In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
We buy all the products we test — no freebies from companies. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our testing.

Best Infant Car Seats | Crash Tested

We crash-tested 17 of the top infant car seats from Nuna, Chicco, Graco, Britax, UPPAbaby, and others to find the very best
gearlab tested logo
Best Infant Car Seat Review (We tested a variety of infant car seats for your new update, including those from popular manufacturers like Chicco...)
We tested a variety of infant car seats for your new update, including those from popular manufacturers like Chicco, Graco, Nuna, and UPPAbaby.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Wendy Schmitz
By Wendy Schmitz ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Updated August 20, 2025
Contributions From: Juliet Spurrier, MD

Every newborn needs an infant car seat when leaving the hospital or riding in a car. Choosing a seat can feel daunting when the safety concerns and installation loom on the horizon. As a new parent, it makes sense that you don't know what you should consider or how to choose. All you know is that you need and want to protect your baby.

For this comprehensive review, we purchased and tested 17 seats. To help you pick the best infant car seat, BabyGearLab spends tens of thousands of dollars crash testing car seats at a certified testing lab. Our crash-test findings and extensive hands-on testing provide the details to confidently choose the right infant car seat.

Our favorite infant seat is the Nuna Pipa RX. The Pipa LX has the best crash test results and ultra-easy installation, regardless of your chosen method. With easy-to-use features and excellent comfort, the Pipa RX is tough to beat. You can save a couple of hundred dollars with the Romer Juni, which has similar crash test results and straightforward installation.

If your budget is tighter, the Britax Willow S can save you and provide good ease of use, easy installation, and good crash test analysis. The Joie Rue continues with the savings for the tightest budget, and it offers better-than-average crash results and super-easy LATCH installation.

Since 2014, we've tested more than 200 of the best car seats, including 82 infant car seats. Recent updates include new competitors for convertible car seats and booster seat, too. If you are not sure which kind of car seat you need, check out our Best Car Seats review for more details.

Top 17 Infant Car Seats

Displaying 1 - 17 (scroll right)
< Previous | | Next >
 
#1
Compare:
nuna pipa rx
Nuna Pipa RX
#2
Compare:
romer juni
Romer Juni
#3
Compare:
clek liing
Clek Liing
#4
Compare:
britax willow s
Britax Willow S
#6
Compare:
cybex cloud g lux
Cybex Cloud G Lux
#7
Compare:
joie rue
Joie Rue
#8
Compare:
chicco keyfit 35
Chicco KeyFit 35
#9
Compare:
chicco keyfit 30
Chicco KeyFit 30
#10
Compare:
uppababy aria
UPPAbaby Aria
#13
Compare:
uppababy mesa v2
UPPAbaby Mesa v2
#14
Compare:
baby jogger city go2
Baby Jogger City GO2
#17
Compare:
doona
Doona
Awards Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Infant Car Seat
Editors' Choice Award
Best Infant Seat For Less
 Best Value Award
Best Budget-friendly Infant Seat
Top Pick Award
Best Infant Car Seat Stroller Combo
 Best Value Award
Best Budget Easy Install Choice
Top Pick Award
Best Infant Car Seat for Stroller Compatibility
      Best Value Award
Best Crash Test on the Tightest Budget
  
Price $450 List$360 List$500 List
Check Price at Amazon		$270 List
Check Amazon (on sale!)		$500 List
Check Amazon (on sale!)		$500 List
Check Amazon (on sale!)		$170 List
Check Price at Amazon		$290 List$230 List
Check Price at Amazon		$500 List$350 List
Check Price at Amazon		$450 List
Check Amazon (on sale!)		$330 List$450 List
Check Amazon (on sale!)		$150 List
Check Price at Amazon		$180 List
Check Price at Amazon		$600 List
Check Price at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
87
82
75
73
73
73
71
71
69
66
64
64
63
62
55
55
53
Star Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Bottom Line An excellent seat with impressive crash test results, but the price is high, and the harness is a hassleEasy to install seat with better crash test results and a reasonable price, but some of the features are finickyIf your budget allows, this seat has impressive crash test analysis and is easy to installAn above-average seat with a below-average price that performed better in our crash test analysis than most competitorsA good option for those who need strolling capabilities, but there are lighter seats with better crash test resultsA compelling seat full of features, but it is heavier, expensive, and doesn't have the best crash test analysisA compelling infant seat with a low price, better crash test results, and an easy LATCH installNot much to dislike in this higher-performing seat, with above-average results in all metrics and high stroller compatibilityImpressive crash test results but it isn't the most comfortable for a babyLightweight carrier with some interesting features, but nothing about this seat is a standoutBetter scores in crash tests with lots of comfort padding, but the headrest fabric and LATCH are a disappointment for the priceThe overall lower ease of use and installation of this seat takes away from the better crash test analysisA hard to love seat given the lower crash test results and higher price given the higher-performing competitionGenerally average or below average results for a seat that costs more than better-performing optionsBetter crash scores make this wallet-friendly seat a good buy despite its hiccups in comfort and ease of installThe disappointing crash test results make this a seat we'd avoid over better higher performing seatsWhile it might fill a niche for urban dwellers, its poor performance overall makes it an unlikely contender for most families
Pros Great crash test results, lightweight carrier, easy to install, huge canopyEasy install, impressive crash analysis, fantastic canopyBetter crash test analysis, load leg, great LATCH system, color indicators, easy to installBetter crash test analysis, easy to install w/out the base, lighter weight, reasonable priceStrolling capable, easy to installPlush interior, recline, easy LATCH, non-rethread adjustment, sensor safeBetter crash tests, lightweight, easy LATCH, inexpensiveBetter performance, nice padding, easy to buckleHigher crash scores, easy to use, good handle gripFeatherweight, great canopy coverage, cool LATCHBetter crash test results, lots of padding, canopy/handle perfection, easy belt threadingBetter crash test analysis, comfortable handle, huge canopyGood comfort, canopy fits with handle, retractable LATCHIntegrated tensioner/lock-off, easy-to-adjust shoulder straps, comfortableBudget-friendly, better crash test result, lighter weightEasy install with belt, lightweight carrier, budget-friendlyIntegrated stroller, stable install without base, urban-friendly
Cons Rethread harness adjustment, expensiveHarness hard to tighten, finicky handle, rethread is a painExpensive, heavy base, harder buckle operationDisappointing handle, harder belt install, thin insert paddingExpensive, heavy, learning curve for adjustmentsBelow-average crash analysis, install w/o base is iffy, heavier, expensiveCanopy/handle collision, basic padding, hard belt installNon-rigid LATCH, rougher headrestMinimal padding, small canopy, poor stability without baseWeird tension system, hard to level, challenging installHarder to install LATCH, difficult buckle, itchy fabric headrest/insertCanopy/handle collision, tricky LATCH storage, harder belt lock-offLower crash test analysis, disappointing indicator, LATCH release is hard to pressBelow-average crash test analysis, tensioner/anti-rebound bar doesn't work in all cars, expensive for average performanceHard to loosen, poor install stability, no comfort paddingDisappointing crash test performance, hard to install w/o base, poor comfort featuresExpensive, big & heavy, disappointing crash test results
Rating Categories Nuna Pipa RX Romer Juni Clek Liing Britax Willow S Evenflo Shyft DualRide Cybex Cloud G Lux Joie Rue Chicco KeyFit 35 Chicco KeyFit 30 UPPAbaby Aria Peg Perego Primo Via... Graco Premier SnugRi... UPPAbaby Mesa v2 Baby Jogger City GO2 Graco SnugRide 35 Li... Graco SnugRide SnugL... Doona
Crash Test (40%)
9.0
8.8
7.5
7.8
6.8
6.1
7.2
6.7
6.9
6.7
7.3
7.6
5.2
6.0
7.4
4.2
4.6
Ease of Install - LATCH (20%)
8.5
9.3
9.0
7.0
7.5
9.1
8.7
7.0
6.8
5.0
5.8
6.0
6.8
6.0
3.0
6.0
6.0
Ease of Install - Belt (10%)
8.5
8.5
8.3
7.5
8.5
8.3
4.0
7.0
6.8
5.0
5.5
4.0
7.0
4.3
3.5
7.8
6.0
Ease of Install - w/o Base (5%)
9.0
6.5
7.8
7.5
6.5
6.5
6.5
6.8
5.5
6.5
7.0
5.0
6.3
5.5
3.8
3.8
7.3
Ease of Use (15%)
8.3
6.0
5.5
7.0
8.0
8.3
7.0
8.5
8.0
8.3
5.5
5.3
7.5
8.0
5.5
7.0
5.5
Comfort/Quality (5%)
9.8
7.6
6.0
6.1
8.2
7.9
6.8
7.5
5.5
8.7
4.5
7.1
7.0
7.0
3.0
4.0
5.5
Weight/Size (5%)
7.5
6.6
6.4
6.9
6.4
5.5
8.2
6.5
6.8
8.5
6.4
7.0
6.4
6.4
7.9
7.5
3.0
Specifications Nuna Pipa RX Romer Juni Clek Liing Britax Willow S Evenflo Shyft DualRide Cybex Cloud G Lux Joie Rue Chicco KeyFit 35 Chicco KeyFit 30 UPPAbaby Aria Peg Perego Primo Via... Graco Premier SnugRi... UPPAbaby Mesa v2 Baby Jogger City GO2 Graco SnugRide 35 Li... Graco SnugRide SnugL... Doona
Minimum Weight 4 lbs 4 lbs 4 lbs 4 lbs 3 lbs 4 lbs 4 lbs 4 lbs 4 lbs 4 lbs 4 lbs 4 lbs 4 lbs 4 lbs 4 lbs 4 lbs 4 lbs
Maximum Weight 32 lbs 30 lbs 30 lbs 30 lbs 35 lbs 35 lbs 30 lbs 35 lbs 30 lbs 30 lbs 35 lbs 35 lbs 35 lbs 35 lbs 35 lbs 35 lbs 35 lbs
Maximum Height 32 in 32 in 32 in 32 in 32 in 32 in < 30 in 32 in 30 in 30 in 32 in 32 in 32 in 32 in 32 in 32 in 32 in
Measured Carrier-Only Weight 8.5 lb 10.2 lb 10.5 lb 9.7 lb 20.1 lb 12.4 lb 7.1 lb 10.4 lb 9.8 lb 6.5 lb 10.6 lb 9.5 lb 10.5 lb 10.5 lb 7.6 lb 8.5 lb 17.2 lb
Built in Lock Off Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Method To Adjust Harness Shoulder Height Rethread Rethread Rethread Rethread Non-rethread Non-rethread Rethread Non-rethread Rethread Non-rethread Non-rethread Non-rethread Non-rethread Non-rethread Rethread Rethread Rethread
Belt Routing Style Both Both, European listed first European Both Both, European preferred Both, European Preferred Both, European Preferred European American Both, European Preferred European American European European American American European
Anti-rebound Bar Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Anti-rebound handle position Yes No No No
Load Leg Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes No No No No No
Shoulder Harness Positions 3 4 3 4 8 12 3 5 3 Many micro adjustments 5 6 5 17 4 4 3
Crotch Strap Positions 2 3 1 3 3 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 1
Number of Recline Positions 4 4 7 4 5 4 4 6 5 4 Infinite 5 4 4 4 4 Infinite
Locking Handle Positions 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 3 3 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 3
Allowed Handle Positions For Auto Travel 3 Recommends carry position for more room, but any locked position Upright Position All 3 Any as long as it's locked Recommends carry position for more room Any position Any position 5, though it's required to leave the handle in the most upright position. Position C for base Install (even with the top of the seat),
Position A for Seat Only Install (all the way forward)		 4 Position 4 (all the way forward) Any position Any position Any position Position C (all the way forward)
Level Indicator On Base Number Slide Dial, both sides Bubble, in middle Dial, both sides Bubble, in middle Needle, both sides Bubble, one sides Bubble, both sides Bubble, both sides Bubble, Both sides Bubble, in middle Bubble, one sides Dial, both sides Bubble, both sides needle, one side needle, one side Needle, both sides
Level Indicator On Seat Line on Decal Line on Decal Line on Decal Line on Decal Line on Decal Line on Decal Line on Decal Line on Decal Line on Decal Line on Decal Line on Decal Line on Decal Line on Decal Line on Decal Line on Decal Line on Decal Line on Decal
Aircraft Certified Yes Yes, without the base Yes Yes Yes Yes, without the base Yes, without the base Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes