Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 5-70 Convertible Review
Peg Perego breaks into the convertible carseat market with the new Primo Viaggio SIP 5-70. It’s been a long time in coming, but I think you’ll be happy with the results. Fine fabrics, thick harness webbing, and deluxe LATCH straps are what we’ve come to expect from Peg Perego and this carseat doesn’t disappoint. The Primo Viaggio rear-faces from 5-45 lbs., then converts to a forward-facing convertible for 22-70 lbs. and less than 49”.
The Primo Viaggio SIP 5-70 comes with harness covers and an infant cushion.
Basics
- Weight limits: 5-45 lbs. rear-facing, 22-70 lbs. forward-facing
- 10 harness slot positions on carseat: 9”-17”, highest rear-facing position is about 14.25”
- 2 buckle slots: approx. 4.5”, 6”
- Restraint weight: 21.5 lbs.
- Width: approx. 18.5” at widest point (torso)
- Seat depth: 10.5” to where edge starts to angle down
- Seatback height: 21”; 24” with headrest in highest rear-facing position; 26” with headrest extended to top position
- 7 year expiration
Features and Advantages
5-point Harness from 5-70 pounds: The high 70 lbs. weight limit means that heavier children will be able to stay in the seat longer before either moving to a different harnessed seat with a higher weight limit or to a booster.
High Rear-Facing Weight and Height Limits: The 45 lbs. maximum rear-facing weight limit is one of the highest on the market and means that even the largest toddlers will be able to rear-face in this convertible for a very long time. This falls in line with the revised policies of the American Academy of Pediatrics and NHTSA to keep children rear-facing to a minimum of age 2 and longer, if possible. The average-above average seat depth will give larger rear-facing children plenty of leg room. Peg doesn’t list a rear-facing height limit; use rear-facing until the child’s head is within 1” of the top of the headrest.
EPS and EPP Foam: Generous use of white EPS foam on the sides of the carseat adds that extra feeling of safety. A block of EPP foam (called Shock Absorbing Foam Element, or SAFE) on the bottom of the seat crushes during impact. At 8.5” wide at ear level, the headrest will actually fit a big ol’ noggin.
10 Harness Height Positions: Lowest harness height position is approx. 7” with the infant cushion in use while the highest harness height position is approx. 16 ¾”-17”. The slot positions are about ¾” apart. The top 3 harness slot positions are for forward-facing use only.
Harness heights directly from Peg (http://blog.pegperegousa.com/uncategorized/ask-an-engineer/):
9.6”
10.3”
11.1”
11.9”
12.6”
13.4”
14.2”
—
15.0”
15.7”
16.5”
The harness height can be adjusted from the front of the seat while the PV is installed. Adjusting the harness height is accomplished by pulling the tab at the top of the seat and pulling up or pushing down.
Recline Adjustments: There is one recline adjustment for rear-facing. The PV may be installed at angles between 35°-45° and there’s an angle indicator line on the side which may be used as a reference.
Harness Adjuster and Use: To tighten the harness, pull on the harness adjuster strap on the front of the restraint. The harness release button is located under the cover through a slit in the fabric.
LATCH: The PV has 2 separately adjusted LATCH straps that slide along a metal bar on the side of the seat (à la a Britax convertible); when placed in the forward position, they are used rear-facing, and when in the back position, they are used forward-facing. The LATCH connectors are the deluxe push-on style connectors. There is a storage area on the base under the seat pan (where the child sits) to store the LATCH connectors and the tether strap stores at the top of the carseat when not in use. The tether strap is to be used forward-facing only. While tethering a forward-facing child restraint with a harness is always recommended, a top tether is not required for this seat.
Note: Peg allows lower anchor (LATCH) use to 40 lbs. unless it’s otherwise specified in the vehicle manual. There is a misprint in the instruction manual that states 30 lbs. as the maximum LATCH weight limit, but I have verified that it is indeed 40 lbs. Above that weight or at any time, it’s perfectly fine to install with the seatbelt.
Crotch Strap Adjustment: There are two crotch strap positions located approximately 4.5” and 6” from the back of the seat. The inside position must be used until the child is 22 lbs. When threading the crotch strap for the inside position, the crotch strap anchor is threaded down into the seat, then back up again through the outside position.
Padding, Comfort and Appearance: The cover is Italian. That’s all I really need to say, right? The fit and finish of the cover are excellent and the cover pulls off from the front for easy cleaning. It’s never easy trying to get a cover off over headrest, but there’s enough elasticity in it so it won’t tear. The fabric on the headrest and along the sides is polyester while the inside portion, called Fresco Jersey, is slightly textured yet comfy poly. There’s a sewn-on belly pad that makes the buckle pop forward a bit when the child isn’t using it. I don’t foresee any problems with hot temps in this seat. There are 6 cover choices: Crystal Beige, Licorice, Black, Paloma, Red, and Cacao. The restraint I have is in Black.
Infant Support Cushion: A 3.5” thick memory foam infant cushion is used to boost an infant up to the bottom harness slots and improve harness fit. The cushion must be used to 22 lbs., then removed. It may not be used forward-facing.
7 Year Expiration/Crash Policy: The Primo Viaggio has a 7 year expiration. The manual indicates that customer service should be contacted if the PV is in a crash.
Airplane Certification: The PV is FAA-approved for use in aircraft.
Value: Peg Perego is known for its elite products and the Primo Viaggio SIP Convertible is priced accordingly from $329-$379. It’s solidly constructed in dreamy Italy, has as smooth a base as I’ve seen, and has the separate LATCH connectors (seriously, if you’ve used it, you’ll gladly pay for it). Yes, it’s spendy, but there’s a consumer segment out there that will pay for the fine looks and safety features.
Instruction Manual: The manual does an excellent job of explaining installation and use of the carseat. Each method of installation—LATCH, lap/shoulder belt, lap-only belt—starts on its own page(s) and is printed in an easy-to-read font, so it’s very clear which step you’re on when reading. The manual has black and white drawings with green and red highlights for emphasis.
Disadvantages
Rear-Facing Belt Path: The rear-facing belt path is unique and that uniqueness makes it tricky to work with. The openings are on the small side and because it’s open in the middle underneath, the latchplate drops as you try to thread a seatbelt through so you can’t grasp it with the other hand. It’s easily remedied by moving the carseat back on one side so you can get a hand in from the front, but I would appreciate a seatbelt threading tool for help.
Harness Strap Covers: The strap covers are very thick and cushy and long. While that’s comfortable for the child, they make it difficult to tighten the harness down properly. The harness also appeared to get caught in them, making it tough to tighten. Without the covers, the harness adjusted easily.
Belly Pad: The belly pad is wonderfully padded and helps keep the buckle forward, so it makes putting a child in the seat easier. However, when the buckle is in the inside buckle position, it’s not long enough to fit up into the belly pad.
Instruction Manual: There are some typos, important ones. If they were simple misspellings, I wouldn’t be dinging it, but they’re pretty major: the LATCH weight limit is listed at 30 lbs. instead of 40 lbs. and the recline angle is listed at 40°-45° when it should be 35°-45°. It’s also not mentioned that the top 3 harness slot positions can only be used in the forward-facing position. Our contact at Peg has assured me they’re revising the manual and I’m sure owners will be able to receive an updated copy when it’s done.
Installation and Fit to Child
Rear-Facing: Installation with LATCH was a snap! Slide each LATCH strap forward on the bar, click onto the vehicle LATCH anchor, pull tight. I wish every carseat had LATCH like this!
Installing the Primo Viaggio rear-facing using a seatbelt turned out to be an interesting experience as I mentioned earlier. The rf belt path is semi-enclosed under the seat pan. I had to sit on the vehicle seat next to the buckle and have the carseat at an angle in order to thread the seatbelt from one side to another. The belt path openings were too narrow for me to fit my hands through, hence the need to reach under the front of the seat to guide the latchplate.
When I installed the PV at 45°, I had plenty of room to move my front seat back. At its worst, I had about an inch of space between the restraint and my front seat. As you can see in the picture below, the PV’s headrest angle mimicked the angle of my headrest.
Forward-Facing: To install with LATCH, simply slide each LATCH strap back and attach to the vehicle anchors.
It does have a belt guide on each side of the belt path for the lap belt. Simply open each guide, slide seatbelt into place making sure the shoulder belt (if available) is out of the belt guide, tighten the seatbelt, and close the guide. The belt guide does have triangular teeth on it, so it may dent your seatbelt. I left the PV installed for 24 hours and the teeth only left mild marks on my seatbelt which have already disappeared. When I initially set the Primo Viaggio on my vehicle seat, the natural angle of the carseat meant that there was a large gap behind the carseat. If my vehicle seats reclined (like in a van), I’d be able to get a closer fit to the carseat. Alas, I have a fixed angle backseat, so I thought I’d have a problem. But, once I started tightening the carseat down, that gap mostly disappeared.
ETA: Review originally mentioned that there was a belt lockoff for forward-facing. We have since found that the lockoff is not intended to hold the seat belt tight for every day driving and is instead intended to be a guide; therefore, I have changed the above paragraph to reflect that. HW
I had 2 helpers try out the PV. Emi is 2 years 4 months old and weighs 25 lbs. She fit beautifully rear-facing in the restraint. Her brother, Ian, is 4 and weighs around 30 lbs. He, too, fit very well in the carseat and had plenty of leg room. The infant doll I used also fit nicely (notice the low buckle), but the harness covers did bunch a bit on it.
Conclusion
Pros
- Weight Limits: A rear-facing convertible that actually fits a wide range of children.
- Deep headrest that’s comfy for sleeping, but not overly obtrusive.
- Separate LATCH straps for each side of the carseat.
- Sturdy harness strap webbing.
- 10 Harness Slot Positions: Allows adjustment of harness height to “just right” for a child.
- 2 Crotch Strap Positions: Being able to shorten the crotch strap for the inside position means the buckle will sit low on a baby instead of over the belly.
- The flexibility of installing it in a range of angles (35°-45°).
- Instruction Manual: It does a good job of explaining installation.
- Cover: It’s Italian. Yeah.
Cons
- Instruction Manual: I know, I know, I have it listed as a Pro too. Having an outside set of eyes go through the manual would have caught the errors.
- Rear-Facing Belt Path: It’s tight, but still workable.
- Belly Pad: Buckle doesn’t fit into it when moved to the inside position.
Overall the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 5-70 Convertible is a winner. The carseat is solidly made with quality materials, has the requisite EPS foam, and is comfortable. Easy installation with LATCH and its relatively light weight will make the Peg convertible excel as a travel seat. It is on the expensive side, but I predict that parents who buy it will be happy with their purchase, as will their child.
Thank you to Peg Perego for providing us with the carseat for review.
The webpage for the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 5-70 – http://us.pegperego.com/babyproducts-catalog/2012/Primo+Viaggio+SIP+5_70+Convertible
For more information on child passenger safety, please visit:
Reader Comments
Oooohhhhh. I doubt I could convince DH on the price, but it looks suuuuuuper nice. I was looking forward to a review of this, and I know our nearby Buy Buy Baby will be getting them in stock so I definitely need to go play.
Great review, thanks!!
What is the shell height with the harness in the seventh position? In other words, what is the maximum shell height for RFing?
Great review! That’s a nice-looking seat.
such low top slots, though kids do come in all sizes, but the seat doesn’t look like it’s made to accomodate the wider chunky kids that the high weight limit and lower top slots make me think of.
For the price, with the low top slots and hard rearfacing seatbelt install, I’d at least expect some better covers and fabrics… to set it apart and make it really stand out like their strollers and other baby products do.
@Pixels, it’s 24″.
The top slots didn’t seem short to me. My almost 5 y.o (consistently 60% height, 50% weight very muscular, no fat at all) has two more clicks to grow FF and would have fit RF until 4 I think and that is only because he has a massive head and filled up the headwings. The maximum RF setting gave more shell room than an EFTA, which my son could have RFed in until at least 4 if it had a higher weight limit.
If this seat had rebound control it would be such a perfect ERF option for those of us not so wowed by the Radian.
Am I seeing things or are some of those cover choices leather trimmed?
There are two kinds of fabric on most of the choices, but I don’t think they involve leather. As far as “better” fabric, it actually looks like a really nice high-performance fabric for me.
I’m not saying I’d buy the seat- it would be a waste with my tall-torsoed kids- but shorter-torsoed solid kids might not max it out in both directions by weight but could certainly get good use of it, and it’s obviously very much a luxury product. *shrug*
1. premium fabric has a “leather-like” trim
2. this seat works GREAT in a three across next to a HBB. Even in a Ford Escape of all things. The way the seat is up and centered back on the base allows a ton of room to access the buckle on a Britax Parkway, even when seats are sitting right next to each other. It also has good room for the front passenger even when rear facing.
do you think this will fit newborns well at the appropriate angle?
Thanks, Mama B! @Jessica, yes, I do think it will fit newborns well. My doll is about the size of a 1-2 month old and the harness slots were still below its shoulders. The infant cushion is quite thick.
It is a great fit on my 4 month old…
Do you think the carseat will be just as safe when in the fully reclined position? It seems that angles are always so important on these seats.
@Katy, it’s tested at those angles, so it’ll be fine. As long as you follow the directions, there’s no problem.
I just installed one of these for my 15 mth old. The belly pad does get In the way when the buckle is in the inside position. The seat comes with the buckle in the outside position and that seems odd that it wouldn’t come set up for a smaller baby. It was sort of a hassle to move it but it was doable. I wish the infant insert directions had height and weight limits. It says it has to be used until baby is 22 lbs (at least that was my understanding of the directions). I have a tall skinny baby and he is 19lbs and 30 in so he could probably reach the slots without the pad.
Thanks, Laura!
I just received from online store both Peg Perego and Britax Advocate70 CS. I ordered Britax because of all the good reviews I red. Peg Perego is a relatively new and there is not that much of a reviews but being a new product, Italian and at that price I ordered it ( free returns on both). I put both car seats next to each other and Peg Perego is the winner! Everything in Pegis better than Britax! The fabric in Britax looks cheap and is too loose! Also Britax is a lot heavier and bulky. I didn’t read the manual for Peg and I was able to put it in the right position by my self ( ofcorse I red it after that to be sure) and I easily found out how to adjust everything. Britax I couldn’t! Even when I red the manual still very complicated! Not just that but even when you now how to adjust it is difficult!
Peg is a lot nicer looking, looks more durable ( even that is smoler and lighter ) and easy to work with! When my husband come home and I show them to him even with the price difference he let me keep Peg!
I played with one of these and wanted to mention that the manual was the most ridiculously poorly-written, error-filled manual I’ve ever seen. The manual states in the section about seatbelt selection that the forward-facing “lockoffs” (and yes they call them that) are NOT intended to replace a locking retractor or latch plate, and if you do not have either you must call and get a locking clip and instructions on using it- but that is not mentioned anywhere else in the manual including in the section on FF install. That was the most egregious error though there were others.
And the rear-facing seatbelt path was so ridiculous, I find it likely that parents will NOT be able to get a correct install with it. I would not recommend it for a vehicle without LATCH in a seating position the parents are willing to use, because of that.
There were some really nice things about it. But the things that were fails, were BIG FAILS.
Is the head rest reinforced? I saw you stated the 1″ rule for RFing would be from head rest (in 7th position), but wanted to double check it is the head rest and not the shell like the Blvd.
How much more RFing height do you think this would get versus an ’09 Blvd 65? How much more height FFing?
Thanks!
@ashley, yes, the headrest is reinforced for rear-facing above the shell. I don’t have numbers for how much more rf you’re going to have over an ’09 BV, but it will be inches.
Thanks for your response. Any idea whether this seat has any type of steel reinforcement in the frame, like the Radians or Britax seats? I sounded like the LATCH straps were routed on a steel bar and the picture of the back of the seat appears as if there may be a horizontal steel rod running that the harness straps are threaded over, is this correct? Is there any vertical steel up the sides and/or connecting to the horizontal bar in the back?
Im wondering about the seat padding WITHOUT the insert. In any review I can’t find any info about how much coushin is in the seat when you take the insert out. Safety is always number one but when I push on many different carseats as brands, the seat is Cousy until you take the inserts out. The the space from the fabric to the seat shell is so hard, the spot right where their tushies sit. What’s it like in this carseat?
@ma2grls, the padding is nice–what you’d expect on a seat at this price point. I don’t think your girls will complain.
this seems like an overall positive review, and even seems better than some of the reviews on the recommended list. i’m curious as to why the peg is not on your recommended list?
@Heather, Thank you!! I’ve ordered this carseat in Red and it should be here at the end of this week. SO excited to get to use it. I just really didn’t want a Britax and so glad Peg came out with this!
Does anyone know how this would fit in a Mazda 3 or small 4 door car? Or any other recommendations?
@Rebecca, we were just discussing the Recommended Seats List a few weeks ago, but no one got around to updating it. Watch for changes in the next couple of days–the Peg will be on it.
@ma2grls, hope you like it!
@jenjen202020, I would imagine it should fit pretty well. It has a pretty small footprint and can be put upright as much as your child allows.
Ok I just got one of these for my daughter. She will be 3 in September and I want to keep her RFing as long as possible (my son made it to 5 in his Radian). I am frustrated with the manual. I don’t feel like it answers any of my questions. I read here that the headrest can be extended in RFing mode (which I need otherwise she’s already outgrown it). However if I move the headrest to where she has an inch above her head, the straps ate coming from above her shoulders. Am I missing something?! I want to love this seat but I am frustrated.
@Elizabeth, if you adjust the headrest to where the straps are right at her shoulders, where is her head at? If it’s still at or below the top of the headrest, *I* would use it that way as long as you keep her harness straps snug all the time.
Thanks Heather! Once I got it installed it gave her a little more room above her head. But I do need to keep it right at her shoulders in order to keep her head below the headrest. I really am loving this seat!
Oh good! It’s fine to keep it right at her shoulders. Installed carseats really affect the way kids sit in the seats; it’s amazing.
similar to @jenjen202020 i have the subaru hatchback. the clek foonf fits (tried on a tour) but is VERY tall to the point i’m not sure I could see over it in RF the middle seat belt. do you think this peg is any smaller? does anyone have more feedback on best for a smaller car?
Any updates on this being recommended? It’s not on the list, so I’m wondering if there are any concerns or if the list just hasn’t been updated. Debating this or the Advocate. Thanks!
As a matter of fact, Mary, we’re working on it right this very moment (truly!). I can safely say that there are no concerns for either seat
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What car(s) did you put this car seat into rear-facing? I’m thinking of buying it, but I don’t know if there’s anywhere local that I can look at it in person to see if it’ll fit in my car or not, leaving online options for me.
@thekat03, I installed it in an ’11 Acura MDX and an ’04 Lexus RX 330. But it doesn’t have any weird design issues that should cause any install problems. You can do a search for your vehicle and the Peg at our forums at http://www.car-seat.org and see if someone else has tried your combo already.
Our boy is a few months shy of growing out of his infant seat (20lbs, 29″). Need to buy a seat now to let it off gas for a bit. We are between a Boulevard and this Peg. Top priorities are side impact protection and extended rear facing. Radian isn’t an option because we are not comfortable with a “collapsible” carseat and dont know how it couldn’t randomly collapse in a collision. So torn between the Peg and the Boulevard. Tried them both out yesterday. The little guy sat down into the Boulevard with his head and torso totally protected by the shell and head wings. Just what we need. Had lots of room to grow but from what I’ve read, this is not the seat for ERF. The harness felt secure and was a cinch to use. Husband said he liked the install but didn’t feel comfortable with the way the base sat on the seat compared to the Peg. Said Boulevard seemed cheap and bulky compared to the Peg. So the Peg would be our obvious answer.. Extending rear facing height and weight are perfect. Seat fit perfectly in our car with a seamless install. But when we put the babe in, it was like he was sitting ON the carseat as opposed to being tucked down IN and prtotected by the seat. The Peg is marketed as having deep head wings for side impact protection, but the fact that it’s shell is lacking depth has me concerned about the true side impact protection of these deep head wings. I referred to this blog researching our infant seat and am now bouncing between reviews for our convertible. Would appreciate if anyone could push us in one direction or the other!!
I just received my Peg Convertible, after spending months worrying how fit my tall daughter, my 5’11″ self, and my 6’4″ husband in my Mini Countryman (that’s our BIG vehicle), while keeping her rear-facing as long as possible.
The manual has been updated/corrected for both the concerns mentioned in the review. I found it easy to read versus both the True Fit manual and the manual for our much-loved Cybex Aton. I’ve yet to actually install, but had the seat in my car at BBB when I ordered, and it fit nicely, even in the center with seats back..
I’m considering this seat over the Boulevard, but I’m concerned about the lack of anti-rebound. But I’m pretty inexperienced when it comes to car seats. Can you tell me if anti-rebound is important or not? Thanks!
I think that if it tethered down in RF mode like the Boulevard I would run out and buy it now! Do you know if they will be releasing a new model soon? If so, when? and will it have an anti-rebound tether? Thanks so much!
(I’m guessing the Canadian version with the anti-rebound bar makes it harder to fit in a small car, making it large from front to back)??
I have a 6 months old baby and we are going on trip to new york in 2 months, its 14 hrs flight from Dubai. im looking for a car seat that i can use on the plane can i use this one on the plane or is there a better convertible car seat that i can buy?
@Katarina, I personally like seats with anti-rebound components, so it would make it a tough decision for me here because I really like the Peg convertible (glad my kids are out of convertibles!). It’s one of those things where I’d probably have either a bunch of cars with different carseats in them or a bunch of carseats that I’d switch out every day, truthfully. So really, I’m not being much help here. I do think either an anti-rebound bar will make its way here to the US or they’ll introduce a rf tether because it’s competitive in that price range.
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@Amal, the Peg convertible is FAA-approved, but when you fly internationally, you’re at the will of whatever airline you’re flying. So if the airline isn’t US-based, they may not let you use a carseat period. It’s best to call the airline beforehand and find out what their policies on carseats are. Bravo to you for using a carseat on such a long flight! But I also know that’s more for your sanity too
It just arrived in the new Fushia and Black. What a beauty! thanks for the review. I have the infant car seat (Peg Perego Viaggo 30/30 and will upgrade to this one. I’m very happy with the infant car seat and think this one will be great too. Thanks.
Yeah, you know, I’m not much of a pink person–especially when it’s that light, bubble gum pink–but I really like fuchsia and berry colors. Pairing it with black, like Peg did, makes it sophisticated.
I have this and love it! I also had their infant seat! Peg perego is the way to go for safety!!!! I will always recommend this brand!!!
Hi I just got this seat for my 1 year old. I’m having trouble getting a tight installation in my BMW 5 sedan using the LATCH. The seat moves 1-2″ from side to side when I push it. Also I tried a roll of towel at the base to get the 45 degree angle. Do I need to put something under the base to make sure the seat doesn’t move?
I’m so used to my Cybex Anton latch tighten system, it was so much easier to get a tight fit. Help.
@Tiffy, I haven’t installed a seat in a 5 sedan yet, so I’m not familiar with where the LATCH anchors are and that may make a difference here. Are you trying to install the carseat in the center? BMW doesn’t allow use of LATCH in the center, so that could be the problem if that’s what you’re trying. If you’re trying to install it in an outboard position where there’s LATCH, move the front seat all the way forward and get in so you can lean over the top of the carseat. Then put one hand on the edge of the carseat above the belt path and use the other to pull the LATCH strap. By leaning over the carseat, you’re using your weight and can use the strength in your arm to push the carseat into the vehicle cushion. Repeat for the other side.
Hi Heather. Do you know if the seat has integrated steel bars in it? Also, what are your thoughts on how shallow the seat is? Safety has always been my main concern, and until recently I’ve been targeting Britax Advocate because of the SIP. However, my son does not really like his Chaperone because of how tight it is in the crotch, and I read that the fit in the Advocate could be a problem as well. Peg Perego caught my attention because it accomodates taller babies better, but I cannot figure out how safe this seat is vs the Advocate. What good is all the safety foam if the child sits ‘on top of the seat’ instead of ‘in the seat’ (to loosely quote one of the posts above)? What are your thoughts on this?
@Julie, there are steel bars on the sides that hold the LATCH straps on the seat, just like the Britax seats. That’s the extent of the steel in the seat that I know of. The best way to compare safety between carseats is to compare how they fit in your vehicle and how they fit your child. Choose whichever fits both better. The above comment I think is about the cushioning in the cover. The Peg has much more padding in the seat area than the Britax seats do and it’s stiffer so a child is less likely to sink down. Add in the infant padding and the sides are going to seem pretty low. I do think the headwings on the Peg are larger than the Britax headwings, but any headwings at all, I believe, will be helpful in a crash. Remember that we have no evidence to conclude that headwings, or even EPS foam, are beneficial in a crash–just common sense that tells us that these things seem like they’d help (gosh, if they keep our TVs safe in transport . . .). In reading our forums at http://www.car-seat.org, I do know there’s lots of love for the Peg. I’ve worked with both brands now and they’re both great, so it’s hard for me to choose.
Hi, I bought a few different car seats to try out in my car. The Peg Perego was one of the seats. I really like this seat. It looks comfortable. I like straps that hold back the harness and it seems easy to use. However, I have an older car that does not have latch in the center and we would like to install the seat in the center. Does this seat have lock-offs when rear-facing the seat? I can only find lock-offs for forward facing. Thank you.
Hi Lorelei. There are no lockoffs on the Peg convertible, either for rear-facing or forward-facing. The things that look like lockoffs for forward-facing are actually belt guides and should not be relied upon to hold the seat belt tight. We did express our opinions to the engineer about this when we met with him! Do your seat belts lock? If your car is older than model year 1995, its seat belts should lock in some manner and you shouldn’t have any problems installing it in the center. The tipping that happens when the shoulder belt pulls up on the side of an infant seat base doesn’t happen that much in convertibles.
ETA: I re-read the review and noticed that I mentioned that it did have a lockoff. I edited the review to change that.
I wanted to share my experience with the seat here. We love this seat and it fits my 6 month now 14 month old well. Easy to adjust, use, install & clean. It needed a noodle for center RF LATCH install in a 2009 CR-V for a 45 deg angle. It also fits RF at 30 deg behind the passenger seat in a teeny new Ford Fiesta. Maybe even 45 w/ front seat more forward. The head rest would extend all the way too due to the angle of new car headrests. Perfectly narrow for use on a plane between 2 armrests (even on small prop planes), though we were made to use it FF internationally since the forward seat won’t recline if RF. Just beware of the belt path while using a plane’s type of belt buckle (FF). If you tighten it all the way, you’ll take an hour to get it loose again. There is no room to flip the latch. The trick is to put the plane seat back, install the convertible seat loosely, then put the plane seat upright and that will tighten the belt. This is an issue with other seats as well.
Thanks for your comments, Rachael!
Does anyone know if this seat will fit in a Mini Cooper? Rear facing in mini? Or how it fits in an airplane seat? Thanks!
@kristin, I haven’t seen anything on if it will fit in a Mini Cooper or not, but I suspect it will, especially for an older infant or toddler who can sit more upright. It will fit just fine on an airplane seat. If you read a couple of comments up (by Rachel), you’ll see a couple of airplane tricks.
I have it installed in an 07 Jeep Compass (Think TINY backseat!) It fits perfectly behind the drivers seat. (I’m 5’3″)
I am confused about the cushion though… My son is 20 lbs. When we use the cushion it makes the belt cut into his legs. If I take it out he is in the seat safely and comfortably. I really hope I am not compromising his safety by not using it.
Otherwise I absolutely love every thing about this seat. We are actually about to buy a second one for the other car. <3
My heart just sank… We bought this car seat a few weeks ago for DH’s car, and I actually placed an order to buy the second one for my car, since DS doesn’t seem to mind it. And then I went on YouTube to search for crash tests, and came across this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPsKUXfZwTM. It’s not in English, but I watched it without sound. It shows crash tests of several car seat models by ADAC, which I believe is a Germany-based Europe’s largest auto club. You don’t really need to hear the sound, the video speaks for itself. I also went on ADAC website and searched for Peg Perego. Several result came up, and I translated some of them using Google Translate feature (you can just copy and paste the link of the article, and the amazing Google will provide the text in English.) Long story short, the car seat was rated POOR in the crash test!! I can’t return the seat now, too late, but needless to say I am looking for another model for our second seat.
@Laura, have you tried calling Peg and asking them about the cushion? Manufacturers put them in the seats to make sure that infants’ shoulders reach the bottom slots. The Peg’s are fairly high and it takes a while for many infants to get that tall. Also, make sure you’re adjusting the harness correctly: buckle him in, then pull up on the harness at his tummy to remove slack in the thighs and tug the adjuster strap to remove that slack. You shouldn’t be able to pinch any slack above the chest clip. Hopefully that will make the harness loose enough on him that his legs are comfy. *****
@Julie, I wouldn’t throw the seats out with the bath water yet! The Peg Convertible model they tested isn’t available here in the US or Canada. The design of the seat is different, so it makes sense that it would test differently. Also, did you see the baseless Aton the guy installed with the seat belt just before the Peg was tested in the video? He didn’t lock the seat belt in any manner, so it was no wonder that it flew out of the car. The Peg model they tested didn’t have LATCH/ISOFIX, so did they lock the seat belt? That would have a huge impact on the way a seat tests. While the ADAC tests are interesting to watch, they are different because they cover different testing standards. I wish we had a more open testing system here.
We bought this for our 29″ 20 lb 7 month old baby boy. He was in the primo viaggio and it was getting uncomfortable for him. He has our wide shoulders and the fit was getting snug. He stopped napping in it BUT now he naps in his 5-70 all the time. We have a mazdaspeed 3 and it fits well but the front passenger does not have a lot of leg room. If your passenger is super tall they’ll be cramped on leg room. We just have the tall passenger (aka my brother) drive lol. We opted for the licorice trim and the leatherette looks really nice in my car and the black material is nicer on the leatherette model vs the regular model. My little sweater no longer sweats in his carseat like he did before in his peg primo viaggio 30-30 maybe it’s because more room. Either way we are very pleased with this carseat due to it’s quality, material, safety, and looks.
Am I the only one who has experienced what I consider a huge design flaw in this seat? I plan on calling their customer service on Monday, but I thought I would go ahead and ask here since I could just be doing it wrong…
So when you are FF this carseat, the manual says that you have to use the seatbelt lockoff clips. However, they are only meant as a “guide” for the seatbelt, and so I still have to lock my ALR seatbelts, correct? So I go to install the carseat, I thread the seatbelt through the path, close the lockoff clips and then lock my seatbelt. I have a successful installation.
Now I want to make sure I like the way it fits in my husband’s car. I push the seatbelt release button. #$(#*&! Since my seatbelt starts to retract, it is now tight against the Peg’s lockoff clip. How in the world am I supposed to open the clip when the direction it is hinged requires me to open it INTO the seatbelt that is tightly locked right against it? It took me 30 minutes of wrestling and almost considering breaking the lockoff clip just to get the darn carseat back out of my car. Even if I had tried to unlock the Peg’s clip prior to releasing my seatbelt, I can’t figure out how this can possibly work!
Like I said, I plan to call Peg to ask about this. Maybe you don’t *have* to use the lockoff clips on the carseat? Am I just not understanding something about how this works?
Thanks for the help!
Advice please! Looking for the BEST 2 (or 3)-in-1 and am a bit stumped. Our 4 mo (now 5 mo) was 20 lbs (97%) & 27″ (90%) so we need a seat with higher limits. He does NOT fit in his infant seat & we are looking for an ERF that will be the last we have to buy (which means price doesn’t matter if it’s awesome). Also, I have a VW jetta & a Toyota Tacoma (extended 1/2 rear seats) so a “compact” seat is also needed. I’ve been looking at this one as well as the diono, britax, etc but they all have cons (boo…hiss – I want a ‘perfect’ seat!!) Thanks for all your info!
@JGH, unfortunately, you’re not going to find “the last seat you have to buy” when your child is still an infant. Your son will be in some form of carseat until he’s 11-12 years old and aside from carseat expiration, one carseat simply doesn’t do everything well. So it’s best to concentrate on the stage your child’s at now, which is the convertible stage. If you purchase wisely, he’ll be able to use this carseat until he’s 6-7 years old and able to move into a combination seat or belt positioning booster seat.
The Peg convertible seat is a great choice because it is compact, yet offers lots of leg room and height room. The Diono Radian seats are also good seats and are tops in leg room for rear-facers. I love Britax carseats for installation–hands down, they’re the easiest. But once you become accustomed to your carseat, it’ll be easy for you to install. I’m not familiar with the Tacoma other than to know it has an extremely small backseat. For the Tacoma, you may want to look at a carseat that can tether rear-facing, like the Diono and Britax seats can. When tethered rear-facing, they won’t be able to rebound into the back window in the aftermath of a crash.
Quick( long) question, I have a TALL soon to be 3 year old that I’m having trouble finding a seat for. She is approx 41 inches tall and 40 (yes 40) pounds last time I checked. She has been using a maxi cosi priori which she has more than outgrown height wise though she is just now at the weight limit. I need a new seat for her asap. As a baby she used a peg
perego infant seat RF until about 18 mos and was RF in her maxi cosi until her long legs made it impossible.
My issue is that while my child’s size screams booster, she is nowhere near ready for one. She will not keep a seatbelt on. I have been thinking of buying a convertible seat with a higher weight limit but what concerns me is their height limits. Are the seats just as safe with her head above the shell but below the top of the headrest? It just seems like it would not be as safe…. But I’m no expert on this so I thought I’d ask.
Her shoulders on this seat are below the shell but likely wont be for too long. I am expecting another so I know I will get more use out of the seat when she outgrows it, but I feel like my still very young toddler is being forced into boosters before she’s ready. I’m not a fan of Britax products, I do not understand how people use them in the heat I live in( Texas) as they seem very hot.
I’m partial to this seat or the maxi cost pria 70 until I’m forced into buying a booster. What is your opinion on this seat for the taller toddler set? How realistic is it that a child will get even to 55 pounds with the forward facing height limit? I have read the posts and I don’t see a straight answer.
@Nai’s Mum, I wouldn’t choose a convertible seat as a 3 yr old’s replacement carseat. I’d go for a combination seat. These are seats that have 5 point harnesses that then convert to belt positioning boosters. We have a list of combination seats we like here: http://carseatblog.com/carseatblogcoms-recommended-car-seats/ . You could buy a convertible seat for her since you have another child who could use it later on, but then you’d have to buy another seat for her anyway when you already have seats your other child will be able to use right now. Of course, there are new seats on the market that I could easily enable you to buy
if you want, but this is the way I’d go.