See all Motoring AdviceOur recent Carzone Motoring Report revealed that one in six parents are unaware of the latest recommendation to keep your children in rear-facing car seats for as long as possible. Statistics reveal that these seats can be up to five times safer than forward-facing ones. This is particularly important for children under the age of two, with options available now which make it possible to keep children rear-facing up to the age of six or seven. The rear-facing position is believed to provide better protection for a child's head, neck, and spine during a collision. In a front-facing car seat, the child's head is restrained by the harness and can move forward more abruptly, potentially resulting in increased stress on the neck and spine. For this reason, we’ve decided to focus on these models and help to spread awareness of their safety benefits, while also painting a realistic idea of what they are like to live with.
Model reviewed: Britax Max Safe Pro
Dimensions: Width: 44 cm Height: 58 cm Depth: 77 cm
Max weight/height: 36kg / 125 cm
RRP: €549.99
Who is it for?
The Britax Max Safe Pro is a rear-facing child seat which offers extended rear-facing travel from 61cm to 125cm. It comes with an infant insert that cradles a smaller child in a more reclined position up to 87cm, making it suitable from approximately three months up to seven years of age.
Safety Features
The Max Safe Pro is R129 approved and has nailed the rigorous Swedish Plus Testing. This means that not only does it comply with the latest rules and safety standards, it has also passed some of the toughest collision tests in the world. For optimal side collision safety, the V-shaped headrest limits the child’s head movement and adjusts as they grow. Soft, padded side wings offer secure protection in the event of a collision. Side Impact Cushion Technology reduces the gap between the car and the seat, lessening side impact force by up to 40%.
Space requirements
The plush design makes it a very comfortable seat for smaller children in particular. It is also one of the narrower seats at 44cm, giving it good potential for use in a three in a row set up. However it does require a bit more legroom compared to some rivals and wouldn’t be an ideal choice behind a taller driver in certain cars. It comes with an optional spacer to extend the legroom for taller children.
We fitted the Max Safe Pro in a Skoda Octavia (2011) and Kia Sportage (2024) with lots of room to spare behind an average-sized front seat passenger, even with the spacer in place. The only vehicle we had which struggled with the front seat leg room was the Toyota Yaris Cross. While it did provide a comfortable fit for a child, it rendered the front passenger seat pretty much unusable.
Installation
As with most extended rear facing seats, installation requires a few more steps than the click and go method of an Isofix model. It must be installed with a seatbelt, leg support, and tethers. Full step by step instructions are provided which should be followed carefully to get a safe and secure fit.
In order to install the seatbelt, you must first adjust the harness to its highest possible position from the back and then lift the plush seat back material to get access to the clamp. It’s not a major ordeal but does add an extra step to the set up and the harness must then be readjusted afterwards.
The tethers are self-tightening and withdraw into the back of the seat when not in use. A couple of smaller tether straps must first be looped under the front seat rails for the tethers to attach to. They should be made as short as possible to allow the tethers to tighten sufficiently. You then simply hook the tether onto the attachment loop and the slack is automatically retracted. You should then push down on the back of the seat to allow it retract a few more notches for a reassuringly rigid fit.
The final step is to put the support leg in place which comes with a handy strap to ensure you get the correct angle.
As with all seats, we would also highly recommend availing of the ‘Check it fits’ service by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) for added peace of mind. You can find out when they are in your area next here.
Comfort features
The Max Safe Pro is noticeably more plush than some of its competitors and offers some extra padding around the sides. This may appeal to parents of younger children moving directly from an infant carrier. Our 20 month old tester looked very snug amongst the extra padding and had no problem nodding off on several journeys thanks to the generous recline.
Another added bonus for the Max Safe is the beautiful range of shades it comes in. We had it in the Jade Green colourway which made for a very cheerful addition to the backseat. The cover is also easily removed for washing and the quick dry material is a blessing when you need to replace it in a hurry. Getting it back on is slightly more fiddly thanks to the various rethreading of straps required, but this is the same for most seats.
Leg room will depend on how much space you have in your car, and how far back you can position the base. When originally placed behind a taller driver in the Kia Sportage, we found it too much of a squeeze to have the spacer in place. When switched to the passenger seat and with the spacer in place, everyone was a lot more comfortable. For this reason it’s probably best to put this seat behind the smallest front seat occupant.
Summary
The Max Safe Pro is a comfortable and aesthetic choice, with an attractive design and premium feel. It is a great option for those looking at the next step after an infant carrier, as the extra padding will keep them feeling snug and secure as they grow into this next stage of car seat. It may take up slightly more cabin space than some competitors, but if you have that space then it’s a really luxurious feeling product that your children will be both safe and comfortable in.
The Max Safe Pro retails from €549.99 on www.rearfacing.ie