Cybex Pallas G i-Size car seat review

Buy The Cybex Pallas G i-Size car seat: Mamas & Papas, Uber Kids and Halfords

Tested by

Natalie, journalist and mum to 2 children, tested the Cybex Pallas G i-Size car seat with her 5-year-old and 17-month-old, in both a Mini Cooper and a Citroen Picasso.

What were your first impressions of the Cybex Pallas G i-Size?

The seat was all in one piece when I took it out of the box – no assembly required – and the Autumn Gold colour was bright but stylish.

The fabrics felt smooth to the touch and the cushioned sides looked plump – it definitely appeared to be a premium product.

I couldn’t find an instruction manual in the box though, and it was only when I watched the Cybex how-to video later that I realised it was hidden in a pocket underneath the seat cover, which seems a bit unnecessary!

How easy is the Cybex Pallas G i-Size to install?

Very. It uses standard Isofix connectors that can be extended with little effort and slide quickly into place.

There is also a top tether, which needs to be used when using the impact shield, that just clips into place at the back of the seat you’ve placed the car seat on. The whole process takes about a minute and the coloured indicators – that turn green when everything is safely clicked into place – give you extra peace of mind.

Reviews on the Halfords website also commented on how easy it was to install and use, getting thumbs up across the board for being straightforward and fuss-free.

How do you install the Pallas G car seat?

The Pallas G seat is an improvement on the earlier Cybex B-Fix seat, in that it features the commonly used “rigid arms” that slide to connect to a car’s Isofix points.

Simply extend the Isofix arms by gently pressing a button on each one and then sliding them out. The arms are then pushed into the Isofix slots on your car, until a click is heard on both sides and the indicator for each side turns green.

A top tether strap is then hung over the back of the car seat (not the headrest) and a carabiner clip is hooked onto the tether slot – this could be on the back of the seat, the ceiling or floor of the boot. The strap needs to be pulled tight until a green indicator appears above the carabiner.

What are the key safety features of the Cybex Pallas G car seat?

There are integrated, side-impact protection panels, that protect the seat from side-on collisions and the headrest has been designed to keep the child’s head cushioned and in the correct position in the event of an accident. There’s also the innovative impact shield, in place of a traditional harness.

That being said, the seat is not rear-facing – which would be the safest position of all in a head-on collision. If extended rear-facing is an important consideration for you, you might like to look at the Diono Radian 5 (£189.99) which offers the chance to sit rear facing from birth until around 5 or even 6, depending on weight.

What does the Cybex Pallas G impact shield do?

The stand-out safety feature of the car seat is the impact shield, the use of which, Cybex says, reduces the risk of neck injuries by 40% in a head-on collision. It essentially looks like a very padded seat belt, and works by cushioning the whole chest on impact, therefore preventing the upper spine and neck being thrown forward as they would be if only wearing a regular car seat belt or child’s harness.

The wide, chunky cushion rests on top of the seat sides, ensuring that it remains high up on the child’s chest upon impact, preventing the neck from being thrown forward. The force of the impact is distributed across the shield in a similar way to a passenger airbag. It should be used only by younger children up to 21kg in weight or 105cm in height. After this it is swapped for the car seat belt.

One big plus is that my toddler has wriggled out of seat harnesses a couple of times before now, and there is no way she could do that with the impact shield. This is something backed up by a review on the John Lewis website, from a parent who said it made a huge difference swapping to this after her 3-year-old kept escaping his 5-point harness.

How comfortable did your 5-year-old find the car seat?

My 5-year-old daughter is a slim, 106cm-tall child, and was comfortable sitting with both the impact shield and the car seatbelt, though we would follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use the car seat belt rather than the shield when on the road.

I thought she might find the impact shield cumbersome, but she liked it as she could rest her books on it. It wasn’t as easy for her to draw pictures and things above it, but that might only really be a problem on long car journeys and wouldn’t apply to children of her age/height who should be using the car’s own seatbelt (recommended from 105cm and upwards) anyway.

She liked the padding and the headrest especially, which seemed to cocoon her head much better than any other seat we have tried, and although she doesn’t sleep much in the car any more, it felt comfortable enough to doze in.

Was the Pallas G i-Size comfortable for your toddler?

My younger daughter, who is 17-months-old, did not get on so well with the impact shield. It is recommended for toddlers of 76cm or above, and she is only a couple of cms taller than this. Occasionally, when tired especially, she would hug it and not fuss, but most of the time she would try and wave it away and didn’t want it on her lap.

It is bulky and does cover most of her upper torso so I can see why she might resist it. It didn’t mean we couldn’t use the seat, as she would settle once we were on our way, but she definitely seemed to find a normal harness more agreeable.

This being said, the 5-star reviews from John Lewis parents raved about how comfortable the seat and impact shield were for their toddlers, so it all comes down to personal preference.

How easy is it to strap your baby in using the impact shield?

Incredibly quick and easy. The shield is secured using a lap seatbelt that comes attached to the shield and can be snapped into the car’s own seat buckles on either side.

The shield is supposed to be snug and the belt across it is easily tightened by pulling lightly on the strap. It is the most convenient buckle system I have come across in a car seat, even easier than using the car’s own seatbelt, which can get twisted and requires more leaning over to click in.

How do you use the seatbelt with the Cybex Pallas G i-Size car seat?

Securing the car seat via the car’s own seatbelt (for older children) was quite an easy process too. It requires threading the belt under the armrest – guided by a coloured marker – and into the car’s buckle, then sliding the top end of the belt under a small plastic arm beneath the headrest.

If the seat is not taken out of the car, the top end of the belt can be left in position.

I found threading the belt into its position under the headrest easier to do than in other seats I have used, as it was easy to slide the belt under the small arm. The seat belt seemed to sit flat too; I have not seen it twist as it does sometimes with other seats.

How robust does the car seat feel?

The seat feels robust and, because the elements involved in installing the seat and in strapping the child in are very simple, I imagine it would last a long time. The materials seem to be high quality – after all, this is from Cybex’s Gold range, which is more premium than its Silver range.

Does the Cybex Pallas G car seat recline?

It does. The seat’s one-handed recline is swift and effortless to operate, but it is fairly slight. However, it’s not always the case that a seat for older children will recline at all though, so it’s handy that it does.

The lever to recline is found at the base of the seat, in between the child’s legs. It’s obvious to locate and the base of the seat slides smoothly forward. It works by raising the thighs up at a slight angle which naturally makes the head tilt back.

How good is the headrest?

Fantastic – especially because you can also tilt the headrest back into three positions, which keeps the head from lolling forward when your baby or child naps.

The wings of the headrest are well-angled, soft and quite close to the head, so my eldest could comfortably rest her head on them.

The headrest extends by squeezing and moving up a lever at the back of the chair, which is a little tricky to access when the seat is in position, but manageable.

How easy is the Cybex Pallas G to clean?

Food stains – even dreaded blackcurrant juice – were wiped off easily with a damp cloth, as long they were not left for a long period. The cover can be removed but only washed at 30 degrees or less. The bright colour of Autumn Gold (there are many other shades available) seems good for masking general dirt!

How easy did you find the car seat to carry around?

The seat weighs 8.9kg (significantly heavier than the super-lightweight Joie Elevate at 5.47kg, but much lighter than the hefty Maxi-Cosi Titan Pro at 12.55kg), which I think feels very light for a seat that fits children of up to 12 years-of-age, and you would have no problem lifting it between cars regularly.

Although it is quite wide around the shoulders, it’s fairly compact from front to back and so not too difficult to get through a car door, though the integrated side impact protectors make this a little harder. They can be removed but you need to take off their covers first to find the release button.

Is the Cybex Pallas G big enough for a growing child?

Absolutely. I can easily see the seat lasting a child of up to 12 years-of-age, as the headrest extends well, the car seat belt strap is simple to use and fits well.

What’s in the box?

• Car seat
• Impact shield
• Instruction manual

What are the additional accessories that you can buy?

• Summer seat cover made from bamboo cellulose (£49.99)
• Cup holder (£24.95)
• Isofix connect guides (£9.95)

What would you have wanted to know before purchasing the car seat?

That the instruction manual is hidden in the seat!

Who would the Pallas G car seat be most useful for?

I’d say it would be most useful for stylish families with more than one child, ranging from a toddler up to a 12-year-old, and for those who want the added protection of an impact shield for younger children (or struggle to keep their little ones from wriggling out of traditional harnesses), but who don’t mind not having a rear-facing seat.

It would also suit families who have more than one car, perhaps, who like being able to move the seat between cars easily.

Is this car seat worth the money?

Yes. It’s at the pricier end of the market, but given the increased safety offered by the impact shield, the premium materials, the contemporary looks and the big age range covered by the seat, I think it is great value for money.

How does it compare to similar Group 1/2/3 car seats?

Where can I buy the Cybex Pallas G i-Size car seat?

You can buy it from, Mamas & Papas, Uber Kids and Halfords.

MadeForMums verdict:

The Cybex Pallas G i-Size car seat is a great choice for parents looking for a light, everyday seat that incorporates cutting-edge safety features and is simple to use. It will grow with your child for around 10 years and is one of the easiest seats to get a child in and out of on the market. The minutes saved faffing around when making your child secure and the extra peace of mind that comes with using the impact shield make this a great buy.