Joie was the first car seat manufacturer to produce a UK government certified i-Size car seat, meaning its seats are recognised as meeting new safety legislation requiring babies to travel in rear-facing car seats until they are 15 months old.
The Verso is the latest addition to Joie’s revolutionary car seat line-up and can be used rear-facing until your child is 18kg or 4 years old, whichever happens first, then forward facing until they reach 36kg.
As a group 0+/1/2/3 car seat, the Verso is essentially 4 seats in one, and with a price tag of £225, it’s significantly less than Jane’s i-Size offering at £349 and Diono’s equivalent Radian at £295.
Tested by:
Natalie is mum to Bluebell, 7, Maximilian, 4, and Marigold, 2. They live in Hove, East Sussex and tested the Joie Verso in their Peugeot 5008
First impressions of the Joie Verso
I tested the Verso with my 2-year-old toddler, Marigold. My first impression was that is a car seat with bells on. It’s super padded and comfy and comes with a newborn insert with head support, so you know your new arrival is safe and sound within it.
How easy is it to assemble?
There is no need to assemble anything. It comes ready to go inside the box.
Was the Joie Verso easy to install?
We’ve had various car seats over the years and the Verso wins hands down when it comes to installation – in fact, installing it was the first time I haven’t had to watch a video to work out how to do it!
As Marigold is 2 and under 18kg, we installed the seat in rear-facing mode using the seat belt (when it’s forward-facing you can either use the seat belt or Isofix base). This was super easy – you just place the waist part of the seat belt over the base of the seat and the body part around the back of the seat, slipping it into in-built clips.
How easy is it to adjust the the Joie Verso's recline position and headrest?
Adjusting the recline position of the Joie Verso couldn’t be easier – there’s a handle at the base of the seat which you compress. I have never been able to adjust a car seat so easily.
There’s a similar handle to adjust the height of the headrest too, so there is no need to take the car seat in and out of the car as your child grows, as you would have to with other makes and models.
How secure did the Joie Verso feel?
Even with the seat belt (as opposed to using the Isofix) the seat felt secure and in one place thanks to the seat’s sturdy back and sides. Once your little one is strapped in, you can make sure the harness is as tight as possible by pulling a cord at the base.
The recline positions are also numbered along the side of the base so you can be sure your child is travelling in the position appropriate for their size and weight, in our case 5 or 6. This is a safety feature I haven’t come across on a car seat before and gets the thumbs up from me.
On either side of the headrest there are fold-out ‘guard surround safety’ panels for extra side protection. You can pop these in and out as required. Like the numbered recline positions, I thought this was a nice safety feature for added peace of mind when travelling.
How bulky is the seat?
It is quite bulky in our car. The size and bulk of the car seat meant I couldn’t leave it in the recommended reclined position, as there was not enough space for the older two children to get in and out of the car. This meant I had to adjust the recline position at the beginning and end of every journey. The recline position we needed for Marigold’s age (2) also meant that the seat in front – in our case the passenger seat – had to be pushed as far forward as it could go in our Peugeot 5008.
How easy is to swap the seats between cars?
Given the size and bulk of the seat, it’s surprisingly lightweight and easy to swap between cars. I simply did the harness up and lifted it out of the car by the straps just like a handbag. I could easily hold the seat in one hand while holding Marigold’s hand in the other.
Are the car seat covers washable?
The covers are removable and washable which is essential for a seat that is going to last you 12 years.
I loved this car seat. I think’s its great value for money given all its safety features and how long it will last. I would certainly recommend it to a friend.
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