It Looks like Maxi Cosi are finally going to release the Maxi Cosi Luna Car seat; an extended harnessing car seat for children up to 8 years of age. This is called a G type child restraint which is purely a forward facing cart seat. The Seat is designed for children from 12 months of age to 8 years of age. Read the updated review
Maxi Cosi Luna Car Seat Certification
On the 6 December Sai Global have certified the new G type seat from Maxi Cosi. Information provided in the certificate indicate that
Forward facing car seat with adjustable 8 position air protect headrest with chin supports. Threadless harness straps with 2 stage base adjustment with 3 position buckle adjustment. Infant insert provided for 6 to12 months only.
Type G: Forward facing chair with harness, suitable for children approximately 6 months to approximately 8 years of age
This is a belated release as the other manufacturers already have a number of extended harnessing car seats such as the Britax Maxi Guard SICT, Britax Maxi Guard Pro, The Infa Secure Grandeur (actually 0-8 years of age), and the Infa Secure Evolve. Most of these seats have been out in the market for almost 2 years and have secured a loyal following from parents and grand parents out there. it should be noted that there are other g type seats but the others seats do not have a hassle free harness and need the harness to be manually re-threaded so taking into account the height of growing children.
Cool baby fabrics
Gone are the days of velour fabrics; where children are sweating in their car seats and over-heating, Britax, and Infa have cool baby fabrics so it goes without saying that; the new Maxi Cosi Luna will have their so called wicking fabric which has been used on previous seats.
Hassle free harness
If the Maxi Cosi Luna car seat does not have a hassle free harness then the race is already over, as Britax have the easy adjust and Infa have the twist and lift system, both are very easy to use to adjust the harness height for your growing children. From Maxi Cosi we have already seen a number of different system to adjust the harness height.
The Maxi Cosi Hera and Euro have two levers that need to be pushed in towards the centre before you can left the head rest up or down. These have the dis-advantage that the plastic covers come off easily and the mechanism can come loose.
The Maxi Cosi Vela and Moda have a similar system to the Euro and Hera, but it is harder to press the levers in towards the centre.
Another type of hassle free harness was used on the Maxi Cosi Aura (a now dis-continued seat) where you lifted a flap and can single handed lift the harness and head rest up/down.
The last system was used on the summit which had a single latch at the back of the seat (making it hard to adjust when the seat is forward facing) but still requiring your second hand to lift the head rest up or down.
Maxi Cosi Luna must have a single handed hassle free harness as it will miss the mark and not be a direct competitor to Britax and Infa.
Addendum … from the images it can be seen that the luna is based upon the aura and has a single handed harness adjustment.
Stable harness Guides
According to the information provided by bubs n grubs; the Maxi Cosi Luna Car seat has harness guides, which is similar to the Maxi Cosi Vela and the Maxi Cosi Moda.
- It should e noted that the Moda and Vela are rear facing seats where the chance of a twisted harness is greater.
- Secondly twisting of the harness happens when the webbing of the harness is very thin, allowing the webbing to twist within the harness clip.
- Thirdly; on most harness clips one side is bevelled where the webbing passes, re-designing the clip may help so that there is no bevel
Adjustable head rest
Bubs n grubs have indicated that there is an adjustable headrest with two sets of air protect built in. The lower pair being able to be adjusted independently to suit your child’s growth and age and to help prevent head roll.
It should be noted that head roll usually only happens in the case where parents have used a cowboy car seat fitter; who has not installed the child restraint with the correct recline angle. When the recline angle is incorrect; the child may not able to sleep as the child restraint is too vertical. To prevent head roll only ever use ACRI baby car seat fitters. ACRI Certified and Verified fitters understand the need for your child to be at the correct angle.
Adjustable Crotch strap
This is a feature which Britax have included in their Hi-liner booster seats for a long time with the anti sub-marining slide guard. It is nice to see Maxi Cosi catch up so that our children can be more comfortable while travelling in the car.
It should be noted that the depth of the current Maxi Cosi seats (Hera, Euro, Vela, and Moda) on average; have a depth of 12 to 14 cm from the back of the seat to the position of the buckle, where as Infa have a consistent depth of 18 cm from the back of the seat to the buckle
Maxi Cosi Luna Summary
UNDECIDED – Given that Maxi Cosi are late to the market; both Britax and Infa have shown their extended harnessing car seats to be reliable and comfortable. There is little to entice the author to recommend any other person to spend the money to buy the Maxi Cosi Luna. Added to this is the fact that you can now get second hand child restraints at significant reductions over the RRP for both Britax Maxi Guard and Infa Evolve child restraints.