Joie Sprint car seat review

The Joie Signature Sprint is an i-Size-compliant, rear-facing car seat designed to be used from birth up to around 12 months (40-75cm). Its standout feature is the integrated ISOFIX base, meaning there's no need to install a separate base in your car.

• Best baby car seats to use from birth

It features soft infant inserts for a snug fit from birth, an ergonomically designed carry handle for easy lifting, and clicks onto compatible Joie pushchairs to create a fuss-free travel system.

At £175, the car seat sits at the mid-to-high end of the infant car seat market. It's priced similarly to models like the Cybex Cloud T (£199.95) and below the Nuna PIPA Urbn (£300) which also offers baseless ISOFIX installation.

How easy is the Joie Sprint car seat to install?

Installation is extremely quick thanks to the integrated ISOFIX connectors. I simply had to align the connectors with the ISOFIX fixtures in my car, and push in until I heard a ‘click’. Once in place, indicators on each bar turned green to confirm the seat was installed correctly.

Compared with other ISOFIX car seats I've used, this felt straightforward and took just seconds to secure.

The instructions include both picture-led and written steps, and both felt clear, intuitive and easy to follow.

How comfortable is the Joie Sprint for a newborn?

The support for the Joie Sprint seemed very robust. I really liked the positioning the seat held my baby in. They felt upright without being too scrunched — something I pay close attention to as I like to ensure airways stay clear. Even without an additional recline feature, their head stayed upright and supported throughout.

My baby seemed comfortable in the seat at all times. We took the seat on a recent holiday where we often had longer drives from place to place and day trips, and they would often nap in this seat without objection. A real win!

The headrest offers a reassuring buffer around the seat and adds extra comfort. The harness also feels padded enough not to bother baby, while still feeling secure. The side facing the newborn has a fabric with additional grip to it, which is a nice touch.

What are the key safety features of the Joie Sprint?

The Sprint uses a three-point harness and Joie's ‘Tri-Protect’ headrest that offers three layers of impact protection. It meets R129 standards and achieved a strong ADAC score of 1.8 ("good").

The straps adjusted easily to get the correct fit for baby – there's an adjustment button at the back of the seat that you press while pulling the shoulder harnesses forward to loosen them. This was slightly tricky to find though, and I needed to double check the manual for its whereabouts, before I could make adjustments.

The bottom of the seat is constructed with a hardened, shell-like material, and the newborn insert offers additional protection.

How easy is the Joie Sprint to use day to day?

Clipping the seat in and out of the car takes seconds using the ISOFIX release buttons, which makes everyday use very straightforward.

The straps adjusted very smoothly – a process that can sometimes be a bit annoying, but on this car seat, it was pretty simple.

The seat handle makes it easy to carry the seat and adjusts easily too. The handle has a flat, horizontal top and I did find myself wishing this was curved, though – when I carried it, my arm naturally sat against one corner, which meant the seat tilted slightly to one side.

How portable is the Joie Sprint car seat?

At 4.1kg, the Sprint is relatively lightweight and it felt quite easy to lift and move around. It was far lighter than my current car seat, which comes with a separate ISOFIX base.

I took the Sprint on a recent trip abroad to Italy with us. I installed it quickly in the taxi to the airport, checked it as luggage, then used it again in our hire car. It was perfect thanks to its portability and quick one-click install.

I took my baby from the car to the airport in it on this holiday – however, after a few minutes' walk carrying the baby in the seat, I found this started to feel quite heavy. I would recommend it primarily for shorter day-to-day trips in and out of the car, and carrying without the baby strapped in, unless you’re used to lifting heavier loads for longer periods.

On a few occasions, I took my baby out of the car in the seat when we had arrived home after a journey, and my baby was still sleeping. It was easy to do, and they stayed sleeping the whole time – hooray!

It's also compatible with several Joie pushchairs using the included adaptors, a full list of these can be found on their website.

How easy is it to clean the Joie Sprint car seat?

Joie advises that light marks are spot cleaned with gentle cleaners. The insert and covers can be removed for heavier marks and machine washed in cold water, on a delicate cycle.

I'm not one of those mums who has everything spick and span (who has the time!?), so I haven’t washed the seat cover as yet. It's reassuring that the covers are easy to remove and wash if needed.

I’ve never met a car seat that doesn’t act as a magnet for crumbs and dirt. I would say that because the newborn insert for the Joie Sprint was in one piece (rather than multiple), it makes taking care of crumbs a lot easier and they can quickly be brushed or hoovered out.

What’s in the box?

• Sprint™ integrated ISOFIX baby car seat
• 1 infant insert
• 2 harness pads
• 1 lower buckle cover
• User guide

Is the Joie Sprint car seat worth the money?

Compared with rotating car seats like my Joie i-Spin 360, I did miss the convenience of spin functionality when lifting my baby in and out of the car. However, the Sprint is much lighter and easier to move between vehicles, which makes it a strong choice for families prioritising portability.

I think it would be a great first seat to bring a newborn home from the hospital in and use throughout their first year. It’s very robust and offers peace of mind for those early days.

I would say this seat comes at a higher price point than lots of portable baby car seats. It’s suitable from birth to 12 months, which feels like a relatively short time given its price.

The Joie Sprint is a similar price to my current seat, which is suitable from birth to four years – I’m not sure I could be persuaded to make such an investment on a car seat that would need to be upgraded after 12 months, unless portability was a top priority for me.

Where can I buy the Joie Sprint car seat?

It is available from Joie, Boots and John Lewis

MadeForMums verdict:

The Joie Sprint is a great option for parents who are looking for an easy-to-install infant car seat that can be moved easily between cars and everyday settings.

Its built-in ISOFIX connectors are a real standout feature, removing the need for a separate base and making installation especially quick and simple.

It’s lightweight, R129-certified for safety, and includes a UPF 50+ canopy. You can also attach it to select Joie pushchairs to create a travel system, making it a solid pick for first-time parents or anyone after a simple, reliable seat for everyday use that is secure but fuss-free.

Read more:

• Best baby car seats from birth
• Nuna Pipa URBN car seat review
• Cybex Cloud T car seat review
• Thule Maple car seat review