After being discontinued here in 2011, The 
Cybex Solution X-Fix is now back on the American market with unique European features, like rigid LATCH and fashion-forward design.
Vehicle seatbelts are designed to fit an average 160 lbs. man, not your average 4-12 year old child. That’s why we have booster seats. A booster seat raises the child up so that the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt falls across the strong hip bones, not the soft abdomen. High back boosters, like the Cybex Solution X-Fix, have headrests with shoulder belt guides to keep the shoulder belt off the child’s neck and lap belt guides to keep the lap belt low across the child’s strong pelvic bones. Booster seats should be used for kids have outgrown their 5-point harnessed seats and who are mature enough to handle the extra freedom that comes with using a booster. Continue to use a booster seat until your child can pass the 5-Step Test (usually around age 10-12).
Solution X-fix Specs:
- For children 33-100 lbs, 38 – 60″ tall, at least 3 years old
- Highback only – X-fix cannot be used without the back
- Maximum height to shoulder belt guide 19.75″
- 7 year lifespan before expiration
Solution X-Fix Features:
- 11-position height adjustable headrest
- Rigid lower LATCH connectors that rotate to fit lower anchors of varying heights
- Linear Side-impact Protection (L.S.P. System)
- Three position reclining headrest
- Very thick energy-absorbing EPS foam in the headrest, torso wings and in the arm rests for enhanced side impact protection
- Lower Anchor Funnel Guides for access to deeply embedded anchors (also available for purchase separately)
How to find the right booster for your child and vehicle:
When I first started looking for boosters for my older child, I thought a booster was a booster. And maybe back then, they were. But now we know better and it’s as specialized a search as finding the right infant seat or convertible. First, you have to find a booster that has shoulder belt guides that will work with your shoulder belt anchors in your vehicle. Unfortunately for me, I can’t switch boosters between vehicles for my dd because in my Sienna, the shoulder belt comes from directly behind her (it’s mounted on the vehicle seat) and in my dh’s Lexus, it’s mounted on the C pillar forward of the buckle (perfectly sideways and in front of her shoulder). So, for my van, I need a booster that has the belt guides on the back of the seat, just like the Cybex X-Fix. It’s led me to try many boosters to find one where the shoulder belt won’t get caught in the belt guide yet still has a lap belt guide that’s easy for dd to slide the belt through, plus have good head and torso protection. You wouldn’t believe how hard it is to find that combination in today’s boosters!
Choosing which child restraint to purchase should be based on many factors, including the way the seat fits in your vehicle, how the child fits in the seat, and, in the case of a booster, the maturity of the child. Because boosters allow more freedom of movement, the child must have the maturity to sit correctly in the seat without wiggling out of the seat belt or slouching over. Only you can determine if your child is mature enough, but we generally see this maturity forming around age 4-5. Also, it is generally accepted that a child under 40 lbs. is best protected by a seat with a 5-point harness.
X-fix assembly:
The X-Fix requires minor assembly and comes in 2 pieces: backrest and base. Most boosters that come with removable backs require that the backs be attached, so I was prepared for that. The backrest has a typical highback booster assembly where you lay the whole seat flat on the ground, place the tabs of the back into the slots on the base, and rotate the back up into position. The X-Fix was very straightforward and really, I didn’t need to even look at the directions in order to assemble it (though I did).
Instructions:
The instruction manual is full of WARNINGS. It’s clearly written by their attorneys. I don’t mean to mock, but 3.5 solid pages of warnings in a booster manual and parents are going to stop reading it. I’d suggest picking the most important, then incorporating the rest into the instructions. The rest of the instruction manual is clear and easy to understand with clear diagrams.
Cover and padding:
Currently there are several fashions available for the X-Fix including Pure Black, Gray Rabbit and Purple Rain. The cover can be machine washed and line dried when necessary. As part of my testing, I tried to take the cover off, with “tried” being the key word. There are 3 parts to the cover: the head and shoulder area portion, the backrest portion, and the base. The cover for the base is attached with snaps and came off easily; it’s highly padded and will require some rolling in a towel to get dried. The backrest stays on with the help of elastic bands. The head and shoulder portion stay on with a variety of snaps, an elastic band, and the contour of the head and shoulder wings. I could not get that cover off and gave up after trying for over 20 minutes. I will try again tomorrow and enlist the help of customer service, but that sucker is on there! Fortunately, it’s an area that doesn’t get much dirt, at least in my experience, so we’ll just wipe down as needed. But, I really wanted to get that cover off in particular to show you just how much EPS foam there is in those areas—it’s unbelievable.
Installation and use:
Boosters are usually very easy to use: just plop them on the seat and buckle the child into the vehicle belt. The problem inherent with most belt positioning boosters is that when the child isn’t in the booster, it’s sitting there loose waiting to be a projectile if the vehicle is involved in a crash. Sure the child can remember or be nagged to buckle the booster after getting out of the seat, but if the child is like my child, she’s usually in a hurry to get out of the vehicle in the drop-off lane at school. The last thing on her mind is buckling the darn booster so mom doesn’t get whacked in a crash. The Cybex X-Fix solves that problem by LATCHing. Using rigid LATCH connectors makes it not only so that the seat isn’t a projectile in a crash, but it also adds lateral stability in a side impact: the seat can only be knocked as far as the LATCH anchor is wide, or 25-40 mm (or 0.98” to 1.57”).
I went a little video crazy, but we love videos to show how things work here at CarseatBlog, so have fun watching!
When buckling a child into the X-Fix, the shoulder belt must be routed through the shoulder belt guide which is located on the back of seat. This is done by sliding the shoulder belt between the headrest and shoulder wings into the guide. The open design means that the shoulder belt won’t get caught on it if the child leans forward; in the X-Fix, the shoulder belt will remain snug on the child. The design of the lap belt guides is forward and means that the lap belt will fit snugly over the child’s thighs. Because of these safety designs, the X-Fix earned a Best Bet fit rating from IIHS. The lap belt path is marked in red and like other boosters, the shoulder belt is routed under the armrest.
The back of the X-Fix should be adjusted so that the shoulder belt guides are slightly above the child’s shoulders. To adjust the height of the back, squeeze the red handle on the back of the headrest and lift up.
X-fix Measurements:
There are 11 height adjustments from which to choose. At the highest setting, the shoulder belt guide is about 19.75″. The lowest setting is around 12.5”.
I measured the inside of the shoulder wings at about 11.75” at their narrowest at the back and at about 14.5” at their widest at the front. For the headrest, the narrowest measurement is about 7.25” at the back and 9.25” at the front.
I also measured the base of the seat. I always sit in my kids’ boosters to get an idea of what seats are better for bigger kids and the X-Fix is a good one for the wider kids. The base doesn’t have a boxy shape; rather it’s roundish and bowl-shaped, which makes it comfortable for kids with bigger hips. I felt quite comfortable in it. The narrowest part at the back measures around 13.5” and the front measures 14”. The depth is 12.5” to where it angles down for knee bend and 13” total depth on the vehicle seat. The instruction manual is explicit that the booster must not hang over the edge of the vehicle seat, though I don’t think it will be a problem with most vehicles since it’s a shallow base.
Total outside width of the seat at both armrests and shoulders, widest points, is 19”.
Reclining headrest:
A touted feature of the Cybex booster seat is the patented 3-position recline feature built into the headrest. A child can reach up and recline her head when she starts to feel sleepy and her head will lay back instead of slumping forward. My daughter can easily adjust this herself and while we haven’t used this feature yet, I’ll post a comment soon when we do to let you know how well it works.
Airplane use and expiration:
The X-Fix is not FAA-approved and cannot be used on an airplane because it doesn’t have an internal harness. The X-Fix expires after 7 years from when it was manufactured. The expiration date is clearly marked on the label underneath the date of manufacture so there’s no question about when to stop using it.
Lower LATCH Anchor Funnel Guides (included):
With and without LATCH guides in Lexus
Lexus lower anchors without LATCH Guides
Lexus lower anchors with LATCH Guides
The not-so-good
The X-Fix is top heavy and creates a blind spot when I drive. The booster is also on the short side (comparatively speaking) with the tallest shoulder height adjustment being about 19.75”. That may be enough to take a child with a short torso, like my daughter, straight to seatbelt readiness, but a child with a tall torso will outgrow this booster before being big enough to pass the 5-Step Test. The X-Fix also doesn’t have any cup holders.
X-Fix in the lowest position–no blind spot
X-Fix height needed for my kid –blind spot out back window
The final word
My daughter really likes the Cybex Solution X-Fix and so do I. She says it’s comfy, has lots of padding, and is easy to buckle. I’m impressed with the rigid LATCH attachments, the insane amounts of EPS foam, the reclining headrest feature and the overall sturdiness of the seat. With the pivoting rigid LATCH that stores in the seat base, it’s a truly unique product and it rates pretty high on the cool scale too!
You can find the Cybex X-Fix at retailers like Kids-N-Cribs and Amazon. MSRP is $169.95. Additional information on the Cybex Solution X-Fix booster can be found at the official product website: http://cybex-online.com/us/carseats/solutionxfix.html.
Thank you Regal Lager, Inc. for supplying the Solution X-fix used in this review. Comments and opinions are entirely those of CarseatBlog.com.
Hi, we drive an 2012 Infinity G37xs. The back seat has the non-removable head rests and we have had a really difficult time trying to find booster seats that fit flush against the back of the seat. This booster appears in the infinity website as a solution…. Do you or anyone here know is it does work? Please help!!!
Hi Ana, it may and I say that hesitantly. I’ve never tried one in your style vehicle, but did have to turn my head rest around to get this one to fit in my Sienna and Jennie had to remove her head rest to get the Q-Fix to fit in her van for her Q-Fix review (https://carseatblog.com/27726/review-cybex-solution-q-fix-is-this-the-fix-youve-been-looking-for/). How old is your child? Is your child already in a harnessed seat? I wonder if it may be better to stay in a harnessed seat for the time being, like a Britax Frontier, then convert that to a high-back booster that can be installed with LATCH and the top tether. That may eliminate the gap, depending on how squishy that head rest is.
If your child has already been in a booster for a while and is older and a good booster rider, a backless booster may be a good option.
I feel for you and wish manufacturers would do a better job of addressing this issue.
I’m debating whether to purchase the Cybex Solution X-Fix Booster OR the Cybex Solution Q-Fix Booster . I planning on purchasing the Q-Fix because it’s the latest and greatest, but noticed that IIHS reviews rated the X-Fix higher (BEST BET) than the Q-Fix (GOOD BET). Any thoughts on why the newer version would be lower than the older version? Also, which would you recommend?
Hi Vince. The design of the lap belt guides appears to be different, which probably accounts for the difference in ratings. IIHS Good Bets still fit most kids well and it’s usually the bigger kids who benefit the most since as they grow, seat belts will fit them better anyway. A major difference between the 2 boosters is that the Q-Fix torso area expands as it gets taller. If you have molded/sculpted vehicle seats, this may cause a fit problem for the booster. You can read Jennie’s review for more information: https://carseatblog.com/27726/review-cybex-solution-q-fix-is-this-the-fix-youve-been-looking-for/ .
@Saba, the fit of the Aton depends on your child. Some kids may fit to a year, some may only fit to 6 months. After a rear-facing only infant seat, you’ll want to buy a convertible seat. That type of carseat rear-faces and allows the child’s spinal bones to continue to develop as the child grows older and bigger in the seat, then it can be turned forward until the child outgrows it. Depending on the size of the convertible carseat the next step may be a combination seat that has another harness or a belt-positioning booster.
QUestion… if i get the Cybex Aton rear facing infant car seat, up until what age/weight will it work; and what is the next step up?
Is it this high back booster that than grows with them? Low back to high?
Looking for more detailed information! Hoping for a response!
Really apprecilove all the good information on this website- haven’t found any child carseat safety site that even compares.
Thanks!
@Joe, I actually haven’t had the seat in a while and don’t remember the specifics of getting the cover off. You could try asking how to remove the cover here: http://www.car-seat.org/forumdisplay.php?f=5 since we have members of our forum who have the Cybex X-fix who have undoubtedly tried to wash their covers and who could help you. Just be sure to ask about removing an X-fix cover instead of an Isis-fix. I’m not sure how different the two seats are, but perhaps they’re similar enough. Otherwise, you can always get in contact with customer service.
Hi, I have a cyber isis-fix bought in 2011. Today I tried to remove the cover and clean. The cover has 3 parts: head, backrest and seat. The head and backrest parts are easy because they are fixed with buttons only. However, the seat part is fixed with buttons as well as two rubber bands. Somehow I couldn’t get it off. I googled for a while and your blog is the only place that mentioned cover removal. So have you got help from customer service about how to get the part of cover with rubber bands off the seat? Thanks.
Hi Aimee. Please contact Regal Lager to see if they can help you. Since the X-Fix was purchased overseas and the booster was checked as luggage, there may be nothing they can do. http://www.regallager.com
HELP!!! I have this car seat, purchase overseas, now I need a new base, as my clip to detach from isofix was destroyed via air transport. Where can I get parts or the adapters you spoke of?
Thank you,
Aimee
Hi Aimee, ALL,
I am moving from Germany to the USA and am wondering if I bring my Cybex Solution X (not fix) with me. I know there are different standards in EU and the US that make it illegal to use foreign car seats. But do you know is this also the case with booster seats, specifically this one? Many thanks for any tips!
Marie
Hi Marie. Honestly, nobody will be able to tell the difference between your booster and the U.S. version of the Solution X-fix unless they look at the label. As you said, there are different standards and I’m not in the position to say whether one is better than another. Ideally you’d buy a new booster once you get settled in the U.S.
This may work for my 3 grandsons. Thanks for the great review.
Here’s a direct link to the crash test video showing highback use vs. backless use of the Cybex: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJD7_ukUUpA&feature=youtu.be&a . It shows why they prohibit use of their booster as a backless.
“Made in Germany. You know the Germans always make good stuff” -Shamwow Guy
Great review.
Oh gosh, no Miracle Gro, please! Our Focus has no headrests in the back, so if he outgrows the narrow boosters, I’m in trouble.
Here’s a pic with 3 across in the back of my ’05 Sienna: https://carseatblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Cybex-X-Fix-3-across.jpg . On the left is a Clek Olli and on the right is a Fisher Price Safe Embrace Booster. You don’t get much narrower than those 2 boosters, so . . . I tried moving the X-Fix to where the Olli is and it wouldn’t work because the rigid LATCH (TWO! rigid LATCH seats next to each other–swoon!) from Olli covered the rigid buckle stalk in that position. I don’t have a Radian to test out back there and I’ve never had much luck getting one installed there either. Frankly, I’d give my kids Miracle Gro if I had to do a 3 across ;).
I’m also wondering how it works for 3 across. Maybe next to a RF Radian?
Great review, Heather- thanks!
Oooh, I hope that belt guide works in my van. Britax boosters with that angle have always done ok, so I’m going to keep hoping it will. 🙂
Great review, Heather! I was really impressed with the Cybex X-Fix when I had a chance to play with it at Lifesavers. The reclining headrest feature is really innovative, the rigid LATCH attachments are awesome and you gotta love all that EPS foam!
Heather, how easy do you think it would be to buckle it in a 3-across situation?
Sounds good!