The Recaro ProRide convertible car seat is pretty much the acme of rear- and forward-facing car seats, offering multiple above-and-beyond safety features, such as an ergonomic shell structure for easy manipulation, and side-impact protection with enhanced head wings (to shield the child’s head and face and limit neck movement).
In addition, there’s an easy-adjust safety harness and Truelock belt lock-off to prevent the seat’s slipping, and the built-in LATCH system adds stability.
Reinforcements at the sides of the seat stabilize the torso/pelvic areas, and a head restraint limits neck movement. Certified for air travel, this seat meets all Federal safety standards.
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Recaro ProRide – Negative Reviews
Out of 63 reviews of the Recaro ProRide, only 6 were one-to-three star, but the most common complaint was that the lowest buckle slid to the child’s rear end when buckling him in, and that the crotch buckle required two hands to latch.
In addition, the rear-facing position was so tall that it did not allow the seat to fit in smaller model cars. Also, the LATCH system cannot be easily used while the seat is rear-facing; one customer found it completely impossible to do so.
Ironically, the fact that the seat wraps completely around the child for safety came under fire, since the parent could not easily reach the child from the front seat. Also, the central adjusting strap frayed easily, and had to be replaced several times.
Finally, several complainants noted that the seat cover was hand washable only, which was an added inconvenience for parents who had to clean the seat several times a week.
Recaro ProRide – Positive Reviews
Virtually every positive Recaro ProRide review begins with “love . . . great . . . amazing” or a similar adjective/verb to describe the customer’s near-euphoric satisfaction with the model. Major selling points include the impact and safety ratings, which are outstanding for this particular model; also, the fact that the seat “rides high” in the back, which allows the child to see out, is considered a huge plus.
The amount of cushioning in the side impact was impressive, as was the entire safe-cocoon design of the seat; one customer, a trauma nurse, was impressed with the head rests, which are closer to the sides of the infant’s head and provide better safety in case of accident.
In addition, the seat’s manufacture and structure overall impressed most people (Recaro is, after all, the manufacturer of premiere racing seats), and the ventilation impressed one customer whose child stayed cool during a hot Texas drive.
Recaro ProRide – Conclusion
The security and comfort of the Recaro ProRide car seat satisfy both the parents’ and child’s needs (for example, the low-weight classification—only up to 35 pounds for rear-facing—is designated entirely for infant safety).
A plethora of outstanding reviews, and the 4.6 star rating, as well as the manufacturer’s world-wide fame in creating absolutely safe car seats for any size individual, make this an outstanding choice. At the price of $257.01, it is definitely upper end, but is perhaps the best seat available in that price range, and one that will see years of use. We are very pleased to recommend this outstanding product.
