How safe is the Britax Römer Evolva 1/2/3 SL SICT?
This forward-facing-only seat can be installed using ISOFIX points (coupled with your car’s three-point seatbelt for added security) or the seatbelt alone.
Most parents will have had occasions when they’ve needed to transport their child in someone else’s car – and not every car will have ISOFIX fittings. This adaptable and flexible seat means you can rest assured that your child is safe no matter what vehicle they're in.
As with the Britax Römer Advansafix IV R, which we also tested alongside the Evolva, the child is secured in the seat with a five-point harness up until they are a maximum of 18kg in weight.
In the event of an accident, the five-point harness distributes the force of the impact across five points – two at the shoulders, two at the hips, and one where the harness buckles between the legs. The performance chest pads on the harness reduce forward movement in a frontal collision. They also spread the force more evenly across the shoulders and chest.
Once your child is 15kg, you can secure them in the seat using the car’s seatbelt. The harness can be stored away inside the seat, however you will need to take the seat out of the car to do this.
Read next: The best lightweight buggies, as tested by parents
Side Impact Cushion Technology (SICT)
SICT is a key safety feature of the Evolva, reducing the impact in a side collision by minimising the distance between the car and the seat. It deforms to absorb the energy of an impact, further protecting your child.
It’s easy to use too – simply adjust the SICT on the side of the seat closest to the door.
High-back booster protection
The seat's high-back booster protects in three ways – the shell of the seat provides head to hip protection in a side impact, the upper and lower belt guides make sure the seatbelt is positioned correctly, and the headrest is padded to provide safety and to make sure your child is comfortable.
Once installed, make sure that the seatbelt and the adjuster strap are pulled tightly to reduce wobble at the top of the seat. This makes the seat feel very sturdy and secure in any configuration.
Overall, the seat is well-designed for safety and there are no parts that could come loose or pose a choking hazard, and no nooks and crannies for fingers to get jammed. The fabric doesn’t irritate or rub at all either.
Read next: The best car sunshades to buy, as tested by families
How does it look?
The Evolva 1/2/3 should last until your child is 12, so you'll need to be sure that they’re going to be happy in it whether they’re a toddler or a pre-teen.
Luckily, there’s nothing babyish about this seat – in fact, both of our tester, Abigail's, children (age two and five) wanted to use it so we were able to test it with an older and younger child.
Because her five-year-old is very slight, he still needed to use the seat's five-point harness during car journeys. This seat allows for that, while still making him feel more grown up.
The seat material is soft and comfortable and is available in seven different colours, some brighter than others but all fairly neutral. Abigail tested the grey marble.
Getting going
Everything you need to get started is included in the box, but Abigail found the instructions very confusing.
The seat cannot be used with ISOFIX alone – the vehicle's own seatbelt must also be used – and she felt that this wasn’t made clear enough in the instructions.
With that said, if you are stuck, there are easy-to-follow installation videos online as well as a support section, contact details and links to social media on Britax Römer's website.
For Group 1 (up to 18kg or age four), if you prefer using ISOFIX points to fit the seat, the seat uses the Soft-Latch ISOFIX installation system. Extend the two ISOFIX latches from the back of the seat, and attach each one to the ISOFIX fittings in your car. Then route the three-point seatbelt through the back of the seat and clip it in. Pull the adjuster strap on both sides to tighten things up. Finally, adjust the SICT button on the side of the seat nearest to the window.
For seatbelt-only fitting, route the seatbelt through the back as per the instructions. Then use the five-point harness to secure your child.
When you use the five-point harness, you’ll know you’ve tightened it correctly when the Click & Safe system gives an audible click.
For Group 2 and 3 with ISOFIX, spanning from 15kg (age three) to 36kg (age 12), the first step is the same. Then simply route the seatbelt around the front of the seat, securing both your child and the seat in place. Without ISOFIX, route the seatbelt as directed to secure both child and seat securely in place.
Abigail felt that the seatbelt routing was quite counter-intuitive so she found it tricky. The online videos show exactly how to route the belt though, so these are really helpful if you do have any doubts.
Once you’ve fitted the seat (you'll only need one person to do this), it can stay fixed in the car indefinitely if you’re using it with the five-point harness. This means that when you do have the school run, or you’re running late, you won't have to worry about correct installation.
The seat doesn’t come with any extras, but, as with all Britax Römer seats, there are plenty of extras available to purchase including spare covers, sun shades and kick mats. The Evolva 1/2/3 SL SICT also comes with a two year warranty.
Read next: 8 tips for keeping your family safe on the road