The Britax Roundabout does not spin round and round like the name may suggest, although maybe that’s a feature they should look into? Either way the Roundabout comes with several names, the 50 with a max weight of 50 lbs and the 55 or G4, the newest model, which you guessed it, maxes at 55 lbs.
In this review I’ll talk about both models since they are both still available and neither has been discontinued as I’m writing this. We will have a look at the pros and cons of Britax Roundabout
So how about that Roundabout 50?
The Roundabout is very similar to the Marathon but, what I would consider falls on the lower end up the feature spectrum which the lower price reflects. As the name suggests the weight limit for this seat is 50 lbs, which is 15 lbs lower than other Britax convertible car seats.
It still has the energy absorbing base and an energy absorbing tether for protection in the event of a crash. However, it is missing other safety features like the HUGS chest pads to provide resistance to forward movement and steel bar reinforcement to provide more protection during a crash. The Roundabout covers the basics, as I would consider them, in features and safety as we’ll see below in the pros and cons.
Quick Specs
- Item Weight: 15.54
- Orientation: forward and rear facing
- Weight limits: 5 – 50 lb
- Height limit: 49 in
- Harness: 5 point
What are the Pros?
- Energy Absorbing Base – Prevents the child from being propelled forward by compressing in crash and lowering the center of gravity.
- Energy-Absorbing Versa-Tether – Attachment that anchors the top of the car seat which slows the release of forward movement.
- Harness Holder – Makes it easier for you to put your little one in by keeping the harness out of the way.
- Price – As you’ll see below this is one of the only Britax convertible car seats coming in well under $200.
- LATCH System – Makes installation a breeze for parents.
And the Cons?
- No infant pillow insert or removable/washable cover – No infant insert means having to buy this separately to add while your baby is still small to make sure they fit in the seat snug and secure, and without an easily removable cover its difficult to clean, however there are covers available to buy.
- Less crash protection overall – As I said the Roundabout covers the basics, with the basic level of crash protection padding and support through the seat, but it doesn’t go about that like the other Britax models do.
How do consumers rate it?
Consumers rate the Roundabout 50 at 4.3 out of 5 stars which is a great rating. It gets a bit of a lower rating then other convertible seats for less safety measures than others.
What’s it going to cost?
This is one of the pros to this model, one of its biggest selling point is the fact that online you can find this car seat for just $135.99. This is an AMAZING price for a car seat.
The Bottom Line
The price here is the biggest advantage to buying the Roundabout. If you’re on a budget and don’t have $200 plus to spend on a “higher end” car seat, this is a great choice. It’s budget friendly and meets safety requirements protecting your little one from harm’s way.
