The Maxi Cosi Luna car seat review is now official, following the release of the Maxi Cosi Luna on 23 January 2017 (delayed yet again from the original 16 January 2017 release date).
After a number of installations of the Maxi Cosi Luna harnessed car seat, here are our thoughts and some customer feedback from trying to use it.
🔧 Maxi Cosi Luna baby car seat installation
The seat belt path is very clear compared to other models such as the Maxi Cosi Aura or Maxi Cosi Goliath — however, when feeding the seat belt through the large gap, there’s a tendency for it to twist as it passes to the other side. This issue is worse when a locking-off clamp can’t be used to hold the seat belt and stop retraction (e.g. Mercedes B250).
Once you have the seat belt straight without any twists, you’ll need to use a gated buckle to lock in the tension, so the Maxi Cosi Luna doesn’t move laterally.
One major issue with installing the Maxi Cosi Luna is that the seat belt presses up against your child’s back — in an accident, this could lead to bruising.
📋 Maxi Cosi Luna facts
Some facts Maxi Cosi won’t mention in the advertising
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1
The width of the Maxi Cosi Luna at its widest point is around 48–49cm, making it almost the widest Type G seat on the market, after the Evolve.
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2
The tether is very short and only reaches the middle of the seat — it will only reach the anchor point in a handful of SUVs and most sedans. Every other vehicle will need at least a 300mm tether extension, if not 600mm. If a tether extension isn’t provided with the Luna, ask the retailer for a 300mm extension.
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3
The tether is fitted upside down, so connecting it to the anchor point introduces a twist in the tether strap.
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4
The harness release mechanism needs two hands — pressing the button in while lifting the harness straps to the next position. Many people will find this difficult. If you found the Compaq MKII hard to adjust, this will be even harder.
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5
The chin supports built into the headrest help stop your child’s head from flopping forward — though a better recline angle would be a more effective solution.
🔍 Maxi Cosi Luna marketing messages
Marketing messages from the Bubs n Grubs website and Maxi Cosi’s Facebook page, with our analysis of each claim
Claim
“Two position recline for superior comfort” — for a safer and better fit in a wider range of vehicles.
Fact: checking the recline shows only a 10-degree variation between upright and reclined — meaning in cars with flat seats, children will still get head flop. One mum commented “it looked more reclined in the shop,” which turned out to be because the recline foot was extended out, showing the maximum recline available in the display setup.
Claim
“World first” dual action crotch adjustment — the seat depth is designed to be more comfortable at all ages than other brands of Type G seats.
Fact: current Maxi Cosi seats (Hera, Euro, Vela, Moda) average 12–14cm depth from the back of the seat to the buckle, while Infa seats have a consistent 18cm. The Luna sits between 15 and 18cm, bringing it in line with Infa — and it’s actually better than the Britax Maxi Guard on this measure. Note most children won’t use the lower setting anyway, since they tend to slide down the seat, especially in recline mode. The crotch depth adjustment is also underneath the seat, meaning you need to uninstall it to make the change — a real issue for grandparents with multiple grandchildren aged 2 to 8.
Claim
Headrest designed with a curve to suit smaller cars — the top of the seat back is curved for vehicles with a lower roof at the back.
Feedback: in testing, the headrest had no problem being lifted to its maximum height — though we haven’t yet tried an A-Class Mercedes, which has a notably lower roof.
Claim
Helpful harness guides which help prevent strap twisting.
Fact: harness twisting is directly related to webbing thickness and clip design (see here). Speaking with parents at playgroups who own a Vela or Moda, the harness guides have not stopped twisting, and many needed to learn the “triangle trick” to regularly untwist the harness.
Claim
“World first” adjustable comfort headrest technology.
Opinion: this headrest technology is really only needed because the recline angle is just 10 degrees off upright, making the seat more vertical than most other Type G seats in recline mode. The supporting headrest can easily be pushed back into place, but it’s solving a problem the seat’s own limited recline creates.
Not great value
The Maxi Cosi Luna was a long time coming — over 2 years since the standards were signed off — and it doesn’t offer much, compounded by the fact the seat looks cheap. Other seats such as the Britax Maxi Guard, Maxi Guard Pro, or the Infa Evolve offer better value for money.
Review by Jacqie Burnett — freelance blogger and owner of a recalled Maxi Cosi Euro.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Is the Maxi Cosi Luna a good car seat? ＋
Does the Luna need a tether extension? ＋
Is the Luna’s “two position recline” actually noticeable? ＋
Is the harness easy to adjust? ＋
What’s a better alternative to the Maxi Cosi Luna? ＋
Should I get professional installation for the Luna? ＋
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