RACE analyses 32 child restraint systems and these are its results

RACE has presented the First European Child Restraint Systems Report, CRS, from 2022. This report sets out the various tests to which the 32 child car seats included in the sample were subjected. Overall, the results were very satisfactory, as one of the models achieved five stars.

Likewise, 21 of the seats analysed achieved four stars, and six obtained three stars in the tests. As RACE itself has stated, “these CRS not only clearly exceed the legal requirements, but manufacturers have also taken our demanding consumer testing standards into account when developing their products”. Conversely, four child car seat models failed to reach the minimum score in the test.

How to choose the best child car seat?

Of the four child car seats that received a one-star rating, two failed due to the textile composition of the child restraint system: Lionelo Antoon RWF and Walser Kids Experts Noemi. The other two child car seats that received a low rating belong to group I and to groups I, II and III, and did not pass the safety tests, “mainly due to the lack of firm fitting to the vehicle seat, which does not protect against side impact”. These models are Urban Kanga Uptown Model TV107 and Kinderkraft Comfort Up.

The tests were carried out by a consortium of European motoring and consumer clubs, in which RACE takes part, and analyse four fundamental parameters of child restraint systems approved for sale: safety, ease of use, ergonomics and harmful substances.

The 2021 results can be compared directly with the current ratings: all CRS that have received “4 and 3 star” ratings since 2015 remain recommendable. In 2020 the analysis and assessment procedure of the European report was modified to adapt it to the current situation, so the results of this study can be compared with those published in 2020. Below you can check the results of the child car seat analyses: