BRITAX CAR SEATS WIN FOUR BEST BUY AWARDS FROM WHICH?
Four Britax products secure Best Buy status in the latest car seat test
Four Britax products have been awarded Best Buy status in the latest Test Lab on car seats by independent consumer group Which?. The Britax BABY-SAFE Plus SHR II both with and without base, the Britax KIDFIX SICT and the Britax KID plus SICT were all rated highly in the group test, published in the June edition of Which? magazine. The Which? tests go above and beyond the legal standard of testing required for car seats in the UK, using the same vigorous crash forces that are used in the Euro NCAP tests. The tests check the performance of car seats in frontal and side impact crashes as well as looking at overall crash safety, and car seats are also rated on how easy they are to fit in the car, what measures are in place to avoid incorrect use, and how comfortable they are for the child.
The Britax BABY-SAFE Plus SHR II both with and without ISOFIX base was the highest scoring seat out of all 16 that were tested, receiving a huge 83 per cent, as well as a Best Buy award. The seat scored highly on tests for crash safety and ease of use, with five out of five stars for the Frontal Impact, Overall Crash Safety, Fitting in Car, Avoiding Incorrect Use and Overall Ease of Use tests. Which? commented: “It’s easy to use and offers excellent protection for babies up to 13kg…You can buy it with or without the ISOFIX base and it makes the Best Buy grade in both modes.”
The Britax KIDFIX SICT and the Britax KID plus SICT were both rated highly and awarded Best Buy status in the category for car seats for children from around four to twelve years old. The KIDFIX SICT scored 77 per cent and was recognised for its protection in side crash situations, thanks to Britax’s unique Side Impact Crash Technology (SICT). SICT is comprised of air-filled cushions on either side of the seat, which do not deploy like traditional car airbags but absorb incoming crash energy and safely expel air. Which? commented: “This seat offered excellent protection in our side crash test...It is very simple to install and to fasten the child in, and the likelihood of doing it wrong is minimal.” The Britax KID plus SICT also scored highly in crash conditions, and received a total test score of 75 per cent. “It’s easy to install and front crash protection is great…In a side crash it’s just as protective,” the test reported.
The Which? crash test conditions are simulated by propelling a VW Golf down a track and stopping it sharply. The effects of the simulation on a child-sized crash test dummy are filmed, and the dummy is wired up to measure crash forces on the head, neck, chest and pelvis areas. A 40mph crash is simulated for the front impact test, and an 18mph crash for the side impact test. Separate sample seatsare then installed and tested in a number of different cars to check how easy they are to install and use.
Mark Bennett, safety expert at Britax, commented: “We know that we test to a very high standard at Britax, but we’re thrilled that so many of our seats have been recognised for this high standard of performance, and that we have the very much respected Which? seal of approval. What’s more, here at Britax we believe that the safety of your child is of paramount importance, so it’s great to see that independently all of our seats score so highly when it comes to safety.”
For more information about, visit www.britax.co.uk or call 01264 386 034
Social Links