Toysrus.ca & Babiesrus.ca base “Our Suggested Age” ranges on these manufacturer recommendations, as well as considering which ages will enjoy the product. Such factors as a child’s developmental skill set and toy popularity help determine the enjoyment levels of a product. The safest place for a car seat is in the centre of the rear seat, so that there is sufficient distance from the airbags. It is also pretty narrow, with a width of only 16.3 inches. Only one option is narrower than this option, which is great for multiple seats in one row; however, combined with its disappointing crash analysis, we would look elsewhere. The TurboBooster did not perform well in our crash tests, with some of the highest recorded g-forces for both the HIC (head) and chest clip sensors in the group.
One tester noted that the headrest had a tendency to slide down after being adjusted; we also saw the same complaint in several online reviews. We reached out to Graco, and a company spokesperson acknowledged that the headrest can graco turbobooster slide downward if not properly locked into place. Graco has since included instructions on how to lock the headrest into position, in the user manual and on the seat for all TurboBooster LX models manufactured after March 9, 2022.
The overall fit and finish look sloppy and somewhat incomplete, with stray threads and uneven stitching. However, the price tag makes the quality level feel acceptable, even if it is disappointing. Also, since we think of it as an occasional-use seat, quality is less of a concern. This review includes the details you need to make a well-informed decision on which booster seat is the best choice for your child and your budget. The Cambria isn’t as comfortable as options like the Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 with its leg lounger padding or the Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 with its highly adjustable design.
Overall score is based on crash protection, ease of use, and the booster seat’s potential to fit a vehicle and child. The Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 and the Maxi-Cosi RoadiSport come in second place for comfort in this group. The most uncomfortable options are the Graco TurboBooster Backless and the Clek Oobr. The lack of a back and napping headrest hurt the score for the backless option, while neither offered suitable padding that was supportive and compressed to avoid pressure points. Boosters are positioning devices, meaning the car’s seat belt is responsible for restraining the child.
This Graco is one of the lightest in the group at 4.5 lbs, in large part due to its lack of back. While we prefer a backed booster, we know there are times when a smaller and lighter option is what you need. Despite the lighter weight, it would not be our choice for travel or carpooling as it is harder to carry than some smaller competitors.
With nice features for comfort, like supportive padding and additional leg padding, it is easy to see why kid testers gave it a thumbs up in our review. The Air Plus is an easy-to-use option for parents and kids, and the higher quality materials imply it will last as long as you need it to. I took my son to our local warehouse store on his fourth birthday to select his own big-boy carseat. He obviously selected the Cars Turbo Booster Carseat since it had his favorite characters on it. We took it out to the car, opened the box right there, put it in place of his five point-harness carseat, he was able to buckle himself, and we were on our way.
The Diono Monterey 2XT Latch is similar to our top pick in terms of function, but it’s covered in a plusher fabric and has the option of extending the sides through the shoulders. This makes it a good choice for kids who have a wider frame and parents who want bigger children to stay in a high-back booster seat longer. This seat received a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit. She’s got plenty of room to grow in the TurboBooster LX with True Shield and it offers a good vehicle seat belt fit. She climbed into the TurboBooster LX without any trouble and was able to buckle herself in properly. She reports that the armrests are too short for her tastes — she’s got a fondness for car seats with higher sides around the thighs so I’m not surprised at this.
The backless mode fit her reasonably well but once again, my car’s configuration made for a bit of a challenge. The shoulder portion of the vehicle seat belt is sliding off her shoulder so I wouldn’t say this is a good fit. Transporting the seat easily from car to car is essential if you plan to do it regularly.
The results were factored into our final recommendations, which included earlier models of the Chicco, Graco, and Diono high-back seats that we recommend now. The seat includes premium, push-button style lower anchors that are a little different from the lower anchor connectors we know. Instead of the entire button being pressed to release them, there’s an easy-release button that releases with just a finger.