Introduction
No, they are not actually airbags. They don’t inflate or pose any type of risk whatsoever. They are actually air-filled rubber cushions, and they may help protect the occupant and adjacent passengers in side impacts. The Britax Advocate 65 CS was replaced by the Britax Advocate CT last year. Please see our newest review of the Advocate 70 CS HERE.
The following is a review of the original Advocate 65 model. It touts “True Side Impact Protection” along with Britax’s “Side Impact Cushion Technology” feature. This model can be used rear-facing for children 5 to 35 pounds, and front-facing for children above 1 year old and from 20 to 65 pounds. The maximum standing height limit is 49 inches. On their website, Britax lists seated shoulder height limits of 10.5″ to 16″ while rear-facing and 12″-16″ front-facing. If you’ve read my review of the Boulevard CS, you will find it is nearly identical because the Advocate CS is basically a Boulevard CS with the addition of side impact cushion technology.
Features and Advantages
Side Impact Cushion Technology- These air filled rubber cushions should provide improved side impact protection, both for the child in the Advocate CS and for passengers sitting next to the child restraint. Britax claims a 50% reduction in side impact crash energy. The only real drawback is that it makes the seat a bit wider and heavier. That may be a problem in narrow seating positions, next to other child restraints or in outboard seats in the third row where access to the outside may be cramped.
Click & Safe– Simple, but effective. As you give a firm pull on the front harness strap, the CS system gives a loud audible “click” that you can feel and then a second click as you release the strap. Once you hear the clicks, the harness should be adjusted properly! I found that it works quite well in most cases. Of course, it can be fooled by thick clothing like winter coats, so these are not recommended in the Boulevard CS or any child seat. It does require an even, strong pull to result in the click. Some parents or older siblings might have trouble with it, but this shouldn’t be a problem for most. My wife finds it too difficult to pull. I found it very intuitive. It’s a very subjective feature, as some find it doesn’t work to their liking while others just love it. It’s always a good idea to double check to make sure the harness straps are snug on the shoulders, but Click and Safe may be a help for someone who forgets to check or is in a hurry. It is possible to get the harness straps tight enough for a good fit even though the Click & Safe hasn’t quite clicked yet. This happens sometimes if you let off too soon or if you use two or three shorter tugs to get it tight [like my wife]. Overall, it’s a convenient feature for parents who really aren’t sure how tight the harness needs to be. It can also be very helpful if your child is frequently transported by friends, relatives or caregivers who may not be as attentive to details. For parents who are very familiar with how a harness should fit, Click & Safe may seem like overkill, though it’s still fun even for carseat geek like me!
Side Impact Protection– After frontal impacts, side impacts are the most common and severe. Most child restraints provide good protection in frontal impacts when used properly. Unfortunately, side impact testing is not mandated and has not been a main design feature for most carseats and boosters in the USA. With very little vehicle structure between a child and a side impact, these crashes are so dangerous that an IIHS study showed that they cause the most fatalities for properly restrained children. The Advocate CS has the same True Side Impact Protection features as the Boulevard. These include deep wings around the head to protect from intrusion and reduce side-to-side movement in a crash.
5-point harness to 65 pounds– This is the type of harness that child passenger safety advocates recommend for safety. Along with the enhanced side impact protection, the 65 pound limit on the harness is one of the great features of the Advocate CS. Many other convertible seats are limited to 40 pounds. While most kids above 40 pounds can use a booster, some may not be mature enough to remain seated properly in a lap and shoulder belt. In other cases, parents may prefer to keep their child in a 5-point harness beyond 40 pounds because it may offer somewhat more protection in side impacts and rollovers than a 3-point lap and shoulder belt. Britax includes an easy-to-use two piece chest clip and separate tongues for each side of the buckle. Unlike various earlier Britax models, each tongue of the fairly standard buckle system gives a “click” when inserted into the buckle. The straps are the no-twist type found in other Britax models. Comfort pads are included to cushion the child’s neck from the straps and a belly pad keeps the buckle from touching the child.
High Rear-Facing Limits– In addition to the 65-pound rated harness, this model is also very good for its above average rear-facing limits. Rear-facing is the safest way for kids to travel. In particular, young children face an increased risk of head and spinal cord injury when moved to front-facing seats. While children may be front facing once they are 1 year AND 20 pounds, that is the absolute minimum. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends kids be rear-facing as long as their convertible carseat will allow. As you can see, for older toddlers the legroom is 
adequate. Also, Britax now recommends that the top of the child’s head should be 1” or more below the top of the child seat shell (not the adjustable head restraint section) when rear-facing. A diagram in the manual shows how to measure this correctly. This photo is of my son when he was almost 3 years and 3 months old and around the 90th percentile for his age at just over 40″ tall. He still fit rear-facing by height in the similar Boulevard CS, though the top of his head is close to being an inch below the top of the shell as described in the manual. At the time, he was at the rear-facing weight limit, but it demonstrates that the Advocate CS should accommodate most kids rear-facing up to 3 years old.
HUGS– The HUGS harness system is now fairly standard for Britax seats. This includes rubber pads on the harness straps to decrease the forces on the child’s neck in a crash. It also helps position the chest clip properly at armpit level. The chest clip is a two-piece type. The HUGS pads are optional when used rear facing, but are required front-facing. While the HUGS pads do require periodic adjustment, they should not be an annoyance.
Easy Harness Adjustment– Like many seats, the Advocate CS has a front harness adjustment to tighten and loosen the harness. A lever is lifted to loosen the harness, and a strap is pulled to make it tighter. In addition, a knob is provided to adjust the height of the harness to the level of the child’s shoulders. No more guessing about which slots to use and no painful procedures to rethread the straps. You can even adjust the height with the child in the seat and the seat installed in the vehicle! It is recommended to keep the harness straps at or slightly below the shoulders while rear-facing. They should be at or slightly above the shoulders while front-facing. This is a great feature, though it is important to make sure to look through the fabric cover to the plastic behind in order to determine the level of the harness straps. That is because the fabric slots may ride a little lower than the actual slots in the plastic head restraint section. Once the head restraint and harness straps need to be adjusted to the maximum height, the child may continue to use the restraint forward-facing until the tops of the ears become level with the top of the restraint shell (not the head restraint section) or the child’s weight exceeds 65 pounds.
LATCH– The Advocate CS includes two flexible straps to attach to the lower anchors found in most all current vehicles. Britax includes adjusters on each side to cinch the strap tightly. The attachments themselves are among the nicer ones on the market, and push-buttons make them easier to remove than some other models. Storage slots behind the fabric cover are included for when the LATCH connectors and tether are not in use. The LATCH attachments shipping with the Advocate do not need to be switched from rear-facing to front-facing use, as was the case with some similar Britax models! With this improvement, it’s one of the easiest-to-use flexible LATCH systems on the market. You still must be careful to position the LATCH connectors upright when attaching them to an anchor. Arrows on the attachment and diagrams in the manual show the correct orientation, but it is easy to attach them upside-down.
The top tether can significantly reduce head excursion and the likelihood of injury in a crash, and should be used at all times. Britax also allows their versa-tether to be used rear-facing, unlike most other manufacturers. This can help the parent get the appropriate recline for infants, and to stabilize the installation a bit better. While rear-facing seats are inherently very safe even without a tether, this is a nice added feature.
Seatbelt Lockoffs– Like most Britax convertibles, the Advocate CS includes handy seatbelt lockoffs built into the seat. These can serve the function of a locking clip in many older vehicles that do not have seatbelts that can properly secure a child seat. The design of the rear-facing lockoffs has changed over the years. Recent models have them “flipped” from earlier ones that makes them a little easier to close and helps them stay locked better. This photo shows both the rear-facing lockoff and the top tether in use while rear-facing in the similar Boulevard CS. When forward facing, the included shoulder belt lockoff is recommended when the lap-shoulder belt system does not lock.
Crash Indicator– Like the other recent Britax models, the top tether has a special stitching indicator that will break free if subjected to forces in a moderate or severe crash. The manual shows how to inspect the seat to determine if the seat is no longer acceptable for use. It is still possible that the Advocate CS could be involved in a moderate or severe crash and not break the stitching, for example, if the top tether wasn’t attached or tightened correctly. That is only one example; there are other possible crashes that may not cause the stitching to rip, so caregivers should refer to the NHTSA guidelines on re-use of crashed child restraints and contact Britax for guidance on using the it after a crash.
Recline Adjustment– A reclined and upright position are available. These are adjusted with an easy pull handle at the base of the seat. The reclined position must be used while rear-facing and is needed to achieve the maximum 45 degree recline required for newborns. Parents should consider the back of the head restraint section when adjusting for 45 degrees for small infants. Older babies with adequate neck strength and head support may have less recline when rear-facing. When front-facing, the upright position MUST be used for children above 33 pounds.
Padding and Comfort– The Advocate CS is nicely padded and comfortable. A body pillow is included for infants and comfort pads are on the harness straps around the neck. The only issue is that the area behind the hips loses padding when the head restraint section is raised to higher settings. The side impact protection also provides a great headrest for a sleeping child. Mine has the “Onyx” fabric. The patterned section seems more breathable, while the solid black trim section is a very soft micro-fiber type of fabric.
Aircraft Certified– This seat has the FAA certification to be used on aircraft. Airplanes will not have lower anchors for the LATCH system, however, so it will be installed normally with the seatbelt just as if it was being installed in a car without LATCH. Instructions for airplane use are included.
Manuals– The manual is attached to the seat with a flexible cord that prevents it from being lost. The manual is clear with nice diagrams and color photos to help with installation. The manual has been updated with respect to the Boulevard CS manual. It has numerous minor changes, including “tips” and some clearer photos. Major changes include improved guidance and diagrams for vehicle and seat belt compatibility and a re-written section on forward facing installation with regard to the side cushions and shoulder belt lockoffs.
Construction– Like the Boulevard, the Advocate CS is made in the USA and is a high quality product. It is solidly made and feels like it. I’ve toured the Britax facility twice and it is very impressive from the assembly line to durability testing to the crash test sled. Kudos to Britax for keeping manufacturing in North America.
Visibility/Headroom– Visibility is improved from earlier models with side impact protection like the Britax Wizard, so I mention this only for completeness. The tradeoff for side impact protection is that a few kids may find the head wings to block visibility. Like newer Boulevards (CS and Standard versions), the Advocate CS ships with slightly wider head wings than earlier Boulevards, so this really shouldn’t be a problem for most kids. My son just turned 4-years old and has been in the highest percentiles for head circumference, but still has plenty of room.
I highly recommend the Advocate CS, especially if your child is seated in an outside seating position that is closer to a possible side impact. Ease of installation is exceptional with LATCH and good with seatbelts, both front-facing and rear-facing, with either seatbelt or LATCH in our 2006 Honda Odyssey and 2000 Subaru Outback. The side cushions do make it more somewhat more difficult to route the seatbelt during installation and the overall width may also be an issue in some seating positions. As with all carseats, the Advocate CS will be incompatible with some vehicles. It should generally be a good fit in most vehicle seating positions where width isn’t an issue. LATCH is primarily a convenience feature, as it is easier to use in most vehicles. Even so, it is recommended to use whichever system results in the best fit. A top tether should always be used with LATCH or the seatbelt when front-facing. The Advocate CS is larger and heavier than most convertibles. The base also raises the child higher off the vehicle seat than many other models. While this may add to comfort and to the child’s view, it’s still a good idea to make sure it will fit your child and vehicle correctly before you purchase it!
Disadvantages
Crotch Strap and Harness– The harness tightness adjuster is similar to the type found on many carseats, and works well. While it probably doesn’t belong in the disadvantage section, it is not the simple and extremely easy to use push-button system that some parents who own Roundabouts may expect. With the higher weight limits, Britax uses a heavier-duty mechanism. I note that I did not find any problems with the operation of the adjuster on my Advocate CS; it works smoothly to tighten and loosen the straps. It can be tough to locate the release lever under the fabric cover panel initially, though. My only real complaint about the Advocate CS is that the crotch strap is only average for depth and provides less room than some other high weight harness models. So, it can be a tight fit for larger kids near the upper weight limit. It is a very tight fit on my 4-year old son who is just a hair under 40 pounds and in the 80th percentile for height. My wife finds the harness takes too much strength to tighten just before it clicked when front-facing, so there is certainly some personal preference involved. I note that it seems a little easier when rear-facing because you can use the back of the vehicle seat for leverage.
Weight and Width– At 21 pounds and 21″ wide, the Advocate CS is among the heaviest and widest convertibles. It won’t fit in some seating positions. The Decathlon, for example is almost 2 inches narrower and 6 pounds lighter.
Lower Limits– The rear-facing height limit (top of the head must be 1” below the top of the shell) is somewhat lower than previous guidance for other Britax convertible manuals. This is presumably done for consistency with other products and manufacturers. Also, the lower LATCH attachments may only be used for up to a 40 pound child, unless your vehicle owner’s manual states that the lower anchors are rated higher than 40 pounds. Otherwise, the seatbelt must be used for installation above 40 pounds. Note that this is a change in philosophy from previous models that gave a generous 48 pound guidance unless otherwise indicated.
Fabric Care– The cover is fastened with elastic, similar to most convertibles. Removal and reattachment is typical, but does take a little time. Instructions are included for this procedure. Britax recommends to hand wash cold, with mild soap and line dry. Do not machine dry the cover!
Price– Though I think it is a fair value for all the safety and convenience features, it is unfortunately among the most expensive child restraints at an MSRP of almost $370. Is the added side impact protection worth the cost? That depends on your individual situation, of course, but there is certainly much more value for babies and small toddlers than there would be for pre-schoolers. I do think features like this are great safety innovations and hope they will appear on less expensive models in the future.
It is important for parents to try ANY carseat before they buy it. In the case of the Advocate CS, you should make sure you are comfortable with the CS system and with the crotch strap depth on your child[ren]. You should also make sure it installs properly in your vehicle, and visit a certified child passenger safety technician if you have trouble. For many parents, these disadvantages should not be an issue at all.
Conclusion
The Advocate CS is the latest convertible from Britax with some great safety and convenience features, including the side impact cushions. The ease of installation and adjustments is exceptional, at least for us, in our vehicles, with our kids. The side impact protection alone makes it a good choice to consider if you are using it in an outboard seating position. Most convertible carseats with a 5-point harness should provide reasonable side impact protection, though the Advocate CS should be at least a modest improvement. On the other hand, models like the Advocate CS should have a significant advantage in side impacts for kids over 40 pounds who would otherwise be using a backless booster or other booster that offers minimal side impact protection. For parents who know how to get a snug harness fit already and don’t have room for the wide side impact cushions, the standard Boulevard is a great alternative for less money. For bigger kids where the crotch strap might be a concern, the Britax Decathlon is worth consideration.
For those who like the Click and Safe feature and have plenty of room for installation, the Advocate CS is a great choice for most babies and toddlers. As with any seat, parents of preemies or very small infants closer to 5 pounds should definitely check the fit before buying, due to the relatively high bottom slots. On the other end, many kids should make it to 50 pounds or beyond in the Advocate. So, used from birth, this seat should last a typical child for 5-6 years. My son is very tall for having just turned 4 years old and I estimate he should get another year in the Advocate CS before he outgrows it by height. Like many manufacturers, Britax recommends a six year limit on the use of their restraints. I’ve only had a few days experience with the ADCS, so keep in mind these comments may change as I get more experience with the seat. I will update this review as it is necessary.
Here’s a link to information at the Britax USA website about the Britax Advocate CS along with one for the user manual. The Advocate CS is available at most baby stores, including Kids N Cribs.com.
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Hi Darren,
i have read your review and all comments and found them really helpful. Thank you a lot. We are currently searching for a group 1+ child car seat and we found the advocate 70cs suits us best, as we want our daughter to stay rear facing the longest possible and to have isofix too. But i have a couple of questions: is it an old model? Has Britax released a better/newer model since the advocate 70cs? We live in Greece and we have not found the particular model anywhere. Which one do you recommend? We have a BMW 116i and at the back is a bit low. Could that be a problem?
Thank you in advance.
Hello Darren. Thank you for the ongoing information. I have the Advocate CS (got it about 2 months ago) and I just watched your video on the side impact cushions. I didn’t remember the bungie cords under the cushions and wanted to see if was possible to disconnect the cushions to make it a better fit in an airline seat. As I pulled one side of my cushion back it popped and a screw tore out of the plastic. Mine has no bungie cords! And now the cushion is loose because the screw is torn out. Help?! And what’s going on?
Hi Kat-
As far as I know, the elastic cords were present on all original (now discontinued) Advocate CS models, as you had to move the cushions to access the belt path and harness height adjuster. I suspect you may have purchased the new Advocate 70 CS model. This model is substantially different than the old model in many ways. In particular, Britax moved the belt path and harness height adjustments such that they are no longer behind the cushions. I have not seen the new model outside of trade shows, but I suspect that the cushions are permanently affixed. My suggestion would be to contact Britax and see if they are able to send a replacement part or otherwise determine if it can be repaired. Heather will be reviewing the new Advocate 70 CS within a few weeks.
I have twins and am considering buying 2 of the Advocates. I have a large SUV ( Lexus LX470). Do you think a 3rd person can sit between the 2 car seats or will they take up the whole row? Also, my boys are miserable in their current car seats because they get so hot. Do you think we will have the same issue with these?
Thanks again!
Any rear seating position should be fine, provided that the child safety seat installs well and can be used there without any restrictions in the owners manuals. The middle seat may be slightly safer overall, but just having a child correctly restrained in the back seat of a newer vehicle is the big reduction in risk. On the other hand, the main advantage of the side impact cushions on the Advocate 70 would probably be minimized when placed in the center. The cushions may still offer some safety advantage of a passenger in an adjacent seat, but if you are installing it in the middle, I would suggest that the Britax Boulevard 70 is a less expensive alternative that is basically the same seat without the side impact cushions.
Thanks so much for the response Darren. Do you recommend putting a seat like the Advocate in the middle of an outback or in the side seats?
Thanks again.
Hi Carseatoverload,
The new version, the Advocate 70, should fit fine in your Subaru, but the only way to be sure is to try it. We will have a full review of it soon. Front-to-back room is not affected by the side impact cushions and the new Advocate even fits rear-facing a little better than the old one. I would definitely recommend rear-facing for a while longer, at least. The issue with the side impact cushions would be the space required for the adjacent seat. In a smaller car, you may not be able to fit another child seat or large adult right next to the Advocate. As for the cushions themselves, I do not think they are hype. Being between the seat and a potential side impact, they are very likely to help in some types of side impacts. Of course, we have no data to prove this, because there are no standards and no form of testing that allows us to compare the performance of one seat to another. Anyway, buying smaller seat for a second car is a good idea. For example, the Costco Scenera is an inexpensive alternative that can usually be found for $40 to $50 and is smaller than average.
Hi — I am in total car seat information overload trying to buy a convertible car seat for my one year old, 21 lbs son. I am having a lot of trouble determining whether the side impact cushions are hype or not, and whether the advocate would fit in a 2009 or 2010 (I can’t remember which) subaru outback without affecting the position of the front seats. We also are going to need a seat that can be moved relatively easily from car to car to accommodate different care givers and I’m worried this will be too heavy (although we may just buy a second smaller one and have this one permanently installed in my car). Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for all the information in the review.
Hi,
I bought this the Britax Advocate for our first daughter. Although I found it to be pricey, I have come to realize that nothing compares to the safety of your child. We were rear ended a couple days ago and I think that the Advocate definitely saved my daughter from serious injury. Although we both walked away, it was painful and we both have injuries. I will be buying another Advocate car seat to replace the one that was involved in the crash. I have no doubts what so ever that this is the BEST car seat on the market!!! I thank Britax greatly for making sure my child was safe. I never had any problems with seat from adjusting to washing to installing. This is a must have for every parent with a child(ren).
Alishia
Hi Mason’s Mom. I would not be able to give you advice contrary to the manufacturer, especially since I don’t know exactly which part the “belt guard” is. Certainly, some components of a child restraint system are not critical safety features. If this is one that is merely a convenience feature or a safety aid, it is quite possible that it could be removed safely. Is it something that you can put back on if it doesn’t help resolve your issue? If so, it seems like it probably worth a try if Britax suggested it.
Hi Darren,
I contacted Britax by phone… they said that if I removed the “belt guard” the problem should be corrected. She said that the safety of the child would not be compromised. What do you think? Is it safe to remove? What is the purpose of this piece (couldn’t find any info in the manual about it)? This doesn’t make sense to me!! Please let me know your opinion on this. Thanks!
Hi Mason’s Mom-
I’m not really sure what to tell you. I never had a problem with the Click & Safe feature. On the other hand, my wife had issues very similar to what you describe. I think there is certainly some personal preference here and I would have no reservations in telling you to return the seat for a different model if you don’t find the CS feature to be easy and intuitive. It is also possible there is something wrong with your particular seat, but that would require a call to Britax. I apologize that I can’t be of more help. Most people seem to like the feature but there are plenty who prefer not to have it, too.
Hi Darren,
We recently bought this car seat for my son and we are having trouble with tightening the straps/harness. You made it look so easy in the demo… just wondering if we are doing something wrong, or if there is something wrong with the seat??
It is really difficult to tighten (I have to use the strength from my whole body and when my husband does it, the whole car moves and it is still not tight enough). The CS function clicks with the first pull, even though it is visibly still too loose and doesn’t even seem like it has tightened at all. It is almost as if something is giving the CS function a false signal that it is tight enough. The only way to get it tight enough is to tighten it before we put our son in, and go from there. I was hoping you could let me know what we are doing wrong, or help me solve the problem.
Thanks
I also installed it in a 2000 Subaru Outback. A second review from another reviewer is forthcoming!
The demo vehicle for the review is a Honda Odyssey.
What vehicles did you install it in?
Within the Britax lineup, the Decathlon has an adjustable strap, but I’m not sure offhand how much farther out is the longest adjustment. Once your child is over 2 years old and 25 pounds, the Britax Frontier would be an option.
My wife and I liked this car seat a lot when we saw it, the only thing which is holding us back is the crotch strap…our son is only 19 months now so no issues currently but when he grows up thsi migh become too tight. Do you have any suggestions for a different car seat?
Lol! Heather noticed that right away, too! That’s courtesy of my sister. Pink and purple are his favorite colors, so we go with the flow.
Thanks for the thorough review, Darren! I glanced at the manual found at the Britax site and found it to be incredibly informative, I think they’ve done a great job (if only people would read it….)
Your son’s manicure is adorable 😉