Our Review of the Maxi-Cosi Priori convertible car seat
With a streamlined design and plush, removable, and washable seat padding in eye-catching designs, the Maxi Cosi Priori Convertible Car Seat looks and feels unlike any other convertible seat you will find on the US market.
Maxi Cosi car seats are new to the United States, but have a long-standing reputation among European families as some of the safest, simplest, and most stylish carseats in the business. Maxi Cosi is essentially the Graco of the European market – coupling quality materials and safety features with streamlined designs that emphasize economy over flash. While affordable, Maxi Cosi car seats are the furthest thing from cheap.
The Maxi Cosi Priori is among the rare breed of car seats that protects an infant child up to 35 lbs. in a rear facing position, or a child from 22 to 40 lbs. in the forward facing position. Most car seats for infants have a max weight of 30-33 lbs. in the rear facing position. By using the LATCH attachments or your vehicle's safety belts, the rear-facing-to-35 lbs. option makes the Priori extra safe for young passengers.
In another rare move, the Maxi Cosi Priori in its forward facing position has four recline positions that lets boys and girls up to 40 lbs. to relax on rides long or short. Few other car seats have this option. The Graco Safe Seat Step 2 also has a recline setting, but is forward facing only.
The Maxi Cosi Priori's recline is easily adjusted with the seat still installed (no need to stop and fumble) and colored level indicators ensure that the Priori's base is always installed at the proper angle. The colored level indicator is another of the Priori's rare qualities, as most convertible seats do not offer one. Couple the recline settings and level indicator with the deep EPP foam lined headrest and the padded 5 point harness, and the Priori proves to be as safe as it is sleep-friendly.
Bottom Line: The Maxi Cosi Priori convertible car seat is a distinguished reversible safety seat, and EliteCarSeats.com is excited to be offering them. Light, lean, and well designed, the safety, reversibility and recline setting offered by the Priori give it a high value.
- For a convertible seat with the same essential features as the Priori, check out the popular Britax Roundabout convertible car seat.
-
-
- Phantom
-
-
-
- Lily Pink
-
-
-
- Roasted Brown
-
-
-
- Tango Red
-
-
-
- Recline position 1
-
-
-
- Recline position 2
-
-
-
- Recline position 3
-
-
-
- Recline position 4
-
|
Click here to download instruction manual. (Adobe Reader required) |
 |
Car seat specs
- Min child weight
- 5 lbs.
- Max child weight
- 40 lbs.
- Rear-facing minimum weight
- 5 lbs.
- Max child weight - Rear Facing mode
- 35 lbs.
- Min child weight - Forward Facing mode
- 22 lbs.
- Max child weight - Forward facing mode
- 40 lbs.
- Max harness weight capacity
- 40 lbs.
- Min child height
- 19"
- Max child height
- 43"
- Min child height - Forward facing mode
- 19"
- Max 5-pt harness child height capacity
- 43"
- Exterior Seat Depth
- 21"
Car seat dimensions
- Product weight
- 16.5 lbs.
- Seat Base / Foot Width
- 19"
- Seat height
- 25.5"
- Seat weight (without base)
- 16.5 lbs.
- 5 – 35 lbs. Rear facing
- 22 – 40 lbs. Forward facing
- 4 position independent recline in forward facing mode
- EPP Foam
- 5 harness heights
- Removable car seat pad
- Padded seat fabric, buckle pad and harness covers
- 5-point harness with up-front harness adjustment
- LATCH equipped
Maxi-Cosi Priori convertible car seat Reviews
All Customer Reviews
- Average Rating:
- Highest Rating:
- Lowest Rating:
- Number of Reviews:
- 65
Favorite car seat!
Reviewer: Laura H. , Durham, NC
Date: August 10, 2010
We LOVE our Maxi-Cosi Priori. When we were looking for convertible seats, the Priori was one of only two that would fit rear facing in our Volvo's back seat. Two years later we still love it, and have one in each car. I was the cover (in the machine on hand wash or delicates and air dry) every 6 mons or so, and it looks great. Another big plus, it's easy to install with the latch system, and fits into airplane seats without a struggle. Our seats have been checked as baggage numerous times, and have yet to suffer any damage as a result. Overall, we couldn't be happier with our purchase!
Was this review helpful?
Comfortable but clumsy to use
Reviewer: Alleycat , San Diego, CA
Date: June 12, 2010
I purchased this seat about 1½ years ago and have only used it forward facing. My daughter is now 3½. While overall this seat has been comfortable for her, she has outgrown it well before the stated height limit and I have found the seat awkward to use in a number of small but annoying ways. I haven't seen the latest models in person so don't know if the design has changed or not. First, my daughter is now just 40" and 30lb. However, the top of her head is well above the top of the seat and the top harness slot is well under the top of her shoulder, which the installation tech said means she's outgrown it. I had expected it to last another year. Second, the comfort features which had initially so impressed me compared to the Britex I had originally planned to buy (like overall cushier padding, better shoulder pads, and padded covers around the crotch buckle, as well as the recline feature) make adjustments to the seat rather user-unfriendly. For example, the crotch buckle cover gets in the way whenever I try to snap in the harness anchors, the shoulder pads somehow manage to get all askew, and the harness release button is hidden in a little hole at the front of the seat and is very awkward to reach whenever you want to tighten (push down) or loosen (pull up) the harness. Again, these issues were small but managed to annoy me every time I got her in/out, and they were never a problem on our old Chicco infant seat. On the positive side, twisty straps were never a problem. Finally, be aware that the recline feature comes with its downsides. It did recline just enough to help her go to sleep on long car rides and keep her neck more comfortable. However, the difference between the 4 point recline positions is so negligible that I only used it in either "upright" or "fully recline" mode. Compared to our other seat (Graco ComfortSport), this seat already has a fairly significant recline angle even in upright mode. An unanticipated consequence of this less upright seat is that our daughter, especially when she was smaller, found it hard to see out the side windows because she was leaning back so far. Also, it made snacking and drinking in the car a very messy proposition. As for installation, we found it to be moderately difficult to install and never could get it as tight as the local tech could. As a result, we avoided removing the seat whenever possible. The fact that the seat needed to be removed in order to re-thread the harness straps as she grew only added to this annoyance. Automatic harness adjustment is definitely a feature that I will be looking for in the new seat. Overall, we were pleased with this seat's comfort and safety for our child, which of course are most important, but were disappointed that she outgrew it well before the stated height limit, and wish that the seat were more user-friendly without compromising the comfort and safety features.
Was this review helpful?
Great Seat, nice colors!
Reviewer: OregonMom , Oregon
Date: April 06, 2010
I have had this seat for about a year now. My son is 21 Months and in the 95 percentile for his height and 50th for his weight. We still have him facing backwards as he is only around 25 pounds. This one can face backwards til 35 pounds. My son fits nicely in the seat, it appears comfortable and the colors are great. I got the pumpkin. I have used latch and regular belt and it takes a little practice but can get mine super tight. I have not had mine facing forward yet. I do put a towel under the base to make it level as well. It also fits in my car nicely. Some of the others were too bulky. The only downfalls of this seat is that it is hard to tighten down the straps, if you don't pull on the strap straight the strap gets stuck in the release button. I've learned how to do it well, but my husband gets frustrated. The other thing is that one of my latch clips to clip the latch belts to while not in use broke off within the first couple times of using it. We switch between a car with latch and one without often. So that was a bummer, now I just stuff the belts under the seat. Overall a great seat for the size and price.
Was this review helpful?
its okay
Reviewer: Anonymous , los angeles
Date: February 19, 2010
I love the colors and the compact-ness of it. BUT.... my child is still in the "hight and weight" to fit the seat but he doesn't fit in it well( who is not large for his age). The buckel in the "privet" area is not ajustable so it is now smashing my son. I had to give in a buy a Britax. It's cost more and is a bit bigger but at least his bottom half now fit in the seat
Was this review helpful?
Not tall enough
Reviewer: Anonymous , Cumberland, RI
Date: August 18, 2009
I liked the seat until my twins got too tall for it. They are a little less than 30lbs and will be too tall for these soon. Other than that they have been fine, easy enough to clean and install (as easy as can be expected), safe, and comfy for the kids. I will also add that Elite Car Seats gives a twin discount when you buy two of a big ticket item.
Was this review helpful?
Good but rattles when empty
Reviewer: Ludo , Los Angeles, CA
Date: August 07, 2009
We bought this car seat 1.5 years ago and we used to love it: the recline feature is easy to use and it reclines just enough for your kid to get comfortable and fall asleep. More, the colors are great compare to all other car seats available. Unfortunately, we recently changed our car which has a slightly "stiffer" ride and on every small bumps on the road now, the seat rattles when my daughter is not in it. It is pretty loud and it really starts to annoy me. It looks like, because you can slide the upper part for reclining, there is a small space between the upper and the bottom part(which may have become larger with time)then it's enough to make it rattle. If you put something soft between the 2 parts (top and bottom), it's getting better but you have to remove it to use the recline position when your child is seated.
Was this review helpful?
Comfort and compact
Reviewer: JR mama , Houston TX
Date: July 01, 2009
I bought the frisbee blue color and installed it rear facing in my F150 King Ranch pickup. It is a full size back seat, but the captains chairs in the front can crowd the people in back. This seat fit perfectly in the center rear location and it was a more compact fit than the Peg Perego infant seat! My 5 mo old son is muchmore comfortable, he was 28 inches and 17 pounds and getting crowded in the Peg Perego. The recline on the Maxi Cosi is just right. It was very difficult for me to install - this was my first car seat installation ever. I had to read the directions twice. But I love the side impact feature, the fit in my truck, and the look. I used the strap holders every time to keep the buckles out of the way when putting JR in the seat. The straps tangle much less than the Peg Perego infant seat. I like that the lower buckles can be clicked in one side at a time instead of aligning them first to snap then in (like the Peg infant seat).
Was this review helpful?
Love it!
Reviewer: Brenda , Germantown, MD
Date: May 20, 2009
I did a lot of research before purchasing this carset. Out of all carseats available in the market this one is definitely the most stylish! Britax carseats might be more expensive, which is almost always considered "better" but they are really not: They're bigger, bulkier and they are ugly looking.
Aside from the looks, it's a comfy carseat for my baby, he loves it.
I bought this carseat over a year ago and the only con that I've been able to find is the seat pad! the fabric stains easily, you really need to take good care of it if you want it to last -which is not always easy with babies- and it's not machine washable...I made that mistake the first time and when I took it out of the washing machine some parts were unstitched. Customer service kindly sent me a new pad set free of charge. About 2 months ago I decided to spot clean it as they directed, but the fabric discolored! I just ordered a new set in a darker color for about 60 bucks...
Was this review helpful?
Outgrew it quickly
Reviewer: Bonnie , Santa Fe, NM
Date: April 25, 2009
We purchased this seat for my daughter when she was about a year old and for a year it was great. But by age 2 she had pretty much outgrown it. Our other seat, a Britax Marathon, though larger, bulkier, and more expensive, is lasting us a lot longer. Those are the tradeoffs.
Was this review helpful?
