Britax Pinnacle vs Frontier – Which One is the Best in 2024?

There are two kids in the back, and the car got rear-ended… it’s still moving into the next car…

Accidents are unpredictable and uncontrollable. And in most cases, it’s not your fault.

The only thing to do is to prepare in advance. Get the best protection possible and trust that it will do the job keeping your little one safe.

This accident happened to a friend of mine. Stick with me in a bit, and I’ll tell you the outcome and what has happened.

To keep your kiddos safe, you will need two things. First, get the best protection possible and secondly get it installed right. According to a recent study, around 75% of all car seats installed in the US are incorrect. If the car seat is not tight enough, then it won’t be able to protect your child to the best of its abilities.

At first glimpse, the Britax Pinnacle and the Britax Frontier look similar. This is why I’ve created the Britax Pinnacle vs Frontier comparison. By reading this article until the end, you will know which car seat is the best fit for you.

Look:

Here’s the bird’s eye view of the Britax Pinnacle Clicktight Harness Booster Car Seat. It is one of the safest car seats you can get. It’s made right here in the USA. It’s great for parents who want to keep their kids rear-facing as long as possible

Here’s the bird’s eye view of the Britax Frontier Clicktight Harness Booster Car Seat. It’s a safe car seat, and your kiddos are protected until they don’t need it. 5-point harness will keep them safe.

Direct Comparison Britax Pinnacle vs Frontier Clicktight Harness Booster Car Seat

	Britax Pinnacle Clicktight Harness Booster Car Seat	Britax Frontier Clicktight Harness Booster Car Seat
Safety	Impact Absorbing Base Steel Frame 3 Layer Protection 5-point harness	Impact Absorbing Base Steel Frame 2 Layer Protection 5-point harness
Size Limits	Harness Mode: 25-90 Booster Mode: 40-120 62”	Harness Mode: 25-90 Booster Mode: 40-120 62”
Installation	ClickTight	ClickTight
Fabric/Material	Machine Washable	Machine Washable
Bonuses and Features
Cup Holder	2 Built In	2 Built In
Recline Position	2	2
Headrest Position	9	9
Rethread Harness	No	No
Breathable	Yes	Yes

Breaking it down

The table above is my cheat sheet. Whenever I’m looking at a new car seat, I always check these items. You can copy it if you like to. The list is ordered by priority.

Safety tops the list. The good news is that all car seats on the market are safe. But there’s an industry secret that never gets mentioned. In a bit, I will share with you what this is.

The next item is the size limits. Now, this is my favorite place to save money. Best of all, I don’t even skimp on safety, and I’m not refreshing the websites like crazy to get a discount.

After these two, the installation comes. The fact is that some brands are notoriously hard to get right. We’ll see how the Britax will handle the challenge.

The last important item on my list is the material. Since we’re talking about kids, one thing is for certain that they will spill things, or they will have accidents. So it’s important to know how easy it is to wash the covers.

Finally, I check out the secondary features. Sometimes the comparison is a tie, and this section helps to showcase which is the best.

Let’s get this Britax Pinnacle vs Frontier comparison started. Just one more thing…

I have something special for you in the end. I have compiled a quick pros/cons list. The things I’ve found are quite interesting, to say the least.

Safety

There’s no beating around the bush. It’s the top priority for parents. I’ve mentioned an industry secret. Let me share it with you. Some brands barely pass the government standards. Now, which car seat would you like to protect your child? The one that has barely passed or the one that went the extra mile?

Luckily Britax is in the latter category. They have many awards for safety.

Britax Frontier Clicktight Harness to Booster Car Seat

This incident happened with a friend of mine.

It was a normal commute. Nothing has happened. My friend was taking her two daughters home from ballet practice. They have stopped at a red light. Then things changed.

A drunk driver rear-ended them. The SUV was traveling at 50 mph. The crash was loud. Glass has shattered and was sprayed all over. Metal cried as it got twisted.

Things went bad to worse. My friend’s car didn’t stop the crash. It was picking up momentum and was heading to a parking SUV. There was nothing to do just to brace for impact.

Airbags exploded as my friends SUV crash into the parking vehicle. What happened with the kids in the back? After my friend got out of the shock, faze, she immediately turned to check on her girls.

Then she saw them. They were all right. They were scared and shaken up. That day the Britax Frontier Clicktight Harness to Booster Car Seat has protected the life of a 5 and a 7-year-old.

This is why you need to be prepared. Even a mundane commute can be deadly if there’s not enough protection, or the seat is not installed correctly.

The Britax Frontier has an impact-absorbing base with SafetyCell tech. This tech helps to absorb the crash’s energy, so it doesn’t travel up in your little one’s body. The Britax Frontier has a steel frame, so no matter what, your kiddo is safe.

This car seat comes with 2 layers of side protection. T-bone accidents are quite common, and the human body isn’t equipped to deal with side impact.

Last but not least, the 5-point harness kept the two girls in place during the crash.

Britax Pinnacle Clicktight Harness to Booster Car Seat

As we look at the table above, they are all too similar. I mean, the Britax Pinnacle has the same safety features as the Frontier. So what gives?

This is the fact that nothing is different between them. Both the Pinnacle and the Frontier use the same base. So they are equipped with energy-absorbing and SafeCell tech. This means that your little one won’t feel the force of the crash that hard.

They are both built on a steel frame, so they are sturdy. The only difference I’ve to manage to find is that the Britax Pinnacle has three layers of side impact protection instead of two what the Frontier offers.

And of course, it has the same 5-point harness, which is the safest on the market.

Winner

Even though the Pinnacle has extra side protection the point goes to the Frontier, it was tested in a real crash

Related: Safest Britax car seats reviewed

Size Limits

Since I’m not making compromises in safety, this is the only place I can save some money. Let me share with you the secret. And it’s not staying up at an ungodly hour and refreshing the page for a discount.

You can buy car seats for each development stage, or you can buy 2 in 1 or 3 in 1 solution. The later ones save you money because you’re getting more mileage out of them.

There’s no difference between the two car seats, so I won’t bore you by repeating myself.

These car seats cater to older children from two and upward.

Both of these seats are forward-facing only. They both have two modes harness and booster. Depending on the weight limit, you can choose which fits you best.

It’s very important to keep your little one rear-facing as possible. This seating option provides the most protection for them.  In some European countries, the limit is set to 4 years old.

The lower weight limit is set to 25 pounds. And for the booster mode, the upper limit is at 120 pounds or 62”.

Winner

This is a tie.

Installation

Installation is the hardest part of car seats. There are brands out there that need two people to get it right, and there are some that need the strength of Hulk to pull it snug.

Luckily the Britax brand uses the Clicktight tech. It’s so easy to install that you won’t belie it. Best of all, you can get it wrong.

The Pinnacle and the Frontier both allow latch and seatbelt installation. Both of them are just as fast. Maybe with the seatbelt, you will have to spend an extra 10 seconds to remove the slack.

As I’ve mentioned, the install is super easy. Before you get there, it’s a good idea to adjust the harness. Then you open up the cover and the ClickTight compartment. If you’re using the latch system, it’s hidden in the compartment connect them and pull the strap until it’s tight.

The seat belt goes through the same holes. After you have removed the slack, you close the compartment. When you hear the click, you know, it’s done right.

Winner

It’s a tie

Fabric/Material

We can agree on something upfront that these car seats will get messy. This is why it’s super important to know how easy it is to remove the cover and how easy it is to wash.

There are car seats that only allow spot cleaning. Good luck cleaning up a blowout or partially digested food.

The Frontier and the Pinnacle have similar covers. The removal is easy, and they can be machine washed. It’s a good idea to use cold water and a gentle washing cycle.

As for drying, stay away from dryers if you want to use it for many years to come. The safest option is to let it air dry.

Winner

It’s a tie.

Bonuses and Features

It’s not looking that good. They are pretty much the same. Let’s see if we can find some differences with the secondary features.

Since both car seats are catering to older children, they have two built in cup holders. This is perfect for keeping the drinks in one and toys in the second one.

To give the most comfort, both car seats have a recline feature, and it’s the same. There are two recline positions to choose from.

The headrest is adjustable, and there are 10 positions to choose from. Here’s the best news there’s no manual rethreading ever. I hate that so much because I can’t get it right. When you adjust the headrest, the harness gets adjusted as well.

Winner

It’s a tie again.

Britax Pinnacle Clicktight Harness Booster Car Seat

Pros:

Finally a car seat that’s easy to install thanks to the ClickTight tech

It’s super comfortable even on long trips

Every child wants to feel big, so this is the ideal “big kido seat.”

Cons:

It’s heavy and hard to move from car to car

These car seats are wide, so 3 across will not be possible

Britax Frontier Clicktight Harness Booster Car Seat

Pros:

It keeps your kids safe even in a horrible accident

Thanks to the ClickTight tech it will be the easiest car seat to install

It grows with your kiddo up to 120 pounds

Cons:

It’s a pricey car seat you will need a budget

Cleaning is not that easy you need to completely disassemble the car seat

Final Recount

Britax Frontier Clicktight Harness Booster Car Seat won by one point (1/5)

Britax Pinnacle Clicktight Harness Booster Car Seat lost by one point (0/5)

The other categories were a draw.

Britax Pinnacle vs Frontier Clicktight Harness Booster Car Seat Verdict

The truth is that these car seats are the same. The only difference comes with the Britax Pinnacle that offers one more extra layer of protection.

I didn’t want to go there, but there are more color options with the Britax Pinnacle than the Britax Frontier. After I didn’t manage to find anything substantial, I’ve started digging deeper.

It seems that Britax is slowly phasing out both the Pinnacle and the Frontier. The Britax Grow with You will slowly replace these other seats. Until then, in my book, the Britax Frontier won this comparison.

We have reached the end of the Britax Pinnacle vs Frontier comparison. I feel disappointed that I couldn’t give you a more meaningful comparison. The Britax Frontier is a good car seat with a good track record. Plus, it has protected two lives in that crash. So if it’s the right fit for your get it now because stocks are running low.

Catch you next time!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

What is the difference between Britax Pioneer and Frontier?

The only differences between the Britax Frontier and pioneer is in the upper weight limit. The frontier has the upper limit of 90 pounds while the pioneer taps out at 70 pounds in harness mode. In booster mode, the upper weight limit is 120 pounds for the frontier while the pioneer is limited to 110 pounds.

Is Britax Frontier being discontinued?

Yes the Britax Frontier is being discontinued and it’s being replaced by Britax Grow with You clicktight.

How long is Britax Pinnacle good for?

The Britax Pinnacle is good for 10 years after the date of manufacturing.

What’s the weight limit for Britax frontier vs pinnacle?

The weight limit for these Britax seats is 120 lbs. The 120 lbs is for both Britax car seats.

What are the safety features for the Britax frontier vs pinnacle clicktight britax car seats?

Both booster seats have high safety standards. With these Britax seats you’re getting the best side impact protection. These booster seats are easy to install thanks to the clicktight installation system. The more layers of side impact protection you can get the better it is.

What is the Frontier 90?

The Frontier 90 is the older version of the Britax frontier clicktight. Also there’s the clicktight g1.1 version. This is the older version. If you’re buying a new belt-positioning booster mode you will be getting safecell impact technology which is highly recommended by safety experts.

What is the clicktight installation system?

The clicktight installation system is a unique Britax design. With the clicktight installation system you opening up the seat and feeding the seat belt through. You close the seat and you’re done. No force necessary. It has the best side impact protection I’ve seen.

Britax frontier vs pinnacle what are the main features?

The main features of these booster seats would be that they have multiple recline positions. Also they have double cup holders. We shouldn’t forget the clicktight system. There’s the vehicle seat belt install. These booster seats offer great side impact protection. You can’t go wrong with these child safety seats.

Britax Frontier vs pinnacle harness-2-booster seat what is the car seat weight?

These combination seats like the frontier high back booster seat and pinnacle booster seats the seat weight is around 26.5 pounds. They both provide head protection and side impact protection as well. It’s an excellent choice for a child car seat.

Britax frontier vs pinnacle vehicle seat which one can be used as an infant car seat?

The booster seat can’t be used as an infant seat. So these two seats are not suitable for them. The 40 pounds mark is the time when you have to switch to forward facing mode.

Britax pinnacle vs frontier booster seat which is the easiest one to install?

After you have selected the right harness positions and checked the shoulder height you can start installing this child car seat. As you know the child car seat is not that easy to tighten. You have to leave enough room for the passenger seat. To install you an use the latch anchors and the belt paths. You have to feed the seat belt through the belt path and tighten the tether strap.

Last Updated on November 7, 2023 by Brian Beasley