Review: Nania Luxe Imax SP Isofix Group 1/2/3 Car Seat

BritMums Current Affairs Editor, Laura, reviewed the Nania Luxe Imax car seat with her toddler son Ted. See what she thought about the Nania Luxe Imax SP Isofix Group 1/2/3 Car Seat in the shade ‘Shadow’ in this unbiased review.

(Laura was provided the product free to test and review from online retailer Kiddies Kingdom, a ‘one stop baby shop’ based in West Yorkshire. All opinions are the reviewer’s own.)

Delivery from Kiddies Kingdom

Before I’d even opened the car seat box, I was very impressed by Kiddies Kingdom’s excellent delivery service. They offer next day delivery on products over £50 (UK mainland), and sure enough, our car seat arrived promptly, via DPD, who sent a text with an hour’s time slot beforehand. Maybe we’ve now come to expect next-day delivery as standard, but I’ve certainly received much less efficient service in the past from bigger companies. So far, so good, Kiddies Kingdom!

What is the Nania Luxe Imax car seat like?

First impressions of the Nania were that it is very sturdy, very padded and very large. Fitting the seat was easy, using the ISOFIX fastenings in our car. The instructions for the seat come with a list of compatible models; it can be used in the majority of modern cars.

Once fitted, our main tester of the Nania was my son Ted, who had just turned two when we tested it. Previously he had been getting from A to B in a Maxi-Cosi seat we had since he was about nine months old.  

Nania car seat vs Maxi-Cosi

In reality, I don’t think the Nania is significantly larger than the Maxi-Cosi but it does appear bulkier, with more padding – obviously not a bad thing for a child’s car seat.

Ted is a good traveller, and loves his Maxi-Cosi, often falling asleep in it the minute he’s buckled in if naptime is on the horizon. I was therefore unsure of how he’d feel about this different seat. He didn’t seem to have any complaints, even though the seat meant he was positioned slightly lower down than he’s used to so he couldn’t see out of the window as well as he usually can. The seat looks very comfortable, with ample, height-adjustable head support, which I liked, and a recline function, for snoozers like Ted.

Adjusting the straps was one key thing that I felt wasn’t as easy on the Nania as on Ted’s previous seat. I’m sure I speak for a lot of parents in admitting that we’re often running late as we get in and out of the car – therefore a seat with straps that can be loosened and tightened in minimal time is a big bonus, if not a must. The Nania doesn’t have the same easy mechanism for this as the Maxi-Cosi, and it’s more time-consuming to ensure the straps are fitted correctly – something we usually have to do before every single journey. I’m sure I’d get used to the straps after prolonged use but this was a disadvantage for me.

What ages can use the Nania Luxe Imax car seat?

Overall though, the seat looks to be a decent buy, not least because it can accommodate children between the ages of 9 months all the way up to 11 years (9-36kg); the safety harness can be removed once a child is big enough, to make a high back booster seat.

For the time being, I prefer our current model because it allows Ted to sit slightly higher up, and because of the strap mechanism mentioned above, but for older children, the Nania is a great choice.

For more information on the Nania and Kiddies Kingdom’s range of car seats for sale, visit their website: www.kiddies-kingdom.com

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