Maxi-Cosi Marble car seat review

The RRP of £279 is more than some basic carriers in this group, but the price includes a dedicated Isofix base, which you usually have to buy separately. The Cybex Cloud Z i-Size car seat, for example, costs £239.95 without base.

Tested by

Sarah is a 35-year-old mum living in Shad Thames in London. She has been testing the Maxi-Cosi Marble car seat with her 3-month-old baby Roger in a Hyundai Kona mini SUV on short journeys around the city and longer journeys.

What were your first impressions of the Maxi-Cosi Marble?

My first impressions were how good quality and durable the fabrics and materials seemed. The cushioning of the seat was very soft to the touch and looked super comfy. The Marble also felt sturdy.

I was impressed that a dedicated Marble Isofix base comes included, as often these need to be bought separately. It was well packaged which meant it arrived in pristine condition.

How do you install the Maxi-Cosi Marble? Can you also use it with the car’s seatbelt?

• To install the base, you first extend the leg which rests on the footwell of the car, before placing the base on the car seat.
• You then slide the Isofix connectors to the anchor points and click them in place until a green colour appears to let you know they are secure.
• You then extend the support leg as far as it goes until it also clicks into place.
• Once the base is fixed, it is very easy to attach the car seat – it clicks in place at the front and back
• To remove it, you press a grey button behind the seat.

It’s worth noting that you can’t install the Marble with just the car’s seatbelt, so you won’t be able to install it without its Isofix base.

How easy is it to install?

The Isofix base and car seat are relatively easy to install with the instruction booklet provided, which has diagrams of each step of the process. My partner and I were able to install it in 15 minutes.

What are the key safety features of the Maxi-Cosi Marble?

The Marble complies with the latest R129/03 i-Size safety standard, is equipped with impact-absorbing side protection material and an impact-absorbing shell.

It also has a 3-point safety harness and is rearward-facing in the car for optimal travel safety, all of which gave me confidence that the seat was safe and secure.

The Isofix base also feels very secure. It gives a lot of peace of mind that the car seat is not going to budge in transit, once installed correctly.

How long is it rear-facing for?

The seat is only for use rear-facing and is designed to be used until the child is 13kg or 85cm, so at least 15 months. After that you will need to buy a new car seat.

Are there any unique features about the Maxi-Cosi Marble?

One of the unique features of the car seat is that it reclines to an almost flat position (157°). This is a great function especially for really young babies, as it is recommended they sleep on flat surfaces.

Unfortunately, we could make use of the full recline as there wasn’t enough space, even with the front seat all the way forward. However, we were able to recline it, when lifting the seat out of the car and using it with pram or in the house with the baby still asleep (only for the recommended 2 hours).

It also has an ultra XL sun canopy with a peekaboo window which is quite unusual for an infant carrier.

How comfortable did your baby find the car seat?

The seat padding is extremely plush and luxurious with a lovely chunky headrest - a definite highlight of the car seat. Our baby seemed to find it very comfortable and fell almost straight to sleep on journeys. The reclining option also added to the comfort of the position.

How useful did you find the recline function?

The Marble reclines very far (to 157°) and is easy to adjust by pressing a button on the back of the seat (once you know where it is). This makes it very comfortable for the baby sleeping either in the car, in the house or while attached to a pram when it becomes a carrycot.

Usually, infant car seats are in quite an upright or fixed position which can make them seem uncomfortable and not ideal for a child’s health when they are in them for long periods of time (no more than 2 hours). The recline option is better for both the child’s breathing and for the development of their spine and hips.

How do you rate the straps?

The straps were effective and they felt very secure. It was easy to lay them out of the way while we put the baby into the seat. There is a button underneath the buckle which you can press to make the straps longer.

The buckle itself is slightly fiddly as you need to slot one side in with the other before putting it into the buckle (definitely don’t try doing it in a rush!). But once you have the knack of it isn’t too tricky to do. It is very simple to undo again by pressing down on the red button.

The straps also have a nice section of padding on which means they don’t rub at all and are always comfortable for the baby.

How robust does the car seat feel?

The Marble feels very robust both in terms of the seat and base as well as the inlay and cushioning. I would expect it to last extremely well. Also, if we have another baby, I have no doubt it would still be in very good condition. The information states the seat should remain safe enough to use through 6 years of intensive use.

How easy is it to adjust the headrest?

The headrest is extremely plush and spongy. It looked very comfortable and offers good support when the baby falls asleep. It is also possible to adjust the height of the headrest as the child grows, with 8 different options.

How easy is the Maxi-Cosi Marble to clean?

All the inside inserts and covers can be removed and handwashed which is a definite plus as we will be using it for some time. There are detailed diagrams of how to remove each of the sections which is handy.

The fabric is also easy to wipe clean so for any light spillages this is a quick and easy option. With it being a dark grey fabric is it fairly forgiving of any tiny marks!

How heavy is the car seat? Is it easy to carry and transfer between cars?

The Maxi-Cosi Marble is somewhat bulky and heavy to take in and out of the car and carry around. It weighs 5.7kg and measures H59 x W44 x D69.5cm. This is mainly because the car seat I am used to is only for babies up until 6 months so is substantially smaller. So, although this one is bigger and heavier, this is outweighed by the fact I can use the same chair for longer.

However, parents who want an easy lift, and transfer their infant carrier between cars a lot might want to go for a more standard, lighter infant carrier.

The brand highlights the Marble’s “ultra-protective XL sun canopy” – did it impress you?

The sun canopy is one of the highlights of the Maxi-Cosi Marble as it really is substantial and offers some great coverage. It is fantastic for cutting out any glare through the window and is also handy when the baby wants to sleep.

The car seat I previously used has a very flimsy sun hood which doesn’t stay on properly, so the one provided with this seat is a real game changer, especially if you want to use it as part of a pram travel system.

There is even a peek-a-boo window which meant I could have a little check on him without pulling the hood up first and disturbing him. The only slight quibble is that the hood sometimes catches on the seat handle when pulling it down or retracting it, which makes it slightly less quick and easy to use, especially if the baby is asleep and you are trying not to wake them.

Is the car seat big enough for a growing child?

The car seat is cleverly designed so it will fit a child all the way from birth up to 13kg, which is approximately 18 months (in group 0+ of car seats). You create more space by removing the inserts and adjusting the headrest, so it’s very easy to adapt for your growing child.

Is this car seat worth the money?

At £279 the Maxi-Cosi Marble car seat isn’t cheap, but it is worth the price as it includes the Isofix base, is high quality and will be usable up until at least 15 months.

Available in Essential Black or Graphite, the seat has a sophisticated, high end and sleek look so if aesthetics are important, the cost is more than justified here. Many of the online reviews suggest they felt the higher cost was worth it for the level of comfort, premium design and fabrics and standout features of the car seat such as the reclining option.

What’s in the box?

• Maxi-Cosi Marble car seat
• ISOFIX base

What are the additional accessories that you can buy?

• Mosquito net (£10)
• Raincover (£20)
• Summer inlay (£39)

What travel systems is the Maxi-Cosi Marble compatible with?

The Maxi-Cosi Marble is compatible with Maxi-Cosi or Quinny strollers. It features an easy one-handed release thanks to the memory release buttons.

What is worth knowing before buying the car seat?

I would perhaps wanted to have checked the size of the car seat with the car we use. Although it fits well in general, we can’t take full advantage of the reclining option as the front car seat doesn’t move far enough forward.

It is slightly big and bulky so is less useful for carrying around, but is fine if just being transferred to a pram.

It also doesn’t have the option to be used just with a seat belt so has to always be used with the Isofix base.

How does it compare to similar car seats?

Similar car seats include the Cybex Cloud Z i-Size, Nuna Arra and Maxi-Cosi Jade (£229 on Amazon) – see a comparison of their key features below.

Where can I buy the Maxi-Cosi Marble?

It's available from Amazon and John Lewis.

MFM verdict:

A very high quality and useful car seat that is a bit bulky and expensive but safe, secure and comfortable. It is perfect for those who prioritise comfort, durability and want to buy a car seat without having to purchase an Isofix base separately. It also great for those who are very concerned about safety as it offers a lot of peace of mind in terms of security, and the near-flat recline function is great for offering a superior position for travelling babies. They certainly don’t come comfier than this!

Read More...

• Best car seats from birth
• Guide to child car seat laws and safety
• Best pushchair for your newborn baby