Maxi-Cosi AxissFix Plus car seat review

• Promote rear-facing for longer (children should stay rearward-facing until at least 15 months old) and the rear-facing position provides up to 75% more protection if your child is involved in a car accident.
• Have improved protection at faster speeds for side and front impact
• Protect babies’ heads and necks

The car seat is designed to be used from birth (45cm) to approximately 4 years (105 cm). My daughter is very tall, so I do not think the seat would last for the full 4 years, but I do think it would last her for her early toddler years.

The Maxi-Cosi AxissFix Plus is comparable to the Cybex Sirona S i-Size (£300) and the Britax Römer Dualfix i-Size (£430).

Tested by:

Becky is a first time mum to Lily (born November 2018) and lives in London with her husband.

First impressions of the Maxi-Cosi AxissFix Plus car seat:

Very good first impressions. It feels strong and durable and uses soft materials for the child’s comfort.

What do you think of the design?

It is a very sleek yet functional design. It looks attractive and is available in 6 colours.

How easy is it to install the Maxi-Cosi AxissFix Plus car seat?

It is incredibly easy to install in a car and it was securely fitted in a few minutes – a factor praised by several Maxi-Cosi customers, MFM readers and parents we surveyed*, with 75% giving it 8/10 or more for this. The instructions are detailed in pictures on the car seat, and there are numbers on the back of the unit to show the order of attachment. All is clear, simple and easy.

How effective is the harness?

The 5-point integral safety harness is fantastic. In common with a fair number of Maxi-Cosi and Halfords customers, as well as 62% of parents we surveyed, who scored it 8/10 for this, I found it very easy to strap in my child. The straps can be easily adjusted and secured with a one-hand harness adjuster. There are very handy hooks at either side of the seat to loop the straps while putting the child into the seat, by maintaining wide open straps, and avoiding getting the straps caught.

The harness is very comfortable, with plush materials, which are soft against the child, and it has anti-slip pads as an additional safety feature. I think the harness is a very appealing feature of the car seat.

Does the Maxi-Cosi AxissFix Plus car seat have different seat positions and does it recline?

There are 7 seat positions to allow the seat to grow with the child. Whilst the new-born insert can be used from birth, the headrest can be adjusted to allow for a growing child. There are 4 recline positions. Although most customers were happy with the recline function, some John Lewis and Maxi-Cosi customers felt it didn’t recline enough for sleeping.

How useful is the rotating function?

This is a very useful and easy to use function. The rotating feature allows you to easily place the child in and out of the seat whilst leaning into the car, without having to bend around the seat (either forward- or rear-facing). I think the rotating function is a very attractive feature for this seat, and this was universally praised by MFM readers and parents we surveyed as well as many John Lewis, Halfords and Maxi-Cosi customers, who say they love the swivel function and how it saves them from straining their backs when putting their child in the seat.

What are the Maxi-Cosi AxissFix Plus car seat's main safety features?

The seat integrates a number of safety features:

• i-Size safety R129
• ISOFIX and top tether attachment for a secure installation
• Headrest with high-performance, impact-absorbing material for extra protection of the head in case of lateral impact
• 5-point integral safety harness to ensure highly secure restraint of the child
• Anti-slip harness pads for high-restraint performance in case of frontal impact
• A.S.B system (Automatic Safety Belt) to maintain the perfect connection of the base and the seat together
• Indicators to monitor the correct installation of ISOFIX anchors
• Indicator to monitor the correct tightening of the Top Tether Genera

Does it feel secure and sturdy?

Very much so. The seat is extremely secure when fitted. The ISOFIX and top tether ensure that there are multiple points of support for increased security. The unit is made of very strong materials and it feels very sturdy when secured in place. The rotating mechanism also feels very sturdy. The majority of Halfords customers gave the seat full marks for safety, while MFM readers also praised the seat for feeling sturdy and safe.

How comfortable is the seat?

The seat is very well padded and covered in soft material. My daughter was extremely comfortable in the seat. She fell asleep within a few minutes of driving and the comfortable straps allowed her to sleep easily. Plenty of Maxi-Cosi and Halfords customers also felt that the seat was comfy for their child.

How comfortable would it be for a child at the upper age limit for rear-facing seats?

It is a legal requirement for all children to be rear-facing until 15 months, though this seat is suitable for up to 20 months (87 cm). A tall 15+ month old may find the rear-facing setting lacks leg room.

How easy is it to get the seat in and out of the car, and to swap between cars?

Whilst it is an easy install into a car, the weight of the seat (over 12kg) means it is not an easy seat to move between cars, a view shared by 50% of parents we surveyed, as well as Halfords and Maxi-Cosi customers. The seat has been designed to be installed in one vehicle and not moved constantly between cars. That being said, it is not difficult to attach and detach.

How heavy is the Maxi-Cosi AxissFix Plus car seat?

The seat weighs over 12kg, making it less appealing to transport and travel. It is designed for installation in one vehicle, and not transported from car to car.

Is it easy to clean?

Just over 62% of parents we surveyed felt that the seat is easy to clean, scoring it 8/10 or more for this – a view shared by Halfords and Maxi-Cosi customers. All plastic is wipe clean and the cover and shoulder pads can be removed for washing. Washing instructions are included.

What feature do you like most?

In common with nearly all customers, I find the rotating function very appealing as it saves your back when putting your child in and makes strapping them in so much easier.

Any criticisms?

The ‘fixed’ nature of the seat means that the baby would always need to be placed in and taken out of the car seat, as opposed to the car seat removed and the child remaining inside. In the early months, this could be viewed as a downside

Who is the product most suited for?

I think the seat is appropriate for all ages as the new-born insert ensures that young babies are securely fastened in and the adjustable headrest and ability to switch from rear- to forward-facing means the seat will grow with the child.

Is the Maxi-Cosi AxissFix Plus car seat good value?

Halfords, John Lewis and Maxi-Cosi customers said they recommend the seat and felt that it is worth the money, as do I. It is extremely well made, durable, comfortable for the child and offers great safety features. If using from birth, this would be a good investment.

What’s in the box?

The car seat comes as one unit, so there is only the car seat in the box.

Are any accessories needed or available?

Whilst no accessories are necessarily needed to use this seat, additional elements such as back seat protector, summer cover, cup holder and back seat mirror are all available to purchase.

What do you wish you had known before using it?

The weight of the unit – 12 kg.

Where can I buy the Maxi-Cosi AxissFix Plus?

It is available from Maxi-Cosi, Halfords and John Lewis.

MadeForMums verdict

I was extremely impressed with the ease of fitting, the comfort of the seat for my child and the ease of use. I would absolutely recommend this to all. It is a versatile car seat which will last a number of years as it is both rear- and forward-facing, and comes with a new-born insert, and provides much comfort for the child. In our survey, 87% of parents said they would buy the seat again.

*MFM survey December 2019 of 564 users

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