Britax EVOLVA 1-2-3 SL SICT review

from Britax
RRP  £163.95

by Mother & Baby Team |
Updated on

At a glance:

A brilliant car seat from a brand you can trust, this clever car seat comes with a number of clever extras, such as auto-tension seat belts, a reclining seat and in-built cup holders. Suitable from nine-months to 12-years, with Isofix for peace of mind, rest assured your tot is safe in this high-quality car seat.

What they said:

The EVOLVA range has been popular with parents for over 10 years. The latest addition, the EVOLVA 1-2-3 SL SICT offers advanced safety performance and a premium look. Our improved Side Impact Cushion Technology (SICT) minimises the force of an impact in a side collision, and the Soft-Latch ISOFIX installation connects the seat direct to the car. It’s suitable for children from 9 kg to 36 kg and can be installed in most cars - with ISOFIX and a 3-point seat belt, or the 3-point seat belt alone.

Tested by mum Katharine Forsythe for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:

Would you recommend this to other mums?

I would recommend this to friends and fellow parents as I feel that this car seat is well made; it is easy to install and great use on a day to day basis, and it also looks fantastic. It has a number of additional extras which for me would make a big difference, for example the seat belts which are auto-tension, ensuring your little one is secure, as well as handy features like the cup holder and the reclining seat for naps.

How did this product make your life easier?

This car seat is great! It looks very smart and it is sturdy and easy to install. It is comfortable for the child, whilst being reassuring for the parent due to the sturdy design. The car seat also has a number of additional features that make it stand ahead of some of its competitors. For example, it has a recline function which is so important for those longer car journeys as it means your child can relax and sleep without their head falling forward.

Would you choose this product to win?

I would choose this product above others on the market because I feel it offers more. It is so well made and is made from really good quality fabrics. I also think the size of the car seat is perfect and am really impressed by the side impact additional supports. I love the seat belts which are so clever and the cup holder and recline functions – it is an excellent car seat!

What changes would you make to this product?

I don't think I would change anything about this car seat. I think it has been thoughtfully made, including all the added extras you could want and I think the price point is well placed as it is affordable to parents. Well done Britax!

Tested by mum Sarah Kitchener for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:

Would you recommend this to other mums?

I would recommend this car seat to fellow mums for a number of different reasons. Firstly, the ISOFIX is great and I feel like it offers extra safety, as you know the car seat is securely fixed, without worrying about manually strapping it in. Also, adjusting both the straps and the headrest as your baby grows is very simple and straightforward.

How did this product make your life easier?

One of the main ways in which the Britax Römer EVOLVA car seat makes my life easier is its durability – it can be used from nine-months-old to 12 years and for me, this saves both money and the time I would spend hunting for a new car seat. The ISOFIX makes life much easier as the seat doesn’t have to be strapped in and out of the car each time, and I know it is safely in place.

Would you choose this product to win?

Unfortunately, I would not choose the product over similar car seats on the market as it doesn't offer the option to rearward face and that is something I really care about. That said, this is a forward-facing car seat category, and I definitely think this car seat is great, I would just prefer to sit my baby in a rearward-facing position.

What changes would you make to this product?

As indicated above, I wish this car seat would give me the option to sit my baby in an extended rearward-facing position until he is four-years-old.

Tested by mum Vicki Haworth for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:

Would you recommend this to other mums?

I would recommend this as my daughter was very comfortable in the seat, and had her usual nap, despite the fact she isn't used to forward-facing. The main benefit for me is that although it's ISOFIX, which I personally feel happier with in terms of safety, there's no bulky base or support leg, meaning that smaller cars with less room between rear and front seats and those with a lower head height would still fit this seat and have plenty of room to spare.

How did this product make your life easier?

The flexibility in terms of fitting options for the Britax Römer EVOLVA is a huge bonus for me; my car has ISOFIX points, but my parents' car doesn't. They sometimes collect my daughter from nursery, and with this car seat we'd only need to buy the one, and not have to meet beforehand to swap the seat across.

Would you choose this product to win?

I think that this chair would be a brilliant choice; I'd happily purchase it, so would have to say that it is a deserving winner in this category. I like the fact that it feels sturdy and is excellent quality (for me there's nothing worse than a flimsy or cheap-looking car seat, as I would struggle to trust it). It was easy to fit, it’s comfy for my daughter and I love the colour choices.

What changes would you make to this product?

Honestly, with the chair itself, all I can think of would be to make the strap storage areas (at the sides for the ISOFIX straps) a little easier to open and close, with a definite click or latch.  They were a little awkward to open and I bent my fingernail back, but aside from that, I would say it's pretty perfect!

Tested by mum Sharon Ward for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:

Would you recommend this to other mums?

I would recommend this to a friend or fellow mum because I think it has been well designed, it has side impact features, and looks very well made and 'safe'. It also has the a fantastic added extra with the seatbelts which adjust, this is so reassuring when travelling with little ones who love to wriggle out of their straps!

How did this product make your life easier?

This car seat really impressed me. It had lots of great things about it which I didn't expect as I hadn't used this brand before. I thought the cup holder and the seat belt were great as well as the recline feature. I found it easy to install and easy to use on a daily basis. It also looks great, which is always important!

Would you choose this product to win?

I think I would choose this above other car seats having tried this seat because it looks great, has been really well made and is so safe. It also has some added extras which make it stand out beyond its competitors, such as the recline function and cup holder which are so handy. It is also easy to install and easy to use day to day.

What changes would you make to this product?

I would change absolutely nothing! I have not used Britax products before, but I would now as the quality was so good (and better than I expected). I actually thought the car seat was good value for money and I was pleasantly surprised at the range of little extras this seat offered. I would highly recommend it!

Tested by mum Katy for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:

Would you recommend this to other mums?

I would definitely recommend this to anyone! It looks and feels safe and I am at absolute ease when taking my daughter out knowing she is in this car seat. It is incredibly easy to transport between cars as it is so lightweight. It is also very padded and cushioned so my little one seems comfortable. All in all, it is much better than my other car seat and I love it!

How did this product make your life easier?

This product makes my life easier as a mum with the ability to choose ISOFIX or just using a seatbelt – for me, this is absolutely amazing, as my in-laws’ car doesn't have ISOFIX, but it’s no problem as the seat can be used with a seat belt too! This is such a problem solver and gives me huge peace of mind as I know my daughter will be safe wherever she is.

Would you choose this product to win?

This product should definitely win a Mother & Baby award as I love how it grows with the child. The headrest at the back is so easily changed to suit the child and is such a great shape for support and safety. For me, this is the best car seat on the market as it has a great over all look, the adjustments are extremely easy, and it’s very lightweight, so much so that even grandparents would be able to transport it.

What changes would you make to this product?

I really don't think I can find any flaws with this car seat! I am extremely impressed and it has really changed our lives. I worked in Mothercare in the car seat section and I really don't know how I didn't come across this car seat sooner!

Product Information

Suitable from nine-months to 12-years (9-36kg).

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Mother & Baby is dedicated to ensuring our information is always valuable and trustworthy, which is why we only use reputable resources such as the NHS, reviewed medical papers, or the advice of a credible doctor, GP, midwife, psychotherapist, gynaecologist or other medical professionals. Where possible, our articles are medically reviewed or contain expert advice. Our writers are all kept up to date on the latest safety advice for all the products we recommend and follow strict reporting guidelines to ensure our content comes from credible sources. Remember to always consult a medical professional if you have any worries. Our articles are not intended to replace professional advice from your GP or midwife.