Finally after five years, there are new Infa car seats that have included isofix on a car seat with the easy adjust harness. This new car seat; is the old Infa Secure Quattro that will include the safe grip clamp and isofix.
Infa Secure released their only isofix car seat in 2015. This new infa car seat was an A2/B with a manual re-thread . At the time of release in November 2014, it was one of the first isofix seats to be released after approval of the 2013 australian standard. Unfortunately this was the first isofix released by infa secure.
Isofix Installation
Many user issues were considered during the design stage; such as how to tension the isofix connection but fell short when it cam to getting sufficient tension on the isofix connectors. This was a similar issue that faced the maxi cosi isofix system, where installation experience by the author (and installation expert with over 12000 installations) shows that it is not possible to get the tension expected by families for a stable installation
Britax; the creators of Isofix (along with VW) have over 20 years experience with isofix; and an sofix system that works; which is easy to remove and stow away, easy to tension; and it is possible to get sufficient tension expected by families for a good installation.
SAI Global
The extract from SAI Global for the new infa car seats (quattro) state:
Convertible child restraint comprising blow-moulded seat incorporating: multipositional headrest with Side Impact Pod and harness adjustment, a multiposition recline and a 6-point harness. Installation is ISOFIX compatible or may be used with a vehicle seatbelt. Options and accessories include: Energy Attenuation pads, Safe Grip belt clamp, Insert pads, Shoulder pads, Buckle pads, and Seat protector
New Infa Car Seat SIP
The new Infa car seat side impact pod; sounds phonetically similar to the Britax Side impact cushion technology (SIP vs SICT). The is no further mention of the old technology Air Coccoon technology (ACT) and the author has doubts there is very little or no change except to change the abbreviaion of the technology.
New Infa Car seats Harnessing
The fact that Infa are still using blow moulding to create the shell of the child restraints; limits the harness step increments (currently at 40mm)/. Compare this to the Britax harness step increment of 15 mm; you quickly realise; that Britax seats are a better fit, due to the small harness increment.
New Infa Car Seat Extended Harnessing
The extract from SAI Global for the type g seat (extended harnessing) state :
Child restraint comprising blow moulded seat incorporating: multipositional headrest with Side Impact Pod and harness adjustment, a multiposition recline and a 6-point harness. Accessories include: Energy Attenuation pads, Safe Grip belt clamp, Insert pads, Shoulder pads, Buckle pads, and Seat protector
Harness increment
This sounds very similiar to the infa secure emerge with all of its defects. The use of blow moulding technology has inherent limits, when it comes to the harness increment. The 40 mm harness increment of the Emerge is too large. In many cases; the harness strap is too far away from your child’s shoulders to be a good fit. Compare this to the harness increment of 15 mm on Britax car seats. The smaller increment on a Britax car seat; means it is a better and more secure fit.
Seat Recline and Head Flop
The recline mechanism of the Emerge needs to be re-designed; so that it provides a recline and does not just conform to the shape of the car seat. The current design of the emerge; means the current emerge, is not suited to dual cab utes, or many suvs on the market. The Britax maxi guard has a pedestal; which has the best recline for extended harnessing car seats, preventing head flop for children who like to sleep on long drives.
Integrated Headrest issues
The centre position tether strap of the Emerge; causes problems; when there is an integrated headrest. The tether strap needs to be split; or moved to one side. Neither solution is optimal; and should the tether strap go over the top of the headrest; there is a high chance the tether strap could slip.
The only solution is not to purchase the Emerge when your car has an integrated head rest. All other car seat manufacturers, have a split tether strap (britax, maxi cosi, mother choice etc..) coming from the side of the car seat.
Conclusion – New Infa Car seats
Not Recommended – Dis-appointmment is an understatement; with the update of SAI Global register, about the new car seats from Infa. Very few changes are indicated and those changes are not worth the expense of a new seat. Purchase an older style Quattro Treo; and you will get a better seat. As far as an extended harnessing car seat; the best option would be to look at the Britax Maxi Guard; with its easy to use harness and superior recline.
