Cozy N Safe Tristan i-Size car seat review

What was your first impression of the Cozy N Safe Tristan?

My first impression was positive: the seat was sizeable, and looked sturdy. With a smart black-and-granite finish, it complemented the interior of our car well. The removable and washable cover means that it will always (I hope) looks as good, no matter what snacks are dished out on longer journeys.

How clear are the instructions for installing the seat?

While there was no installation video on the company’s website, the manual was clear and is also available online, which will be handy as our toddler grows and we have to adapt the seat to his needs, as we may have lost the manual by then!

How do you install the Cozy N Safe Tristan car seat?

You can either use the universal ISOFIX base and top tether, or the vehicle’s 3-point seat belt installation. We chose to use the former method, as it looked much simpler and felt safer and more secure. There are no sounds or light alerts to let you know if the seat is not secure, which would have been a bonus, but the installation is easy enough that this is not a big issue.

Is it easy to install?

The car seat – which comes its base built in – was neatly packaged inside the box, and came with instructions. Fitting it is simple – we managed it in around 10 minutes, but kept going back on ourselves to make sure we hadn’t missed anything.

Is the Cozy N Safe Tristan safe?

The safety of the seat was our main focus, and we were very satisfied how safe it was. It is built to the latest i-Size ECE R129/02 regulations and has side-impact protection. It feels solid and has a strong ventilated shell.

Is it comfortable?

As well as being safe and secure, the seat is well padded and feels comfortable.

What age is the Cozy N Safe Tristan suitable for?

It’s suitable for children of heights from 76 to 150 cm, up to 18kg, or from around 15 months to 12 years. The long lifespan of the car seat was a great selling point for us, as we do not like to dispose of or store items that have a short life.

How do you adjust the headrest height?

The headrest is simple to adjust, and is pulled up by lifting the handle by the top of the headrest. To lower the headrest, it’s easy to pull the handle with 1 hand and push the headrest down with the other.

Does the Cozy N Safe Tristan rotate or swivel?

No. I wish it did, as getting our toddler in and out of the car seat can sometimes be a struggle. If he is resisting going in the car, he needs to be carried in at an angle. A rotation feature would be a lovely extra, and there are other Cozy N Safe models that do this, such as the Cozy N Safe Morgan, but that means compromising on longevity, as that car seat doesn’t fit such a wide height range.

Does the Cozy N Safe Tristan have any unique features?

The unique features of this car seat are how long-lasting it is, and all the care that has gone into making it both comfortable and safe. It has deep, soft padding, multiple headrest positions, is suitable up to the age of 12, and has a removable cover that has already proven to be useful!

How comfortable is the car seat for a baby?

Our son seemed very comfortable in his new chair. On our first journey (around 20 minutes), he could comfortably look out of the window, extend his arms and clap along to nursery rhymes, despite being safely strapped in. At quieter moments, he seemed content to lie back with his head on the padded headrest. Longer journeys were similar, although we have a wriggly toddler, so on occasion would pull over to stretch our legs before resuming the journey.

As the seat is front-facing, it’s easy to turn around and check on the baby if you’re a passenger, or have a quick look in the mirror if you’re driving.

How comfortable is the car seat for an older child?

The clear USP of this seat its ability to grow with your child. Our son fits in it comfortably now, at 16 months, and I have no doubt that with the recommended adaptations it would smoothly turn into a booster chair.

Would the Cozy N Safe Tristan car seat work well in smaller cars?

We found the car seat comfortable in our small SUV, but it’s a sizeable seat and might not have worked as well in a smaller car with a lower roof and less space.

How easy is it to use and adjust the harness?

It is very simple, and there is a useful graphic in the manual to help you. Pressing down on the harness adjustment button on the seat base with 1 hand, use your other hand to pull the straps away from the seat. Once your child is in the seat, you can then pull the adjustment strap (located at the foot of the seat, between the legs) so that it is secure and comfortable.

Is the harness comfortable?

The harness straps feel secure without being uncomfortably tight.

How robust does the Cozy N Safe Tristan feel?

This car seat feels robust, solid, safe and long-lasting.

Does the seat recline?

The car seat reclines to 3 positions, and is simple to adjust. Once the car seat is fitted into the car, simply hold the recline button with 1 hand (refer to the manual for a clear graphic) and adjust the recline of the seat with your other hand.

Is the headrest on the Cozy N Safe Tristan adjustable?

Yes, the headrest is practical, supportive, comfortable and easy to adjust.

How easy is the seat to carry around?

This car seat is not designed to be portable. With its size, weight and heavy base, it is designed to spend its life in your car. This suits us perfectly, as I am happy to carry my toddler into the house after a journey, or move him into the buggy from the car seat if we are going out.

We don’t have a toddler who falls asleep on long journeys, so there is no issue around having to wake him up at the end of a trip, either. Parents who would prefer to have a portable car seat that they could carry into the house or attach to a buggy should look elsewhere.

What’s in the box?

Car seat, ISOFIX guides, manual and removable cushion.

Are there any accessories available for the Cozy N Safe Tristan?

The car seat did not come with any accessories, such as a sun hood, despite its high price point, and there are no accessories available to buy. It does have a removable washable cover.

Which type of family is the seat best for?

This is a great everyday car seat for a family with a larger car who prioritise a long lifespan over any add-ons or features such as rotation.

What would you have liked to know before buying the Cozy N Safe Tristan?

Before buying this car seat, it’s essential to make sure that your vehicle is compatible with the requirements for an ISOFIX and top tether anchor points.

Does the removable cover wash easily?

As I have a snack-happy toddler, I was very interested in this car seat’s removable and washable cover, and we had cause to test this out on our very first journey.

It did take us a few minutes to remove the cover, as we wanted to make sure we did it properly and didn’t damage it, but it was easy enough to remove, washed beautifully in a machine at 30°C, and dried overnight. The cover was also simple to put back on the car seat once it was washed.

How does the Cozy N Safe Tristan compare with similar car seats?

Is the Cozy N Safe Tristan worth the money?

If it had a swivel feature (something I have always wanted), I would not think twice, but as it does not, I would recommend that people think carefully about what they want from a car seat before making the investment. I would also recommend it mostly to families with larger cars.

Where can I buy the Cozy N Safe Tristan?

It is available from Cozy N Safe, Halfords, and Pramworld.

MadeForMums verdict

I would recommend this car seat to a friend, with the caveats that it lacks some attributes that I would like to have, such as a sun hood and a swivel feature. It is difficult to get our toddler in and out of the seat, especially when he is resisting. The seat is fairly large and heavy, and it’s not possible to pick it up and carry it out of the car, or attach it to our buggy. But if these are not priorities for you, this seat offers excellent longevity, safety, and comfort, as well as being easy on the eye.