The PrimeoFix is a Group 0+/1 car seat. This means it’s suitable from birth up to 18kg, which is around 4 years old. You baby travels rearwards in it until they’re at least 9kg-13kg, then can move to a forward facing position until they’re 18kg. To swap between rear and forward facing positions, you lift the handle at the back of the base, swivel the seat and click into position. However, it’s not recommended you do this with you baby on board!
Installing the car seat is easy. There are three anchor points – two ISOFIX fixings and one top tether anchor point (a strap that connects the top of the car seat to a fixing point on the parcel shelf, boot floor or seat back, to make the seat secure).
Newborns are made more comfortable thanks to a head hugger, and there are two recline positions in the forward facing position (the rear facing position is reclined already) and the harness straps are height adjustable. The seat also features Safety 1st’s ‘Side Protection System’ in the height adjustable headrest
What we love
Buying a new car seat after only 9 months or so can be frustrating and expensive. The PrimeoFix will serve you, and your baby, until they’re almost ready for school, making it a reasonable buy at RRP £180.
There’s no denying that this is a big car seat. The base is bulky and it’s heavy to carry but it’s pretty slim - once installed in our car (a Peugeot 307) there was room for a passenger in the middle seat.
At 10 months, Poppy was just the right size to test the PrimeoFix. In the rear facing position, she had more legroom than her now redundant Group 0+ seat, because the seat is positioned relatively far back on the base. I also like the way the headrest is height adjustable, although Poppy still seemed a little short when it was used in forward facing mode.
The straps are lovely and padded – no red marks on the shoulder when your child’s wearing a summer dress or a vest, and the buckle is easy to click into place.
What to watch out for
Using the PrimeoFix with Poppy’s big sister, Minnie, 2 ½, highlighted a problem that we’ve had with other car seats – the recline position needs to be more exaggerated so that it’s comfortable to sleep in (it was a little too upright).
Because the seat is heavy, it’s not really one for transferring easily between cars. What’s more, there isn’t the option to use the seatbelt to install the PrimeoFix, which makes it off-limits for many people.
Who is the Safety 1st PrimeoFix car seat best for?
Parents with larger cars that have ISOFIX fittings who value the versatility a multi-group car seat brings.
An impressive car seat that combines longevity with innovation. With the ability to face forward and rearward it’s a good choice if you’ve got ISOFIX fittings, don’t swap vehicles and don’t want to buy two car seats in (relatively) quick succession.
