Britax Evolva 123 - why no Which report???

[AlaskaHQ]

We are thinking of buying a Britax Evolva 123, for my 26 month old daughter. We really like it (looked at details online, looked at it in store, and tried sitting DD in it), and I have always thought Britax was a good, premium safe car seat brand.

But I just have a niggling feeling ....

1. John Lewis are discontinuing it, according to John Lewis Kingston, but the sales manager didn't know why.
   

1. Which Online (which.co.uk) doesn't have a review for it posted. Why - it seems a really popular car seat, sold in all the main outlets.
   

Is it about to be replaced or updated? Or is something else going on?

Any thoughts / insight anyone.

[pollymere]

AS Britax goes, this is the lemon of the range. Britax do a fit guide on their website and I seem to remember that it doesn't really fit a lot of cars. I agree with you, its a fab one and was sad to find that it wasn't compatible with my car.

I think which? didn't review it for this reason. I would check with the fitfinder on Britax's website and if you have the right car, then you should be fine.

Hope that helps!

[sazm]

im sure the reason which dont like it is that they dont rate multi group seats,they think you should buy a seat for each group as they suit a growing child better.
personally i wouldnt buy an evolva for a 9mo but its FAB for 18m+,
i had one and it was quite tricky to fit it without twisting the seatbelt,but once you get the hang of it,its not bad.

[AlaskaHQ]

Thanks for the advice pollymere and sazm. We are going to look at them again this morning in Mothercare.

[AnnieLobeseder]

We bought this because Which? recommended it - it had a very high safety rating. But perhaps they've changed their minds....

As a seat goes, it's OK, though it's a bit annoying that it doesn't recline, and it has a weird seatbelt attachement system which keeps coming loose in DH's car - we have to tighten it regularly, which isn't great at all.

[LIZS]

We've had one for dd since she was 5ish. Main issue is fitting in harness mode and it takes up a lot of space but otherwise it has been good. Are you sure they aren't just discontinuing that fabric or model - there used to be 2 versions. Agree which? have never liked multi stage seats and don't test all models available anyway.

[sazm]

yep there was a 1-2-3 then a 1-2-3 ultra with adjustable side width,maybe they are idscontinuing the older one,

annielobeseder - you can fit it reclined,and its just enough of a recline that their head doesnt fall forward when they fall asleep.
if the seatbelt keeps coming loose then its not locking in place properly,i would get the seatbelt checked to make sure its ok.

ours was totally solid once fitted,was a bit aukward to fit in our car,as our seatbelts were quite short and there was just enough to go around it!

[AnnieLobeseder]

sazm - yes, you can fit it reclined, but it's not as comfy for sleeping as a properly reclinable seat, like the Maxi-Cosi in my car.

Nothing wrong with the seatbelt - they only lock when there's pressure on them, such as when you stop suddenly. When the seat is just sitting there, there's no pressure on the seatbelt so it's loose. And when DD wrigges in her seat, it gets looser and looser.

No-one else have this problem?

[sazm]

the seat shouldnt be loose at all when fitted,if it is it either doesnt fit your car properly or its not correctly fitted.you should be able to push and pull at it and have no movement at all.

maybe the recline part depends on the shape of your actual cars seat too, i dont ever recline my lo's britax eclipse as he is comfy sleeping at the slight angle it sits at anywaysx