Car Seat Showdown: Chicco NextFit Vs Britax Advocate Comparison

chicco nextfit vs britax advocate comparison

When the crash happens brace for impact…

Chicco Nextfit and Britax Advocate have been crashing tested. This happened in a real scenario where little lives were at stake.

You can watch crash tests, and nothing will prepare you for the real thing. Accidents occur quite frequently. No wonder that insurance premiums are going up.

In most cases, it’s not even your fault. I know of many occasions when drunkenness or recklessness caused the accident. When it happens, you have only one thing to do. This belief that the seat will do its job as it should.

Stick with me, and I will share with you two stories that tell you exactly how the seats performed and what happened with the little ones.

Look:

Here’s the bird’s eye view of the Chicco Nextfit Convertible Car Seat. It’s one of the highest-rated car seats in Consumer Reports. It has all the safety features you will ever need. Plus, it’s super comfy for the baby.

Here’s the bird’s eye view of the Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat. This fortress will keep your little one safe no matter what. It’s ideal for parents who want extended rear-facing.

Direct Comparison Chicco Nextfit Vs Britax Advocate

Chicco Nextfit Britax Advocate
VS Chicco Nextfit Convertible Car Seat Britax Advocate Convertible Car Seat
Safety EPS energy-absorbing foam
Steel Frame
Duo Guard Protection
5-point harness
Impact Absorbing Base
Steel Frame
3 Layer Protection
5-point harness
Size Limits Rear Facing 12-40
Front Facing: 22-65
49”
Rear Facing 5-40
Front Facing: 20-65
49”
Installation Super Cinch LATCH ClickTight
Fabric/Material Machine Washable Machine Washable
Cup Holder 1 Flexible 1 Flexible
Recline Position 9 7
Headrest Position 9 14
Rethread Harness
Breathable
Extended Use
Price
 

Breaking it down

Whenever I’m looking for a new car seat, this is the checklist I’m going through. First, the most important thing is safety. I prefer to spend a bit more and have peace of mind. After that comes the size limits. You have to know how much mileage you’re getting from these expensive seats.

Next on the checklist is the ease of installation. Every brand is different, and some are notoriously hard to mount. And the last important item on my list is the fabric. Kids will make a mess, so you have to know how easy or hard they are to wash.

After all, this is done, I take a look at the minor features. In some cases when there’s a tie

Let’s get this Chicco Nextfit Vs Britax Advocate 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

child car seat safety 9This is the most important part of any car seat. And there are cheap brands which pass the government standards, barely that is. Now would you trust one that barely passes the test or the one that goes beyond?

In our case, the Chicco Nextfit and Britax Advocate have performed superbly. I’m not talking about lab tests. These two car seats were in real crashes where they have saved lives. In a bit, I will tell you all about them.

Chicco Nextfit Convertible Car Seat

The incident happened with my brother. He has parked his car and popped out to buy some things. Meanwhile, his son was playing in the car. In a matter of seconds, a reckless driver T-boned the car.

The crash was loud. There were glass shards everywhere. My brother ran to the car. He has ripped the other door wide open. And found his son playing with the stuffed animals as if nothing happened.

When he saw his dead frightened face, he started crying. There was no bruise or injured on him what so ever. The Chicco Nexfit did its job perfectly.

My nephew was safe and sounded thanks to the energy-absorbing foam. The impact was absorbed by the foam and not my little nephew’s body.

The Chicco Nextfit has a steel frame for extra protection. The side has two layers of protection. And last but not least, your little one is safe, thanks to the 5-point harness.

Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat

The incident happened with a good friend of mine. She was driving along the freeway, and she didn’t notice the cars which were stopped because of an accident. The only thing she could do is to slam the brake as hard as possible and try to avoid the standing cars.

There were three kids in the car plus a dog called Cookie. The SUV was traveling with 70-80 mph. Stopping safely was out of the question.

The car has rolled over 5-6 times according to eyewitnesses. Cookie got projected out of the car, and everything inside became a lethal projectile. Once the car came to a stop, the damage was huge. The car was totaled. The kids thank the Britax seat, were unharmed. Later they found Cookie, who was fine as well.

This is how important it is to have the best protection possible. The base is built, so it absorbs the impact. Plus, the frame is made out of steel, adding extra protection. The side impact protection is made out of three layers. To keep your child safe, there’s the standard 5-point harness, which is the safest one on the market.

Winner

This is a strong tie.

Size Limits

Since these car seats are expensive and short expiration dates, I tend to look at it to get the most bang for my buck. These car seats are for toddlers and above. And they can be used up until 6 years old.

Chicco Nextfit Convertible Car Seat

The Chicco Nextfit caters to toddlers above. The best thing about this car seat is that you can use it rear-facing for many months to come. As you know, rear-facing is the safest position for kids. From 12 pounds up to 40 pounds, you can use it in rear-facing mode.

Many European countries recommend the rear-facing mode until 4 years.

The front-facing mode can be used from 22 to 65 pounds. I highly recommend using it in rear-facing as much as possible. The height limit is set to 49”.

This is a convertible car seat so that it won’t be light. The weight is 25.1 pounds, which is one of the lightest on the market.

Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat

The Britax Advocate caters to infants and above. The lower requirement for rear-facing is 5 pounds. So this is an ideal car seat if you want to bring your little one home from the hospital.

This, too, allows extended rear-facing up to 40 pounds. Then it can be converted into a front-facing mode where the upper limit is set to 65 pounds or 49”.

This car seat caters from the infant age, so it’s bound to be heavier. It weighs 30.6 pounds. After you’ve installed it, you won’t be hauling it around from one car to the next.

Winner

Even though it’s heavier, the Advocate wins the round.

Installation

child car seat installation 9You have to love engineers without not many things would get done. And on certain things, it’s better to rely on parents than engineers. Luckily there are no major issues with the installation. By reviewing a ton of seats, I’ve found some that are a two-person job.

Or you would have to get into some crazy acrobatic stunts just to get it mounted.

Chicco Nextfit Convertible Car Seat

With the Chicco Nextfit, the installation is straight forward. You use the latch system and the seatbelt to get a tight fit. Everything is color-coded and explained. You don’t even need the manual to get it done.

The seatbelt indeed needs a bit more elbow grease, but it’s quite doable. Don’t forget that red means forward-facing and blue mean rear-facing. You will have to position the latches the right way to get the right fit. After that, you pull on the straps, and you’re done.

To get the job done, you will need less than 5 minutes. With a bit of practice, you will get faster.

Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat

Britax Advocate comes with the Clicktight system. All the adjustments happen under the seat. You have to press down on the Clicktight Button and then twist it. That will pop the seat open. Now the Britax Advocate can be installed with the latches and the seatbelt as well.

For me, the seatbelt seamed the easiest install. The latch system looks a lot like the seatbelt, and it’s a bit confusing. After you have got it to click into the buckle, then you close down the seat, which will make a nice click sound, letting you know it’s done.

Make sure that the wiggle room is less than an inch.

Winner

This is a tie.

Fabric/Material

Kids will always be kids. They will spill something or have accidents. This means you will have to know how easy or hard it is to wash the material.

I won’t separate the two car seats because they are the same. So I don’t want to repeat myself.

For both the Chicco Nextfit and Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat the material is easy to remove. After that you can pop it into the washing machine and get it clean. The #1 recommendation by both manufacturers is to use cold water and mild washing program.

For the material not to degrade over time the best way to dry it is by letting it stay out in the air.

There’s one small difference between the two. The Chicco Nextfit material seems a bit softer and plusher than the Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat.

Winner

This is a tie

Bonuses and Features

The race is neck and neck. We’ll see if the minor features will make a difference in the long run.

Since they cater to toddlers and upwards, having a cup holder is a must. Sadly neither of them has it installed. They offer it as a clip-on option.

The only problem is that those crafty little ones can undo them and turn them into a projectile. Also, two is ideal because one holds the drink and the second one of the toys.

These car seats are comfortable thanks to the recline positions that they offer. The Chicco Nextfit Convertible Car Seat has more options, and the Advocate has less. But this is balanced out when it comes to the head rest. The Britax advocate has 14 adjustable positions, and the chicco nextfit zip only has 9.

They both have no-rethread harness function. This means that every time you adjust the headrest, the straps get adjusted as well.

Winner

Again it’s a tie.

Chicco Nextfit Convertible Car Seat

Chicco NextFit Zip Convertible Car Seat

Pros
  • By looking at your child you know, they are safe it’s like a protective shell
  • The frame is made out of reinforced solid steel, that’s safety in my book
  • It’s very comfortable on long rides
Cons
  • It’s a TANK very heavy and bulky
  • It’s hard to move from car to car once it fixed it stays there

Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat

Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat

Pros
  • It’s a fortress which provides both front-facing and rear-facing mode
  • According to a policeman parent, it’s absolutely the best
  • It’s easy to understand thanks to the well-assembled manual
Cons
  • It’s heavy once you have installed you won’t move from the car
  • ARB looks like an afterthought a bit flimsy

Is Britax the best car seat?

Final Recount

Chicco Nextfit Convertible Car Seat lost by one point (0/5)

Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat won by one point (1/5)

In the rest of the categories, they are tied.

Chicco Nextfit Vs Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat Verdict

No matter which one of these car seats you’ll go with, your little one will be secure. As you have seen the crash stories, both of them were harsh. Thanks to the car seats, the kids were unharmed.

When it comes to safety, the Britax Advocate has a slight edge since it offers 3 layers of side protection against the two that Chicco Nextfit gives. Now the Britax Advocate is a bit heavier than the Chicco Advocate.

The biggest difference between the two comes from the size limits. The Britax Advocate caters to infants and above. So you will get the most mileage out this car seat.

The installation is equal since the Chicco Nextfit is a bit harder to install when it comes to the seatbelt. And the Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat is a bit harder to install with the latch system. In other categories, they were the same.

All in all, the Britax Advocate is the winner.

We have reached the end of the Chicco Nextfit Vs Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat. I hope this article helped you pick the winner. Now it’s your term. Get the car seat, which fits you the best. Get it soon because supplies are low.

Catch you next time!

Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat, Otto SafeWash , 23x20x23.5 Inch (Pack of 1)
734 Reviews
Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat, Otto SafeWash , 23x20x23.5 Inch (Pack of 1)
  • SafeWash: Cover is safe to machine wash and dry, with a knit construction that is naturally flame retardant
  • Easy installation: Patented ClickTight makes car seat installation as simple as buckling a seat belt. Shoulder width is 16 inches
  • Surrounded in safety: 3 layers of side impact protection, steel frame, and impact absorbing base
Chicco NextFit Zip Convertible Car Seat | Rear-Facing Seat for Infants 12-40 lbs. | Forward-Facing Toddler Car Seat 25-65 lbs. | Baby Travel Gear | Nebulous
  • EXTENDED REAR-FACING USE — NextFit Max Zip Air offers 25% more legroom than other NextFit car seats and a 50 lb. weight limit maximizes time in rear-facing position; forward-facing mode for older children (up to 65 lbs.) with more calf support.
  • BUILT TO GROW — The 9-position, Easy-Extend Headrest System with one-hand adjustment raises with the 5-point harness to effortlessly accommodate growth in both modes and a removable newborn positioner provides support for infants weighing 4-11 lbs.
  • ADDED FEATURES — 3D AirMesh backrest offers improved ventilation and comfort; zip-off, machine-washable seat pad for everyday use and easy cleanup.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Is Britax or Chicco better?

When we compare Britax Advocate with Chicco Nextfit then the Advocate came out as the winner.

Which is better Graco or Britax?

The Britax is far superior to the Graco car seats.

What is the safest convertible car seat?

The safest convertible car seat Britax Advocate. It’s jam-packed with safety features.

Advocate vs Chicco nextfit what are the weight limits?

Since these two are convertible car seats the weight limits are a bit smaller. The upper weight limit for both is 65 pounds in forward-facing harness indicator mode. The lower weight limits for forward facing mode are 20 and 22 pounds. For rear facing mode the weight limits are quite different from 5 pounds to 12 pounds. The height limits are the same for both 49″.

What are some alternatives for the Britax Advocate ClickTight?

These would be the alternative: Britax boulevard and Britax marathon clicktight. The Britax marathon and the Britax boulevard are very similar. If you want to see an in-depth review then you can read it here. The Britax Boulevard is one of the most popular car seats today. If you want to know the difference between the Britax boulevard and advocate then it’s the extra layers of side impact protection. As you know the number of side-impact collisions has been on the rise. The advocate has more layers of side impact protection.

What are some alternatives for the Chicco Nextfit convertible car seat?

Chicco Nextfit and the Chicco Keyfit are the best products from the Chicco brand.

Britax Advocate vs Nextfit how easy to install these convertible car seats?

These convertible car seats are easy to install. The Britax comes with the clicktight installation system, while the Chicco comes with the supercinch latch tightener. These convertible car seats can be mounted both forward and in rear facing mode. There are two choices for mounting there’s the latch installation and the seat belt option. The latch install in both cases is the fastest and easiest. With the clicktight installation system you don’t need any force what so ever. You open the hatch feed through the harness straps and you close it you’re done. With the supercinch latch tightener you have the tails to pull one upwards while the other downwards. Both the supercinch latch tightener and the clicktight installation system are fast and effective. Both car seats use the second generation latch tightener. I’ve used the first generation latch tightener and believe me it wasn’t easy. Before we can get to the easy installation you have to adjust the leveling system according to the bubble level indicator. Do mind the installation angle.

Advocate Clicktight  Vs Nextfit how good are these infant car seats?

The Advocate has the real ability to cater to infants because the lowest weight limit is 5 pounds. If you want an infant car seat then that’s the best choice. Make sure you put the infant insert to good use. Do check the necessary health information. Or use a body pillow from baby products.

Advocate convertible vs Nextfit convertible which one has the best safety standards?

Besides the easy installation, these convertible car seats are super safe. Car seat safety is top of mind for many parents. The Britax comes with safecell impact protection. This means that the car seat comes with energy-absorbing base. Both convertible car seats offer great head protection. Another important safety item is side impact protection. This is crucial because side impacts happen all the time. Almost everybody knows someone who was involved in a T-bone accident. This is why side impact protection is a must. The Chicco comes with the safe snug harness. With the help of the 5 point harness, your little one will be safe no matter what. The safe snug harness is worth every penny.

Nextfit vs Advocate clicktight which is the most comfortable car seat?

Well, nothing says comfort then cup holders. To my surprise, both car seats come with just one cup holder. The good news is that the cup holder is flexible and can be installed on either side. The seat pad is comfortable and it’s cushy. There were no complaints about sore bums because of the seat pad. Both car seats have sufficient recline positions. As you know recline positions are important to avoid floppy head syndrome. And these car seats can’t be used as booster seats.

Last Updated on October 27, 2023 by Brian Beasley

Written by Linda Reid

Hey there, I'm Linda, a mom of three cool kids. I've tried so many car seats, you could call me a "Car Seat Detective." Searching for the perfect car seat can feel like finding a needle in a haystack, but don't worry! I've committed to researching and reviewing car seats that are super safe, cozy, and great for growing kids. Together, we'll find the perfect car seat that keeps your child safe and cozy, and makes you feel like a super-parent!