If you require a quick answer, the best group 123 car seat is the Maxi-Cosi i-Size Titan, which features 11 adjustable components for maximum comfort as well as the desirable ISOFIX installation. Alternatively, if you want the ultimate car seat that features the desirable 360 rotation, the Silver Cross Motion is the perfect solution that tick all the boxes.
To rate the group 123 car seats within our roundup, we based our recommendations on testing, our own experience using multiple seats, the latest research and multiple factors. Some of the factors that we considered included the installation, adjustability of seat components, recline positions, build quality, colour options, weight, warranty and value.
Best Group 123 Car Seat Overview
- Best ISOFIX: Maxi-Cosi i-Size Titan
- Best Value: Britax Römer EVOLVA
- Best All-Rounder: Graco Slimfit All-In-One
- Most Aesthetically Pleasing: Cosatto Zoomi
- Best 360: Silver Cross Motion Swivel
- Best Budget: Bebe Style Convertible
Below is a list of the best group 123 car seats that are designed to easily adjust to support the growing needs of your child up until the age of 12.
The Best Group 123 Car Seats
1. Best ISOFIX: Maxi-Cosi Titan i-Size Group 123 Seat
The Maxi-Cosi brand is a market leader in the UK for their car seats and they have recently improved on the previous Titan group 123 car seat. This is because it’s now an i-Size car seat, which means that it’s built to the latest and highest safety standards and promises to provide your child with long-term safety and comfort.
In terms of the multiple adaptions of this seat, the brand state that the car seat grows in 11 steps to provide the utmost comfort for your child as they grow.
- Available in black, blue or red
- Solid ISOFIX installation (took us 2 minutes to install during testing)
- Choice of 5 reclining positions
- Easily adjustable headrest and harness
- Weighs 11.5 KG
- G-CELL side impact protection
- Built to the latest i-Size safety standards
- Relatively expensive when compared to the alternatives
Although expensive, the Maxi-Cosi Titan is the best group 123 car seat that features an ISOFIX installation and is built in accordance with the i-Size safety standards. When compared to the very popular predecessor, it has all the same traits but additional improvements that make it a far better seat to use.
2. Best Value: Britax Römer EVOLVA 1/2/3 Car Seat
By far the most popular group 123 car seat on the market is the Britax Römer EVOLVA and for good reason too. It has been designed with comfort in mind and it can be easily installed in the majority of cars with a 3-point seat belt.
- Multiple recline positions
- Integrated drink holders
- Available in 7 colour combinations
- Optional soft-latch ISOFIX connectors
- Made in the UK
- More difficult to install when compared to ISOFIX 123 car seats
Overall, the Britax Römer EVOLVA is an excellent all-round option that’s comfortable, safe and provides great value for the money. The only drawback is the lack of an integrated ISOFIX installation and although there is the option of adding ISOFIX connectors, you still need to use the seat belts to secure the seat.
3. Best All-Rounder: Graco Slimfit All-In-One Combination
Graco is a highly reputable car seat brand in the UK and the Slimfit All-In-One is one of their most-rated seats. It can be used from birth up to 12 years and it features both rearward and forward-facing modes.
Although this particular model doesn’t come with the ISOFIX installation, the brand also offers this seat as an LX model, which comes with IsoCatch connectors that can be used as well as the seat belt.
- Rearward facing from birth to 4 years/18KG
- Forward facing from 1 to 4 years/9 to 18KG
- Highback booster mode from 4 to 12 years/15 to 26KG
- Superior side impact projection via the True Shield technology
- Easily adjustable 10 position headrest
- 4 recline positions (2 in rearward and 2 in forward facing modes)
- Removable inserts, pads and accessories
- Available in black or red
- During testing, we felt that it was quite bulky and difficult to install
- Relatively expensive when compared to the alternatives
To conclude, the Graco Slimfit is another premium group 123 car seat that’s packed full of features. It isn’t the cheapest but when you consider that it can be used from birth to 12 years, it’s a worthwhile investment that’ll pay for itself over the 12 years. We’ve been testing it over an extended period as a spare car seat and it certainly hasn’t disappointed.
4. Most Aesthetically Pleasing: Cosatto Zoomi Group 123 Car Seat
Another popular and relatively affordable group 123 car seat is the Cosatto Zoomi, which is available in a choice of 8 colour/style combinations. When compared to similarly priced alternatives, this particular seat offers far superior build quality and is even backed by a 4-year guarantee for complete peace of mind.
- Installation using a 3-point seat belt
- Comfortable padded seat
- Easily adjusted headrest
- Five point harness with an anti-escape system
- Removable padded liner and covers
- Backed by a 4 year guarantee
- Large array of designs to choose from
- Lacks the ISOFIX installation
Overall, the Cosatto Zoomi is a great mid-range group 123 car seat that’s well-made and built to last. Considering the price tag and the fact that it comes with a 4-year guarantee, you really cannot go wrong with this car seat.
5. Best 360: Silver Cross Motion All Size
Another group 123 car seat that’s built in accordance to the latest R129 i-Size standards is the Silver Cross Motion All Size. However, unlike the Maxi-Cosi Titan recommended above, this particular car seat is made to the highest of standards and is also one of the best-rated 360 car seats on the market that we’ve personally bought twice.
If you haven’t used a car seat that rotates before, it works by a clever ISOFIX base that effortlessly spins the seat. The benefit of this is that it makes getting your child in and out of the car far more easier.
- Very easy to install thanks to the ISOFIX design
- Built to the highest of standards
- Removable inserts and multiple headrest posistions
- Choice of 4 different recline positions for the utmost comfort
- Car seat is covered in super-soft, breathable bamboo fabric
- Available in multiple colours to best suit your preferences
- Most expensive group 123 car seat within our roundup
To conclude, the Silver Cross Motion All Size is the ultimate group 123 car seat that’s built to the highest of standards. Although expensive, it features the desirable 360 rotation and is packed full of premium features that none of the alternatives offer. As mentioned above, we’ve been using this car seat for over a year now and it’s been the best by far.
6. Best Budget: Bebe Style Convertible Combination Car Seat
One of the cheapest group 123 car seats that’s actually worth buying is the Bebe Style Convertible. It’s available in a choice of four different colour combinations and it easily adjusts to support the growing needs of your child.
- Side impact protection and energy absorbing foam construction
- Extra thick padding for additional comfort
- Meets the latest safety regulations
- 3 position recline
- 5 point safety harness
- Choice of 4 colour combinations
- Not as high quality when compared to the premium alternatives
Overall, the Bebe Style is one of the best budget options available that offers excellent value for the money and is a great option to consider as a “second” car seat. The addition of extra padding also ensures your child is as comfortable as they can possibly be on long journeys, which is a great added bonus.
How We Rated
As we are parents ourselves, we’ve tried and tested a variety of seats to keep our kids safe and comfortable in the car. From non-ISOFIX to ISOFIX 360 car seats, we own several group 123 car seats that we use daily.
With regards to group 123 car seats, we see them as a great investment due to how long your child can use them. Therefore, if possible, we always recommend spending slightly extra for a better-quality car seat.
To test the car seats within our roundup, we focused on the main points with regards to what makes a group 123 car seat so desirable. Therefore, we focused on testing the adjustability (as shown in the images below of the recline and headrest adjustments), ability to grow with your child, removable inserts, usability, ease of installation and comfort.
To keep up our commitment to reviewing and testing the latest group 123 car seats, we are continually testing out the latest offerings from top brands in the UK. This means that when we notice a brand has released a new and improved car seat (i.e. i-Size seats), we will attempt to purchase it to put it to the test (where applicable).
Below is a video that we posted on our YouTube channel that shows us testing the adjustability of group 123 car seats side by side in two different cars:
As well as our testing and experience of using a number of group 123 car seats, we also based our recommendations on the latest research and multiple factors. Some of the factors that we took into consideration included the installation, adjustability of seat components, recline positions, build quality, colour options, weight, warranty and value for money.
Conclusion
Rather than having multiple car seats for your child as they grow, you can invest in a single seat that’ll last them from 9 months to 12 years old. All of our recommended group 123 car seats fit that category and we’ve included seats that are suitable for all budgets and style preferences.
If you require further information regarding our group 123 car seat recommendations, feel free to contact us and we will try to provide our assistance where possible.
