Axkid Minikid 4 Max car seat review: is the latest extended rear-facing seat worth its premium price tag?

How we tested the Axkid Minikid 4 Max  

• Tested with two-year-old toddler

• Fitted in a medium-sized hatchback car

• Used for all day-to-day travel

Lily used the car seat as her main car seat for a month, testing it with her daughter, who has just turned two. The seat was tested on all of their daily journeys in one car including nursery trips and a few longer journeys. Once testing was complete, Lily scored the Minikid 4 on eight key criteria including: performance, quality and durability, ease of use, value for money, safety and stability, ease of installation, comfort and adjustability.

Axkid Minikid 4 Max : what’s in the box?

• Axkid Minikid 4 Max car seat

• 2 tether straps

• Instructions with QR codes

How simple is it to install the Axkid Minikid 4 Max in the car?

The Minikid 4 Max doesn't use ISOFIX — instead, it installs with your car’s seat belt, tether straps, and a support leg. While belt-fitted car seats can seem more complicated at first, Axkid has designed the process to be as straightforward as possible.

To install, you position the seat and support leg in the car, thread and fasten the seatbelt through the base, then attach the two tether straps to secure anchor points under the front seat. The Minikid 4 Max also features a clever self-tightening tether system, which automatically tightens the seat as you adjust it, helping to keep it stable and secure.

Axkid claims the installation can be completed in just 60 seconds, but it may take a little longer the first time as you get familiar with the steps. Lily, who tested the seat, said, “The seat comes with a QR code. Upon scanning that, you’re directed to the BILT app where you’re given guided step-by-step instructions on how to set the seat. Because of this, I found it extremely easy to install.”

While the seat itself is fairly heavy and bulky — meaning it’s better suited to staying installed rather than frequently moving between cars — the clear app instructions and thoughtful design help make belt fitting as easy and stress-free as possible.

How does the Axkid Minikid 4 Max look? 

Cost-wise this is very much a premium car seat, so it is good to see that although Axkid puts the lion’s share of the budget into ensuring its seats have incredible safety credentials, the look and feel of the seat is definitely not forgotten. 

Lily described the seat as “beautifully designed”, from the sleek seat padding to the simple-to-use harness. The seat is available in 5 colours, including black, grey, green and navy (or, to give it its official name, “glacier lake blue”).

Axkid Minikid 4 Max: is it safe and sturdy? 

Weighing in at 11kg, this seat is reassuringly sturdy, although obviously heavy to move and reposition. Once the leg and straps are in place, it feels secure in the vehicle and definitely feels like it will be durable enough to last up to seven years – good news since the warranty only covers the first two.

The 5-point harness is secure and simple to use, with soft padding to keep children comfortable and a magnetic closure for easy fastening. Although all children are different and some are just born escape artists, Lily confirmed her daughter “cannot get her arms out” and said the straps “feel very secure, and they don’t make it easy for little ones to undo the seat.”

Getting your child in and out of the seat can occasionally be a bit awkward, depending on your car’s layout and space. Lily explained, “Sometimes it’s a little tricky to get our daughter out – her hips can twist, or her knee might tuck under the other leg, so we need to gently straighten her before lifting her.”

How comfortable is the Axkid Minikid 4 Max? 

The Minikid 4 Max has 13 adjustable headrest positions, to ensure it will grow and stay comfortable for your child as they get bigger. As mentioned before, the padding within the seat is of a really high quality, providing support and comfort.There is also a three-step recline, so you can find the comfiest position for longer journeys.

Although the fabrics are breathable to help with air circulation, additional comfort in the summer can be provided with the addition of cooling pads, sold separately.

In terms of how this seat grows with a child, our tester felt that “the distance between the seat and the backrest is quite short” and expressed her concerns about how it would function for a six or seven-year-old child. Axkid says that the seat offers more legroom than most similar extended rear-facing seats, with 30cm of space on offer.

If you are concerned about longevity, Axkid does provide some information that addresses the issue of bent knees in extended rear-facing seats. This is one of the main reasons parents switch to front-facing early, so it’s worth reading what the manufacturer has to say. The brand also offers a 14 day car-fit guarantee promise: if it doesn’t fit your vehicle, you can return it within two weeks for a refund. 

What is the Axkid Minikid 4 Max like to use day-to-day?

Once fitted, using the car seat day-to-day is fairly straightforward, although as Lily noted this will depend on your car and the space you have to get your child in and out of the seat.

This is not really a seat designed to be moved between cars frequently. In fact, Lily said that when she fastened the tether straps onto her car “it feels like that they are now permanently moulded to the metal bar – making them not easy to remove.”

The Minikid 4 Max is probably better suited to families who want to keep their car seat in one vehicle permanently. However, once safely buckled in her daughter enjoyed the car seat and felt cosy. 

Does the Axkid Minikid 4 Max come with accessories?

The seat is not travel system compatible as it’s designed to last far beyond the infant stage so it doesn’t come with additional accessories like car seat adapters.

There are no additional accessories provided, but three accessory packs can be purchased separately. They are:

• Swedish Safety Kit Classic – Includes a seat protector, car seat mirror and 2x sun shades

• Swedish Safety Kit Premium – Includes a premium 3-in-1 seat protector, car seat mirror and 3x stretchable sun shades

• A set of cooling pads for warmer days 

Is the Axkid Minikid 4 Max easy to clean?

The seat covers can be removed and machine washed at 30 degrees, which is a really great feature that will help ensure the longevity of the seat over its lifespan. The rest of the seat is either metal or plastic, so can easily be wiped with a damp cloth.

Is the Axkid Minikid 4 Max good value for money?

Lily felt that “the quality of the product, the safety and how easy it was to install” all contributed to its overall success. It is a really high quality and well-made seat that goes beyond the UK’s legal requirements to meet the most stringent car seat safety standards in the world.

Safety is obviously paramount, but there is no getting around the fact that £465 is a huge upfront investment for most families. There are a handful of other car seats that rear-face up to age seven, but the only one that’s markedly cheaper is Axkid’s Movekid. Little extras like the magnetic harness and washable covers may help to justify the expense if the safety creds are not enough.

In reality, what you’re paying for here is extended rear-facing to age seven and all the engineering that comes with that, so whether it represents good value for money depends on the likelihood that you will actually use this seat until your child reaches the maximum height or weight. 

To benefit fully from all this seat has to offer and really get value for money, you will need to be committed to rear-facing for as long as possible - which is recommended for children’s optimal safety in the car.

About the author

Gemma Cartwright has been a digital journalist for 20 years. As a former editor of MadeForMums, she has tested thousands of baby and infant products, and is particularly passionate about pushchairs, car seats and sleep products.

She is qualified as an independent car seat safety advisor, having completed car seat safety training licensed by IOSH and CPD. She lives in London with her husband and five-year-old son.