Cybex Sirona S i-Size with SensorSafe Review

Quick Summary: A from birth seat that lasts your child right up to 105 cm, or around 4 years old, we love that the Sirona S is a seat that can keep your child rear-facing throughout. Having a button to press in the seat before you forward face ensures you don't do it too soon. There's lots of safety features integrated in the seat, helping to achieve the 2.3 ADAC score and meaning that you can be sure that your child is kept very safe. The swivel feature makes day to day use much easier, and even larger toddlers can be placed in the seat quickly and without having to reach round - perfect if you have back issues. Some may find the SensorSafe option not worth the additional £50 to add on to the seat price, but it does have advantages. If you are travelling on longer journeys, there's no need to stop the car to check if your child is too hot or cold as you will be quickly alerted. For anyone with medical issues, having your phone alert your emergency contacts if you have left your child in the car too long could be a life saver!

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Things we love…

Though the Sirona S i-Size can also be purchased without it, we are testing this time with the SensorSafe anti-escape chest clip attachment. The SensorSafe chest clip can offer the parent additional peace of mind and offers a few different features. Attached to the harness of the car seat (it can also be bought on a few different Cybex car seats), the SensorSafe chest clip connects to your phone through an app and Bluetooth and gives alerts to parents:-

• When the clip is unbuckled

• When the temperature is too hot or cold

• If you have left your child unattended in the car

• If your child has been seated in the car seat for too long

So the first thing to do is install the SensorSafe app! This is a quick and easy process to do and can be done on both Android and Apple phones. Next attach the dongle to the OBD port of your car. This is where you would plug in the diagnostics to your car and usually positioned near the steering wheel - check your manual if you can't find it! This acts as a communication bridge between the clip and your phone, so it won't work without it.

Once you are all connected, you can set the car seat up on your app and you're good to go and will start receiving the alerts on your phone. To prevent using your phone whilst driving, the alerts call out with a voice telling you any of the issues that it can detect. You can then safely stop the car to rectify the problem or help your child. We have tested out all of the alerts and can confirm that it was very precise each time and was great having the voice alert to let you know exactly what was wrong. For new parents, it could be very reassuring to let you know that your child is safe and well while travelling in their car seat. If it's the temperature alert, then it's an easy fix to put on the air conditioning or heating without having to check your phone or stop the car. The alert if you have left your child unattended in the car and walked away with your phone can then contact your pre-set emergency contacts after five minutes with your location, which could be amazing for anyone with medical issues.

The Sirona S i-Size is a very similar car seat to the latest Platinum Sirona Z i-Size, but is not modular so is attached to the base and cannot be removed. It can be used from birth up to 105cm, which is around 4 years old. We love that you can keep the child in the safest position, rear-facing for the entire time, or forward face from a minimum of 15 months. To prevent misuse, you have to reach into the seat, under the covers to switch a red button to 15 months plus / at least 76cm before the seat allows you to swivel it forward facing. A great idea to stop parents forward facing their child too soon.

Tested to the R129/02 or i-Size regulation, the seat is fitted in the car with ISOFIX and support leg. Red to green indicators show clearly on the ISOFIX arms and the front of the base when everything is installed correctly. The two indicators on the panel at the front change to green when the load leg is at the correct height and when the seat is safely locked into the rear or forward travelling position.

Reducing the side impact energy forces by 25%, the integrated linear side impact protection panels are fitted to each side of the seat, and just need to be pulled out on the vehicle door side as part of the installation.

The Sirona S i-Size tests very well in the rigorous ADAC testing, with a 2.3 Good Rating.

For ease of use, the Sirona S i-Size is definitely a winner. Once you are ready to place your child in their car seat, it spins in a 180 degrees rotation to the vehicle door. To rotate the seat, use the recline button to put it into its most upright position and the indicator at the front turns red. Then you can spin to the car door of your choice and have great access to place or remove your child. The five point harness is simple to fasten into the buckle and there are small loops at either side to hold the clip while you get your child in the seat.

Beautifully cushioned, the Sirona S i-Size will keep children of any age comfortable. To make it suitable from birth, it comes with a newborn insert which offers additional protection and cushioning as well as a flatter position for them. It attaches underneath the headrest with velcro to keep it in place. To adjust the headrest and harness in one movement, there is a button hidden in a small gap of the fabric in the centre of the seat. Press and it lifts smoothly through the 12 positions to sit perfectly level with your child's shoulders. Our large 2 ½ year old tester still has a few positions left so it should last height wise for most children.

For tiny babies to be kept in a better position, or durinG nap time there are five recline positions to choose from when rear facing, or three when forward. It is done with a button under the front edge of the seat.

Things to look out for...

In the car we were testing in, we did sometimes need to have three car seats along the back seat. Due to how the Sirona S is designed, it isn't possible to spin to the car door if there is a seat next to it. This is probably the same with any spin seat though and you could get around it by placing the car seat from the middle position in to the front!

Our verdict

A from birth seat that lasts your child right up to 105 cm, or around 4 years old, we love that the Sirona S is a seat that can keep your child rear-facing throughout. Having a button to press in the seat before you forward face ensures you don't do it too soon.

There's lots of safety features integrated in the seat, helping to achieve the 2.3 ADAC score and meaning that you can be sure that your child is kept very safe. The swivel feature makes day to day use much easier, and even larger toddlers can be placed in the seat quickly and without having to reach round - perfect if you have back issues.

Some may find the SensorSafe option not worth the additional £50 to add on to the seat price, but it does have advantages. If you are travelling on longer journeys, there's no need to stop the car to check if your child is too hot or cold as you will be quickly alerted. For anyone with medical issues, having your phone alert your emergency contacts if you have left your child in the car too long could be a life saver!