Truly the KING of all car seats!
Pros:
Safety and comfort
5 point harness up to 80 lbs!
EPS protective foam in body
Cons:
Price
Large- small car owners, this may not be the seat for you!
The Bottom Line:
The safety of your child is worth any price! Aside from being safe, it's easy to use, install, and is comfy for the kids!
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
We have a three year old who has been in a Britax Wizard seat since he was about 6 months old. With the arrival of his new baby brother, we decided to move our three year old up to the Regent, mainly so he could stay in a five-point harness system for as long as possible.
We love the safety features that Britax offers, and really feel that the quality is worth the (high) price of these seats. The Regent features
-EPS protective foam (the stuff in bike helmets)
-Belt holders to keep the shoulder straps from being sat upon when getting in the seat (I actually find these a pain to use,but it's a nice thought)
-5 point harness with belly pad
-front harness adjustment (very handy with winter coats)
-versa- tether system
-mesh pouches on sides for cups, snacks or toys
-washable cover
-LATCH
We purchased two seats in the Sahara color back in January, but because of a shortage of these seats, they did not arrive until May. That was no problem for us, but if you need a seat right now, know that they may be on backorder (hopefully Britax has stepped up production or fixed whatever the issue was).
When the boxes finally arrived on our doorstep, I nearly died. They were HUGE! I immediately started sweating about getting one in my Honda Accord. Set up was pretty easy. Open box, remove seat. There is a recline bar sitting in the seat that can be used to install the seat, and it is very easy to install if you need it- it just slides in two holes on the back of the seat and voila, it is in. As with all Britax seats, the instruction manual is handily tucked under the cover of the seat, so it is always there when you need it.
I tackled getting one in my husband's Infinity QX4 first. I did not need the recline bar and was able to install the seat using the long route (you can use a long or short route for the belt, depending on how long your belt is- remember that you must stop using LATCH at around 40 lbs, check your driver's manual for the exact weight). I installed the seat behind the driver's seat, and used the versa-tether system to secure it as well. It took about ten minutes for me to install the seat, and that included moving the Wizard back to a rear-facing position for the new baby. On the first ride, my son declared it was a very comfortable seat. He really likes the mesh pockets. It also sits up higher than his old seat, so he had fun looking around from a new perspective.
Installing the seat in my Accord was a little tougher. Again, I did not need the recline bar to get a tight fit. This time, I installed the seat on the rear passenger side. I had to use the short route for installation, and I also used the versa-tether. Getting it in was a little tricky, but that was mainly because I had the Wizard in the rear driver's side, so I had to do acrobatics to do anything in the middle of the car (where the seat belts fasten). Speaking of the middle of the car- there isn't much left. My two car seats take up most of the space in the rear. If you had to get a third car seat in the back, there is no way you could do it with these seats. Then again, I'm not sure you could with any seats. The Regent is a tall seat, and I do have a little trouble seeing over it when I look over my right shoulder for lane changes. I think if I would switch the seats (put the Regent behind the driver's seat), this would not be a problem. It isn't enough of an issue that I have taken the time to do it yet.
I found the seat easy to install in both of our vehicles, and I was doing it all by myself. If you have a spouse or friend to you help you, it would be even easier. If not, don't sweat it. The instruction manual is very clear and they are not hard to get in. Our son loves his new seats, and we love them too! They were definitely worth that 4 month wait!!!