Our Review of the Britax Frontier 85 toddler car seat
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Improvements from the Frontier:
- Increase the harness weight limit from 80 to 85 lbs
- Increased harness height from 18.25" to 20"
- 10 harness height positions, up from 8
- Restructured the belt path for easier installation
- Armrests are now fixed instead of rotating
- New fixed cup holders
- Updated fabrics to increase prolonged wear
Britax has made some improvements to the popular Britax Frontier to increase both the height and weight capacities of the harness-to-booster style seat, and restructured the seat belt path for easier installation. The Britax Frontier 85 features a high harness weight limit of 85 lbs, and in booster mode, is now in line with the Sunshine Kids Monterey for the highest weight limit of 120 lbs. The Britax Frontier 85 could easily be the last car seat you ever buy for your child once they reach the minimum age and weight requirements of 2 years old and 25 lbs.
Standout Features:
- Features a high 5-point harness capacity of 85 lbs
- In line with highest booster seat capacity of 120 lbs
- Shoulder harness height of 20" to accommodate growing kids
- Quick adjust head restraint and no re-thread harness
Benefits for You: Get years of use out of the Britax Frontier 85. This harness-to-booster toddler seat accommodates children at least 2 years old and 25 lbs, up to 120 lbs. Although the Frontier 85 may not be the smallest seat on the market, it's sturdy, solid frame ensures the safety and comfort of your children as they grow in age and size.
With a tangle-free 5-point harness that adjusts to 10 height positions and 3 buckle positions, this seat literally grows with your child. Simply lift the lever on the back of the seat to easily adjust the harness shoulder height and head restraint without disassembling or re-threading the harness. Aside from ease of use, not having to re-thread the harness ensures a more accurate harness fit for your child.
Installation: The Britax Frontier 85 can be used in two ways: as a forward-facing 5-point harness toddler seat and as a belt-positioning booster. Premium push button LATCH connectors let you install the car seat quickly, simply and tightly. LATCH may be used for installation as a booster at any weight range. A newly designed seat belt path also makes for an easy installation when using your vehicle's seat belts.
Whether installed with LATCH or your vehicle's seat belts, Britax requires the use of a top tether when using the Frontier 85 in harness mode for children weighing 65-85 lbs. To locate the appropriate tether anchor locations in your vehicle, check your vehicle owner's manual.
Note: Britax advises that the LATCH system only be used until 40 lbs in the harness position, unless your vehicle manufacturer gives a higher weight limit. When your child reaches that weight limit, it will be necessary to use your vehicle's seat belt for installation while in harness mode. However, the 40 lb LATCH weight limit does not apply to the Frontier 85 when used in booster mode because the Lower Anchors are only intended to secure the weight of the booster seat itself (approximately 19.6 lbs in this case). The vehicle's lap and shoulder belts secure the weight of the child; because of this, you can use LATCH with the Frontier 85 in its belt-positioning booster mode up to the 120 lb weight limit. For LATCH use with your child in harness position, refer to your vehicle owner's manual.
Benefits for Baby: Children are most secure when they remain in a 5-point safety harness. With an 85 lb harness weight limit, and a maximum shoulder harness height of 20-inches, the Frontier 85 protects your precious passenger longer. Once your little one outgrows the 5-point harness, the seat converts to a high back belt-positioning booster that will accommodate him or her up to 120 lbs.
A 3-position crotch strap adjusts to accommodate growing children for the most comfortable fit possible. Britax uses a combination of plush premium fabrics to keep your little one comfy cozy while riding in the Frontier 85. The armrests on the Frontier 85 are short, sturdy and fixed to the seat; and the dual cup holders, designed to fit 20 oz reusable water bottles, are integrated into the sides of the seat base.
Safety:
- 5-point harness
- Meets or exceeds FMVSS 213
- HUGS Harness Ultra Guard System reduces forward head movement
- True Side Impact Protection
- EPS Foam Liners absorb and distribute crash forces
- Compatible with SecureGuard (sold separately) to prevent anti-submarining
- Energy-Absorbing Versa-Tether attaches the top of the car seat to an anchor in your vehicle
- Energy-Absorbing base deforms in the event of a crash to absorb impact forces
Comparison: The Britax Frontier 85 is really in a class all of its own. However, if you're looking for a harness-to-booster seat with the capability of converting to a backless booster, check out the Graco Nautilus 3-in-1. The Nautilus works three ways (harness toddler seat, belt-positioning high-back booster, and backless booster) but its weight limits are much lower than the Frontier, with the maximum capacity of 65 lbs in the harness position and 100 lbs both booster positions.
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- Canyon
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- Canyon swatch
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- Canyon in Booster mode
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- Canyon without harness
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- Pink Sky
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- Pink Sky swatch
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- Red Rock
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- Red Rock swatch
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- Rushmore
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- Rushmore swatch
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- New crotch buckle strap
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- Rushmore in use
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- Rushmore in use
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- Red in use
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- Red in use
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- Canyon in use
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- Canyon in use
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Click here to download instruction manual. (Adobe Reader required)
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Car seat specs
- Min child weight
- 25 lbs.
- Max child weight
- 120 lbs.
- Min child weight - Forward Facing mode
- 25 lbs.
- Max child weight - Forward facing mode
- 85 lbs.
- Max harness weight capacity
- 85 lbs.
- Minimum weight for booster mode
- 40 lbs.
- Min child height
- 30"
- Max child height
- 65"
- Min child height - Forward facing mode
- 30"
- Max 5-pt harness child height capacity
- 57"
- Min height for booster use
- 42"
- Installed w/o Base?
- No
- Exterior Seat Depth
- 20" - 27.5"
Car seat dimensions
- Product weight
- 19.6 lbs.
- Seat Base / Foot Width
- 19.5"
- Seat height
- 23" - 36"
- Interior seat width
- 11.5"
- Interior seat back height
- 24"
- Bottom to lowest harness slot
- 12.25"
- Bottom to highest harness slot
- 20"
- Seat weight (without base)
- 19.6 lbs.
- Harnessed toddler car seat that converts to a belt-positioning booster seat
- True Side Impact Protection
- In line with the highest harness and booster weight capacities
- Forward facing from 2 years and 25 lbs up to 85 lbs
- Belt-positioning booster from 40-120 lbs
- Quick adjust head restraint & No re-thread harness
- 10 harness height positions (up to 20") and 3 buckle positions for a snug and secure fit as your child grows
- Plush, premium cover with thick, underlying foam
- Stationary armrests
- Integrated dual cup holders
- Premium push-button LATCH connectors ensure a quick, simple and tight installation
- Patented Versa-Tether, energy managing top tether, anchors top of seat to the vehicle, reducing movement in the event of impact
- Patented HUGS, Harness Ultra Guard System, reduces forward head movement and gently cushions the neck and chest
- Color-coded vehicle belt guides indicate the path and positioning of the vehicle seat belt
- Energy-Absorbing Foam Liner (EPS) absorbs and distributes crash forces
- Compatible with SecureGuard (sold separately) to prevent anti-submarining
- Energy-Absorbing Versa-Tether attaches the top of the car seat to an anchor in your vehicle
- Energy-Absorbing base deforms in the event of a crash to absorb impact forces
Britax Frontier 85 toddler car seat Reviews
All Customer Reviews
- Average Rating:
- Highest Rating:
- Lowest Rating:
- Number of Reviews:
- 127
Much Improved from the Original Frontier!
Easy Install, Great new features
I've installed both the old one and the new one. It's like night and day how different they are. The Frontier 85 is a very easy install. User-intuitive, not challenging at all (unlike the old one). I've had no trouble installing it in a Mazda RX-8, Toyota Matrix, Chevy Trailblazer, or Infinity sedan (not sure which model). It installs easily in all of these with latch or with the seatbelt. The new cupholders are great. That was a feature severely lacking in the original Frontier. The fabric is still not what I would prefer, but it's comfortable for my child and that's the important part. Her head does not flop forward when she sleeps in the seat (a big issue with a lot of other seats) and is easy to adjust the harness as she grows. Yes, it has to be uninstalled to do that, but it's really not a big deal now the install is so easy. I am very happy that Britax took the comments from owners of the original Frontier and applied it to the Frontier 85 design and made it so much better. I'm a very happy customer. We've had the 85 since it first came out, and I'm still yet to see any issue with the fabric, harness, etc. The only thing I don't like is that the arm rests are fixed. That makes it a little harder for my daughter to get in and out, but it's really not a big deal.
Didn't fit in my car
So easy to install!
Worth the money!
Great seat, easy install
Great seat...Don't worry about the install!
such a relief to know my child is safe!
This car seat is great!
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