Joie Stages FX Review

Quick Summary: The Joie Stages FX is a seat that will last your child for the majority of their time in a car seat, so from birth up to 25 kg. It has great versatility to the fitting, meaning that it's a good seat to have if you need to move to a different car regularly. Either ISOFIX or seat belt fitting works well. It is easier to fit with the ISOFIX connectors once forward facing, as the vehicle seat belt doesn't make the access great when rear-facing. But comfort for the child in all positions is high with the soft, curved sides and recline positions. And of course we really rate the fact that this is a seat than be used in the safer rear-facing position right up to 18kg or around 4 years old!

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Things we love…

We are big supporters of extended rear-facing, so always get excited when testing a car seat that offers rear-facing up to 18kg! The Stages FX can rear-face from birth up to around 4 years old, and then forward faces to 25kg, which is about 7 years. It's a seat that is going to last you a long period of time, which makes it great value for money.

The main difference between the stages and the Stages FX is that you have the option to fit with ISOFIX when you are ready to forward face. It's easy to do with the two arms on to your car's ISOFIX points, with a top tether to anchor it in place too. You can also fit it with the vehicle's seat belt forward facing if needed.

As a high back booster in Group 2, you use the vehicle seat belt to secure your child and can still use the vehicle's ISOFIX points to keep it in place if you wish. Rather than having to completely remove the five-point harness, you only need to tuck it away into the seat behind the covers. Great that it can't be misplaced!

The Stages FX keeps your child really comfortable with the deep sides and plenty of cushioning. It also features four recline positions forward facing and two for rear-facing. It's easy to adjust to one of these positions when forward facing with the button under the front of the seat. A newborn insert with a wedge is included for when using the seat from birth to around 6 months old to offer extra support. The two-piece insert can continue to be used whilst rearwards facing for as long as support is required

To make the seat grow with your child, the headrest can be moved up and down into different positions with the touch of a button. The harness moves simultaneously with the headrest for the best fit.

Things to look out for…

Fitting the Joie Stages FX rear-facing is done with the vehicle seat belt, and means that the belt crosses the doorway of the vehicle, so you have to lift your child up or under to place them in the seat.

Although it's great that you can install the seat with ISOFIX forward facing, it would be great if that was an option rear-facing too. We would worry that it may put people off rear-facing for longer as it is easier and more functional to install in the forward facing position.

Our verdict…

The Joie Stages FX is a seat that will last your child for the majority of their time in a car seat, so from birth up to 25 kg. It has great versatility to the fitting, meaning that it's a good seat to have if you need to move to a different car regularly. Either ISOFIX or seat belt fitting works well.

It is easier to fit with the ISOFIX connectors once forward facing, as the vehicle seat belt doesn't make the access great when rear-facing. But comfort for the child in all positions is high with the soft, curved sides and recline positions.

And of course we really rate the fact that this is a seat than be used in the safer rear-facing position right up to 18kg or around 4 years old!