2019 Britax Frontier ClickTight Review
Since the Britax Frontier ClickTight came out, it’s been a popular carseat for its ability to harness kids for a long time. The ClickTight technology it introduced has proved revolutionary and spawned a line of convertible carseats. We also have a full review of the very similar Britax Pinnacle ClickTight (with Side Impact Cushion Technology).
What’s the big deal? The frustrations of having to use a seatbelt to install a carseat are now a thing of the past, as you will see in our video demonstrations. Without further ado, here are the features:
Britax Frontier ClickTight Overview:
- 25-90 lbs., 30″-58″ tall (and over 2 years of age) with 5-pt harness
- 40-120 lbs., 45″-62″ tall as belt-positioning booster
- Industry-leading 20.5″ top harness height
- Shoulder belt guide at highest position: 23″
- ClickTight installation system for easy and secure installations using the seatbelt
- EZ buckle system holds belly pad out of the way when loading and unloading child
- 9 harness height adjustments
- 2 buckle positions
- SafeCell technology in base
- Integrated steel bars reinforce the shell
- Quick adjust no-rethread harness
- Front adjust recline feature
- Easy remove cover in Cool N’ Dry, Nanotex, and Cool Flow fabrics
- 9-year lifespan
- MSRP $309.99
Of all these features, the one that really sets the Frontier apart from its competition is the new ClickTight seatbelt installation system. It’s basically an automatic seatbelt tensioning system that does the work of tightening the seatbelt for you.
You simply lift up the cover to open up the ClickTight panel (photo, left), route the seatbelt through the appropriate green routing path, buckle it, then close the ClickTight cover and presto! In most vehicles, the installation should be secure in just a few minutes and the only other task is to attach the top tether strap to the tether anchor for that seating position. No worries about locking a retractor, using a locking clip, complex vehicle seat belt routing paths or LATCH anchor weight limits. All those things that most parents never even realized might be a potential problem! With a few exceptions, it really should be that easy to install in most vehicles.
Main Features and Advantages:
5-point Harness to 90 pounds and 20.5″ tall: The Frontier has the industry-leading top harness height setting at a whopping 20.5″! Many combination seats are outgrown by height well before weight because their top harness height limit is only 18″ to 19″ tall. So, the Frontier and Pinnacle will outlast the competition in harness mode, even though kids in the tallest percentiles will outgrow it before they reach 90 lbs. It’s also easy to use, so older kids can do it themselves, with adult supervision, of course!
ClickTight Seatbelt Installation System: With LATCH becoming nearly useless for extended-weight seats beyond 40 pounds, many 5-point harness models will be using seatbelts again for installation. Fortunately, the era of locking clips and putting your entire body in the carseat to tighten it are over. The ClickTight system is as simple as it sounds, as you will see in the video:
Inflatable Seat Belts: Not a problem with the Frontier! Follow Britax’s installation instructions if you have Ford or Lincoln inflatable seat belts in your car.
Multiple Harness Height Settings with Front Adjust: 
Adjusting the harness height is easy; squeeze the red handle at the top of the seat and pull up or push down. There are 9 height adjustments, from 20.5″ down to about 12.5″.
Crotch Strap Adjustment: 2 settings for crotch strap depth, adjustable even while installed. Plus, the EZ-Buckle system flips the crotch strap buckle forward when not in use. That means it’s always easy to find and you are never digging around under your child to find it. It’s also easier for older kids to buckle themselves. In booster mode, you may replace the harness buckle with the optional SecureGuard lap belt clip.
Other Features: Along with steel reinforcement, the patented SafeCell system is present in the base to improve crash performance. There is also improved labeling to help parents find the right belt path, green for harness mode and red for booster mode (photo, right). The cover is easy to remove and this can be done without removing the harness or uninstalling the carseat!
Britax has implemented new technologies to design fabrics that are easier for parents to use and keep their children cooler. Cool N’ Dry is a bamboo charcoal-blend designed to wick moisture away from your child. Nanotex is a Crypton fabric that shuns water and dirt—for the messier ones in your life ;). Cool Flow is a mesh fabric that improves air flow behind your child’s back.
Booster Use: It’s one of the tallest boosters among combination seats. I measure almost 23 inches to the shoulder belt guide at the top setting. Plenty of room for my almost-8-year old son on the second highest setting and also a good fit on the highest setting, one that will barely fit in some vehicles!
Measurements:
The maximum booster height is still among the industry’s tallest models. Britax claims seated shoulder height in booster mode is 23″, plenty tall for an 8-year old (photo, right). The Frontier ClickTight weighs roughly 25 pounds, with the Pinnacle weighing slightly more. Below you can see the top harness height, booster shoulder height and shoulder width measurements, roughly 20.5″, 22.5″ and 19″, respectively.
There are 2 buckle strap positions, one about 7″ depth, the outer setting is almost 9″ depth. Here is the seat width and depth below, along with inner crotch buckle position.
Below are some comparison photos with the Britax Frontier 85, which is now discontinued.
With the changes from NHTSA in regard to LATCH, Britax will indicate a 40 lb. weight limit for the lower anchor system, as ClickTight will be the preferred method of installation. LATCH storage is hidden under the ClickTight compartment cover, in order to encourage seatbelt installations. The top tether will be strongly recommended to the upper harness weight limit and required for kids above 65 lbs.
Installation and Fit:
We tried it in a few vehicles for this review. These include a 2010 Toyota Prius, a 2011 Toyota Highlander, a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer and a 2013 Ford Fusion. In every seating position tested, the install was rock solid within a few minutes, regardless of the experience level of the installer! How about a center seat in a compact car? No problem, as you will see in the Toyota Prius:
I can definitely recommend the Frontier ClickTight based on what I have seen so far. It has a lot of great advantages and really only a handful of minor issues that we mention for sake of completeness.
Advantages:
- Generous 20.5″ harness height, best in class!
- Front height adjustment usable even when installed
- ClickTight system seatbelt installations easier than LATCH!
- Deep side impact wings for head and torso (photo, right)
- Reasonably tall booster mode provides good fit
- EZ-Buckle keeps the harness buckle easy to find
- Made in USA with IMMI harness components
- Two position recline in harness mode
- 9-year Lifespan
Disadvantages:
- Harness adjuster hard to find at first for short fingers, but this makes it hard for kids to inadvertently loosen themselves
- LATCH limited to 40 lbs., but who needs LATCH with ClickTight?
- Relatively large and heavy, as are most combination seats
- Relatively expensive
- Not suitable for pet use (photo, right)
Kudos to Britax for requiring top tether use for kids above 65 pounds. This instruction may conflict with some vehicle owner’s manuals, though we recognize that relatively few children use a 5-point harness system beyond 65 pounds. At that weight, many kids will be nearing 8 years of age or above and most are likely using the Frontier in booster mode. We would still like to applaud Britax for taking this stance on using an important safety feature for the biggest kids who need it the most!
Conclusion:
With a return to seatbelt installations inevitable for high weight harness combination carseats, the ClickTight system on the Britax Frontier is just plain awesome. The trickiest part of using it the first time is simply locating it behind the cover! Combined with the best-in-class weight and height limits, the front harness adjustments and all the other improvements, the ClickTight system makes this harness/booster carseat an excellent choice for children over the minimum requirements of 2 years old and 25 pounds! The Frontier CT is on our Recommended Seats list and I believe it will be an easy to use option that will also be the last carseat most kids will ever need until they can safely transition to using just the adult seatbelt.
Thank you to Britax for providing the Frontier ClickTight used in this review. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are my own! Please visit them at the Britax USA website!
Updated June 2019
Hi There,
I’m wondering why it’s listed as “not suitablefor aircraft use” The manual says it complies with standards? I was hoping to take it with me on a trip to Florida in April!
Thanks,
Krystal
Can any one comment on which seat I should get for my daughter. She is 49 inches tall and weighs 58 pounds with a shoulder height of 17 inches. Should I buy a Britax frontier or a parkway?
Thanks
You didn’t mention anything about “comfort” unless I missed it. I was just curious because, when looking at this model in the store, the seat doesn’t seem to have much cushion to it. I’d be transitioning my daughter from the Britax Roundabout to this model so her baby brother can have her Roundabout. Compared to the Roundabout, seems like minimal cushioning/comfort. Did you have your child ride in it for any length of time?
How is this for broad shoulder ed kids? Was your 8 yr old squished at the shoulders?
I have this seat for my friends 6 year old because it is easy to adjust for his little sis if i dont have all seats installed when we have all the kids.
Do you know when we move it to booster mode am i able to attach the latch to keep in place when not in use.
Has there been any issues with how the seat opens up? Meaning comfort on our kids bums/back of legs with that sharp seam that bisects the seat (especially after a while when the bum padding packs downs and is more pronounced), crumbs or liquids getting in there making more areas to clean or affecting the ability for the seat to click or lock into place?
I keep looking at this seat for an option for my son, but I feel if I had that seam going along the seat of my chair in a 6+Hrs trip, I would be less than happy.
Would really appreciate any feedback from those with actual prolonged use of the seat!
What if the car doesn’t have a top tether? I’ve always been confused on what to do then. I’ve always liked the seatbelt holder on the true fit now I want this carseat. Oh my carseat collection… It grows.
Hi Rayna,
Britax essentially requires a top tether to be used beyond 65 pounds on this model. If you do not have a top tether anchor, cannot have one installed (many cars have retrofit anchors available) or your auto manufacturer prohibits the use of the top tether based on your child’s weight, then you would use the Frontier 90 in booster mode instead. Below 65 pounds, you may install with the seatbelt and use it without a top tether, unless prohibited by a limit in the vehicle owner’s manual, of course.
What vehicle incompatibilities have been encountered with this seat? I think I want one but can’t afford it if I can’t truly use it in every seat in every vehicle (been burned too many times by my Radian…)
Has anyone installed in a 2013 honda odyssey, 3rd row passage side? I have installed three times and the seat is not straight.
I’m really happy with the super tight, super easy install I fit with this seat in my 2005 mustang. My three year old picked zebra.
That click-tight looks so easy I might even let my husband install it. 🙂
Hi. Have you tried install in Honda Ody (2011) second row middle seat? I am having major issues with getting a solid install and I expected it to be really easy and quick. I’ve spent an hour on it and every time it moves when I pull the seat. Help?
Hi Kat, Yes you may use both lower anchors and top tether in booster mode. The manual has a separate section on this as well.
only asking because you didn’t mention it, though I probably know the answer… can you use latch with it in booster mode? (I’m assuming yes since the previous version allowed it, but I don’t go by what I assume)
Yeah, it’s just so hard to get the next generation of technicians excited about installing carseats these days! I’m excited just to get another comment after spending one day solid editing photos and videos and text lol, thank you;-)
I just don’t understand why my 7 yo wasn’t excited to watch your 7 year old install his own carseat. Silly girl would rather rollerblade around the kitchen 😛
I really do think I can get one of these, for her to use now and when her niece turns forward facing, for HER. Wonder which color to get…hmmm….
Thanks, Kecia. Even though it is very impressive, I agree that’s it is difficult to give final impressions having only played with a prototype in the past and a production model for just one day. That’s why we are taking a little while longer to publish our full review and our “official” recommendation. Let’s call these photos and videos a “preliminary” review;-)
Great review, Darren! Thanks for getting this posted so quickly. I know everyone is excited about this new product and eager for detailed information. It feels too early to call the results – since the polls just opened – but I think the Frontier 90 is a landslide victory for Britax! 🙂 I just have one more comment to add, “Britax, what took you so long?” 😉
I should also mention that we have a giveaway for a Frontier 90 running through May 31st, 2013. To enter, please see our giveaway blog: https://carseatblog.com/21585/britax-frontier-90-unboxing-and-giveaway-review-coming-soon/ .
Also be sure to see our other review videos:
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=246947
Looks AWESOME!!! Finally a car seat that’s easy to install with the seatbelt!! Would love to win this for my 4yr old!