Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat in Matrix

Love it, buy it. Easy to move from one vehicle to another, easy to adjust, comfortable for taller babies, kids love the cup holder. More up-front investment, so buy it for the long haul and save some dough. Happy with every aspect of this seat - a cinch to put together. Stop debating and buy it - it will last just as long as your britax and won't cost as much.

We purchased this seat and another just like it for my 4 yr old twins. This seat has all the safety features at a great price. It will be the last seat for my children as it converts to a booster and can be used up through 100 lbs.

THANK YOU GRACO! Parents, if you love your kids, keep them in a 5 point harness as long as possible--age 8 years if necessary!! My 3 yr. old was outgrowing a Cosco convertible, and I wanted my 6 yr. old back in a 5 point harness; however, I didn't like the $250+ booster seats available elsewhere lacking a decent headrest, no cupholders, too wide for our sedan, and some weren't FAA approved! I bought two Nautiluses in Galaxy color (mostly grey) and I love them! My 6 yr. old can buckle/unbuckle himself, and my 3 yr. old can buckle the top portion herself. They've enjoyed long drives when awake, and I no longer worried about my son literally falling out of the seatbelts when sleeping with the "regular" booster seat (I got tired of pulling over to reposition him, then thought, MY GOD, what difference would it make if we were in a car accident--he'd go flying through the window anyway??!!)

PROS:
1. MOST IMPORTANTLY--both of my kids have the safety of the 5 point harness for a few more years. I told my 6 yr.old he's like a race car driver or astronaut; my 3 yr. old feels like a big kid in the same seat;
2. It's not expensive for what you get;
3. It has an integrated cupholder so the kids get their own cups and not worry about it falling out (or the cupholder falling/breaking apart). Also, the child won't be tempted to undo or slip out of the car seat belt "for a second" to get something;
4. There's storage under BOTH armrests (on the inside) for little toys, tissues, snacks, etc. for the kids to get for themselves, and again, the child won't be tempted to undo or slip out of the car seat belt "for a second" to get something;
5. The headrest extends way up for the taller/older kids;
6. It becomes a backless booster, when the time is right in a few years;
7. Long expiration date--our seats don't expire until 2014;
8. Easy harness/belt adjustments. Some may find it tricky adjusting the harness through the slots because of the plastic casing and rollers in the back the belt goes through, but I believe it's this casing/rollers that keep the belts from twisting or getting stuck over time;
8. EASY LATCH or seatbelt use, tight with no movement--that's GREAT!

CONS (what I don't like about the Nautilus):
1. Heavy, but it's steel reinforced and I feel sits better in the car;
2. Still wide for our sedan, but can just barely squeeze a backless booster in between (with a lot of manipulation!) to have three seats in the back when necessary (I'm thinking of getting a travel vest for the 3rd child when carpooling);
3. Doesn't recline as much as other seats, but the headrest makes up for it by keeping the kids' heads upright when asleep.

Now if only Graco can make this carseat fold up, perhaps two inches narrower on the outside, this would be the BEST CARSEAT YET!!! (Parents, if you still have doubts regarding a 5 pt. harness carseat for your "big" kids, view the "Kyle" or "Emily" videos on YouTube, it'll break your heart. Better yet, view the various carseat crash tests on YouTube to get a better idea of what your child will go through in a car crash.)

We had a Radian80 for my larger-than-average 2 year old, but a couple months after using the seat he was complaining about not being comfortable. We finally figured out that the seat had a large tag sewn into the back that the edges of were bothering him, and then discovered that the belt buckle had to be partially behind the seat because of the way the seat was made and my car's buckle (we have a '98 Accord), so it was like a lump in his back!!! So, essentially, if your belt buckle pulls up and away from the seat (the part you buckle into), then the Radian might not be compatable in your car.
Enter this seat, which came onto the market a couple months after we got our other one- - we LOVE it!!! My son today said, "Mommy, something's comfortable." He just loves the seat, fell asleep in it and everything. I would highly recommend it!

We purchased this car seat as my daughter's back up seat in her aunts car. I have a Britax Boulevard in my car and my husband has a Radian 65 in his. I was looking for something that met all my safety standards, but was not going to break the bank. I LOVE this seat, I definitely prefer it over the Radian. It is well padded, for comfort and safety and is large enough to last for as long as we will need it. It is also very easy to install, since we have to do that weekly in her aunts car. We are still using the LATCH system, but will have to switch to the belt in another 6 lbs. My daughter is 4 1/2, 42 lbs and 42 inches. She loves the cup holder and little storage pockets and I love that I don't have to constantly be handing her things. My one complaint is that even installed in a minivan captains chair at a tilt, her head will fall forward about half the time when she is sleeping (which never happens in the Boulevard.) Other than that, we love this seat. After months of researching and purchasing car seats that go over the 40 lb limit, if you can't afford the Boulevard, this one is your best option.