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:
I LOVE this car seat so very much! We are in the process of purchasing a second convertible and I’ve been reading loads of reviews…. I was between the Peg, Diono Radion, and Clek but your article (and a few others) just reassures me why I LOVE this car seat in the first place! No need to stray from what I already know is an amazing product!
I was very excited about this seat but once I installed it I was extremely disappointed. No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t get a tight install using LATCH and the seat belt installation was a complete disaster. Once installed, it was so wobbly I could tip it on its side using just two fingers. Is there a possibility that it just doesn’t fit any of our vehicles? I have 4 other car seats and never had any trouble installing them in our cars or the rental cars.
Thank you
Hi Natalie. Sometimes a carseat can be incompatible with a particular seating position because of a feature of the vehicle, like the hump in the center of the back seat. But for it to happen in multiple vehicles makes me think it’s more than that. Let’s start with LATCH. Are you installing it in a LATCH-approved location? The vehicle manual will specify where your LATCH locations are. It’s possible the lower anchors you’re attaching to are either too close or too far apart.
For the seat belt, are you using the correct belt path? I know it’s a basic question, but trust me, I used to be a computer trainer and when I’d troubleshoot computers over the phone, I’d always have to start by asking if the computer was plugged in and turned on :D. A hallmark of using the wrong belt path is the carseat being able to tip over too easily.
Hi Heather
I installed the seat behind the driver’s seat in F150 and bwhind the passenger seat on both Hyundai Elantra and Subaru Ouback. The middle seats on our vehicles are not approved for LATCH use so I didn’t even try to install there. I did use the correct belt path, the one at the front of the car seat. My friend who has Honda Civic and Honda Ridgeline also had trouble installing the seat.
Also, the reclining system is not functioning properly. It’s easy to recline the seat but almost impossible to unrecline. I thought maybe i l got defective seat, but some Amazon.com reviews said that you actually have to uninstall the seat and flip it upside down in order to undermine it. This is all incredibly disappointing. It’s such an expensive seat Peg really should have done better job trouble shooting.
We’ve decided to return it and get another Clek instead. It’s a pain to assemble and not as cushy, but it installs beautifully in all our cars.
Darn autocorrect lol
Undermine should read unrecline
Hello, thank you so much for providing all this great information. With the help of your blog, I purchased this seat and installed it in my Toyota Highlander. I like how it fits however I have a really hard time getting it leveled in the rear facing position. I put a small towel but now I think I need a pool noodle. Is that common with this seat? Should I shop for a more compatible seat with the highlander? thank you
Hi Sophie. It’s totally normal that some seats require a noodle or tightly rolled towel to help with recline and doesn’t mean that it’s incompatible with your car. I wouldn’t worry about it. 🙂
Hi Heather,
I have a son who just turned 1 and suddenly just over 1 inch from the top of his UPPAbaby Mesa, so I need to buy a RF convertible carseat ASAP. I thought I had more time! He’s always been long and lean (currently 30 inches and 19 pounds). I drive a Nissan Sentra at the moment, but will have a much larger Toyota Highlander in about 6 weeks. Before I knew the family member from whom I am buying the Highlander was ready to sell, I was settled on Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible because I felt it was the most promising in terms of giving the front passenger comfortable leg room and ease of moving. If my husband drives my car, we currently need to move the carseat behind the passenger seat. I know this will only be an issue for a few more weeks, but it’s a big one (we’ll need to move the carseat in my car several times between grandparents’ cars when my husband and I are out of town at the end of the month). With a bigger car in my future, I was starting to think a Clek might be the way to go. We would love to have more children and I’m thinking ahead to the ability to fit three across. The extended RF of the Cleks also appeal to me. The Peg Perego seems to suit my current needs better in terms of size and ease of moving, but it will only be 6 weeks until I have a bigger car. What would you advise? Thanks!
Hi Grace. Both seats are great choices in terms of rear-facing and installation. The Peg is more user-friendly out of the box and if the grandparents will uninstall it (some do), it is definitely more intuitive as far as reinstalling. Though if your son still fits in his Mesa at the end of the month, it may be better to continue using that one for the grandparents.
Do you have a specialty baby store nearby that sells both seats? That would be a good way to see them and get a feel for which one you like better and especially how the anti-rebound bar on the Cleks will fit in your car. Amazon is great with returns as well. This is a tough choice!
Hi Heather,
I just came back to the site to do some research on fitting two of these in the backseat of my 2005 Highlander and seeing this question/answer brought me back in time! I ended up with the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible and have been very happy with it. My son is 2 and currently rear facing at the highest head rest setting. My daughter is 9 months and I expect to have to move her from her Uppababy Mesa into a convertible seat in the not too distant future and thought I’d do a little advance research to be prepared. I currently have the kids on either side of the backseat as the Mesa is easy to move when needed. When I move my daughter into a convertible seat, I think I would like to have one child in the middle. Do you know whether these fit side by side?
Hi Heather,
I have a big 5month old son who is off the charts for height and weight (already 20lbs). We have the peg pergo infant seat and we like it a lot but we are looking at convertible seats for the near future. This seat is pricey so I want to make sure we are making the right decision to validate the cost. Would you recommend this seat for a taller baby/child? Or is their a convertible seat you feel would be better? Thank you in advance!
Hi Kristy. The Primo Viaggio Convertible is a very nice convertible and it fits big kids well. Does your son carry his height in his torso or in his legs? If it’s in his legs, this seat will be perfect. If it’s in his torso, consider this seat, but also look at the Graco 4Ever and the Britax Boulevard and Advocate ClickTight seats (back on shelves in October).
Please, does this seat recline in Forward facing mode WHILE the child is seated? Can’t find this info anywhere!
TIA
Hi Dominique – no it does not. Almost no seats can “recline on the fly”. The only seat on the market that does this, to my knowledge, is the Graco Smart Seat. Basically, you pick one approved position and leave it. If you want to change the recline position you have to uninstall the seat and reinstall it.
I have a 2 year old RF who is 23 pounds 31.5 inches with the peg convertible. I have two of the seats. One in my Audi A4 and one in my bigger Audi Sedan. My current issue is I had to move from center with belt to the side with latch since expecting new baby in 3 weeks. I have my son on the side with latch and due to seats it looks lined up correctly but when RF the recline position on the peg makes him feel he is leaning back to much. I know there is only one recline since I used it in center and he was fine there. I have it in non recline RF on the side and had to use a noodle to get it aligned correctly. Read manual and does it have to be reclined RF? Want it to be safe. Fire dept seems to think that has long as it is aligned and doesn’t move with latch that it doesn’t have to be reclined in RF since my son is 2 not a infant. Tried calling peg but always get a voicemail
Hi Michelle. Yes, you want to put it in the reclined position when installing it. My concern is that when it’s in the upright position when rf, the recline mechanism can be broken from daily use. One trick you can try when installing it is pressing down close to the “feet” area of the seat when installing it to make it sit more upright. That tends to help with more flat vehicle seats. Since you aren’t having much luck with their phone line, have you tried their FB page?
hello, my daughter is almost 4yo (maybe 35ish lbs), and we have her forward facing in the peg convertible. i know we are going to have to switch to a seatbelt installation soon due to the latch system weight limit. this makes me a bit nervous if we are switching between cars, and i’m not always familiar with any given seatbelt system. in general, i wish it had a lock off. my question is this: is it safer to upgrade her to a 5pt harness booster at this point, or is staying in the convertible for as long as possible the safest option? i can figure out the seatbelt installation – just want to know if there is an ideal. in terms of boosters, is there one that is your favorite? it seems like the britax has great features (and lasts forever). thanks. rebecca
First off, I would like to thank you for taking the time to put up a review for this car seat. Its been very beneficial to my research on choosing a convertible for my son. I am really considering this car seat. However, because it is such a HUGE decision, I am not 100% sure which convertible I am going to purchase. I love this one but a lot of parents are raving over the Chicco Nextfit as well. Would this one be better over the Chicco? Or is there another recommended one? Thank you 🙂
It really is a tough decision. The Chicco will last longer rear-facing, but it has higher sides and parents tend to find it difficult to lift their kids into the seat. The Peg will last most kids to a good age rear-facing, installs easily, and has a higher rf weight limit. If you can, I’d try both out in your car and see which fits best and which fits your child best. You may find you really prefer one more than the other after playing with them at a store like Babies R Us.
we are trying to decide between this seat, the marathon clicktight or the foonf. we have to fit two carseats and a booster in our honda civic, sometimes.. usually just two but just incase we want to know which one of these three are the smallest. The closest baby store to us doesn’t have any of these three on display to compare them.
@Holly, Peg sells a cover called the Clima Cover that they say is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. For a newborn, you can tuck blankets around the baby after buckling him/her in. Fleece body suits will add warmth too.
What can I use as a cover over this? My baby is due in January and Canadian winters are chilly!
We called Perego yesterday as well to verify and they told us to install rear facing with seat belt in our car (which is a 2007 sedan) we need to use the lock clip. They told us it could be a 2 person job if we are having so much difficulty, which my husband and I were both in the car trying to get the belt back buckled once the lock clip was on, and it would not buckle back up. Honestly they seemed annoyed that we just didn’t use the latch, but it’s very important to me to have it in the middle so latch is not an option. They did confirm that with forward facing with seat belt installation we could use ALR mode with no lock clip.
We are returning this car seat, b/c with all this misinformation I can not get 100% comfortable that it is correctly installed. Such a shame.
Thanks for your help Heather!
I know this post isn’t recent, but wanted to mention that if there isn’t a latch option in that seat, it may mean it’s not safe for a car seat to be installed in that seat. Please read your actual vehicle owners manual! Thanks 🙂
Hi James. You’re right that it’s important to read the vehicle owner’s manual and it should be the first or second (behind the carseat owner’s manual) place to start. LATCH isn’t often available in the center seating position of vehicles (see https://carseatblog.com/31033/borrowing-latch-anchors/) but it’s still safe to install the carseat using the vehicle seat belt.
Marie, they do say in the manual to leave the retractor in ELR mode, but I’ve verified with Peg that it’s OK to lock the retractor. It was an effort to simplify the instructions for parents, when in practice, it actually makes installation much more difficult.
Hi Heather,
That’s what I thought as well, but I went back and read the manual and it says to install rear facing with a seat belt I must leave belt in ELR mode and use the locking clip. The locking clip is just impossible and I just hate having to return such a nice car seat if I am just misunderstanding.
Thanks for your help!
@Marie, the reason I don’t mention a locking clip is because the vast majority of vehicles don’t need them. Vehicles made after MY 1996 have seat belts that lock in some manner, whether it’s at the latchplate or at the retractor, and thus don’t need a locking clip. Most vehicles have locking retractors, which means if you pull the seat belt out all the way slowly, then let it retract back in slowly, you’ll hear a ratcheting sound and you won’t be able to pull it back out–it’s locked. That’s how you install the Peg without a locking clip. Run the seat belt through the belt path and buckle. Then lock the seat belt and pull it tight and feed all the slack back in to the retractor.
Hi Heather,
Your review does not mention anything about using the lock clip. I’m having a very hard time installing this car seat b/c of the lock clip. I cannot see to find anything on line about this, I feel like no one else has this problem. Was it not difficult for you to install this car seat rear facing with seat belt, due to the lock clip? I want my car seat in the middle and with no latches in the middle I must use the seat belt and lock clip.
Thanks for your help!
between the perago and the diono rainer which one would you choose ?
Thank you. It does this while uninstalled as well. I’ve tried it several times. Seems odd to me
@jessica, you should uninstall the carseat and see if there’s something impeding the harness pull strap; it shouldn’t be doing that. The belt geometry sounds fine on her; some harness straps lay across the thighs while others lay higher up across the hips. It’s really up to you if you feel it’s not a good fit for your dd. Not all carseats will fit all kids. You can also look at the Diono Radian RXT, Diono Rainier, Chicco NextFit, Graco Size4Me/My Size to name a few.
I just bought this seat and the harness straps don’t loosen after being tightened. I had to put it in the up right position to loosen. That seems unsafe to me. The harness also laid lower like more on her legs than hips. The buckle also dug into her tummy but I think it might be better if I moved it to the smaller infant spot. I really like this carseat so I’m debating on whether to just return for another peg or look for another carseat. Child is 16 months, 19#, and like 30% for height. Any suggestions for erf
@Packy, I think the headwings on both seats are similar, actually. The Peg seat is taller, so it will last longer overall, both rear- and forward-facing.
What is your thoughts on the Peg Perego SIP 5-70 vs the Britax Pavilion? My little girl just turned one and is outgrowing her Key fit 30. I was looking at the Recaro but Ive heard its very large, hard to use and have a recall pending. I want the best possible for her as well as something that looks good. I have an Audi S6 so room isn’t a big issue. The only thing I can really tell from the pics, is the side head supports on the Britax seem to be ungodly huge and she’ll have no side view. Features seem to be comperable.
@Sunny, between your 2 choices, I think the Peg would be cooler simply because it has less padding than the Pria. Although, if your dd is 36″ tall (!) at 25 mo, I’d definitely try her out first in the Peg before buying it to see how long she has in it rf. If she’s all legs, no problem; but, if she’s got her height in her torso, she may already be maxing out the rf height on the Peg.
Hi Heather,
My daughter is 25 months , 36 inches and 29 lbs. We have Toyota Corolla and we will get a Toyota Sienna soon. I don’t need the car seat for newborn cause I ‘d love Infant Car Seat for the second one in several years. I just wanna find a good napping and good fabric (LA is hot) car seat (FF)for my daughter. I’m still between PP and Maxi cosi Pria w/0 tinyfit. Which would u recommend for us?