We got this seat for our 3 year old daughter based on some consumer reports ratings. When it arrived it seemed like a very solid and well built seat. I was excited to get it into our car, however that is where the trouble started. We have a 2006 Hyundai Sante Fe and for some reason this seat would not install securely into the car. I even got into the car, pushed my knee into the seat and pushed my back against the ceiling of the car to get the most leverage. I tightened the LATCH straps as tight as I possibly could. Despite my best efforts, it took only a mild pull on the base of the seat to make the bottom slide out a good 6 inches. The LATCH straps seem to attach to the seat back too high up to get the right leverage on the seat. Even still, it seemed like it was secure, as it was unable to move any more than this in any direction. As soon as we put her in the seat, my daughter hated it. She could not get comfortable no matter how we positioned her. She complained and... Read more

I also have the black version of this one for my husband's car to match his interior, and this version to match mine. : ] The straps are easy to adjust, just a simple pull and switch on the front of the base. It reclines into three positions, which, we have it reclined all the way, as it just seems much more relaxed for the constant road trips to grandma's and back. This seat looks HUGE but is very lightweight if you are wanting to constantly switch it from car to car. Seriously, the box it arrived in was a little intimidating. Hah. The seat looks nice, is soft yet durable, and when I have had to make sudden stops in the car, I looked back to check on my little guy, and I have felt confident in how the straps held him in the seat comfortably and firmly. He seems happy in it too. I see people complaining in other reviews about their kid's heads flopping when they sleep... but from what I have seen.... kid's heads just "flop" when they are in carseats! There is nothing more Eddie Bauer... Read more

Drawbacks:
1) Cup holder is stuck on the one side.
2) Even reclined my 2 yo head flops over really badly when he's asleep.

Other than those 2 things this is a great car seat. I wish they made the 3-in-1 version with the same quality as this one. Sadly the 3-in-1 sucks so I am holding out till my second is big enough for this one cause I'm definitely going to make a repeat purchase.