The Complete BeSafe Izi Kid X3 Review
Posted by Julie Monson on
Julie Monson
Occupational Therapist & Car Seat Technician
The Besafe iZi Kid X3 is one of the highest safety rated car seats in Europe. It is rear facing only, approved from 61-105cm (approximately 6 months to 4 years). It is a comfortable, well-padded car seat with ample, adjustable legroom for your child. It weighs 14.5kg so is heavy to move between cars.
PRO'S AND CONS OF THE BESAFE IZI KID X3
- Excellent safety ratings (Highest scoring toddler seat)
- High seat which enables children to see out the window
- Adjustable legroom for the child in rear facing
- Quick and easy to install
- Heavy seat to move between cars
WHAT ARE THE WEIGHT AND HEIGHT LIMITS OF THE BESAFE IZI KID X3?
The BESAFE IZI KID is a comfortable, well-padded iSize approved car seat approved from 6 months to 18kg in rear facing.
The height limits are 61-105cm. This usually lasts average-sized children until they are 4 years old. The iZi Kid cannot be used forward facing. We don't consider this a disadvantage as it is safest for children to rear face as long as possible.
WHAT ARE THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THE BESAFE IZI KID?
The new BeSafe iZi Kid X3 i-Size has passed some of the toughest requirements on the market; the UN r129 (i-Size), ADAC and the Swedish Plus Test.
It achieved an overall score of Good (1.8) and the outstanding safety score of Very Good (1.1) in ADAC 2019.
BeSafe upgraded the side impact protection SIP+ in the iZi Kid X3 i-Size. SIP+ is another of their outstanding safety innovations offering the highest possible protection in the event of a side impact. This additional protection reduces load on the child by up to 20%.
In combination with the integrated head support SIP and an inner shell of energy-absorbing material, this ensures all BeSafe car seats perform at the top of the ratings in a side impact.
WHAT ARE THE COMFORT FEATURES OF THE BESAFE IZI Kid X3?
The BeSafe iZi Kid has 3 recline settings to offer maximum comfort to your little one, especially during naps. It has a high base, which allows children to see out the windows more easily.
It has the added bonus of adjustable legroom for the child, giving up to 10cm of legroom in rear facing as your child grows.
This is a huge advantage to keep kids comfortable in rear facing for as long as possible. It is also very convenient to have the option to make the car seat more compact to fit in smaller vehicles or to give tall parents more legroom.
All BeSafe car seats have magnets in the harness in order to keep it out the way while putting your child in. It also has ventilation holes in the backrest, to keep your child cool. The new iZi Kid X3 has a softly padded insert to be used for children under 2 years.
The iZi Kidi X3 ISOfix has 8 height adjustment positions to ensure safety and comfort as your child grows. The backrest has ventilation holes to keep your child cooler.
The headrest and 5-point harness are integrated, meaning that you can adjust the height very easily. Simply squeeze the handle on the headrest and raising or lowering the headrest to the desired height. To adjust the recline of the seat, squeeze the lever and raise or lower it to one of the three recline settings.
HOW IS THE BESAFE IZI KID X3 INSTALLED?
The iZi Kid X3 installs with isofix. The iZi Kid X3 is a bit more tricky than other isofix car seats, as the isofix arms sometimes retract before they have latched onto the isofix brackets. However, Besafe do provide isofix covers to prevent this from happening. Due to the support leg, the iZi Kid cannot be installed over underfloor storage compartments.
The Izi Kid cannot be installed in many middle seats due to most cars not having isofix in the middle position (position 3 on the fit list) and the support leg requires approx. 29cm, which is usually too long for most middle seats.
The anti-rebound bar is ratcheted out, to secure the seat very firmly. The iZi Kid is heavy; weighing 14.5kg, so is not easy to move between cars regularly.
HOW TO REMOVE AND WASH THE IZI KID COVERS?
The covers can be washed, however, they are fiddly to remove and replace. Fortunately, summer covers are available which not only protect the textiles but they also make it easier to peel the summer cover off to wash. Remove and wash the covers as per the user manual.
This video of the Izi Plus demonstrates similar removal of the Izi Kid cover removal.
HOW LONG CAN BESAFE CAR SEATS BE USED?
BeSafe recommends that the BeSafe iZi Kid X3 not be used for longer than 7 years, provided it has not been in a crash. Due to ageing, the quality of the material may change as the seat ages.
WHAT IS THE WARRANTY ON THE BESAFE IZI KID?
The warranty is 1 year on the seat and, 6 months on the fabric. BeSafe is well supported in South Africa, with the local importer situated in Johannesburg. They have the tools and spare parts to carry out any repairs.
IS THE BESAFE IZI KID X3 COMPATIBLE WITH MY CAR?
In order to install the Izi Kid, it requires isofix and no underfloor storage compartments. A rear facing car seat must never be installed in front of an active airbag. Click here to check if your car is on the approved fit list:
* Not all cars sold in SA will be found on European fit lists. Please contact us if your car is not on the approved fit list.
WHAT ARE THE DIMENSIONS OF THE IZI KID?
The iZi Kid weighs 14.5kg. It’s dimensions are L70 x W47 x H63cm
WHERE IS THE BESAFE IZI KID MANUAL FOUND?
The manual is conveniently stored in a pocket at the back of the seat, so it doesn’t get lost.
OUR VERDICT
The Besafe iZi Kid is a high safety rated toddler car seat with optimum comfort features for your child, including ample legroom, being able to see out the window, deep recline settings and good padding. It does not forward face, which we don't consider a disadvantage as it is safest for children to rear face until 4 years or even longer. It does not separate from the base, making it heavy to move between cars. So this may not be ideal for families who need to do this often.
Our Products
Precious Cargo is a proud distributor of BeSafe products in South Africa. Feel free to contact us for more information or to arrange a fitting.
