Test of 26 Child Car Seats Finds High Price Does Not Guarantee Quality

A safety test of 26 child and infant car seats found that a high price and a familiar brand do not necessarily guarantee quality. One infant carrier with an ISOFIX attachment system proved potentially life-threatening for a child.

The independent European consumer test was conducted by Germany’s ADAC together with other European organizations. Researchers assessed crash protection, ease of installation and use, comfort during travel, and whether the materials contained substances harmful to health.

Nearly half of the tested models were infant carriers. Nine child seats could also be used by school-age children, depending on the model, for children up to 125 or 150 centimeters tall.

The lowest-rated product was the Kinderkraft Mink Pro 2 infant carrier combined with the Base Mink FX2. In a simulated frontal collision, the carrier detached from the base secured to the car with ISOFIX and was thrown through the vehicle’s interior. The carrier itself showed no dangerous defects. When installed with a seat belt, it provided good crash protection and comfortable travel.