Britax ADVANSAFIX II SICT car seat review

The multi award-winning British-German brand has its own a crash test centres in Germany and the UK, which shows the importance it places on safety and protection. And the ADVANSAFIX II SICT, a Group 1/2/3 seat, is one of its newest chairs.

Suitable from 9kg to 36 kg or the ages of nine months to 12 years, it has three ways to ensure extra protection; a 5-point safety harness, ISOFIX connectors and a top tether.

The 5-point harness can be used until 25kg, or when your little one is about five-years-old, which about one year more than most car seats. The top tether strap attaches the car to a clip behind the headrest to increase safety. But it’s worth noting that these features, while great, are not compatible with all cars – namely older cars.

The forward-facing ADVANSAFIX nearest rivals are the Kiddy Guardian Pro 2 at £159 and the Cybex Pallas at £220 as they are similar in pricing and they are in the same group stages.

Is it easy to install the chair?

I fitted the seat in by myself, but it's worth nothing that Britax actually have a safety initiative for the ADVANSAFIX, which means you can get the chair installed into your car by a trained installer, and the best part is it's free!

But you will have to find an official retailer (can be found on the Britax site) to fit it for you.

However, if you choose to fit it yourself, you may find, like me that the seat is not as easy as it could be to install. But that’s only due to the confusing instructions, they aren’t simple to follow and the diagrams aren’t clear either. I spent a good 20 minutes trying to work it out with my dad, who also found it challenging.

YouTube ended up being the perfect solution. The moment I watched the installation video, it was very straight-forward and quick, it allowed me to install ISOFIX base and the car seat in under five minutes.

Once the base is fitted the chair slots into the Britax ISOFIT + system very easily. And for added peace of mind both the base the seat has colour-coded indicators to confirm everything is installed correctly.

Is it easy to move from one car to another?

I don’t think so, thankfully I haven’t needed to move the seat from one car to another. I think if I had to move it around often it would become a dreaded chore, especially as I’d have to move not only the seat but also the ISOFIX base.

Separately the base is not too heavy (5.5kg) but the seat is a quite weighty (11.2 kg) roughly about four kilos more than other seats in its class, even other Britax ones. That’s great for the sturdiness of the chair, but not if it has to be moved.

How is strapping baby in?

Very easy - there are little slots on the side, which can be used to hold the straps in place when first putting your baby in which is handy. My son falls asleep with ease when in the ADVANSAFIX II SICT, so comfort-wise it gets a thumbs-up.

Saying that, I don’t think it’s a cosy as my last seat, the Hauck Varioguard, because it has memory foam padding and kept my son a tad more snug.

Does the ADVANSAFIX feel secure when installed?

Very! I was surprised at how secure it felt, because the last ISOFIX base I used with my previous car seat (Varioguard) had a long connector, which reached onto the floor but it still wasn’t as sturdy as the Britax base.

I think the clever positioning of the seat belt connectors contributes to its security, and is one of my favourite features.

The ADVANSAFIX II SICT claims to have a one-hand recline system, what do you think of it?

The one-hand recline system does exactly what it's meant to and is simple to use. But it’s not a special feature tailored to the ADVANSAFIX as my previous car seats had the same function.

What’s great about the chair is that it can be reclined; there are three positions and they very easy to adjust. But to be fair there really isn’t much difference between the levels.

What do you think of the seat’s height and size?

The best thing about the car seat is its versatility, it is a great size and as it has an adjustable headrest and detachable harness for when my son gets older.

Again safety is key here as the ADVANSAFIX has a 5-point harness that can be used until 25kg, or when your little one is about five-years-old. Most car seats only allow you to use a 5-point harness up to about four-years-old, so I like that the safety of the chair grows alongside my son.

Is the product value for money?

Definitely! This car seat costs £250, most car seats average at around this price and a lot of them don’t last longer than a couple years. This car seat will last approximately 11 years, give or take, so it is worth it.

What’s in the box?

• The ADVANSAFIX car seat
• ISOFIX base

What extra accessories can you buy?

• Summer Cover - £25
• Car seat saver - £18

Is the car seat easy to clean?

The cover is easily removable and washable. The clever thing is there is no need to remove the harness, which ensures it stays fitted in correctly.

MadeForMums verdict?

All-in-all the ADVANSAFIX II SICT is a good car seat. It is safe, secure and snug. The price and life span of this car seat is what makes it worth the buy.

I think there could have been some small adjustments to the positioning of things such as the headrest lever but it ticks all the basic boxes and more.

So if you’re a parent who has a small budget but wants a car seat that will last as long as possible then the ADVANSAFIX II SICT is ideal