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In a nutshell

A convenient, easy-to-fit good Group 2/3 seat that promises excellent safety. However, it may not offer the greatest value for money, especially given the number of Group 1/2/3 options around.

What we tested

  • Ease of installing
    A star rating of 4.5 out of 5.
  • Comfort
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Safety features
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Style
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Durability
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Worth the money
    A star rating of 3.0 out of 5.
Overall Rating
A star rating of 3.9 out of 5.

Pros

  • Light to carry, very easy to fit, safety seems a big design priority, good looking

Cons

  • At the expensive end for this group of seats

Easy to fit and lightweight, the Kiddy Cruiser Pro boasts some impressive-sounding safety features, but no ISOFIX.

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Kiddy is a German car seat manufacturer that’s probably best known in the UK for introducing the harness-free car seats that use impact shields to keep your child secure. Kiddy seems to be building a sound reputation for well thought-out design and innovative safety features.

The Kiddy Cruiser Pro is a Group 2/3 car seat. It has been developed from Kiddy’s existing Infinity Pro and Guardian Pro car seats, which have been given good reports in tests.

Using the adult seat belt to secure both the child and the seat in position, the Kiddy Cruiser Pro really was easy to fit and lightweight without feeling cheap or tacky.

We felt very reassured that great safety features (particularly side-crash) had been incorporated from the Guardian Pro. The seat boasts two special safety features, which we particularly liked the sound of…

First is the Honey Comb V2 material – apparently an expensive, high-performance material used as a crumple zone in the head and shoulder area of the seat. The material is based on the principle of honeycomb – a hexagonal structure that will concertina inwards when exposed to impact and apparently offers great protection in the event of side impact.

Second is the Kiddy Shock Absorber (KSA) device - blocks at the sides of the seat that make contact with the seatbelt and are designed to help absorb the energy of an impact. This is technology used in luxury cars but not before in a child car seat.

What we love

The Kiddy Cruiser Pro was refreshingly simple to fit using the adult seat belt. It was lightweight without feeling or looking cheap. Such a bonus when opportunities for straining your back are plentiful! It also fitted well in our three-door small car.

The Kiddy Cruiser Pro felt safe and in the absence of an official consumer safety review, Kiddy’s marketing boasts of some good sounding features.

I love the height/width adjuster. It was a doddle to use. Also, the adjustable legrest was great. Although Daniel is too short to require the leg extension at the moment, it was easy to pull out and I can see made good sense. The headrest is carefully designed to enable a child to fall asleep comfortably in the upright position but there is a basic laid-back option for the seat to recline to as well.

The cover was easy to remove. It comes in a number of sensible, separate pieces so it’s easier to wriggle on and off than some.

What to watch out for

For this type of car seat, there wasn’t much we didn’t like but I felt compared to its competition it is quite pricey. It's certainly not the most expensive, but it's not mid-range either.

There’s no ISOFIX fitting for those who like the extra stability of ISOFIX and no anchor mechanism to keep the seat stable in the car when empty.

The recline technique is more basic than some seats, but easy to use.

Who is Kiddy Cruiser Pro best for?

For families swapping cars frequently.

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MadeForMums verdict

It is reassuring that its sibling seat, the Guardian Pro, has a big emphasis on safety design. The Cruiser Pro looks and feels good, seems comfortable and is easily transferred from car to car. However, it’s a little pricey for a seat that doesn’t include ISOFIX fittings.

Product Specifications

Product
BrandKiddy
ModelCruiser Pro car seat
Price£134.90
Suitable for
Child age (approx)4 years to 12 years
Dimensions & Weight
Weight7.5kg
Features
Removeable cover for washingYes
Side crash protectionYes
Recline positions1
Height adjustible headrestYes
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