Axkid Minikid 4 Max car seat review

The Axkid Minikid 4 Max is an extended rear-facing car seat designed for children up to 36kg or 125cm, which is around 6 to 7 years old. Unlike many toddler car seats, it has no forward-facing option, instead focusing on keeping children rear-facing for as long as possible.

It features a 3-step recline, CompactFit design, automatic tether straps and an adjustable headrest and harness, and has passed the Swedish Plus Test — widely regarded as one of the most stringent car seat crash tests.

Magnetic shoulder pads make it easier to get little ones into the seat easily and the breathable fabric cover comes in multiple colourways inspired by Scandinavian nature.

At £465, the Axkid Minikid 4 Max sits at the premium end of the extended rear-facing car seat market, costing more than many toddler car seats but offering a longer rear-facing usage window up to 36kg or 125cm.

How easy is the Axkid Minikid 4 Max to install?

Installing the Axkid Minikid 4 Max was straightforward, even though it doesn’t use ISOFIX. The seat is designed for installation via the vehicle seatbelt and lower tethers. In my car, I used the additional loop tethers provided by Axkid, attaching them to the base of the front passenger seat before securing the tethers from the back of the seat.

Initially, it took a while to determine which tethering system I needed to use, but the process was simple once I had watched the instructional videos (accessible via QR codes included in the box). The car seat itself also has instructional images at each point of installation, which are particularly helpful if transferring the seat into another car.

Once the lower tethers were in place, full installation didn’t take long.

The seatbelt routing was very intuitive and felt secure. The automatic retractable tether straps are a nice addition to this model as they tighten as you position the seat into the car, so you feel confident it is installed correctly.

Adjusting the support leg was easy to get right the first time, helping to stabilise the seat further. Compared with ISOFIX seats on a fixed base, there was slightly more movement, but the seatbelt and tether installation still felt secure.

Axkid customer service also offers a great amount of support for anyone unsure about fit, so you can reach out to confirm the seat is installed correctly for your child.

How does it compare to similar car seats?

I’ve used several other car seats over the years for both of my daughters. My youngest had previously used the Nuna Pipa Next, which came with our travel system and she has now outgrown. I’ve also tried one of Ickle Bubba’s rotating car seats and the Joie i-Bold, which is forward-facing.

Compared with these, the Axkid Minikid 4 Max immediately felt more substantial in terms of build quality and design detail. The materials feel premium, and there are little touches that make life easier for parents, such as magnetic harness holders, which keep straps out of the way when getting children in and out of the seat, and the automatic retractable tether straps, which simplify installation and adjustment.

In terms of setup, it differs from ISOFIX or rotating-base seats I’ve used before. There’s no base or click-in system, instead the Minikid 4 Max relies on the seatbelt plus lower tethers for installation. Compared with rotating seats, it’s slightly trickier to get children in and out, but for me, the trade-off is the ability to keep children rear-facing up to 36kg, which outweighed the inconvenience.

Comfort-wise, the seat is supportive and practical for both girls. Being able to adjust the recline 3 steps and headrest to 13 different positions shows the versatility of the seat, and there is additional 3-part inlay cushioning that can be taken out of the seat as the child gets bigger.

The harness buckle was a little fiddly to bring together and clip in. However, once fastened, it felt secure, and neither child seemed able to slip their arms out or undo it during testing — as toddlers often try to do!

How well does it fit in your car?

I installed the Axkid Minikid 4 Max in our 2021 Audi Q4 e-tron, and I was pleased with how well it fit. One of my initial concerns was how much space it would take up front-to-back, especially with my older daughter in it. However, once I adjusted the seat’s recline to the more upward position, it didn’t encroach on the front passenger seat as much as I thought it might. There was still ample room for an adult to sit comfortably in the front (though the Audi Q4 e-tron is a spacious car, so families with smaller vehicles should check the compatibility list before buying).

There is a comprehensive list of compatible cars that you can check online, and this is included with the car seat packaging, which is really helpful for ensuring a proper fit before purchasing.

Another aspect to be aware of is that when using the loop tethers, depending on how they are fitted, you are not able to adjust the front seat, and they take up space in the footwell beneath the car seat.

One of the key features of the Minikid 4 Max is the surprisingly slim CompactFit design — Axkid says it takes up 15cm less space than many other similar rear-facing seats, while still providing ample space for the child to sit comfortably. It was a great fit for my 3 year old and I can see there is plenty of room for my 16 month old to continue using it for years to come.

How comfortable is the Axkid Minikid 4 Max for a 1 year old?

My youngest looked comfortable and content in the seat while still feeling well supported.

After the initial fit, I removed the cushion inlay to give her some more room and it is a huge improvement for her from her previous seat which she has now outgrown.

I felt confident that she was secure in the harness and there is plenty of room for her to grow with the seat as she gets older, so I can see her being in this model for some time.

There is enough head support and recline for naps and longer journeys, though she spends most of her time enjoying looking out the window or interacting with her sister in the seat across from her!

How comfortable is it for a 3 year old?

The Axkid Minikid 4 Max continues to work well for my 3 year old.

The headrest is easy to adjust, and I simply repositioned the seat away from the back of the vehicle seat to accommodate some more leg room for her.

There is a visual on the side of the car seat which demonstrates where you can move the seat while still being correctly positioned.

My toddler could climb in and out of the seat herself, and I buckled her in. I have found the choice of car seats very limited for my daughter who is particularly tall for her age, but is still young enough to need a proper harness, so I have been impressed by this model.

How adjustable is the Axkid Minikid 4 Max?

The headrest and harness are simple to adjust. The headrest has a lever behind it, which moves smoothly up and down, while the harness can be loosened from the front of the seat.

Switching the seat between my two children took a little more effort because I needed to reposition the seat to allow extra legroom, which meant redoing the seatbelt clamp and tethers. Once you know how to do this, though, it doesn’t take long.

Both my girls are around the 99th centile for weight and height, so I think they may outgrow the seat before the age of 7, but I can imagine my eldest would be comfortable in the seat for another year or so, and my youngest would definitely get good use out of it for the next few years.

How easy is it to use day to day?

In terms of daily use, the Axkid Minikid 4 Max is a practical purchase. Strapping children in and out is straightforward, and the magnetic harness holders are a real help, keeping the straps out of the way while your child settles into the seat. The harness has comfortable shoulder pads, which even have instructions printed inside, although the whole system is very intuitive.

The buckle feels very secure, though it's smaller than my previous seat so a little fiddly to bring together and clip in.

I wouldn’t have an issue moving this seat between cars, provided the tether system was set up correctly. Fortunately the Minikid 4 Max comes with additional loop tethers if the car does not have these already. The compatible vehicle list also shows you where in the car the seat would be able to be fitted, whether it be in the front, rear sides or rear middle of the car.

What safety features does the Axkid Minikid 4 Max have?

The most impressive features of the Axkid Minikid 4 Max are its safety credentials and build quality.

The seat itself feels sturdy and has a high-quality breathable fabric cover that can be machine washed and is fastened to the seat with easy-to-use poppers. The side wings and headrest are well-padded and solid, as is the additional side-impact protection.

For me, the biggest selling point of this model is the Swedish Plus Test rating. Knowing that the seat has passed one of the most stringent safety tests for children of varying sizes gives peace of mind, especially for extended rear-facing travel with bigger children.

How easy is it to clean the car seat?

Inevitably, with two snack-loving kids in the car it gets messy! Fortunately the Axkid Minikid 4 Max is easy to wipe clean, but most importantly has a removable cover that can be machine washed, and placed back on with popper fastenings. As with most car seats, crumbs tended to collect around the buckle area, but they were easy to vacuum out.

What’s in the box?

• Car seat
• Loop tethers
• Side Impact Protection
• Inlay padding
• Instruction manual

How sustainable is the Axkid Minikid 4 Max?

The car seat came in minimal packaging: an L-shaped cardboard box and plastic covering, with the loop tethers, side-impact protection and instruction manual supplied in a plastic bag.

Axkid states that the car seat cover is made from recyclable fabric, and it is clear from the look and feel of this model that it is built to last for many years.

Is the Axkid Minikid 4 Max worth the money?

At £465, the Axkid Minikid 4 Max sits at the premium end of the extended rear-facing car seat market, but the price is reflected in its long usage window, Swedish Plus Test approval and overall build quality.

Axkid states that the seat comes with a two-year warranty covering manufacturing defects, and it is designed to last until around age 6 or 7. Compared with other seats I’ve tried, it feels very high quality, although there is slightly more movement than with seats on a fixed ISOFIX base.

It may feel best value if bought soon after your baby outgrows their infant carrier, giving several years of use through the toddler and early school years.

Where can I buy the Axkid Minikid 4 Max?

It is available from Axkid, Natural Baby Shower, Kiddies Kingdom

MadeForMums verdict:

I would recommend the Axkid Minikid 4 Max to families who want to keep their child rear-facing for longer, particularly those with taller or heavier toddlers who may outgrow standard Group 1-style seats sooner than expected.

It is a premium investment, and installation takes a little more thought than an ISOFIX swivel seat, but the extended rear-facing capacity, Swedish Plus Test approval and thoughtful adjustability make it a strong option for parents prioritising long-term rear-facing travel.

Read more:

• Best toddler car seats
• Best rotating car seats
• Best car seats from birth