This review was done by Ellie Pascoe and her son Matthew, who is seven-months-old. She lives in Devon, and works in the construction industry as a Project Planner. As a family they are pretty car obsessed and regularly travel across the country for car shows, so they are big advocates for finding a comfortable and safe car seat! They also have three Rottweilers, who love their new human sibling!
9.1
Your Baby Club Score
-
8
Weight -
10
Ease of use -
10
Comfort -
9
Durability -
9
Design -
9
Safety features -
9
Value for money
Pros & Cons
- Lightweight
- Nearly 160˚recline
- Baby feels very secure and protected
- Base is easy to install
- Spin function is fantastic
- Spin function could be better placed on the side of base instead of the front
- Slightly large for smaller cars
Features
- Removable full body infant insert gives you a customised fit for infants
- Easy buckling 3-point harness with comfortable padded covers
- Retractable, removable sun canopy with a zip-open panel for breathability and full coverage protection
Specifications, Weights & Dimensions
Seat dimensions
l 65.7-69.6 x w 44.5 x h 58.4 cm
Seat weight
4.68 kg
Seat usage
Suitable for 40-87 cm, 0-13 kg
Seat stage group
Birth to approx. 15 months
Seat Installation type
Installs with a seat belt or your choice of i-Base™ Encore or i-Base™ LX 2
Harness type
3-point harness
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The Parent Test
First Impressions
On first impression, this seat looked very luxurious with the chosen material and design, lightweight, and felt well padded and secure. It is also complemented with an ergonomic handle, retractable sunshade and adjustable headrest that accommodates your ever-growing baby.
The i-Base™ Encore is a great ISOFIX base, with clear windows to confirm correct installation on opening. The 90˚ spin function is what makes this stand out from other bases in my opinion. On installation, the ISOFIX connectors retract with ease of the button. This makes this base even easier to install when trying to find the vehicle's anchor points within the seat. This can be a tricky task with some bases, but they also connect instantly.
Comfort and Ease of Use
The Joie Signature i-Level™ Pro Car Seat reclines to almost 160˚which increases the chances of your baby falling asleep in comfort, and if paired with adapters (sold separately) this seat can also attach to compatible prams to create a handy and affordable travel system.
Placing my son in this seat was effortless and buckling up was nice and simple. My son also seemed to like the seat too, which is always a bonus!
Paired with an i-Base™ Encore, the seat can be easily put in and out of the car with little to no effort. The seat also allows for installation with a seatbelt making it handy when changing between vehicles or for grandparents. The i-Base™ Encore system also allows the seat to be taken on and off as the child grows, which is great as this means no reinstallation is needed.
Safety Features
The car seat is well padded, and my baby looked very well cocooned and snug in this car seat. With side impact certification and paired with the i-Base™ Encore, you can be assured that your baby will be kept safe on their travels. The base feels very sturdy when installed, the R129 certification means it is to the highest safety standards and is a very secure i-Size fit.
The only thing to note is that this seat has a 3-point harness, and I would be filled with more confidence had this been a 5-point harness instead. That being said, my son felt very secured and the adjustable shoulder straps allowed for correct positioning with ease.
Value for Money
I feel that this seat is the best value for money when paired with the base, as the base of the seat is compatible with Joie’s other models that can support your child up to 4 years old. The i-Base™ Encore is absolutely value for money. It is sturdy and secure, easy to install and interchangeable with car seats as your child grows. It is quite a big expense upfront, but this will last until your child is 4-years-old.
If you are looking for an infant-specific seat, the Joie Signature i-Level™ Pro Car Seat is a great option.Final Thoughts
The car seat would be best for new mums as the lightweight feature of the seat will make carrying your new bundle so much easier. The effortless installation is perfect for those new parents when they already have so much to learn. This base is also great, and is the best one we have used by far. I would recommend the duo to anyone who requires a secure, easy to install ISOFIX base and seat!