The best car seat is the one that fits your child, vehicle, budget, and lifestyle and has the features important to you. The safest car seat is the one you can install correctly and use properly on every ride! Let us know in the comment section what questions you have about this review of the Chicco NextFit Max convertible car seat.
Chicco NextFit Max ClearTex Car Seat Review (USA)
When it comes to finding the perfect car seat for your child, ease of installation and convenience are paramount. If you’re on the lookout for a car seat that offers hassle-free setup and user-friendly features, the Chicco Nextfit Max ClearTex could be the solution you’ve been searching for. Let’s explore why this car seat might just be the perfect fit for your family’s needs.
Type
A convertible car seat that can be used rear-facing and forward-facing
When
Possibly from birth*
Age
Our recommendation: sitting unassisted* until the seat is outgrown (5/6 years old)
*See caution section below
What you need to know before you go.
Rear-Facing Seat Stats
- height limit: 43″
- weight limit: 4-50 lbs
- head height rules: head should be contained
- Newborn fit: iffy; see quirks section
Forward-Facing Seat Stats
- height limit: 49″
- weight limit: 22-65 lbs
- head height rules: ears must be below the top of the shell
- Highest Harness Height: 17″
Other Seat Stats
- width of seat: 19”
- weight of seat: 27 lbs
- crash replacement policy: replace after any crash
- expiration: 8 years
- harness: no rethread
- lock-off: yes
✅ Seat is good for you if:
✅ you want a car seat that’s easy to install
The easiest way to install the Chicco Nextfit Max ClearTex is with the lower anchors thanks to Chicco’s SuperCinch lower anchor tighteners. But these can only be used until the child is 35 pounds for rear-facing mode and 40 pounds for forward-facing mode. The seat belt installation is pretty easy as well though since it does have lock-offs.
✅ you want a car seat with a seat belt lock-off
If you are planning to use a car seat in a vehicle that is older than 1996 or you want a seat with a lock-off because you are traveling internationally, this could be a good option for you, although it is a bit heavy. If you would like a seat that is a bit lighter, check out our review of the Graco Triogrow.
🚩 Use Caution If:
🚩You need to fit 3 people in one row of the vehicle.
Since the Chicco Nextfit Max ClearTex is 19 inches wide and most vehicles cannot accommodate a car seat this size in a three across configuration, this would not be your best option for this kind of scenario. Instead, try one of our recommended car seats for 3 across.
🚩 You want to use this seat from birth.
The harness height is low enough to fit a newborn. The problem we have found is the recline. In vehicles with very sloped seats, it is not always possible to recline this seat enough for a newborn. Chicco does not allow the use of rolled towels or pool noodles to increase the recline. If your vehicle has very flat seats, this seat may work from birth.
🚩 have a car with non-removable headrests
This would only be an issue once you get to forward-facing mode. Chicco does not want the vehicle’s headrest to push the Chicco’s headrest forward. Since the Chicco Nextfit Max ClearTex has many recline options, you may find that this seat will work in your vehicle. But when in doubt, the best thing to do is to contact Chicco and see if they approve the setup!
️ Stand Out Features:
ClearTex fabric option is flame-retardant free
If having a seat with flame-retardant-free fabric is important to you, you will want to grab the Chicco Nextfit Max in the ClearTex fabric.
Lock-off
If you want to install your car seat in the middle and your middle seat does not have lower anchor points, then you will need to do a seat belt installation. The Chicco NextFit Max has a lock-off that makes this installation very simple. As mentioned previously, this feature may also appeal to you if you have a vehicle older than 1996 or if you are planning to travel internationally.
✈️ Airplane Use
The Chicco NextFit Max ClearTex is an FAA-approved car seat. It’s not very lightweight, but it is possible to travel with it. You can get a travel cart to maneuver through the airport! You will almost certainly need to put the airplane armrests up for it to fit since it is 19″ wide. Since it has a seat belt lock-off, you could use it internationally without the need for a locking clip.
For help with all things airplane travel and car seats, check out our Wheels Up Course and private Facebook group.
SITS Bottom Line
The Chicco Nextfit Max ClearTex is a standout option for families seeking a car seat that prioritizes ease of use and convenience. Its straightforward installation process, seat belt lock-off feature, and FAA approval for airplane use offer practicality and versatility for busy caregivers. While it may not meet every requirement, such as fitting in a 3 across configuration or reclining enough for a newborn, its standout features, like the ClearTex fabric option and lock-off, make it a compelling choice in the market.
Other Versions/Similar Seats:
Chicco NextFit Zip – 40 pounds / 43″ rear-facing limit
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Compare Car Seats
Looking to compare car seats and narrow down the best car seat for your family? The Convertible Car Seat Buying Kit walks you through our 7Cs of selection, then on to an interactive quiz, and finally, a recommended car seat list is generated just for you! If you are overwhelmed and sick of spending hours researching and reading car seat reviews like this one, the Buying Kit will guide you to Safe in the Seat’s recommended car seats for you in under 30 minutes!
Check out this Amazon Live for more seats we recommend and the standout features we love.
A note about crash-tests
How does the Chicco NextFit Max ClearTex perform in crash tests?
Well, that’s a great question. We know it passes the strict federally required testing for all car seats sold in the United States. But we don’t know exactly how it performs. That data isn’t released by any official sources in the US — not by car seat manufacturers, not by government agencies like NHTSA, not anywhere!
There are a few third-party websites that claim to offer objective crash test data that compares car seats. But we at Safe in the Seat ignore that data for a few big reasons. First of all, third-party car seat crash tests don’t actually give us meaningful data! Car seat manufacturers crash-test their products hundreds, even upwards of a thousand times. They crash test the finished product in every single installation configuration using every applicable-sized crash test dummy, not to mention a whole lot of testing at each stage of the development process too. So, limited testing completed by another organization just can’t give the same level of information! One or two crash tests fail to represent the overall average performance of any car seat across its lifespan.
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