Peg Perego breaks into the convertible carseat market with the new Primo Viaggio Convertible. 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 22-65 lbs. and less than 49”.
The Primo Viaggio Convertible comes with harness covers and an infant cushion.
Basics
- Weight limits: 5-45 lbs. rear-facing, 22-65 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 5-65 pounds: The 65 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” (all 7 approved for rear-facing)
15.0”, 15.7”, 16.5” (for forward-facing use only)
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. 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 10 cover choices: Crystal Beige, Licorice, Crystal Black, Paloma, Crystal Red, Aquamarine, Atmosphere, Fucsia, Fleur, and the to-die-for Alcantara Pearl Grey. The restraint I have is in Crystal Black. Peg also offers an alternative separate cover for purchase called the Clima Cover. It’s made of an innovative soft Tencel material that helps keep a child warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
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 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.
ETA Sept. 2013: Peg Perego added a rear-facing tether to this carseat beginning in March 2013. If you have an older model, tethers may be obtained to retrofit your seat from Peg by calling 800-671-1701.
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°).
- RF tether for anti-rebound control
- 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 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 Convertible – http://pegperegousa.com/baby/primo-viaggio-convertible
For more information on child passenger safety, please visit:
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.
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.
@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 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?
@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 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.
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!!!
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.
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.
@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.
@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 ;).
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?
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 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..
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!!
@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.
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.
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 ;).
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!
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?
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.
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!
@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.
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.
@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.
Does anyone know how this would fit in a Mazda 3 or small 4 door car? Or any other recommendations?