In a nutshell

An affordable, well padded, easy-to-fit seat that's light enough to swap between cars.

What we tested

  • Ease of installing
    A star rating of 5.0 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 3.5 out of 5.
  • Durability
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Worth the money
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
Overall Rating
A star rating of 4.1 out of 5.

Pros

  • Easy to fit, lightweight, removable covers, well padded, headrest adjust to six positions

Cons

  • Headrest height adjuster is on the back of the seat so you need to turn the seat over to get this right

The Maxi-Cosi Rodi SPS has a Side Protection System (the clue’s in the name), is light to swap between cars and very well padded. Niggles? None that are deal-breakers.

Advertisement

For your pre-schooler and school-age child, having a seat that can be easily swapped between cars can prove to be handy if you’re sharing school-runs, dropping off at after school clubs or just taking your children to a friend’s for tea. And of course, if you have more than one car it’s handy to be able to easily swap seats between your own vehicles.

The Maxi Cosi Rodi SPS, a Group 2/3 car seat (15kg to 36kg), is pretty lightweight at 3.4kg, so it’s pretty easy to move between cars, although you will need to use both hands to stop the backrest coming away from the base.

The headrest is adjustable, with six height settings, so even taller children should be catered for. It’s very nicely padded too.

The base also seems pretty slim. If you have several children, or ferry other children about, you might be able to fit three of these across the rear seats when it can otherwise be a tight squeeze with some makes of car seat. That said, if this is the deal-maker for you, measure up before you buy.

Click here to buy the Maxi-Cosi Rodi SPS on Amazon

What we love

Cushioning wise, this has to be one of the best padded seats I’ve encountered - and my 5-year-old and I have tried a few! He’s built on the skinny side and we often find car seats dig in to him, but the Rodi SPS was comfy for someone with less of their own natural cushioning.

The guides for the 3-point seatbelt to go through are simple to use – sometimes I’ve found it a struggle with other seats to wriggle the seatbelt into place, which isn’t helpful if you’re trying to get to school, nursery or an appointment on time! However, the Rodi SPS is really simple to fit.

As should be the case with any sensible car seat, the covers can be removed for washing, and there is a very useful additional accessory – a summer cover made from machine washable terry cotton. I wish I’d had one of these for those past hot summers when poor Arron would sit sweating in the back as we made the long journey between to visit relatives. It has the added bonus of helping to keep the car seat clean.

What to watch out for

The only awkward thing is that the adjuster for the height of the headrest is on the back, so you have to turn the car seat over to get this right – fine if you only use it for one child, but possibly a tad fiddly if you’re always having to change it.

Who is the Maxi-Cosi Rodi SPS best for?

Parents after an easy-to-fit comfy car seat they can easily switch between vehicles if necessary.

Advertisement

MadeForMums verdict

Maxi-Cosi is a well-known name and its Rodi SPS doesn’t fail to impress. There may be more stylish seats around, but it is lightweight, well padded, seems to offer decent protection and comes at a reasonable price.

Product Specifications

Product
BrandMaxi-Cosi
ModelRodi SPS
Price£59.95
Suitable for
Child age (approx)4 years to 12 years
Dimensions & Weight
Weight3.4kg
Features
Removeable cover for washingYes
Side crash protectionYes
Height adjustible headrestYes
Accessories
Optional extrasSummer cover,car seat pocket
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement