The original Britax Roundabout was the darling of all carseats back in the late 1990s. The harness system is to die for, even today. The no-twist straps, the push-button release and the silky-smooth adjustment still set the standard. The shell is a modest size that fits very well in a wide range of vehicles. It also doesn’t take up all your legroom and recline up front when it was installed rear-facing behind you. In addition, the built-in seatbelt lockoffs and the standard versa-tether that can be used rear-facing are amazing features found on very few other models then or now.
The Roundabout still shines, but many parents now prefer larger seats. They want models that will allow taller children to remain rear-facing longer, or to remain in the harness beyond 40 pounds. In addition, premium models from other brands have emerged that have copied some of the features of the Roundabout while increasing weight and height limits at a similar price point.
Behold, the Britax Roundabout 50, coming soon to a retailer near you. Details have been leaking out from online retailers for some time, but we can now share with you what we have been told. At heart, the Roundabout 50 isn’t really a Roundabout at all, it’s basically a modified Britax Decathlon. What they’ve done is to remove a few features that may not be important to some parents, in order to sell it at a much lower price point. In this case, the RA50 is likely to be only a little more expensive than the original Roundabout.
Some basics:
- Rear-facing from 5-35 pounds, forward-facing 20-50 lbs and over 1 year
- Twist-free 5-point harness
- Four harness slot height settings
- Three crotch buckle positions
- Push button LATCH connectors
- Versa-tether for front and rear facing use
- “Staged Release” rip-stitch energy absorbing tether
- Rear and forward facing recline settings
- Holders to keep harness out of the way when placing child in the seat
- Made in the USA from domestic and global components
- 6-year lifespan
- Initial colors include Pistachio, Onyx and Berkshire Grey
How does the RA50 compare to the more expensive Decathlon? Obviously, the 50 pound harness limit is much lower than the Decathlon’s 65 pounds. Most kids seem to outgrow the Decathlon before 65 pounds, so this may not be a big issue to some parents. For others, the Decathlon may be a better choice to go somewhat beyond 50 pounds, even if they outgrow it before the maximum limit. The harness slot heights of the RA50 are currently listed as the same as the Decathlon, but I’m told they may actually be up to a quarter-inch higher. That’s nice for the top slot, though it may affect the bottom slot as well. Drawbacks compared to the Decathlon? There is no HUGS system on the RA50 harness. There are also no infant positioning pillows or comfort pads. The push button harness adjuster found on the original Roundabout and the Decathlon is replaced by a standard lever adjuster. In addition, there are no front or rear facing lockoffs (a locking clip will be included instead) on the RA50.
As we haven’t seen a Roundabout 50, we can’t really review it or comment beyond discussing the features. It certainly seems like a very nice option for toddlers that will keep them in a harness beyond 40 pounds. The flip side is that it’s not the best choice for newborns and small infants. You don’t get all the features of a Decathlon, but you aren’t paying for them, either. Still, how can you complain about a lower priced option from Britax? If it doesn’t appeal to you, there are always other models that have all the bells and whistles!
The Roundabout 50 should be appearing on retail shelves, including Kids-N-Cribs.com, in late May or early June at an MSRP of $199.
This seat fits great in our small cars–2003 Toyota Corolla and 2007 Lexus IS. Very easy to install.
I think I am beginning to understand the name.
Roundabout has always been the “Cheapest” of the line of Britax seats. Roundabout 50 takes on this role.
Then there will be the Marathon CS.
If you had both the Marathon 50 and the Marathon CS — wouldn’t THAT be confusing as well?
You can now find official information here:
http://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/roundabout-50/
I still think Britax is making a HUGE mistake on the name. This isn’t a Roundabout. It’s not based on the Roundabout. Calling it a “Roundabout” is only going to confuse parents and frustrate techs.
“The push button harness adjuster found on the original Roundabout and the Decathlon is replaced by a standard lever adjuster. In addition, there are no front or rear facing lockoffs (a locking clip will be included instead) on the RA50.”
That’s too bad. Two of my favorite things about the Roundabout are the super nice harness adjsuter and the easy to use lockoffs.
I’m still glad this seat is coming out, but I doubt I’ll buy one.
Sounds a lot like the FPSVD (which I like), but with a few additional features. I am looking forward to seeing it.
Thanks! Can’t wait to play!
I agree, the crotch strap settings on the Decathlon are a nice upgrade from a Marathon. If only you could get side impact cushions and an adjustable head wing section on a Decathlon like a Boulevard!
I also cringed a little seeing the name “Roundabout” put on a model without a push button harness! That will pass, though, for under $200, it seems like it should be a nice option. I haven’t heard anything about the smaller Roundabout and Diplomat being phased out, but I suppose anything is possible depending on how sales are.
The RA50 seems like a great seat but I agree that it really should have its own name. Also, if this means the end of my beloved RA – I hope Britax doesn’t discontinue the Diplomat too. We still need at least one smaller Britax seat.
What I love most about this new model is the 3 positions for the crotch strap. This is the main reason why I chose a DC over the other higher-weight Britax convertibles for DS2. It always annoyed me that the RA had more room for “little boy parts” than the MA or BV.
This is a reasonable seat from Britax. Frankly, I think they should market the Roundabout50 and the Boulevard and discontinue all the other convertibles. The other Roundabout, the Marathon, Decathalon, and the Advocate, not to mention the absurd CS models of the BV and MA, are all a waste of space and none of them do anything spectacularly different from the two mentioned above.
Hey, maybe if they stop dumping their money into unnecessary convertibles, they’ll be able to focus on a true ERF seat.
This is a great “budget” option for those who want the quality of Britax without the high price tag. I would consider it myself if I were in the market for a new convertible.
But why on earth did they call it the Roundabout 50? A completely new name would have been nice, but even Marathon 50 would have made more sense than Roundabout 50, since the seat is actually nothing like the regular Roundabout.
Thanks for the sneak peak at the features! I think this seat keeps up nicely with the advances that cars have made over the years. Most parents have no need for built in lock-offs, but DO need extremely simple and easy to adjust LATCH straps, which Britax provides. I look forward to being able to recommend this seat to people who want the quality of Britax without paying such a high price.