In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible Review

Below-average seat with few standout qualities or features and there are better seats to be had for cheaper price
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Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible Review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $350 List
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Manufacturer:   Peg Perego
By Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz  ⋅  Jan 5, 2024
61
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#14 of 19
  • Crash Test - 35% 7.4
  • Ease of Installation - LATCH - 20% 5.0
  • Ease of Installation - Belt - 15% 2.8
  • Ease of Use - 15% 7.0
  • Comfort/Quality - 10% 7.0
  • Weight/ Size - 5% 6.7

Our Verdict

The Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible is a below-average option in our best convertible car seat review. It is pretty boring, and it struggled to earn average results in every metric, with several falling short. It is hard to install using the LATCH system and, shockingly, even harder using the vehicle belt. The crash test analysis was slightly under the average, and while better than some, other options scored higher and cost less. As an uninspired car seat, it is hard to give the Peg top marks or an award, and we think there are better choices in this lineup.
REASONS TO BUY
Quick and easy cover removal
LATCH connectors easy to remove
REASONS TO AVOID
Average crash testing
Harder to install any method
No cup holder
Editor's Note: The Peg Perego is part of our most recent update on January 5, 2024, of the convertible car seats, including independent crash testing.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Convertible and Crash Testing
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall for Rear-Facing Longer
Best Value Award
Best Value Convertible Seat
Best Value Award
Best on the Tightest Budget
Price $350 List
$349.99 at Amazon
$330 List
$329.99 at Amazon
$250 List
$229.99 at Amazon
$220 List
Check Price at Amazon
$80 List
$79.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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78
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62
Star Rating
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Bottom Line Generally average, especially for the price, but the average crash test analysis and hard to install test results leave us wanting a different seatEasy to install and use and one of the best crash test analysis scores make this seat a winner for most familiesBetter crash test analysis and a lower price make this easy-to-install seat an award contender that just missed the markWallet-loving price on a seat that is easy to install and earned better crash test results than mostDespite a lack of padding and a harder LATCH install, this inexpensive option earned impressive crash test results, making it a winner for budget-limited families
Rating Categories Peg Perego Primo Vi... Graco 4Ever DLX Graco Extend2Fit 3... Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 Evenflo Tribute 5
Crash Test (35%)
7.4
8.8
8.6
8.5
8.6
Ease of Installation - LATCH (20%)
5.0
7.9
7.8
7.9
4.3
Ease of Installation - Belt (15%)
2.8
7.1
6.4
6.5
5.6
Ease of Use (15%)
7.0
8.0
7.0
7.5
5.0
Comfort/Quality (10%)
7.0
6.5
8.5
8.0
3.0
Weight/ Size (5%)
6.7
7.5
7.5
7.1
7.8
Specs Peg Perego Primo Vi... Graco 4Ever DLX Graco Extend2Fit 3... Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 Evenflo Tribute 5
Min/Max Rear Facing Passenger Weight 5-45 lb 4-40 lb 4-50 lb 5-40 lb 5-40 lb
Min/Max Forward Facing Passenger Weight 22-65 lb 22-65 lb 22-65 lb 22-65 lb 22-40 lb
Rear Facing Maximum Height To of head is at least 1 in below the headrest edge Top of head must be at least 1 in below handle Top of head must be at least 1 in below handle Top of head must be at least 1 in below handle 37 in
Forward Facing Maximum Height 49 in 49 in 49 in 49 in 40 in
Weight 21.5 lb 21.8 lb 20.5 lb 18.5 lb 9.4 lb
Minimum Rear Facing Length 29 in 25 in 26 in 28 in 29 in
Minimum Seat Width 19 in 19 in 19 in 19 in 18 in
Number Of Recline positions 2 6 6 4 1
Shoulder Harness Positions 10 10 10 10 4
Crotch Strap Positions 1 2 2 3 2
Anti-rebound Device No No Yes No No
Head Support Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Infant Positioning Insert Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Harness Type No-rethread No-rethread No-rethread No-rethread Rethread
Onboard Manual Storage Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Rear Facing Level Indicator On Seat Line on decal, both sides Bubble, one side Bubble, one side Bead, one side Line on decal, both sides
Booster Mode Available No Yes Yes Yes No
Foam Type EPS & EPP Not mentioned Not mentioned EPS EPS
Seat Lifespan 10 years 10 years 10 years 10 years 6 years
Aircraft Certified Yes Yes in harness mode, No in booster mode Yes in harness mode, No in booster mode Yes in harness mode, No in booster mode Yes
Warranty 2 year limited 1 year limited 1 year limited 1 year limited 90 day limited

Our Analysis and Test Results

Italian-born Peg Perego makes baby gear, including car seats, strollers, a high chair in our best high chairs review, and ride-on electric toys. The company was started in 1949 by the Perego family, and the family continues to be a part of the design and development of the company, from ideas to production.

Performance Comparison



The commissioned crash test for the Peg are below average for the test group.
Credit: GearLab & MGA Research

Crash Test


The Peg earned a crash test analysis result that is just below the average, which makes it not a standout but certainly better performing than some seats. However, some options performed better with higher overall scores and lower prices, making this one uninspiring.


All safety seats in this review passed the federal minimum guidelines and are considered safe. We ran our tests faster than the federal guidelines with a crash sled that more closely mimics properties in modern-day cars.

This is a comparison graph of the chest clip sensor results from one...
This is a comparison graph of the chest clip sensor results from one of the best in the group (green line) and the Peg Perego (black line).
This is a comparison graph of the head sensor results from one of...
This is a comparison graph of the head sensor results from one of the best-performing car seats in the group (green line) and the Peg Perego (black line).

As a result, we expected seats to have a broader range of sensor data so we could pinpoint options worthy of additional praise. The Peg is not one of those seats, though it did perform better than some. The HIC and chest clip sensor data are higher than about half the group (lower is better), so while it did better than about half overall, it isn't a favorite.

The LATCH strap on the Peg slides along the pathway, depending on the configuration for installation.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Install - LATCH


With one of the lower results for LATCH installation, this metric does not offer a compelling reason to purchase the Peg. While not the worst in the group, it is near the bottom, with only a few performing worse. The Peg does not have a lock-off, which is a big miss when it comes to installation. It has push-style connectors that work well, and the level indicator is a line on a decal.

The recline adjustment for the Peg is deep under the seat, making it...
The recline adjustment for the Peg is deep under the seat, making it more complicated to reach in the rear-facing configuration installation.
The Peg Perego has a push-style LATCH connector that is easy to use...
The Peg Perego has a push-style LATCH connector that is easy to use with a push button for release.

The recline handle is tough to use, in our opinion. We had to take the seat out of the car to make the adjustment, and the recline still wasn't much. The LATCH strap slides up and down a bar depending on if you are installing rear-facing or forward, and while not super smooth, it works fine. Tightening the strap is a pain with no great ergonomic pull direction.

peg perego primo viaggio convertible - we had to use towels to get the right installation angle when...
We had to use towels to get the right installation angle when installing the Peg Perego.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

We had to sit on the seat to get the slack out, and we still couldn't get it tight enough. The seat bottom is wider than the LATCH anchor points, making access and tightening more challenging. As a result, it straddles the line of passing and failing the wiggle test. A lock-off or even a tensioner could have gone a long way in making it more stable and easier to tighten. Depending on the test car, we used 1-2 towels to install the Peg properly. Overall, it was easier and more stable in our second test car, indicating that vehicle design will play a significant role in your experience.

We had to push on the seat to get the Peg LATCH strap tight enough...
We had to push on the seat to get the Peg LATCH strap tight enough to pass the wiggle test.
The Peg level indicator is a line on a decal and it isn't as easy to...
The Peg level indicator is a line on a decal and it isn't as easy to read as other types of indicators.

Forward-facing installation of the Peg also has no lock-off and no leveling indicator. The LATCH strap slides up and down a back rail, and the recline handle is still hard to use. While the LATCH system seems easy enough, the difficulty we had getting it tight enough ruined the experience overall. It felt snug and stable once we got it tight enough. Forward-facing was more difficult in test car 2, unlike the rear-facing configuration experience.

The forward-facing configuration of the Peg Perego is a pathway between the seat back and frame.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Install - Belt


Installing the Peg using a vehicle belt is even harder than the LATCH method, with a score far below the average in the group.

Rear-facing installation of the Peg Perego using the vehicle belt includes a clasp to hold the belt in place to avoid it shifting.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The Peg has a line on a decal for leveling purposes and color coding but no lock-off. Sigh. With a seat in the higher price range, it is a bummer that there is no lock-off to help get the seat tight without significantly more effort.

The Peg has a straightforward belt pathway in a forward-facing...
The Peg has a straightforward belt pathway in a forward-facing configuration, but oddly, it is still not as easy as some of the competition.
We had to recline the Peg before finalizing the installation.
We had to recline the Peg before finalizing the installation.

Rotating the seat is somewhat of a nightmare. We struggled to get the seat properly oriented and had to really yank on the handle. The reference line is at such an angle that we used 1-2 towels to align the seat (test car dependent) properly. The pathway is under the seat, and the design led to twisting the belt for us. However, threading in rear-facing was easier than forward-facing. Pulling the belt is awkward, so tightening was near impossible. Once installed, the seat passes the wiggle test, but it is poor and barely passes. Only one tester achieved a passing result, and the seat looked a little crooked. It is such a pain and so frustrating that our gut feeling makes us want to avoid this seat.

Because the side clasp on the Peg is not a true lock-off, it allows the seat to slide and makes it hard to get a stable installation with no wiggle.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

While the forward-facing installation of the Peg includes a lock-off, it was a terrible threading experience, especially if your hands are larger than average. Because the pathway was behind the seat, we had to pass the belt from one hand to another, necessitating getting in the car or wrapping our arm around the seat.

Rear-facing configuration pathway on the Peg has a sticker with...
Rear-facing configuration pathway on the Peg has a sticker with color-coded arrows, but it would be easier and more evident if the pathway itself were a different color.
The forward-facing configuration for belt installation of the Peg...
The forward-facing configuration for belt installation of the Peg includes a clasp to help prevent the vehicle belt from sliding up and down the pathway as opposed to a lock-off that stops it from sliding back and forth.

The lock-off wasn't as helpful as most, and it was more of a hindrance than a help; we couldn't get it tight even using the lock-off, as the belt kept moving inside the lock-off.

peg perego primo viaggio convertible - the peg side clasp should not be confused with a lock-off or...
The Peg side clasp should not be confused with a lock-off or tensioner, and you must pair this convertible seat with a locking vehicle belt.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Only one tester got it to pass the wiggle test in the second test car. Overall, it feels like such a gamble on whether this seat will work in your vehicle if you can get the belt tight enough, or if the lock-off is functional. It doesn't seem worth it, given better options are out there that offer more for a lower or similar price.

peg perego primo viaggio convertible - the peg has elastic retention loops to hold the harness open to...
The Peg has elastic retention loops to hold the harness open to avoid it falling under little tushies when you place your baby in the seat.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


The everyday features on this seat are easier to use than more than half of the group, with a better score than average. While you won't find anything here frustrating, there isn't much in the design to be truly easy or better than most.

peg perego primo viaggio convertible - the peg chest clip and buckle are not as impressive as others in...
The Peg chest clip and buckle are not as impressive as others in this price range.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Harness


The harness buckle and chest clip aren't as nice as much of the competition. It is a standard buckle with a square push button and prongs that go in easily enough. The crotch padding gets in the way and can't be pushed aside in any way we could see. It does have harness retainers on each side, consisting of flexible webbing you shove the prongs through. The chest clip is bland, and no diagram shows where it goes. It has resistance, both pushing it together and pulling it apart.

Tightening and loosening the harness is easier than the average option. Tightening is easy with a smooth pulling strap, and the button for release is easy to push to pull the harness loose.

peg perego primo viaggio convertible - the headrest assembly on the peg adjusts more easily going up than...
The headrest assembly on the Peg adjusts more easily going up than down with the pull of the tab.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The shoulder strap height adjustment on the Peg is below average in our tests. It is non-rethread, and pulling it up works well, but pushing it down to a lower level is harder because there really is nothing to grasp for this maneuver. The entire assembly does move smoothly, both up and down. It has ten height positions but only one crotch position, which isn't a deal-breaker but could make it more challenging to find a snug fit.

The Peg seat back includes a clear compartment for the user manual.
The Peg seat back includes a clear compartment for the user manual.
LATCH connector storage is on the base of the Peg under the chair...
LATCH connector storage is on the base of the Peg under the chair component.

LATCH Storage


The Peg LATCH connectors are stored between the underside of the seat and the base with easy access. The fact that they slide along a rail on each side makes it a quick and straightforward process. very good

Cover


Removing the cover for cleaning on the Peg is very good compared to others with no hook, loops, buttons, or zippers. It would be the quickest of the group if you didn't have to unthread the harness. Despite not liking the harness part of the process, it is easier to do this than trying to finagle tiny loops onto hooks we can't reach with normal adult fingers.

peg perego primo viaggio convertible - the peg is okay for comfort and quality, but overall, it struggled...
The Peg is okay for comfort and quality, but overall, it struggled to keep up with options with lower price tags.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Comfort/Quality


Comfort and quality for the Peg is about average, with a result just below this for the group. While it isn't the most expensive option in the competition, it is priced in a range where we would expect more in this metric.

The headrest fabric is a bit rough, but it looks breathable. We'd still like for it to be softer. The remaining seat fabric is softer and much better, which seems odd since the face is likely the most sensitive and exposed. The edge of the seat is a leatherette that looks easy to wipe clean. The infant insert is a booster-like pad for the bottom area and nothing for the headrest or back.

The seat has nice padding down the center where most pressure from a toddler's body will be applied. There is somewhat less on the sides. The padding feels comfy and offers a good loft with adequate support. The headrest has additional foam on top of the impact foam for more comfort and a cushiony feel.

The shell is pretty standard, but it does look like gunk could collect here and be more challenging to clean. It has no cup holders.

peg perego primo viaggio convertible - the peg perego is somewhat lighter than some of the competition...
The Peg Perego is somewhat lighter than some of the competition, with a weight slightly below the average.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Weight/Size


The Peg is lighter than a lighter-than-average seat with a weight of 21.5 lb compared to 24.3. The Peg seems pleasantly lightweight, with the heaviest option coming in closer than 33 lbs. 18.5


The width of the Peg is close to average at 18.5 compared to 18.6. This width means it isn't the best for a narrow-fitting situation, but it might work better than others.

Should You Buy the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible?


Besides an easy-to-remove cover and quick-removing LATCH connectors, there isn't much to love about this generally average Peg Perego offering. This seat looks and feels dated with a bare-bones style approach on a higher-priced seat. Regardless of the method, this seat is more complex to install, and its crash test analysis results are just below the average. So, while still safe, we think there are better seat seats in this review that cost less and offer a potential additional margin of safety over the Peg based on crash test results. All of this makes the Perego one we don't love foremost families.

What Other Convertible Car Seat Should You Consider?


The best all-around seat in the group is the Graco 4Ever DLX convertible seat with dual cup holders and non-rethread harness adjustment. It has a longer lifespan than much of the competition and boasts some of the best crash test results in the group. It also has a lower list price than the Peg Perego and is much easier to install using either method. If your budget is tight and you still want the best crash test results you can afford, the Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 should make your list of potentials, as it also has impressive crash test results and is easy to install with better comfort than the 4Ever or the Peg Perego.

Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz