Car Seats

Bubble levels and a spring-loaded base made it the hardest seat to install wrong; most babies outgrow it by the 30 in height limit.

Reclines flat outside the car and rotates on its base; at 12 lb it is the joint heaviest carrier in this comparison.

Belt-tensioning doors give a tight install without force; at 19 in wide, three across will not fit most back seats.

Steel frame and a 9.4 safety score, the highest in this comparison; it is a fixed convertible, so it never leaves the car.

One seat from 4 to 120 lb, rated to ten years of use; the harness pads bunch and need re-threading to wash.

Among the lightest carriers at about 7.2 lb for the lowest infant-seat price here; independent install scores are below average.

Extends the KeyFit formula to 35 lb and 32 in with a 5-star NHTSA ease rating; the carrier is about 10 lb.

Rigid-LATCH base with a load leg and a metal substructure; at $450 it prices like a Nuna, with a narrower shell.

SensorSafe chest clip and a reclining backrest outside the car; the carrier is heavy and the rotating base is a separate step up.

Rear-faces to 50 lb with a legroom extension panel; the panel and shell take space in small back seats.

All-in-one from 5 to 110 lb with Chicco bubble-level install aids; it is a large, heavy shell for small cars.

Rotating seat with a detachable base install and bubble levels; rotation needs door-side clearance to swing.

Rotating all-in-one to 120 lb with rear-facing to 50 lb; the seat is wide and heavy, and rotation needs clearance.

Narrow all-in-one at 16.7 in wide for three-across fits; narrow also means less seat room as children grow.

Budget all-in-one from 5 to 100 lb; install aids are basic compared with Chicco and Graco rivals at similar money.

Graco rotating 3-in-1 that spins in rear-facing mode only; families wanting forward-facing rotation should look at Evenflo.