ISOFIX is a standard system for fixing child car seats into cars. The term stands for International Standards Organisation FIX and since 2006 all new cars have been required by law to have ISOFIX fittings. The system works by hooking the car seat (fitted with ISOFIX fittings) onto two small metal bars, or anchor points, in your car (usually positioned where the back seat meets the seat cushion).
A third fixing point is either an adjustable support leg that fixes to the floor of the foot well, or like the Enyo Top Tether ISOFIX, a ‘top tether’ strap that connects the top of the car seat to a fixing point on the parcel shelf, boot floor or seat back (check with your car manufacturer to see if your car has a 'top tether' fitting).
The Enyo Top Tether ISOFIX car seat has a whopping five recline positions, a 5-point harness and a removable body hugger for younger babies. The harness height is adjusted by pulling up or down on handles either side of the headrest and sliding the straps up or down.
The ‘Safety Zone’ in the shaped headrest gives side impact protection and is designed to protect your little one’s head and to make the ride more comfortable.
What we love
It’s the simple things that sometime make a product stand out. In the case of the Mamas & Papas Enyo Top Tether ISOFIX car seat, this is the way that the harness straps are adjusted. Instead of unclipping the entire system and re-threading it, you pull up or push down on the handles at the side of the seat and guide the strap up or down to the next setting. Easy.
The backrest is equally simple to use even from the driver’s seat – push up on the lever under the seat and pull forward. What’s more, the recline mechanism is smooth so when I recline the seat with Poppy, 10 months, soundly asleep, I doesn’t wake her.
In comparison to other Group 1 car seats I’ve tested, the Enyo Top Tether ISOFIX is a perfect fit for Poppy. The body hugger keeps her secure and supports her head when she dozes off. I take the body hugger out for Minnie, 2, and the seat is equally snug.
What to watch out for
This is a top tether ISOFIX car seat only. Unlike some ISOFIX seats, there’s no option to use it with the seatbelts, so if you don't have a top tether fitting in your car, this one isn’t for you.
It’s worth knowing that compared to the standard Mamas & Papas Enyo, the Enyo Top Tether ISOFIX is around £80 more, so you’re paying a lot for the ISOFIX system.
This is a heavy car seat but that’s to be expected with an ISOFIX base. If you’re not going to be moving it between cars, it’s really not a problem.
Who is the Mamas & Papas Enyo Top Tether ISOFIX car seat best for?
Parents of toddlers who want a car seat to stay put in the car
A sturdy car seat that’s big on comfort and offers a snug fit for your tot. Some handy features make the Enyo Top Tether ISOFIX simple to adjust and easy to install. And the body hugger means that it’s great for babies. But unless your car has a top tether system it’s not worth considering.
