Maxi-Cosi Rodi XR review

What we love

Maxi-Cosi has worked hard on the original Rodi model to provide more comfort, stability and flexibility in this XR version. It’s an attractive, versatile seat which can be stored easily in a car boot and can fit youngsters of various ages and sizes.

The seat is straightforward to fit, with useful guides to ensure you are doing so correctly. The red belt-hook and lap guides let you know that both the seat and your child are strapped in properly, while it also features a useful anchor-shaped tether to attach the child seat to the car seat headrest, reducing wobble. The side protection system also seems very robust and well-padded. I found the removable, washable seat cover very useful for messy little ones like mine and there are some funky colour styles available including Black Reflection, Tango Red, Roasted Brown and Lily Pink.

I discovered that the back and headrests are easily adjustable, as are the shoulder supports which makes life much easier when you are struggling to get your tots in the car. Its biggest advantage over the SPS is the increased side protection, as well as the extra seat width and the reclining functionality. The recline is especially useful when your little one is asleep - as instead of lolling forward and leaving their head exposed, they remain surrounded by the side protection.

Handily, the recline lever is easily accessed from the front of the seat. The car seat is high enough to enable your child to see what’s going on outside which my daughter Lucy loves! I also found the seat relatively easy to transport and store in my boot as two separate pieces.

What to watch out for

The manual emphasises that you need to ensure that the seat is set into recline position before you put your tot in it – you can’t recline while your tot’s in it - which can be a pain if your little one falls asleep en route. Also, it doesn’t recline particularly far.

I found the seat belt loops quite narrow to feed the shoulder strap of the belt through, but they did ensure the belt is then kept securely in place. The seat also weighs a bit more than some other models and is bulkier than the SPS.

Who is the Maxi Cosi Rodi XR best for?

The Maxi Cosi Rodi XR is best for someone who wants a robust car seat which offers comfort and protection on longer journeys, as well as the flexibility to move the seat easily between vehicles and store it in separate pieces.

MadeForMums verdict

The Rodi XR offers increased comfort and protection for your little one, with more adjustable features as well as a useful recline facility. It’s also easy to move around and between vehicles. But unfortunately you can only recline it before putting your little one in it.