Chicco Fit 360 Review

Chicco, pronounced KEE-ko, is a baby gear company of Italian origin. Chicco has been designing and manufacturing baby gear for over 30 years. They have enjoyed quick success in the United States after the introduction of the car seats and strollers. They make all kinds of gear, from bottles and baby carriers to bassinets and pacifiers.

Performance Comparison

Crash Test

The Fit360 scored above average in our crash test analysis with sensor results better than some competitors but not as good as others.

This seat, like all other seats in our review and on the market in the United States, should be considered safe, but how they perform in our crash test could potentially indicate that some offer a margin of safety over others. We run our crash simulations at a slightly higher rate of speed than the federal guideline requires and use a more modern sled that mimics the seats in newer cars to find the seats that stand out compared to the competition.

The analysis considers the sensor test results from the head (HIC) and chest (chest clip) sensors of the crash test dummy. A lower result for both is preferred as this indicates fewer G forces impacting the body. The HIC result for the Fit360 is just below the average for the group. Don't forget being below is better. The chest clip result is just above the average for the group. While these results are considered safe, and there is nothing wrong with them, there are seats in our review with significantly lower sensor results that could offer a potential margin of safety over this seat.

Ease of Install - LATCH

The Lever Lock system on the Chicco is unique and makes installation really easy. It earned one of the highest scores in this metric.

The base installs free of the seat, making the process easier to manage and work around without the hassle of working around the seat. The LATCH connectors come out of the storage pocket on the back of the base and thread through a similar pathway as a vehicle belt would inside the lever lock. The LATCH strap is easy to tighten, and the lock is easy to press down to secure the base to the belt.

The base includes a water level on each side with a ball and clearly marked areas where it needs to be for proper installation. We love that they appear on both sides, so no matter where you install it, you have the reference close at hand. The center of the base includes the recline lever, which is easy to lift and adjust to get the seat and level where they need to be.

Once the base is installed, the seat sits on top and rotates to the correct position. To rotate the seat once it is locked or to remove it, you need to use the clip on the harness strap to unlock it from the base.

The LATCH connectors are the hook style we aren't huge fans of. While they are safe and work fine, they are much harder to remove than those with a push button release that mimics a seatbelt.

These require loosening the strap so the hook can be pushed forward and the release engaged. This could be more of a challenge for those with larger fingers or vehicle seats with a tight fit between the seat back and seat bottom.

The base tether strap is a little more challenging to use because it tucks under the vehicle headrest and then pulls to tighten. Once tight, it is hard to tuck in under the lever lock.

Ease of Install - Belt

The Fit 360 belt installation is the same for forward and rear-facing, meaning you only need to do it once, assuming you don't remove it from the car. The ability to install just the base makes it easier and less cumbersome, more akin to installing infant car seats. It earned one of the highest scores in the group for belt installation.

The belt pathway on this seat follows the same alignment as the shoulder/lap belt in the vehicle, making it super easy to position the belt correctly. The lever lock system ensures that the base is securely connected to the belt and it snaps closed without a lot of effort.

There is no significant tugging, pulling, or pushing to secure the final fit for this seat. It feels rock solid when installed. We love that the process feels intuitive and doesn't require an engineering degree to figure out or towels to make it fit. Because the base installs sans seat, the process is less frustrating because there is more room and less to work around. Once the base is installed, the seat clicks in place on the base with color-coded feedback so you know you are good to go.

Ease of Use

The Chicco Fit 360 earned an impressive score for ease of use with features designed with a real parent in mind.

Harness

The harness on this Chicco has 2 crotch positions and 15 shoulder height positions (10-inch overall variation). It is adjusted via a non-rethread headrest that pulls up and down to the optimal position. Tightening it via the center pull strap is easy, and doing this with the seat facing you makes it even easier.

Loosening the harness is also easy with a giant, easy-to-see, easy-to-use button near the end of the seat. While the button requires a little force, we like that it is available in the open and not hidden under the cover or set too far back in the seat to get a useful approach.

The buckle is easy to press and doesn't require a prohibitive amount of force. The prongs slightly eject when you press them, but you'll still need to pull them out manually. There are pockets for prong storage on the sides of the seat to keep the seat free of clutter when your child gets in.

The chest clip has a two-button design that is easy to use but does require more effort than some competitors. On the upside, this likely translates to less accidental unclipping by curious toddlers.

LATCH Storage

The Fit360's LATCH connectors are tucked into a pocket on the rear of the base. This keeps them out of the way and limits access to them.

The tether hooks to the seat's shell and can be snugly secured to prevent it from being a hazard or being played with. The manual is stored in the pocket under the base.

Cover

Taking the cover off for cleaning is easy and straightforward, and they offer a step-by-step tutorial on their website. Putting it back on is more of a challenge. The plastic tabs on the cover help it fit into tight spaces, but we struggled to get it snug enough for the cup holders to fit snuggly. It took us close to 4 minutes to get the cover off and almost 12 minutes to put it back on.

Comfort/Quality

The Chicco performed well in our tests for comfort and quality, offering an above-average performance overall.

The fabric has a silky, smooth feeling, bordering on slippery. It is the Clear Tex material, which is Greenguard Gold certified, has low chemical emissions, and does not contain flame retardants.

The padding is adequate and supportive, with good cushion in the head area. The shoulder straps also have a padded cover that doesn't have the non-slip back found on some competitors.

The Fit360 has an uncluttered shell that is largely self-contained with a spot for everything. While it does have its share of stickers on the side, they aren't as offensive as some competitors. The shell is easy to wipe clean and doesn't have many nooks for gunk to collect. That said, the base could collect food, dirt, and other grime over time, which could make rotating the seat a challenge. We suspect that over time, attention will need to be paid to this area to keep it functioning properly.

This Chicco has two built-in cup holder compartments where two dishwasher-safe cup holders can be placed. They aren't too easy to remove, but gregarious and determined toddlers will likely sort it out quickly. The cup holders are somewhat bigger than the average, but wide sippy cups, insulated water bottles, and snack catchers are unlikely to fit.

The infant insert uses fabric softer than the rest of the seat with a firm booster deep in the seat to help with proper positioning. Inserts should not be cushy as they are less about comfort and more about avoiding positional asphyxiation. It comes in two pieces, and the bottom portion attaches to the crotch strap to help keep it in place.

Weight/Size

The Fit 360 is a big dude. This is fairly common in the rotating options, but it is still noteworthy if you need to carry it or store it.

While we appreciate that it comes in two parts, if you take it on travel, you will still need to carry or stow both parts. The base is easy to carry, but the seat itself is bulky and has no good gripping place or designated handle. In our tests, it weighed 32.4 lbs altogether and 26.1 for just the seat portion.

This seat is not a good contender for smaller cars or those where multiple passengers in and out of car seats might need to sit in a row. It measured 18.5 inches at its widest part, and this could make things tight depending on who else you need to transport. It is also one of the widest seats from front to back at 32.25 inches.

Should You Buy the Chicco Fit360?

If you want the ergonomics of a rotating seat or prefer a one-and-done installation for forward and rear-facing configurations, the Fit 360 could be the one for you. This cool seat rotates smoothly from forward to back with a stopping point that allows for easy access for getting little ones in and out. It offers better-than-average crash test result analysis, and it is super easy to install with a pathway designed for lap/shoulder belts that works well and is hassle-free. We love the thicker padding, the ability to remove the seat and leave the base, and the non-rethread harness adjustment. However, this seat is spendier than most and there are options with better crash test results. So, depending on your goals, it could be a hit or miss for your needs.

What Other Convertible Car Seat Should You Consider?

If you want a rotating seat but are hoping for something with a budget-friendlier price or higher crash test analysis than the Fit 360, the Graco Turn2Me 3-in-1 would be our choice. This option earned one of the best crash test analysis scores, and it costs a little less. While it is not as easy to install or use as the Chicco, we think most folks won't know the difference and will appreciate the savings and better crash test results. If you aren't married to a rotating option, the Graco 4Ever DLX is almost half the price of the Chicco, and it has some of the best crash testing in the group. This seat is a top performer and is easy to use. While it doesn't rotate, we think most parents won't know what they are missing and believe the convenience of rotating is as big of a deal as companies want you to believe.

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