Silver Cross Approach Plus 360 car seat review: a sturdy, rotating car seat that feels reassuring from the first use

The Silver Cross Approach Plus 360 is available in Iconic Black and Natural Taupe

How we tested the Silver Cross Approach Plus 360

• Tested with a one-year-old

• Installed in the rear of a Kia Sportage using the Base Plus 360

• Used three to four times a week for everyday journeys

• Included short errands and longer drives where the child often slept in the seat

Tamsin used the Silver Cross Approach Plus 360 as her main car seat over a 10-week period. The Base Plus 360 stayed installed in the car throughout testing rather than being moved between vehicles. During this time, the seat was put through all Tamsin’s usual day-to-day journeys, from school runs and errands to longer drives, allowing her to assess everything from comfort to ease of use and the practicality of the 360-degree rotation.

After testing was complete, Tamsin scored the Silver Cross Approach Plus 360 on eight key criteria, including: performance, quality and durability, ease of use, value for money, safety and stability, comfort and adjustability. This gave a total score of 76 out of 100, which then translated to a four-star rating overall.

Silver Cross Approach Plus 360: What’s in the box?

• The Silver Cross Approach Plus 360 car seat

• Newborn / comfort inserts

• Instruction manual and warranty

• Silver Cross Base Plus 360 – sold separately (£200).  Also comes as a bundle option with the seat for around £495.

The Silver Cross Approach Plus 360 has a five-point harness and a multi-height headrest

How easy is the Silver Cross Approach Plus 360 to install?

It’s really simple. The seat clicks into the Silver Cross Base Plus 360 using ISOFIX connectors, and the support leg braces against the car floor for extra stability, all in line with its R129 i‑Size approval.

Tamsin found it easy to line up and secure, and the red and green indicators make it super clear when the seat is properly fitted. “It’s really reassuring to see the green lights and know everything’s locked in,” she says. Once in place, the seat feels solid with no wobble, giving you that peace of mind every parent wants.

It’s worth mentioning that during testing the seat stayed in one car, so if you regularly swap it between vehicles, you’ll just need to allow a little extra time to check it each time. Overall, the combination of click‑in connectors, clear indicators and the support leg makes this car seat of the easier rotating car seats to secure in place.

How does the Silver Cross Approach Plus 360 look?

When it comes to their car seats, strollers and travel systems, Silver Cross tend to go for a clean, unfussy look, and that’s exactly what you get with the Silver Cross Approach Plus 360. Tamsin described it as clean and elegant, and although it's robust, it's not bulky enough to take over the back seat.

The fabrics feel thick and properly padded rather than thin or scratchy. Tamsin says, “After multiple car trips - both long and short, there’s been no sagging or flattening, and the seat still looks smart rather than tired, which is reassuring when you’re investing in a car seat that’s meant to last up to around four years.”

Like the Silver Cross Glide Plus 360 we tested, the Approach Plus 360 also has temperature-regulating touches built in. It uses soft bamboo fabrics and has inbuilt seat ventilation to help keep air moving in all seasons.

Even the little things feel well done: the stitching is neat, the plastics don’t look shiny or cheap, and the colour options - Natural Taupe and Iconic Black are easy to maintain.

The Silver Cross Approach Plus 360 has side impact protection and is approved to R129/04 safety standards

How safe is the Silver Cross Approach Plus 360?

Very. The Silver Cross Approach Plus 360 meets the latest R129/04 (i-Size) safety standard, including enhanced side-impact testing. It’s suitable for use up to four years and supports extended rear-facing throughout that range, which is still considered the safest way for young children to travel.

The seat must be used with the Silver Cross Base Plus 360, which includes ISOFIX connectors, a support leg and clear colour-coded indicators to confirm correct installation. These visual checks help reduce the risk of fitting errors, something that’s reassuring, particularly for first-time parents.

Silver Cross also builds in what it calls Always Active Side Impact Protection - shock-absorbing technology within the seat’s structure designed to help manage forces during a collision. The deep outer shell adds to that protective, cocooned feel, and the seat feels substantial once installed, with no obvious movement.

There’s also an AgeLock rotation switch, which prevents the seat from being turned forward-facing too early. That’s a thoughtful touch, encouraging parents to keep their child rear-facing for as long as possible. Like the Silver Cross Glide Plus 360 in the same range, the Approach Plus 360 carries through that focus on a deep, enclosed shell and integrated impact protection- just adapted for the toddler years.

The EasyFit sprung five-point harness is designed to stay open and avoid tangling, which makes getting a wriggly toddler strapped in that bit easier. Tamsin said it feels “super secure, but easy to undo when you need to quickly,” striking that important balance between firmness and practicality. As your child grows, the 10-position headrest adjusts to keep their head, neck and spine properly supported, while the inner seat recline helps maintain a comfortable and safe travel position.

What is the Silver Cross Approach Plus 360 like to use day to day?

Day to day, the Silver Cross Approach Plus 360 proves straightforward to use, with the 360-degree rotation standing out as one of its most helpful features. With a rear-facing toddler, lifting them into a fixed seat can quickly become awkward, especially when they’re wriggling. During testing, Tamsin regularly swivelled the seat towards the door, strapped her son in, then rotated it back into travel position. “We can spin the car seat all the way round, which is very smooth and super secure,” she said. Once it clicks into place, it feels firmly locked and doesn’t shift.

Because the seat stayed installed in her Kia Sportage throughout testing, the routine soon felt automatic: swivel, buckle, rotate back. There was also no awkward stretching across the back seat, which made everyday trips that bit easier.

The recline feature did take a little getting used to at first. Tamsin says she had to “play around with it” early on to find the right angle for naps. Once adjusted properly, though, it’s stayed put and worked well — and her son regularly falls asleep in it, which is probably the best real-world test of comfort. “My son loves his car seat and falls asleep every time he’s put in,” she told us. As he grows, the seat adjusts easily to keep up. The headrest and harness move smoothly, so there’s no complicated rethreading or dismantling needed, just quick tweaks as required.

The Silver Cross Approach Plus 360 car seat is suitable from birth to four years

How comfortable is the Silver Cross Approach Plus 360 for children?

Comfort is often best judged by how a child reacts and, in this case, the feedback is pretty clear. “My son loves his car seat and falls asleep every time he’s put in,” Tamsin told us. For a one-year-old, that’s a strong endorsement.

The seat feels well-padded without being too soft. The cushioning is substantial enough to feel supportive rather than flat, but not so soft that it compromises that secure, cocooned feeling. Over the 10-week test period, there were no signs of discomfort, even on longer journeys, and her son remained well supported in rear-facing mode.

The included newborn inserts make the seat suitable from the smaller end of its height range, and they can be removed as your child grows. The 10-position headrest adjusts smoothly, keeping head, neck and spine aligned without the need to rethread the harness.

Like the Silver Cross Glide Plus 360 in the same range, the Approach Plus 360 also uses soft bamboo fabrics and built-in seat ventilation to help regulate temperature. That airflow makes a noticeable difference on warmer days or longer drives, reducing that sticky-back feeling toddlers can get.

In terms of space, there’s plenty of room for a growing child in rear-facing mode, and the recline - once you’ve found the right setting - offers a comfortable position for naps without their head tipping forward.

Is the Silver Cross Approach Plus 360 easy to clean?

In short, yes. Tamsin described it as “extremely easy to clean,” which is exactly what you want to hear when toddlers and snacks are involved. Everyday crumbs brushed away easily, and minor spills wiped off without leaving marks. The fabrics feel durable rather than delicate, so you’re not constantly worrying about ruining them with normal family life.

The covers can be removed (always following the manufacturer’s care instructions), which is reassuring if you’re dealing with bigger messes. And because the harness sits neatly rather than disappearing deep into the padding, it’s fairly easy to get in around it when cleaning.

Is the Silver Cross Approach Plus 360 good value for money?

At around £495 for the car seat and base bundle, this isn’t a budget buy. It sits firmly in the premium bracket of rotating R129 toddler seats. You’re paying more than you would for some all-in-one options like the Cosatto All in All Ultra (which is suitable up to age 12), and more than mid-range rotators that include the base in the price.

But what you’re getting for that price is a well-built, thoughtfully engineered seat designed to last from birth to four years. It combines extended rear-facing, a smooth 360-degree rotation, integrated side-impact protection and that solid, substantial Silver Cross feel.

One standout feature at this price point is the inner seat dual-recline system. Rather than just tilting the entire shell, the inner seat adjusts to help fine-tune your child’s travel position. In practice, that means a better sleeping angle for younger children and a comfortable upright position as they grow without constantly readjusting the whole seat.

For Tamsin, the value comes down to reassurance and longevity. “It gives us the reassurance we need to feel confident that our son is safe and happy in the car,” she said. “Knowing it will grow with him makes the upfront investment easier to justify too.”

This model won’t be the right choice for every budget, and parents with smaller cars should double-check space. But in a family SUV like the Kia Sportage, it fits neatly into everyday life and delivers on the fundamentals: secure installation, smooth rotation, strong safety features and lasting comfort.

About the author

Tammy Jacks has over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, holding key roles such as Managing Editor and Health & Beauty Editor for Woman & Home magazine in South Africa, and Assistant Editor for Living and Loving - a parenting title focused on children's health and development. She has also contributed to various lifestyle publications (including magazines, journals and newspapers) and edited books for fitness influencers and health professionals.

As a researcher and writer, Tammy specialises in children's development, wellbeing and safety, particularly focusing on car seats, having written extensive guides for Mumsnet on rear-facing car seats as well as car seat regulations in the UK.

Her expertise in this area is informed by both professional knowledge and personal experience as a mother. As a keen runner and cyclist, Tammy has also reviewed numerous baby travel products with her daughter in tow, including strollers and pushchairs, child bike seats, all-terrain prams and the best running buggies on the market, offering valuable insights into safety, comfort and convenience for families.