. I do feel that the recline was limited and my toddler ended up sleeping with her head slouched forward even at the highest recline.

Do you think the side wings provide good protection?

It looks like they would be effective. Bebylux state they are part of the seat’s protective shell and will help absorb crash impact.

How portable and easy is the Bebylux Alexa to get in and out of the car?

It’s not portable as it’s quite heavy. But I believe this is expected for this type of car seat. ISOFIX would aid the transfer from one car to another.

What do you think of the size of the car seat?

It’s spacious and was nice to see that my 4-year-old has significant room for growth.

However, once both seats are in the car there is limited legroom for both front and rear passengers. That may be because we’re a taller than average family.

The seats are quite wide, so when using two we have just enough room in between to lower the armrest/drinks holder. There isn’t enough room for an additional passenger in the backseat.

Will your children fit in it until they are 12 years old, do you think?

I think a slim, not too tall 12-year-old would fit.

Is the Bebylux Alexa car seat easy to clean?

Extremely. Not only easy to clean but because of the finish, I found that crumbs kind of slide off naturally by themselves.

What’s in the box?

• Car seat
• Group 1 and 2 insert
• Travel bag (additional £45)

What would you have wanted to know before you purchased the seat?

I was under the impression that the seats were covered with genuine, 100% leather. Bebylux do however make it clear that they use bicast leather/high quality synthetic leather. This is not a huge negative, I’m just not familiar enough with the material to predict the durability, especially with very active kids.

Who would the seat be most useful for?

Anyone who wants a seat that offers an appearance of luxury or who would like to match their existing car interior. I found that two of the Bebylux car seats made a particularly strong visual impact. The back of our car looks snazzy again!

My husband was particularly drawn to these seats as a “nice little touch of luxury”. We also both liked the fact that our girls could sit as comfortably in the car as we do.

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Is there anything unique about the seat?

The design. If you’re lucky enough to have leather sports seats with red stitching – the limited edition Monza design (£449) will really add a “wow” factor to your car.

There is also the racing car-inspired Sportivo version, which comes in black and red or black and grey colourways, and the quilted leather Lusso edition (£349), with contrast stitching.

Is the Bebylux Alexa good value for money?

Although at a slightly higher price point at £295, the Bebylux Alexa range is competitively priced. Despite the luxury appeal, it will not break the bank. The only additional cost was the travel dust bag.

If the car seat does last until a child is 12 then that would be wonderful. I can’t think of many items for kids that promise the same longevity, so a Group 1/2/3 car seat could be a good investment.

MadeForMums verdict

The Alexa is a strong contender from new luxury child travel brand Bebylux. It’s ideal for those families with a leather car interior looking for stylish, easy to clean seats for the kids. It will be interesting to see what Bebylux next brings to market.

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