In a nutshell

A top seat from a big brand. This is high on safety, but heavy and bulky. It's ideal for long journeys and has optional seat covers for summer that absorb the heat.

What we tested

  • Ease of installing
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Comfort
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Safety features
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Style
    A star rating of 3.5 out of 5.
  • Durability
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Worth the money
    A star rating of 3.0 out of 5.
Overall Rating
A star rating of 3.9 out of 5.

Pros

  • New side impact technology, can be fitted with ISOFIX or car's own seatbelts, reclines when installed with ISOFIX, seat belt guide, 11 height adjustment positions, adjustable width.

Cons

  • Heavy, bulky, not easily portable

If you’re after a Group 2/3 car seat packed with safety features, which you don’t plan to swap between cars, look no further than the Britax KIDFIX SICT car seat.

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Testing the Group 2/3 Britax KIDFIX SICT car seat is my first experience using a Britax car seat. I’ve always heard very good things about the brand from fellow parents, and I have to say, so far, I’m impressed. Britax is a brand synonymous with safety and with over 40 years experience in the baby market – producing everything from car seats and pushchairs to bike seats - you really get the feeling you’re in good hands.

Following research highlighting that one in four accidents involve a side-on collision and that 20% of child fatalities are as a result of side impacts, Britax has really invested in improving the side-impact protection offered by its car seats. In February 2011, Britax’s latest innovation, Side Impact Cushion Technology (or SICT), was added to the already highly successful Britax KIDFIX seat.

As Group 2/3 car seats, the Britax KID offerings are suitable from about 4 years to 12 years (specifically, 15kg to 36kg). There are three models in the KID range: the KID (£119.99), the KID plus and the KIDFIX (£169.99), which all now feature SICT.

There are four fabric options - Jet (black), Olivia (red and back), David (lime and black) and Elena (pink and black) - and they’re available from stockists throughout the UK.

What we love

The big selling point here is SICT - the sides of the car seat have air-filled, energy managed cushions that reduce side impact (in the event of a collision) by over 25% for the child in the seat. They also protect the adjacent passengers. The cushions are placed on the outer shell of the seat, and therefore don’t compromise your child’s comfort. They also don’t deploy (like airbags) on impact, which means the car seat is maintenance-free. SICT works by absorbing the impact, in the event of an accident, expelling the air through strategically placed vents. It’s scientific stuff, but it essentially means increased protection for your child’s head, neck and body.

The KIDFIX SICT model has integrated ISOFIX and is approved for two different methods of installation. One is Semi Universal, where you can additionally fasten the car seat into the ISOFIX fastening points of your vehicle - this can only be used on specific cars). The other is the Universal mode, which uses your vehicle’s 3-point seatbelt - this will fit most, but not all, vehicles. You can find out f your car’s suitable on Britax’s own website.

The Britax KIDFIX SICT car seat also features an adjustable headrest and backrest, with 11 positions, three-stage width adjustment and seat belt guide, so you can alter the seat as your child grows.

The Britax KIDFIX SICT is easy to adjust and fit, and when using ISOFIX it also has multi-recline positions for snoozing.

The seat itself is cushioned for a comfy and cosy fit and the cover is removable and washable. Additional accessories you can opt for include a drinks holder, spare seat cover, summer towelling cover and a keep-cool cover (which absorbs excess heat), ideal for keeping your child comfortable on long, summer journeys.

What to watch out for

There are a couple of downsides to the Britax KIDFIX SICT. Firstly, it’s heavy (8.9kg), which isn’t ideal if you want a portable seat to swap between cars.

The SICT means that it’s rather bulky too, which could limit your backseat passengers, depending on the size of your car.

At £169.99, it isn’t cheap. On the plus side, it will last a long time and you really can’t put a price on peace of mind when it comes to safety.

Who is the Britax KIDFIX SICT car seat best for?

Families who take long road trips, especially during the warmer months.

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MadeForMums

A top seat from a big brand, Britax has considered all the accident statistics to design a super-safe seat. However, the Britax KIDFIX SICT car seat is heavy, bulky and a bit on the pricey side, which could put some parents off, however safety is the key reason for these things.

Product Specifications

Product
BrandBritax
ModelKIDFIX SICT car seat
Price£169.99
Suitable for
Child age (approx)4 years to 12 years
Dimensions & Weight
Weight8.9kg
Features
Car seat installationIsofix base
Removeable cover for washingYes
Side crash protectionYes
Recline positionsMulti-position
Height adjustible headrestYes
Accessories
Optional extrasDrink holder,spare cover,summer cover,keep cool cove
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