Thule Elm car seat + Thule Alfi car seat base review

In May 2025, the Thule Elm was named test winner in the German ADAC child car seat test, which is widely considered one of the most rigorous independent car seat safety tests in Europe. Praised by experts for its crash safety, alongside the ‘outstanding ease of installation and daily use’... so you know you’re getting a good car seat.

The seat is designed to grow with your child and is suitable for children from 67cm to 105cm tall (approx 6 months to 4 years old), with additional features such as an adjustable headrest to assist with this. The seat can also be used front-facing and rearward-facing, although research shows that children are significantly safer travelling rearward-facing for as long as possible.

Positioned on the market for parents looking for a long-lasting car seat that can grow with their child, it sits with a mid-to-premium price point of £319, which places it in the same bracket as the Joie Signature i-Spin XL (£300) and the Maxi-Cosi Pearl 360 (£249).

How easy is the Thule Elm car seat to install?

The instructions for installing the Thule Elm car seat and Thule Alfi ISOFIX car seat base are simple and easy to follow. Imagine IKEA furniture instructions but less steps and for a car seat... that’s pretty much it!

The ISOFIX base has four simple steps for installation in the car, and took less than three minutes:

1. Press the two yellow buttons to release the attachment poles. This was surprisingly easy to do in comparison to other models I have used. I tend to find extending and releasing the attachment poles rather fiddly, but this was effortless.
2. Connect the attachment poles to the ISOFIX in the car. Push it in — simple.
3. Lift the handle to lock in place. This is a really nice feature that I’ve not seen on any other models — I usually find myself wiggling and pushing the base in until it’s tight! The base also had a handy digital display with lights to show when everything is locked in place.
4. Secure the standing leg. A nice little button makes it easy to extend and retract the supporting leg.

The car seat again is just as easy to install as the base… if not easier.

A unique feature that I haven’t seen on any other car seat is that you can pop the car seat onto the base at any angle of rotation and it will fit on. This is thanks to the circular design on the bottom of the seat, which is noticeably different from the regular bases you find on seats that have to be in one set position to lock in.

To secure the car seat, it simply clicks onto the base. Then once it’s turned into the correct position, the digital display turns the safety light green. It's so simple and leaves no confusion as to whether the seat is correctly installed.

The added bonus is that both the ISOFIX and the car seat are easily installed by just one person. They’re not heavy and installation isn’t complex. Thule have really made it as parent-friendly as possible.

How does the Thule Elm compare to similar rotating car seats?

I’ve previously used both the Maxi-Cosi Pearl 360 and Maxi-Cosi Pebble 360 for my baby and toddler. Both car seats I’ve personally been really impressed with and the Thule Elm matches the quality they provided. The quality of material, partnered with the stylish modern design might even tip me in favour of the Elm.

The Thule Elm is around £70 more expensive than the Maxi-Cosi Pearl — and if you were comparing both of these online, at face value they look very similar. Both cater for the same age/height range, use an ISOFIX base and can be used both forward and rearward facing.

However, I feel the Elm earns its additional value in two places: the installation and the safety harness.

As mentioned above, the installation of this car seat is so quick and easy, it really is stress-free. In comparison, the Pearl 360 is a little more fiddly and less straightforward. So for the ease of installation, the Thule Elm is definitely the winner.

One gripe I have with the safety harness on the Pearl 360 is that I found it sometimes loosened slightly when my toddler pulled at it (which naturally he’s going to do — because what 2 year old doesn’t!). I haven’t found this problem with the Elm. Admittedly, the buckle is fiddly to get locked/unlocked in place, which is quite possibly my only negative for this car seat. But I would rather the buckle is fiddly for me yet feels very secure in comparison to a safety harness that occasionally loosens.

What are the key safety features of the Thule Elm car seat?

As I previously mentioned, the Thule Elm was named test winner in the German ADAC child car seat test. Having this recognition instantly gives you confidence in the car seat you’re purchasing.

Thankfully, I didn’t get to test all the safety features in real-world conditions. However, knowing they are there definitely gave me peace of mind.

The seat has the Thule Impact Protection System, which is designed to provide additional protection in side impacts should the worst happen. It does this by surrounding the child with a protective structure designed to improve side-impact protection. The car seat also has a five-point padded harness and a large protective headrest.

How comfortable did your baby and toddler find the car seat?

Both my children hate the car. Days out and long trips rarely get off to the best start. However, from testing this seat... maybe it was the car seat all along.

Both my boys didn’t complain once in the car seat — both laughing, giggling and singing on our journeys. Normally when I say that we have to get in the car, my toddler’s response is "no Dad." But since we've been using the new car seat, his response has been "it’s exciting Daddy"... so that’s definitely a good sign! The longest journey we did was just under two hours, and not once did I get complaints of being uncomfortable.

It also excelled during emergency car naps (all parents will know what I’m on about!) My firstborn Noah loved his car naps, Ollie (currently 8 months) has never really settled in the car. However, he has actually settled off to sleep in the Thule Elm — which is really refreshing.

The seat also offers a recline position for added comfort on longer journeys, which is a great feature.

Whilst I personally can’t experience the comfort of the seat, it did feel really nice and comfortable. Sometimes with car seats you feel the padding and it doesn’t feel nice, however on this car seat it didn’t feel too firm or too soft. In the words of Goldilocks, it felt just right!

How well does the Thule Elm car seat adapt for different ages?

One of the key selling points for the Thule Elm is that it grows with your child, and realistically your child should be able to use it from approximately six months all the way up to around four years old.

There is an insert that sits in the seat for children from 67cm - 87cm, which is then removed for any child who is taller. The strap height can also be adjusted — this is a little fiddly, but it's positioned out of the way so small hands can't adjust it accidentally. The headrest also adapts to the height of the child, which can be moved up and down by pulling on the handle.

How easy are the straps and buckles to use on the Thule Elm?

The straps have padded covers to make it more comfortable on the shoulders and chest. I like that these are firm and don’t easily pop on and off like they do with some other brands.

The buckle is a little fiddly to connect and lock into place, however it is certainly safe and secure. With some car seats, the buckle looks like it could easily be undone/unclipped by the toddler, but this seems much harder, if not impossible, for toddlers to undo.

How easy is the Thule Elm car seat to move between cars?

It’s really refreshing to have a base and car seat that didn’t feel fiddly to fit into the car. As a busy family with two cars, we usually have to swap car seats in and out of cars depending on who is travelling. So the easier the installation the better, and this gets top marks.

Not only is the installation quick and easy, both the base and car seat are relatively lightweight in comparison to other brands on the market. With the other car seat and base I’ve been using (Maxi-Cosi ISOFIX and Pearl 360) I would never give it to my in-laws who regularly help us with the boys, as it is just too fiddly and I would be worried it’s not installed properly.

However, with the Thule Alfi ISOFIX and Thule Elm car seat I would definitely be happy that the installation would be secure and correctly fitted. Car travel is such a big thing in the rural area that I live, so finding a solution that allows for safe travel when I’m not around is really great.

Is the Thule Elm car seat worth the money?

I wish the Thule Elm was on the market three years ago when we purchased our Maxi-Cosi Pearl 360. We made this purchase with the knowledge that it would be able to grow with Noah until he is around four years old. However, for me, the Thule Elm is just that little bit better!

For an additional £70, you get an easier installation, easier day-to-day use and from my children’s perspective, a more comfortable ride.

Thule isn’t a brand I was familiar with previously, however, upon exploring, I've found that they offer a wide range of different products, including pushchairs, camping equipment and more. After the great experience with this car seat, I would definitely consider purchasing from Thule in the future.

Where can I buy the Thule Elm car seat and Thule Alfi ISOFIX base?

It is available from Natural Baby Shower, Thule and John Lewis

MadeForMums verdict:

I’ve mentioned it a couple of times already, but safety is my number one priority when it comes to a car seat — and knowing that the Thule Elm was named the ADAC test winner really is such a huge selling point for me.

Additionally, the ease of installation on the ISOFIX base is another big bonus in comparison to its competitors.

I have a number of friends who are expecting over the coming months, all of whom have said that they will be coming to me for some advice. Any that ask about a car seat system, the Thule Alfi ISOFIX and Thule Elm will most definitely be on the top of my list.