Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I will start by saying that I love Maxi-Cosi. We've had our 22-month old in the Maxi-Cosi infant seat since birth. So I purchased this new Pria 70 with full expectations that it would be perfect, and I loved the color combination. Update: I initially posted this review to say we were returning the seat because the space between the headwings was too tight. And I didn't want to return the seat, because I've been (mostly) pleased with my Maxi-Cosi Prezi infant seat. But I was worried that my son wouldn't be comfortable in the slim space between the headwings (the pillows to the left and the right of the head). They are longer than most seats (7.25 inches compared to 6.5 on my Prezi and 5.25 on our Britax Marathon in the other car). There is also less space in between (6 inches compared to 6.25 inches in my Prezi and a full 9 inches in our Britax). I called Maxi-Cosi customer support. These head wings are designed to keep your child's head from moving during a serious accident. They are safe and are not supposed to have a lot of room in between for this reason. They also mentioned that we should make sure our son was properly seated in the seat, back and bottom all the way up against the seat for added comfort. So I gave it one more try. Installed the car seat, put my son in, and made the adjustments. The first time he was in this seat, he fell asleep. An added benefit is that with the tight head wings, his head does not fall sideways or slump forward as it used to. He has room to turn sideways. I was worried that he would not be able to see out of the car window, but I have found that is not the case at all. He seems perfectly comfortable in the seat - so it was important for me to post this update because I know I am not the only one who struggles with finding the right car seat. The installation of this seat was difficult - not because the directions are hard to follow, but because my back seat slopes down. (I have a Honda Pilot.) Our infant seat had a level to show you when it was installed correctly. This seat has only a level line, which is the plastic trim on the side of the seat - requiring you to judge whether it is level to the ground or not. And I had to use a rolled up towel under the seat (per the instructions in the user guide) to even out the seat. I'm still not satisfied that it is secure and will probably find an inspection station. Also, I was unable to tighten the LATCH straps by myself. Bummer. I will address some of the other issues I've read in reviews (this is just my opinion). Seat fabric - Yes, it does feel scratchy to me, but my son did not seem bothered by it at all. The body cushion insert seemed scratchier than the rest of the fabric for some reason. But this light color does not get nearly as hot as our other car seats. Color - I thought the color when this seat arrived looked exactly as pictured online, though I know some people have said it is bluer or brighter in person. Maybe there are variations from product to product. Functionality - Rethreading the seat belt buckle is an absolute pain. You may have to do this depending on your child's weight and age. The seat arrives in the first buckle slot, which is primarily for very small children (like under 15 pounds), so you will probably need to adjust it if you have a toddler. You have to fully recline the seat, lift up the seat pad, and thread or unthread the buckle to adjust it or remove the pillow insert. Slipping your hand between the base and the reclined seat is painful and really inconvenient; however, I do love the one-handed head rest adjustment. Straps tangling - Yes, this is a problem...on all Maxi's. It is super annoying. The straps are so thin that they twist easily. By twist, I mean they tangle up and turn the buckle around backwards to the point that they have to be untangled in order to use the buckles. If the buckle straps were thicker, this would not be an issue. I hated it with my other Maxi-Cosi, but got used to buckling the straps when my child wasn't in the seat to keep them straight and ready to be used (and that's the advice from Maxi-Cosi, too). If you can't do this or think it's a hassle (and I don't blame you at all), then this seat will drive you crazy and may not be the one for you. Cup holder - This is a huge plus. It is part of the seat. It cannot be pulled off by busy toddler hands. Our other car seat, in my husband's car, is a Britax Marathon and my son can rip the flimsy cup holder off and toss it into the front seat. Not good. So to have a cup holder permanently attached is fantastic. Strap adjustments - If you're familiar with Maxi-Cosi, you will know that this is vastly improved on the Pria 70. The adjustment is under the seat and it is a lever that can be pulled up to loosen, (On my Maxi-Cosi infant seat, the strap adjustment is a button that sometimes gets stuck and won't work. So I was relieved to see this was improved on the Pria 70.) It was very easy to loosen or tighten the straps. Customer service - Maxi-Cosi is great for questions about installation or fit. We had several issues with our current infant seat when we first brought our son home and they were very, very helpful - in case you decide to try this seat and need support. Happy to answer other questions that are posted about this seat. I am still searching for the perfect seat.