Cosatto RAC Come and Go i-Rotate car seat review

Tested by

Theopi Skarlatos is mum to 7-months-old baby Raphael and she tested the RAC Come and Go in a Zipcar in central London on everyday trips.

What were your first impressions of the RAC Come and Go i-Rotate?

When you remove the product from the box, it’s nice to see minimum packaging. The first thing that strikes you is the colourful design of the cushioning and the softness yet sturdiness of the padding. It was, however, extremely difficult to lift out of the cardboard box because it’s so heavy. As with most rotating car seats, this is largely down to the integrated base.

What age is the RAC Come and Go i-Rotate suitable for?

It is suitable from birth to 105cm (approximately 4 years), allowing your child to face rearward all that time. You can also let your child face forward from 76cm (after 15 months). However, as this seat is not designed to be carried, some people might not like to use it from birth when you tend to want to carry your child from car to home when strapped into their car seat.

To have the rear-facing option up to 4 years is great, as it really does provide more safety for your growing child. However, rear-facing does take up more space, so it might be a bit tight in small cars and might not be as comfortable if your child is on the tall side.

How easy is it to install?

The instructions pamphlet could be written in a much clearer way. However the images were not simple at all. But because I’ve fitted a car seat before I was able to figure it out after about an hour and after consulting online how-to videos. Once you’ve figured it out, the Isofix is easy to install and can be done within a few minutes.

In fact, reviews on the Cosatto website almost unanimously feed back that they love the Come and Go’s ease of installation and use.

How do you install the car seat?

The seat is fitted with Isofix so installing it in the car is relatively straightforward. Once you pull out the mounts (by pushing down a button at the front) you slide the seat into the anchorage points and check all safety indicators are showing green and not red. You also need to extend and secure the anchor foot but that’s easy too.

This video by Cosatto is handy to refer to when fitting the Come and Go i-Rotate.

How does the RAC Come and Go i-Rotate compare to the basic model of car seat?

The RAC’s version is very similar to the regular Come and Go rotate, but in conjunction with the RAC, this model has been tested to the more recent European i-Size standards.

This is a European-wide car seat regulation (the first phase of a safety standard called R129), which aims to make car seats safer. It’s designed to keep children rear-facing for longer, provide better side impact protection and make car seats easier to fit correctly. The previous model complies with R44.04.

The RAC version also has straps that are far easier to adjust, and comes with some RAC branding, which probably appeals to some parents more than others.

What are the key safety features of the RAC Come and Go i-Rotate?

The fact that this seat is a collaboration between Cosatto and the RAC does bring peace of mind. The contoured seat has secure Isofix fitting points and a force-absorbing construction. The deep side wing panels and energy absorbing foam liners provide side-impact protection too.

It also has an exclusive 5 point plus anti-escape system harness so toddlers can’t independently get out of the car seat, which limits distractions for parents during a drive. As mentioned, it also meets i-Size regulations.

How easy is it to use the rotating function?

The seat can be swivelled to make it easier to lift children in and out. It works well, and is relatively easy, but I couldn’t do it with one hand (and baby in the other).

Parents do love the Come and Go’s spin feature, with shoppers at Boots giving the original model 5 stars, and many mentioning the functionality and ease of the rotation.

How comfortable did your baby find the car seat?

The padding and insert of the RAC Come and Go is soft and good quality, and my baby seemed to find it comfortable. He didn’t cry at all getting in and out of it.

The colourful patterns are also very popular with babies (although they might not suit all parents).

How easy are the straps to use?

Loosening and tightening the straps is very self-explanatory and easy. The lever you have to press to loosen is clearly visible and makes strapping in straight-forward.

How sturdy is the RAC Come and Go – do you think it will last?

The seat feels robust and very padded which gave me peace of mind. The material is easy to wash and wipe down, which is great.

Does the car seat recline enough for your baby’s needs?

No, not completely. The RAC Come and Go has a recline option – 3 forward-facing levels and 1 rear-facing, but it’s not that pronounced. There are other seats on the market, whose reclining options are more impressive.

How comfortable is the headrest?

The headrest is nice and comfy and is easy to adjust as your child grows, without the annoyance of having to take it apart and re-thread it every time you need to change the settings.

How easy is it to clean?

All the covers and padding are easy to remove and machine wash. They are wipe clean too which can come in handy.

Is the RAC Come and Go i-Rotate light enough for easy transfer between cars?

At 14.9kg, the seat has quite a heft – however, this is the norm with these highly versatile and rear-facing-for-longer seats. This type of seat is designed to stay in the car, not for swapping between family cars or taking on holiday.

Does it have a sun hood?

No, it doesn’t have a sun hood, but again this is quite normal with this type of seat.

Is the car seat big enough for a growing child?

Yes, it feels quite roomy with plenty of space for a growing child. It is difficult to say whether it will fit any particular child until 4 years, as they grow at such wildly different speeds, but I can see it being big enough for mine.

What’s in the box?

• Lower seat liner
• Crotch pad
• Chest pads
• Upper seat liner
• Headrest cover
• Seat cover
• Wedge
• Isofix guide
• Harness
• Tuck in tool
• Isofix arm
• Support leg
• Storage compartment

What is worth knowing before buying the RAC Come and Go i-Rotate?

It is good to know that the RAC Come and Go complies with the latest safety standards, that it rotates easily and that the material is easy to wash.

It's also worth knowing (as with most extended rear-facing seats) it’s a car seat designed to remain in the car. If you have a newborn or small baby and they fall asleep in the seat, you won’t be able to lift it out without disturbing it. Also, I found it impossible to rotate the seat with one hand whilst you’re holding the baby.

Is the RAC Come and Go worth the money?

If you’re looking for a car seat for a newborn no, because it’s not designed to be carried with child strapped in. On the plus size however, the seat lasts until your child is 4 years old – so if you don’t care about it not being removable, it does offer good value for money.

The option of rear-facing for longer is amazing, as it will appeal to safety-conscious parents, and for that, it’s good value. It’s also great that you can use it forward-facing, if your child turns out to detest facing backwards after 15 months.

How does it compare to similar car seats?

Similar car seats include the Joie i-Spin 360, Maxi-Cosi Mica and Cybex Cloud Z i-Size – you can see a comparison of their key features below.

Where can I buy the Cosatto RAC Come and Go i-Rotate?

It's available from Amazon, Halfords and RAC.

MFM verdict:

Although I wasn’t too keen on the bright style of the RAC Come and Go i-Rotate, nearly everything else about this car seat is good. It complies with all the latest safety regulations, it rotates and is easy to use. It lasts for 4 years too, making the price very reasonable. The padding is comfy, strong, removable and easy to clean. However, I’m not sure it’s great for a newborn, as you can’t use it as a travel system or to transfer sleeping baby between car and home. I’d suggest the RAC Come and Go is more suitable for 6 months and up.

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