BeSafe iZi Modular i-Size Review

Quick Summary: BeSafe have gone the extra mile to create a car seat that complies with the i-Size regulations, the added SIP+ cushion ensuring the best safety in a side impact collision. Child comfort hasn't been lost in this either, with the material offering ultra soft and thick padding throughout.

The BeSafe iZi Modular system has been designed around the iZi Modular i-Size Base that can take first the infant carrier, and then the toddler car seat. The iZi Modular i-Size can be used from around six months, or 61cm up to 105cm, which should take you to about four years old. We love that BeSafe are such good ambassadors of extended rear facing, with the seat capable of being used the full time rear facing. This well surpasses the i-Size regulations guide of rear facing until at least 15 months. After 15 months, you can then forward face if you wish, but BeSafe recommend rear facing for as long as possible.

We found the instructions for both the iZi Modular i-Size Base and the iZi Modular i-Size simple to understand. The diagrams are very comprehensive, and are followed by straightforward text to clarify. The illustrations are also clearly numbered so that you can tie up the text to the diagram.

The iZi Modular i-Size must be used on the iZi Modular i-Size Base in order to fit it into the car, so you'll need a vehicle with ISOfix anchors. To make fitting effortless, the base has three different indicators which change from red to green when that section is fitted correctly.

The base needs installing first and the front brace must be fitted when you are using the toddler seat. There is a front brace box at the back of the base, which can be pulled out when you press the button underneath, ready to install the front brace into the two openings. Pushing either of the large grey ISOfix release buttons on top of the base will extend the ISOfix connectors. After you have pulled them fully out, the base can be positioned on the vehicle seat and clicked on to the ISOfix anchor points. The two indicators on the top centre of the seat will turn green once connected. Helping out with the fit, there are two areas to press which prevents the ISOfix arms from sliding back in. When you have pushed the base as close to the back of the vehicle seat as you can, you can then move onto the floor support. There is a yellow cap on the foot of the floor support that needs sliding off before you adjust. This will create a beeping sound that only stops once the leg is adjusted to the correct height in the footwell of the car.

Then it's just a case of sitting the car seat onto the base. The seat can only be installed or removed from the base when the two yellow triangles at the side are lined up by using the recline button at the front of the seat to adjust. As the seat is quite large, it can take a bit of wiggling before it clicks into the correct position. The indicator at the front of the base will then switch to green. The button to remove again is just below this indicator. When rear facing, the front brace box can be extended further to allow for room for the child, but forward facing it should be pushed completely in. BeSafe advise that when rear facing, the driver or passenger seat in front should be pushed back so that it touches the back if the iZi Modular i-Size. If this is not possible, then it should be further forward, at least 25cm away.

To recline the seat, there is a large button to pull back under the front of the seat. Rear facing, the most reclined position is at a great, deep angle, especially for younger babies and children that still nap. Although there are four other positions to go through, it should only be used in the two most reclined when rear facing. Forward facing, the recline isn't as deep, but there are still four positions to choose from.

BeSafe now include SIP+ in the form of a removable cushion that clips onto the side of the seat. The side impact protection helps to reduce the distance between the car seat and car door in the event of a side impact collision. As this has to be swapped over to the correct side, depending on where you place it in the car, it is possible that it could be lost. Don't worry though - even without the SIP+ cushion, the  seat surpasses the i-Size side-impact-protection criteria.

The fabrics on the iZi Modular i-Size really are beautiful. The Ocean Melange that we have in for testing looks great sat on the modern looking shell. There's lots of padding on every part of the seat, with a two part insert with side support and seat cushion to use with a smaller child. This insert should be used to around two years old, or when the child no longers fits.

Making things so much easier, the headrest adjustment also adjusts the height of the harness straps. There's a release handle on the back of the headrest which you can pull upwards while moving up and down. The headrest is a great shape, with the wings coming right around the child's head to fully protect them. There are 10 positions to keep your child comfortable and safe until they grow out of the seat at 105cm.

The five point harness has thickly padded covers with a rubber section Velcroed to the back, which prevents the child from slipping once fastened in. Anything that makes seating a wriggly child easier is great, so we think that the magnetic points in the harness pads and side of the seat are fantastic! They effectively keep the harness completely out of the way. The harness is easy to fasten and release with the one touch buckle. Lengthening the harness is done with a button just below the buckle and is tightened again by pulling the black strap.

Our verdict...

Enabling your child to rear face for a full four years is fantastic, so we really like the BeSafe iZi Modular i-Size. The adjustable front brace giving the child more leg room, which is a common argument against ERF. If you use the iZi Go Modular infant carrier from birth, then you can even use the same base for both car seats.

BeSafe have gone the extra mile to create a car seat that complies with the i-Size regulations, the added SIP+ cushion ensuring the best safety in a side impact collision. Child comfort hasn't been lost in this either, with the material offering ultra soft and thick padding throughout. We were really impressed that it doesn't take up masses of room in the car, but doesn't seem to have lost space for the child. We also love the melange fabric choices.

As the i-Size base is ISOfix, the risk of an incorrect fit is greatly reduced and the instructions make installation quick and easy. When you see the three lots of green indicators, your reassured that you're ready to go.