Easy belt routing, seven position height adjustable headrest, padding around seating and head area, recline for sitting and sleeping, harness adjustable from the front, great side impact and head protection
Cons
Not compatible with the Isofix, no swivel to face parent
Easy to use and install, the Maxi-Cosi Rubi will suit those who don’t have IsoFix and that are looking for a mid-priced car seat. The Maxi-Cosi Rubi has good padding around the seat and head area for maximum comfort and has four recline positions for both sitting and sleeping.
THE MAKE AND MODEL OF YOUR CAR(S) THAT IT WAS TESTED IN:
We tested the Maxi-Cosi Rubi car seat in our Land Rover Discovery 4.
PRODUCT REVIEW:
The car seat was easy to fit and our 16-month daughter has been very comfortable riding in it. The Maxi-Cosi Rubi is suitable for children between the age of nine months and three and a half years (9-18kg). My previous car seat used by my son, and then other daughter, did not feature the reclining seat that the Rubi boasts. This is definitely a next generation car seat, a huge improvement to the one I bought for my son five years ago.
What I loved
What is more, the Rubi features four reclining positions for baby’s comfort. What a pleasure it was to be able to push a button and ensure that her head was not lolling about as she slept. I was able to relax for a change in the front seat and not be constantly trying to readjust her snoozy head! The recline function is very easy to use but is quite abrupt so you just need to bear that in mind when you are adjusting it.
You can also alter the headrest – it comes complete with seven positions. The Rubi has a higher than average base affording our daughter Florence a good view out the window. It is a definite improvement on the last car seat I used for my other elder children. It meant that Florence was on a par in terms of height with her elder brother and sister. If you need three seats in the back myself and other reviewers think there will be no problem fitting them all in (however we did all have larger or family cars).
What to watch out for
The Rubi is equipped with an intuitive belt installation system (the special hooks keep the harnesses open while you fix your child into the car seat) so no more groping around trying the find the harness. Having said this an online reviewer was not a fan: “The harness holders are in my opinion are a waste of time, if you are using this seat with a smaller child the harness padding does get in the way and therefore makes them of no use, other Maxi-Cosi seats have a bigger thicker version and I think these would be more beneficial than the current ones that are fitted.”
Do bear in mind that the Rubi is not compatible with the Isofix; therefore it has to be fitted manually. Given the size of the car seat it is relatively light in weight so easy to move around from car to car. The Rubi comes with a Side Protection System offering the best possible protection in side impacts. On another safety note it is reassuring that the Rubi conforms to the latest European safety standard ECE R44/04.
Who is this car seat best for?
Universal appeal! All in all, an excellent choice if you are not going down the Isofix route.
MadeForMums verdict
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It is a very attractive design which is a definite bonus. We chose the black, which looked very sleek but you can also buy it in a jolly red. The car seat material is a lot more comfortable than most as it is softer and more jersey like – basically less plastic weave material and more cotton-like. The Maxi-Cosi website points out that the seat cover is easy to remove for washing and this was confirmed by an online reviewer.
