Well, since my last reviews on baby equipment have been well received I thought Id continue the trend and tell you all about another piece of equipment we have owned… the Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix.
Technically we owned the Maxi-Cosi Cabrio, but the new style is called the 'Cabriofix' and as ... Read review
Test winner! Highest recommendation in European Consumer Associations car seat tests ... more
Summer 2007 Can be installed using a 3 point seat belt or with one of the bases Side protection system offers optimal protection against side impact Integrated sun can...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Test winner! Highest recommendation in European Consumer Associations car seat tests ... more
Summer 2007 Can be installed using a 3 point seat belt or with one of the bases Side protection system offers optimal protection against side impact Integrated sun can...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Test winner! Highest recommendation in European Consumer Associations car seat tests ... more
Summer 2007 Can be installed using a 3 point seat belt or with one of the bases Side protection system offers optimal protection against side impact Integrated sun can...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Test winner! Highest recommendation in European Consumer Associations car seat tests ... more
Summer 2007 Can be installed using a 3 point seat belt or with one of the bases Side protection system offers optimal protection against side impact Integrated sun can...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Test winner! Highest recommendation in European Consumer Associations car seat tests ... more
Summer 2007 Can be installed using a 3 point seat belt or with one of the bases Side protection system offers optimal protection against side impact Integrated sun can...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Test winner! Highest recommendation in European Consumer Associations car seat tests ... more
Summer 2007 Can be installed using a 3 point seat belt or with one of the bases Side protection system offers optimal protection against side impact Integrated sun can...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Test winner! Highest recommendation in European Consumer Associations car seat tests ... more
Summer 2007 Can be installed using a 3 point seat belt or with one of the bases Side protection system offers optimal protection against side impact Integrated sun can...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Reviews Cabriofix car seat Black Reflection. Suitable form birth to 13 kilos. Compatible ... more
with a range of pushchairs - Quinny, Bugaboo and First Wheels. Includes hood and padded strap covers.
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Temporarily out of stock. Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon...
Test winner! Highest recommendation in European Consumer Associations car seat tests ... more
Summer 2007 Can be installed using a 3 point seat belt or with one of the bases Side protection system offers optimal protection against side impact Integrated sun can...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Optimum side impact protection. Includes newborn support pillow, chest and buckle pads ... more
and integrated sun/wind canopy. Removable washable cover. CabrioFix is Isofix compatible. Simply clicks on to the Maxi-Cosi EasyFix Base. Add the CabrioFix to the Buzz, Speedi or Zap to form a travel system.
Postage & Packaging:from £4.85 Availability:refer to website
Advantages: Seems very sturdy, compatible with many strollers Disadvantages: Expensive, dodgy sweaty fabric
Well, since my last reviews on baby equipment have been well received I thought Id continue the trend and tell you all about another piece of equipment we have owned… the Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix.
Technically we owned the Maxi-Cosi Cabrio, but the new style is called the 'Cabriofix' and as I work in a baby shop I am in the perfect position to tell you about the new and old styles. The Cabrio was the predecessor- it could only be fastened ... ...addition of two bars at the bottom which enables it to click on and off the Easybase/ Easy Fix Base. Other than that, the seat is the same.
Some background to us; I am a 'pram-a-holic.' My child is only one, and I have had 5 buggies so far and 4 Car Seats (2 x Infant Carriers and 2 x Group 1s) The Cabrio was lent to us by a friend as I hated the Graco we had and didn't want to buy a brand new Car Seat for the Quinny Zapp If I had ... more
Well, since my last reviews on baby equipment have been well received I thought Id continue the trend and tell you all about another piece of equipment we have owned… the Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix.
Technically we owned the Maxi-Cosi Cabrio, but the new style is called the 'Cabriofix' and as I work in a baby shop I am in the perfect position to tell you about the new and old styles. The Cabrio was the predecessor- it could only be fastened with the three-point seat belt, but the cabriofix has the addition of two bars at the bottom which enables it to click on and off the Easybase/ Easy Fix Base. Other than that, the seat is the same.
Some background to us; I am a 'pram-a-holic.' My child is only one, and I have had 5 buggies so far and 4 Car Seats (2 x Infant Carriers and 2 x Group 1s) The Cabrio was lent to us by a friend as I hated the Graco we had and didn't want to buy a brand new Car Seat for the Quinny Zapp If I had have known more about Maxi-Cosi when I was purchasing my baby equipment while expecting I would have certainly put it high on my list of wants, I'm a total convert now. To begin this review I would like to pass on the advice that second-hand Car-Seats should only be considered if you know the full history of the seat, as if the seat has been in an accident you must replace it; and you can never know this with a second-hand seat from a stranger.
Fixing the Maxi-Cosi cabriofix to the car ________________________
As I mentioned above, the Cabriofix can be fastened to the car in two ways. 1) On its own, using the seat belt 2) Using a compatible Maxi-Cosi Infant Carrier Base.
1) To affix the seat on its own, you loosen out the belt and follow the blue coloured routing. Place the lap part of the belt over the baby's leg area and under the blue guides. Next, Loosen the rest of the belt and bring it around the back of the car seat and under the blue guide at the back and clip the seat belt in. Double check that all blue guides have the correct part of the belt underneath them. You will find videos of how to do this at www.maxicosi.nl. I can assure you it is really simple to fit! Always remember to place the handle in its lowest position facing the rear seat; it gives more support in case of an accident.
2) There are two compatible bases with the Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix; These are the 'Easy Base' which is standard to fit cars without ISOFIX. (Retails around £69) and 'Easy Fix Base' (around £99) which affixes to ISOFIX ready cars. You will have to check with your own car maker whether your vehicle is ISOFIX ready, and the aid of the fit-finder on MaxiCosi.com should help you ascertain whether your car will be able to accommodate the 'Easy Fix Base'
Fitting the 'Easy Base' needs only the Seatbelt strapped through the grove and under the blue clip. Fitting the Easy Fix Base involves pushing the yellow adapters in to the fixings in your car and sliding the ISOFIX points into place as well as the same seatbelt setting as Easy Base. I know this sounds mega-confusing but it's not as complicated as it sounds.
After your base is in place you never have to worry about strapping the Cabriofix into the car; it's merely a case of clicking the seat unit in and out of the base when necessary.
The Appearance of the Cabriofix _________________________
The fabric on the Cabrio that we had was quite canvas-feeling round the sides and a purple colour in the main insert. When my son got warm he left sweat marks on the sides of the seat. Although these were easy to clean it was still a bit strange that the fabric wasn't breathable. However in the defence, the durability of the fabric was top-notch. It's only got a few bobbles on it and has seen two babies already! I didn't find the same sweat issue with my Silver Cross Ventura car seat, but it really wasn't anything to worry about two much. You can remove the cover for cleaning. It's not that difficult.
At the moment the main colours for 2007 are: Black Reflection (mega popular where I work!) It is black insert colour, with a silver black side Red Flame Reflection (As above only red) Deep Red: Red insert with Black at the sides Penguin: Black outsides with grey inserts Indian Spice: Brown at sides with Red insert and Orange Piping Skydiver: Aqua insert, black sides with little planes on aqua part Happy Flower: Pink and red and utterly girly!
There are more combinations, although those are the most popular sellers that I've encountered. If you search EBay you will see loads more colours that haven't been released in the UK. Some of these are fab, and If I was ever to have another child I would buy direct from Germany where they have a huge choice.Accessories ____________
The Cabriofix comes with the head hugger insert for a small infant. This is removable when they get bigger. I have no experience of using this as my child was a lot older when we had this seat. It does look very cosy and there are padded strap inserts as well.
I really like the integrated Sun Canopy (when I found the blooming thing!) I thought the one we had was missing its canopy so I had to ring my friend and have her explain where it was! It clips in to a groove at the back of the seat and you pull it out and fasten it to the handle of the car seat when you need it. I thought it looked very flimsy but it was much stronger than I imaged it would be.
You can purchase a rain cover for your Cabriofix, this is a great investment if you are using the cabriofix as part of a travel system, and there is a mosquito net available too. There is also a specific muff available for the Maxi-Cosi and it can be purchased to match your chosen colour perfectly. Maxi-Cosi also has a string-a-long toy to place across the handle bar for a child, but I've never actually seen on of these.
The Cabriofix has a storage compartment in the back. I have never used this, but I read another review where someone put the rain cover in there… now why didn't I think of that!
Safety ______
The highly respected Which? Magazine rated this Car Seat as their safest infant buy when it is used with the 'Easy-Fix Base' so I think that is a very good honour for the Cabriofix and should help put parents' minds at rest when purchasing. It feels sturdy. You feel as if you are getting good value for your money.
The Cabriofix accepts a child up to 13KG. I would say that this seat could be used up to 1 year old. We are hearing more and more than rushing our children into second stage car seats is dangerous and irresponsible, so personally I would recommend that parents use an infant carrier as long as possible. Rearward facing is safer.
Adjusting the Straps __________________
I don't know if I'm the only one who finds adjusting straps to always be a chore, but it wasn't too difficult with the Cabrio, simply a matter of feeding the belt through the slots in the shell of the seat unit.
To buckle the child in, you just press the two sides together and click them in to place. To tighten the straps you tug gently on the leftover strap located under the clasp of the seat unit. You should only have enough space to slide a finger between the child and the strap so I always kept a finger there when adjusting the tightness for my own piece of mind.
We had a loan of the Cabrio, as we had just bought a Quinny Zapp, It fits on to the frame of the Zapp when you remove the seat. However removing the seat was a mega pain! And not something Id do in a hurry again.
The Cabriofix also fits the Quinny Buzz, Quinny Speedi, iCandy Apple, iCandy Cherry, iCandy Pear, Phil and Teds models with adaptors and Bugaboo. Im sure I have forgotten some but that's quite a list, so it's quite a versatile little car seat.
I think that's about all I can write! I've exhausted my brain thinking about it now. But I have just one last thing to add, I own an iCandy Cheery at the moment for my son, and I love it, so if I had another child I would certainly invest in a Cabriofix to make the most out of the system. And I would totally recommend purchasing a base for convenience sake.
Id give the seat 9/10- the sweaty fabric let it down a bit.
Advantages: Safe and comfortable for baby. Easy to fit, use and carry for parents. Disadvantages: Only suitable for up to 13 kg (1 year approximately)
As a proud and excited first-time grandmother, I promised my daughter a pram and car seat as my initial contribution to the phenomenal expense that the new baby would bring. As any one who is familiar with my daughter (l0bster_quadrille) could guess, she did not choose a popular brand of buggy but opted instead for the somewhat unusual Stokke Xplory.
One of our first considerations then was a car seat that would fit effortlessly onto the Xplory ... ...easy as possible. One of the options was the Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix. Adapters fitted to the side of the buggy enable the seat to be fitted. The safety and comfort specifications of the seat were enough to sway us.
The seat itself has a RRP of £105 however is available at a range of prices at different venues. We paid £84.99 at a local shop. However the cost doesn't end there. ~~~Fixing the Car Seat into the Car~~~
There are a number of methods of ...
MAFARRIMOND 08.02.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Maxi Cosi Cabriofix
Advantages: compact, simple design, no unneeded extras Disadvantages: Maybe price but Im sure its worth the extra,size maybe an issue for some
We own this seat and find it ideal for our son. Its small and compact for easy portability and placing into the car. the straps are easy to use and very high quality. The newborn insert held him nice and firmly when he was tiny, then you remove the wedge under his bum to allow him more space before removing the head part of the insert when he grows a little more. He seems to like the chair as he always sleeps while in it.
We chose this chair due ... ...seem to be much large with more complicated sun shade arrangements. Often less is more.
The whole quality of the chair seems to me top notch and I'm sure it is a safe away as possible to transport little people!
For extra safety and convenience we bought the isofix base too, This clicks into the rear of our Freelander 2 very nicely. Placing and locking the seat onto the base couldnt be easier and once placed the whole set up is very sturdy. Basically ...
YORKSTER22 22.07.2008 (23.07.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Maxi Cosi Cabriofix
Advantages: safe, compatible with many travel systems, attractive looks & many colourways Disadvantages: a bit heavy
I purchased this carseat with a Quinny Buzz pushchair set and it was not my first choice of carseat but the only one compatible with the pushchair I really wanted. I use it in my Renault Laguna with an Easy Base which makes it much much easier than securing it with a seatbelt each time.
The Seat is a little heavy, especially as my 5 month old son is already very heavy and it is getting hard work to lift him in and out of the car in the seat, however ... ...easy base in a couple of seconds and the green spot on the base confirms that it is correctly attatched, making it easy to put in even in limited space. Its simple to remove it, too.
The handle is strong and ergonomically designed to fit in your hand nicely.
The sun shade is neat and packs away, though it would have been nice if it had been designed to be slightly more substantial, so perhaps it kept the rain off a little too, so when popping into ...
bneleh 26.05.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Maxi Cosi Cabriofix
Advantages: One of the safest on the market. Lots of variety of colours. Can buy base. Disadvantages: Won't last very long even if you don't have a big baby! Quite expensive.
...on the market.
The maxi cosi comes in a wide variety of colours and all have a material sun cover which tucks nicely into the back of the car seat.
Our little boy was 7lb 8oz when he was born and was buried by the seat, however, 2 months on I have had to move the new baby cushion up to the next setting and will soon have to remove it all together as he is getting too big for it. The only problem with removing the cushion is that there is then no ... ...into getting a support pillow for his neck. Ethan is not a big baby, in fact he is following average weight and length measurements. I am not sure what other car seats are like but I really don't think this one is goin to last much longer! I was under the impression that it should last him around a year!
Having said that the car seat is very easy to fit into the car using a seat belt or you can but either an iso fix base or a base that fits into ...
shadsy1982 22.10.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Maxi Cosi Cabriofix
Advantages: Lightweight, Comfortable, Safe, Sturdy, Good value for money Disadvantages: Can't think of any.
We bought the Maxi Cosi Cabrio Fix when our Son was 5 weeks old following a few dreadful experiences with the Mamas and Papas Primo Viaggio (I have written a seperate review detailing why I would seriously not recommend the Mamas and Papas car seat as it is Dangerous!)
When we were looking to buy our Son his next car seat we were mainly concerned with the safety and comfort the seat would provide for our Son as my family live about a 4-5 hour car ... ...decided upon the Maxi Cosi. I am so pleased we chose this seat. It comes with a head hugger to ensure maximum comfort for a newborn baby. The seat itself is reclined in quite a low laid back position, very well padded and looks and feels really comfortable.
It is really quick and easy to fit the seatbelt around the car seat, it takes me seconds. The seat also feels lightweight, my son is now 18lbs and I can carry him around relatively easily. It ...
RMummy25 03.12.2007 (04.12.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Maxi Cosi Cabriofix
Padded
Ease of cleaning
Safety
Ease of installation
Value for Money
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Advantages: Stylish, Easy to Install, Easy to get baby in and out. Disadvantages: Straps can be hard to loosen/tighten.
We chose this seat as we had the maxicosicabriofix when our son was newborn and got on really well with it. Installed in about 10 minutes - I wouldn't want to move it from car to car a lot but I think that relates to all forward facing seats not just this one. Baby loves facing forward as there is so much more to see and its really easy getting him in and out. The mechanism to loosen and tighten the straps can be a bit tricky to use, but I think this was the same with our other seat and loosened after time.
We tried baby in a more padded seat at a shop and he looked rather restricted and uncomfortable. This seat feels safe (reassuring manufacturer name) but also seems to give baby a bit of freedom.
The recline is really smooth and although he's only been out in in three times he has fallen asleep twice ! The other good thing ...
Advantages: So compact, Fab Styling Disadvantages: It can tip, Has no storage
on the adapters for the Maxi-CosiCabriofix car seat. This is ultra-convenient for parents who want to run a few quick errands with a young infant as the seat part of the Zapp is only suitable for 6 months plus.
It also pops into its own travel bag so you can sling it over your shoulder which is a very big plus if you travel a lot.
Quinny Zapp CONS:
No Recline
There is no reclining on the seat unit of the Zapp, which is unfortunate for a child who wants to sleep. Although the seat is rather deep it would be nice to have a recline feature. If the seat did even drop back a little it would mean that a child could use it from an earlier age, but the way it sits, your child should be able to sit by themselves for a short time before you could even think of using this as your only stroller. I bought it for my son at 9 months as he seemed strong ...
lulu2004 03.08.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Quinny Zapp
Three different installation options: using a 3-point safety belt, Maxi-Cosi EasyBase or EasyFix (IsoFix). Bestintest. Optimal protection. IsoFix attachment. Practical.
