Cybex Anoris T2 i-Size Plus car seat review

The Cybex Anoris T2 is a forward-facing i-Size car seat designed for children from 76cm to 115cm (approximately 15 months to seven years). Unlike most seats in this category, it replaces a traditional harness with an impact shield containing an integrated full-body airbag, designed to reduce forces on the child's head and neck in a frontal collision.

Approved under the latest UN R129 (i-Size) safety standard, the Anoris T2 takes a different approach by focusing on improving forward-facing protection rather than extended rear-facing travel. Cybex states that its airbag system can offer around 50% more protection in a frontal collision compared with conventional forward-facing seats in its internal testing.

At £639.95, the Anoris T2 sits at the premium end of the market, but does include the innovative airbag, as well as ISOFIX installation, a load-leg, multi-position recline and built-in safety indicator to confirm correct setup.

How easy is the Cybex Anoris T2 to install?

There are no instructions in the box so users have to use the QR code for a PDF copy, which is a lot of small text to read on a phone (you need to scroll through a few pages before finding instructions in English). I would recommend visiting the Cybex website for video tutorials, which are clearer than the written instructions.

Installation was generally straightforward. The car seat is not too bulky (71 x 44 x 75cm) or heavy to lift (12kg), and easy to slot into the ISOFIX bars. Sliding ISOFIX connectors on each side turn green when engaged, but I still needed to push firmly until they clicked fully into place.

You need to remove the battery strip before installation so the safety indicator panel activates. This is a visual safety indicator panel which flashes red and emits a gentle beep until both the ISOFIX points and load-leg are adjusted correctly.

There is a small technique to positioning the load-leg: use the push button to fully extend it, then hold the base in place (I found this easier with my foot) while lifting up the top of the leg until you hear a click and the screen flashes green. This took a couple of tries to get it right, so it was reassuring to see the green light to know I had done this correctly.

Getting the hang of this, installation and set up took about 15 minutes. Loading children into the car is then very swift, because there are no inserts to adjust, just the headrest (a little fiddly with the sun canopy getting in the way of the car headrest), and one strap, one click for the impact shield belt, which can be adjusted with a central push button towards or away from the child, as needed.

As long as it has ISOFIX, I would have no problem installing the car seat in a different car.

How does the Cybex Anoris T2 differ from the original Anoris T?

The Anoris T2 builds on the original Cybex Anoris T model, which launched in 2021 as the first car seat to feature a fully integrated full-body airbag designed for forward-facing travel.

While the core safety concept remains the same, the T2 introduces a slightly different design, with a hard plastic strap across the front of the impact shield (rather than a visible soft one) and a retractable sun canopy, which is removable.

The T2 impact shield adjusts with a single press button – an upgrade from the dual side-press lever at the front of the T1.

Is the Cybex Anoris T2 easy to use every day?

It is a spacious seat without any harnesses poking through, so it was very easy for my four-year-old to climb in and out, and to sit my 20-month-old in.

Initially, though, both children were reluctant to have the impact shield pulled across them because it is so different to what they are used to, and it is very bulky. My toddler was upset on the first go, wriggling and resisting, perhaps because there was a feeling of being trapped under the impact shield, which looks very big on top of him. But after the second go, both children got used to it very quickly and learned to raise their arms before I pulled the shield across to click it in.

It then became a novelty, and my oldest was keen to claim the seat on subsequent journeys.

How adjustable is the Cybex Anoris T2?

Although the seat doesn’t rotate, the spacious design, slim sides and one-belt impact shield system help make everyday use quick and straightforward. Securing a child takes just one movement and one click, like a regular seatbelt, so it’s easy to switch between children of different ages during daily journeys.

The main adjustment needed between children is the headrest height. This is controlled by a pull lever underneath the retractable sun canopy, but I found both the canopy and the car’s own headrest sometimes got in the way, making it slightly awkward to adjust.

The impact shield strap can also be extended or retracted using a central button to suit the size of the child. It takes a little practice to judge how close the shield should sit, as there isn’t a clear indicator showing when it is correctly positioned.

The recline function is smooth and easy to adjust, even from the passenger seat, and provides good support for toddlers in particular.

Overall, because there are so few adjustments required beyond the headrest and impact shield strap, it’s straightforward to switch between children as they grow.

Is the Cybex Anoris T2 comfortable for longer journeys?

My hesitation on using this car seat for longer journeys is that the bulk of the impact shield does slightly restrict natural arm positioning for children, particularly when they're asleep or playing with toys.

The sides of the impact shield are firm plastic, which dug slightly into my toddler’s arms when he was napping.
Also, warning: because of the size and position of the impact shield, my toddler took to biting it when he was awake (he is teething) and this was difficult to prevent while on the move. I was initially concerned about this because the airbag is housed inside the shield, but the outer structure is designed so the airbag mechanism is protected within the shield structure and not affected by normal child behaviour such as chewing.

How comfortable is the Anoris T2 for children?

My toddler looked a little swamped under the impact shield, which meant that his arms were quite high over the top – but he had plenty of leg room and room in the seat and was comfortable enough to nap. The headrest provided good side support and the recline was smooth – I was able to adjust this easily from the passenger seat – and provides a good recline. This is worth noting if you have a restless or teething toddler.

My oldest had plenty of legroom in front and either side of the load-leg. It is a deep seat, so his knees were not quite over the edge, but there was lots of padding on the front if his legs were down. He sometimes had his feet against the driver seat in front. For a larger child, I would say the recline doesn’t make too much of a difference, as you can’t push it back the whole way because of the lack of leg room.

He was in the car seat for a few one hour to two-hour plus journey and did nap for some of this time. He repeated a few times on different journeys that he was getting hot under the impact shield – although the materials are breathable, it is like having a big cushion across their front, so I am not altogether surprised by this.

Arm movement is also a bit restricted because of the shape and protrusion of the shield, so playing with toys is more awkward. Some parents may also feel unsure about the integrated airbag design compared with more familiar harness seats, particularly on longer journeys when children are holding toys or comforters, although the shield is engineered to deploy safely around the child.

How did children respond to the Cybex Anoris T2 impact shield?

My toddler was initially fine being placed in the seat but started crying when I tried to pull the shield across and buckle it in. He wriggled and generally protested, not knowing where to put his arms, and we had to come out and start again. A tip would be to make sure that the impact shield belt is fully extended before strapping a child in, then adjusting afterwards once they are comfortable.

My four-year-old ended up testing it first, finding the difference a novelty. He was happy to be clicked in.

Once they were used to it, they used it daily, without fuss getting in, although the toddler did take to biting the impact shield.

How does the Anoris T2 airbag impact shield work?

I had never seen this design before and because the integrated airbag system is unusual compared with traditional harness seats, I spent some time researching this feature to find out exactly how the airbag would inflate in the event of a collision.

The airbag is designed to deploy in milliseconds in a frontal collision, distributing crash forces across the child’s upper body via the impact shield. Although the shield looks bulky at first, it is engineered to contain the airbag safely within its structure and reduce forward head movement compared with standard forward-facing seats.

Does the Cybex Anoris T2 impact shield feel secure for younger children?

At first, I did wonder how the airbag would interact with a child who was playing with a toy or cuddling a blanket, simply because the design is so different from a traditional harness seat. However, the system is designed to deploy extremely safely and quickly within the shield structure.

With my toddler, the impact shield felt quite large across his body, and there was more visible space underneath it than with my older child. Although impact shields can feel less restrictive than harnesses at first, they are designed to hold the child securely when positioned correctly.

Personally, I felt more confident using the seat with an older child, who filled the space more fully and had better control over their arm position during journeys.

What other safety features does the Cybex Anoris T2 have?

Alongside the airbag impact shield, the Anoris T2 also includes extending side-impact protection wings designed to help absorb energy in a side collision. These automatically deploy when the seat is unpacked, although they can be slightly fiddly to fold back in if needed.

Structurally, the seat felt solid and reassuringly well built despite being lighter than some comparable models.

How comfortable and well-made is the Cybex Anoris T2?

The fabrics are noticeably porous, and the breathability of the car seat is one of its selling points. Despite hot weather and although my eldest complained about feeling hot under the impact shield at the front, neither of my boys were sweaty after napping in the seat, which they always are when napping in warm weather in other seats.

The rest of the structure is sturdy, and a kilogram or so lighter than comparable models, but I didn't notice a clear difference in build quality compared with some lower-priced seats. The plastic scuffed, scratched, and attracted dust just as easily.

The seat was spacious and the headrest well-padded but without inserts the seat is one-size-fits-all-ages. I personally felt it suited slightly older toddlers and children better than those at the minimum 15-month entry point.

How well does the Cybex Anoris T2 fit in your car?

The car seat takes up less room than other models we have used, particularly rotating ones, which require a wider base.

Apart from the side-impact wing, the seat does not overhang its position in the car and is slimmer than similar models in this way, so a passenger could comfortably sit next to it in the back. I could see it fitting a smaller family car as long as the vehicle has ISOFIX.

Is the Cybex Anoris T2 easy to clean?

The outer seat fabric picked up dust and some marks quite easily, but was also easily hoovered and wipeable.

The fabric covers are also removable and machine washable at 30 degrees. This is done by first removing the sun canopy by undoing the poppers, unhooking the fabric from the headrest pull lever, and detaching it with push buttons on either side of the headrest.

The headrest fabric can then be unpoppered from the back, pulled up and over the headrest. The main fabric cover can then be unzipped from the back, side poppers detached, and pulled over in one piece.

What’s in the box?

• One Cybex Anoris T2, batteries included
• Integrated ISOFIX base
• Impact shield with integrated airbag
• Detachable sun canopy
• User guide (quick-start guide with QR code)

How durable is the Cybex Anoris T2?

Overall, I would say that the car seat would last as well as other seats designed for this age range (15 months to seven years old) and the in-built screen (if batteries are regularly replaced) would ensure consistently safe installation.

How sustainable is the Cybex Anoris T2?

I couldn’t find any indication that the fabrics are made from recycled or eco-conscious materials.

The item arrived in one large cardboard box, with two cardboard supports, wrapped in a large plastic bag, which can be recycled at some supermarkets.

Is it worth the money?

The Anoris design is based on Cybex’s research into forward-facing frontal collisions, with the impact shield and integrated airbag intended to help reduce forces on the child’s head and neck in those situations. It’s also easy to install, thanks to clear safety indicators, and feels spacious and comfortable, with a modern, almost futuristic look.

However, it is right at the top end of the market, retailing at more than £600 – the differences, including in appearance and quality, between this car seat and other similar models (including within the Cybex range) are not significant enough, in my view, to justify the price.

Because of this, and because of the overall bulk of the impact shield, and the unfamiliarity of the integrated airbag design compared with traditional harness seats, the Cybex would not be my first choice of car seat if I were looking to buy or upgrade for my family.

Where can I buy the Cybex Anoris T2 car seat?

It is available from Cybex, Mamas&Papas, John Lewis, Kiddies Kingdom, Natural Baby Shower

MadeForMums verdict:

If the budget allows, and you are comfortable with the use of an airbag, overall, I would recommend the Anoris T2 to families who are making frequent shorter journeys with toddlers and preschoolers.

The spacious seat and one-click impact shield makes it quick and easy to switch between children of different ages, which is a real advantage for busy families.

The Cybex Anoris T2 is also easy to install, with reassuring simple-to-understand safety checks on the built-in screen.

The seat may, however, be less comfortable for children, particularly in the younger age-range, on longer journeys because of the bulk of the impact shield.

Read more:

• Best toddler car seats
• Cybex Solution T i-Fix car seat review
• BeSafe Stretch car seat review