GB Everna-Fix car seat review

With an RRP of £249.95, it is at the higher end of the price tag scale for this group of car seats compared to similar models like the Ickle Bubba Solar, (£129 on Amazon) or the Cosatto Hubbub (£185 on Amazon). However as described by GB it's designed to 'evolve' with your child with functional features for children at both ends of the age group, so would be worth the investment if you're looking for a sturdy forward facing seat.

Tested by:

Anna is mother to a 3- and a 6-year-old and tested the car seat with both. She put it through its paces during her daily school runs and errands.

What were your first impressions of the GB Gold Everna-Fix?

Our first impressions of the GB Everna-Fix were very good. We loved the snazzy Laguna Blue colour we received, and the fabric felt very soft and smooth, quite different from other car seats we have tested.

What age is this Group 1/2/3 car seat suitable for?

This car seat is designed and approved for kids from 9-36kg, which is approximately 9 months to 12 years. However if you want to keep your child rearward facing for as long as possible, keep in mind that it's forward facing only.

My 3.5-year-old is still in his extended rear-facing Axkid seat, so it did feel strange putting him in a forward-facing one. Having said that however, the Everna-Fix felt very secure and appropriate for his age with sturdy side impact protection and a good amount of padding . In addition, it is great that this car seat lasts for a fair number of years, as it converts into a super safe high-backed booster.

How easy was the GB Gold Everna-Fix car seat to assemble?

There was no assembly required with this car seat.

How does the GB Gold Everna-Fix install in the car?

It installs in the car with its Isofix connectors as well as the anchor tether that you need to connect to special anchor points in the boot of your car. Keep in mind that you can't install it just using the seatbelt, so you'll need Isofix connector points in your car.

It is very easy to install using the instructions tucked away in a compartment within the seat, and has lots of safety guides to make sure you install it correctly. These include green light indicators for the Isofix connectors and a beeping sound that is activated if you haven’t tightened the anchor tether enough. In fact one Argos customer how it took "just 20 seconds to fit" on their first attempt.

I also like that the back of the car seat adjusts to the angle of your car’s seat back, which also adds to the security of installation.

Unfortunately, however, our car’s anchor points are annoyingly positioned, which is the only problem we had – this is not the fault of the car seat, but it made installation harder.

Does the car seat feel secure once in place?

Yes, the GB Everna-Fix feels super secure. The combination of Isofix and tether hold it firmly in place - there's no budging here.

What are the main safety features of the GB Gold Everna Fix? Does it comply with new i-Size regulations?

The GB Everna-Fix has loads of safety features - one being a clever mechanism that prevents you from using the harness for the wrong age. For older kids, you can’t adjust the headrest correctly if the harness is still in use, so you’re forced to tuck it away to raise the headrest.

It also has extra side impact protection that you pop out on the side of the car door and fantastic energy-reduction technology, which diffuses the forces acting on your child’s neck in the event of a front impact collision. The adjustable headrest, which also reclines, is great as it helps keep your child’s head in the right position.

The top tether also adds extra safety as it ensures the seat cannot budge.

It is not tested to i-Size regulations, but to the previous UN R44/04 regulations. However, the Everna Fix was crowned best in class in its group last year by the German automobile club ADAC, which has stringent testing criteria particularly in front- and side-impact collision scenarios. This means I’m more than happy with the Everna-Fix’s safety credentials.

How is strapping your child into the GB Gold Everna-Fix?

I really liked the five-point harness, it was soft and easy to use.

How easy is it to remove the harness when your child outgrows it?

This is what I appreciated most about this car seat - it is super easy to remove and tuck the harness away when the child grows. It is so straightforward, I could easily swap between my two kids if I needed to.

The good thing is that you don’t need to remove the straps, you just tuck them away in special recesses, so there’s no chance of accidentally mislaying anything or not threading it back correctly. It made such a huge difference to have this process sorted out – I have reviewed car seats previously where this was a real headache.

How comfortable is the GB Gold Everna Fix for your child?

Both my children loved the comfort of this seat. There is something about the cool, smooth fabric, and cushioning in all the right places that makes it particularly comfortable for little ones.

The various recline functions are also great as it’s more adaptable and can provide a better fit for different sized children.

Does the GB Gold Everna-Fix have different seat positions?

It has a recline function that allows you to make the seat more comfortable for your child if they want to sleep.

Its headrest also has a patented reclining function that supports your child’s head better when they fall asleep so that it doesn’t flop forward. This is great, as it means your child is safer in transit.

Is the GB Gold Everna-Fix car seat easy to get in and out of the car and swap between cars?

The car seat is relatively compact however, since it has Isofix connectors it will always have a certain weight. I wouldn’t recommend it if you need to swap between cars a lot, as it’s quite difficuly to carry.

It is relatively easy to get in and out of cars, but the tether would drive me nuts if I had to swap between cars a lot. I would probably disable the beeping, if I had to do that.

How heavy is the car seat – would you take it travelling with you?

At 12.4kg, the GB Everna Fix is not that light so isn't the easiest to transfer between cars - an opinion shared by many Argos customers.

For this reason I would not take it travelling. For older age children, I would use a lightweight booster instead, and for younger children, I would use a seat without a tether – you never know how your hire car boot might look, so I wouldn’t want to risk it.

Will your children fit in the GB Gold Everna-Fix until they are approximately 12 years?

My older child is very tall, so I am not sure whether it will last that long, but considering how well it adapts, it should last a number of years.

It certainly feels safe enough to support your child until they are big enough to only require the car’s seat belt.

What do you think of the design of the car seat?

I really like the design. The GB Everna-Fix has lots of little details that make its use easier, and the seat safer like the extra cushioning. I also like the look and feel of it, it has some great colour options, which are all gorgeous.

Is the GB Everna Fix easy to clean?

Yes, I found it easy to clean. Small spills are easy to wipe away and you can also machine wash the covers at 30 degrees.

What feature do you like most about the GB Gold Everna-Fix car seat?

I love the combination of comfort and safety – both my kids instantly loved the feel of the seat, and never complained, even on longer trips.

What’s in the box?

In the box you'll find the car seat, instructions and plastic Isofix guides.

Are there any accessories needed or available for the Gb Gold Everna-Fix car seat?

You can buy a summer cover (£44.95) and a Cybex cup holder (£16.50) for this car seat.

What do you wish you had known before you bought the GB Gold Everna-Fix car seat?

That I can’t really use the tether properly in my car, as the anchor points are too awkward.

Is it good value?

The Gb Everna-Fix costs £249.95, and even though that is at the higher end of the spectrum, I would say the car seat deserves such a price tag. It has several safety features like the energy reduction technology and is so adaptable for different age groups, that it will serve you for many years.

Would you recommend the GB Gold Everna-Fix car seat?

Yes, I would definitely recommend this seat, for its comfort and safety features.

Where can I buy the GB Gold Everna-Fix?

It is available to buy from Amazon, Natural baby shower and Baby&Co

MadeForMums verdict

This super comfy and stylish car seat has some excellent safety features. It’s also really easy to use with safety guides during installation and would be great for families with more than one child, as they will get a lot of use out of it as their kids grow.

However I wouldn’t recommend it for those who need to swap between cars a lot and it may not suit everyone due to the seat’s bulkiness compared to those that only cater for just one age group.

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