Full review coming soon but I wanted to give everyone a quick peek at the new Combi Zeus 360* and showcase a few of its unique features. The model that I have is the “Chestnut” fabric.
The Zeus 360 is rated from 5-33 lbs and up to 36″ tall rear-facing and from 20-40 lbs (over 1 year old) and up to 40″ tall forward-facing. This is the new, improved model which replaces the original “Zeus Turn” convertible.
The infant insert that comes with the Zeus 360 MUST be used for all children under 25 lbs (11.4 kg). Instruction manual states that you should discontinue use of the insert (after 25 lbs) when the harness becomes too short to fit the child or, if forward-facing, when the child’s shoulders are above the top harness slots.
Truthfully, it took me a while to figure out how to make this seat rotate (even though I was reading the directions) but now that I’ve got it down – it’s pretty simple. So far, the unique features are impressive but I haven’t tried to install it or put a child in it yet. Stay tuned for a more thorough review coming soon! The full review is now posted HERE.
Kecia – Any issues or concerns that would be reason for me not to purchase this seat for my Element? If there is any indication that it may not be “as safe” due to the rotation ability, I will get another seat that has been on the market longer with a higher weight capacity and just learn to work around the access limitations.
One thing that Element owners experience is that it is nearly impossible to get two RFing seats in since you aren’t able to access the babies from the outside and you can’t get past the RFing seat to access them from the middle. I hoped this seat would allow me to have a RFing convertible and an infant seat (when the time comes) and keep this car.
Sorry… trying to wait patiently for your full review but I’m obsessed with finding the perfect car seat. 🙂
We have a Acura TL and are trying to decide if this will fit. Could you post the measurements between the front seat and the dash when you installed this in the Accord? I think the Accord and the TL are basically the same car.
Thanks!
Hi Amanda,
I’m waiting to hear back from the Combi rep before I can proceed with the full review. There are some questions that I have and issues that need to be clarified first. I’m hoping to have the review completed soon. I don’t have access to an Element but after looking at pictures of the backseat I can see what the issues are. The Zeus 360 might be a good option for this vehicle since it appears that there is plenty of room in back for a large rear-facing carseat.
Any update on when a full review might be available? I’m interested in this seat for my Honda Element as I heard the previous version solved the accessibility issues for RF seats in the odd backseat. I would like to move my daughter from her infant seat to RFing convertible. I wish this seat had better RF & FF limits, but I have no problem investing in her safety and getting a different seat when she outgrows this one.
Any chance this seat could be tried out on an Element? I think a lot of Element owners would be very interested in this seat since owner often considering trading their Elements instead of fighting with RFing seats – I see it a lot on the Element owners groups.
Thanks!
thanks kecia
i checked out the older zeus turn and took measurements – 30 inches (or 75cm) seems about the right distance from the back seat to the back of the front seat. there’s no way my wife will sit in the passenger seat so she’ll have to go the back seat next to the baby. thanks for getting back – the zeus 360 still sits on the top of my list right now.
Due to the unique design, the Zeus 360 is a space hog in the rear-facing position. I don’t think it would be a good candidate for backseats with little leg room. It installed fine rear-facing in the backseat of our 2000 Honda Accord but I had to move the front passenger seat up a little bit to make room for it. That still left plenty of room for me to be comfortable up front but I’m only 5’4.
I measured the space needed from front to back with the Zeus 360 on the floor (not terribly accurate but will at least give you a ballpark figure) and I came up with 30″. I don’t have a Coccoro in my possession to compare it to but I’ve seen the Coccoro and it takes up MUCH less room in the rear-facing position than the Zeus 360.
I’m not sure which post you’re referring to, but as far as a “new” Combi convertible – I believe this is it. The Zeus 360 replaces the original model Zeus Turn that was only rated to 22 lbs in the rf position.
Hope that helps!
hi kecia- i am also very interested in the measurements of this seat- particularlly in comparison with the coccoro. i am thinking i will forgo the whole infant carrier and i love the combi products for that first year or two. wish i could see them in person before i decide.
i did just speak with a combi rep- he seemed very nice and helpful- but he said he measure the coccoro and the 360 zeus and the zeus shell measured “approx 21 inches” and he said the coccoro shell was 5-6 inches SHORTER. however their spec measurements on line are identical for height- 28.25″.
something just isnt adding up!
also- i saw the post with the combi rep who said their was a new convertible seat coming out in the near future that would replace the zeus- the rep today denied this. in the posted conversation the RF limit was said to be 30lb RF… however both the coccoro and the 360 zeus are now 33lb RF, so i wonder if that was a typo? the rep today said the RF would not be going down. but also would not be going up. *sigh*
any and all info is very appreciated!!! thanks!!
hi, i’m really keen to get this for my 2-door car. do you have the measurements when it’s in rear-facing mode i.e. how far it measures from the back seat to the back of the front seat? i don’t want my wife to have to sit completely upright in order to fit this into my car. this model is not available in asia yet so i can’t check it out for myself.
any feedback will be much appreciated.
thanks
Traci – first and foremost, don’t worry about his feet touching! It’s a non-issue, really! Have you seen pics of older rear-facing kids? If not – check out the photo album at CPSafety.com: http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum.aspx
You can call Combi customer service and ask them if the dimentions have changed but I wouldn’t be surprised if they haven’t. Personally, I would encourage you to exchange the ZT for the newer 360 model with the higher rear-facing weight limit regardless of whether or not the dimentions have changed. The 360 will at least allow you to keep your child rear-facing until he’s 33 lbs or 36″ tall. Good luck!!
How many times have we heard parents say that extended RF isn’t possible in their vehicle because it’s a 2-door vehicle, or a 4-door with barely any room for loading? I think this is a great option for such situations, and I’d have loved it back when my kids were RF in our VW Golf or our little Eagle Summit. I used to call putting my kids in their RF seats my “daily yoga routine.” I’d have paid extra for this feature!
I just purchased the Combi seat with the 22lb rear facing weight limit and while I love it I am considering upgrading to this newer model (for which my husband is now completely and unrepentantly annoyed). My son just turned one and weighs roughly 22lbs and is therefor old enough to be turned around into the forward facing position. However I would very much like to keep him rear facing for as long as possible, but with the seat that I have his feet are able to touch the anti-rebound portion of the seat when rear facing and I worry that this will also be the case were I to invest in this newer seat. Do you know perhaps if the dimensions of the new seat differ from those of the one I currently have? I hate to think I just shelled out $300 yesterday for a carseat that isn’t the best one for my child or my particular forward/rear facing views.
Niche or not, I think it’s a great concept. I had a similar idea many years ago. You’d have a “base” that actually was a base with an anti-rebound system that went up the vehicle seat back. It would be installed with rigid LATCH and a top tether and could remain there. You’d then pop in an infant carrier. Later, you could buy a convertible that would simply swivel or just pop out and back in to reverse direction. Later, there might be an extended weight harness seat.
Volvo once had a promising concept like this at the CPS conferences many years ago. Orbit and Combi have elements of it in their products, too. It the concept appeals even to a small number of parents and helps them keep their kids safer, it’s a good thing. For as much flak as the predecessor to this model took for a relatively low rear-facing maximum limit, I think it is appropriate to commend Combi for addressing that issue.
Price and weight are important factors, but they are not the only factors! I look forward to the full review, thanks Kecia!
This is definitely a niche seat, but it sounds like it will be a good seat for those who need it (Mustang owners, anyone? LOL). Looking forward to reading a full review.
The market is for 2-door cars, where it might be difficult to load a kid in RF. So you load them in FF or to the side and then turn them. Or for people with disabilities. Or for people who want to load their kid from the side. Definitely not a cheap seat.
Kecia, I’m sure you’ll get to it in your review, but I’d love measurements on it. Do you happen to have a Coccoro to compare it to? It looks pretty similar, yet different. Do you have an old-style Zeus for comparison, too?
LOL,,,NO!. $329.99 for a 40 lb seat!
What’s the market for this seat? I’m not seeing why to buy this seat instead of one of the others. Is it remarkably cheap?