Britax Pioneer vs Frontier vs Pinnacle: What is the Best Booster and Convertable Seat in 2020?

Britax Pinnacle	Britax Pioneer	Britax Frontier
#1	#2	#3
Most Comfortable	Most Economical	A Few Flaws
Buy Britax Pinnacle on Amazon	Buy Britax Pioneer on Amazon	Buy Britax Fontier on Amazon

Sit back and read along as I break down the specs, features, pros, and cons of three of Britax’s most popular models of convertible booster seats. If you are getting ready to make the transition over to big kid seats for your kids, then let’s lay out all the reasons to choose Britax brand seats.

Winner: Britax Pinnacle Review

Price:

Specs:

• One year warranty
• Expires in nine years
• Child weight limit for forward facing harness – 2 years and 25 pounds, up to 90 pounds.
• Child weight for booster – 40 to 120 pounds
• Product Dimensions – Minimum 22.5″ W x 28″ H x 21″ D to Maximum 22.5″ W x 36″ H 21″ D

Features:

• ClickTight Installation System
• SafeCell Impact Protection
• Impact-absorbing base
• Impact-stabilizing steel frame
• Patented V-shaped tether
• Three layers of side protection
• Color-coded, easy-access belt paths
• Quick-adjust two-position buckle
• No-rethread nine-position harness
• Multiple recline positions
• Transitions from harness to booster
• Integrated cup holders
• Easy-remove cover

Pros:

• Steel frame protects children well.
• Quick and easy to install right out of the box.
• The headrests keep children’s head supported even while they are asleep.
• The fabric and straps are comfortable.
• The cover detaches very easily.

Cons:

• The harness straps are hard to tighten.
• Can sometimes block your field of view if you put the car seat in the middle seat in the back.

Check out the Britax installation in action:

Runner Up: Britax Pioneer Review

Price:

Specifications:

• One year warranty.
• Expires in 9 years.
• Weight limits for forward facing harness is 2 years and 25 pounds, up to 70 pounds.
• Weight limits for Booster – 40 to 110 pounds.
• Product Weight – 21 pounds.
• Product Dimensions minimum 19″ W x 28″ H x 21″ D to maximum 19″ W x 35″ H x 21″ D

Features:

• SafeCell Impact Protection
• Impact-absorbing base
• Impact-stabilizing steel frame
• Patented V-shaped tether
• Two layers of side impact protection
• Easy-on/off lower anchors
• Color-coded, easy-access belt paths
• Quick-adjust two-position buckle
• No-rethread nine-position harness
• Multiple recline positions
• Transitions
• Easy-remove cover

Pros:

• Washes up easily! We all know how important this one is.
• Sturdy and dependable in a crash. The steel frame on this seat makes it very hardy and resilient.
• The recline is perfect for when kids fall asleep.
• It has lots of great designs to choose from to match your car or your tastes.
• Easy to install once you get the knack of it.

Cons:

• The instructions for the latch system are not as clear as they could be which makes installing it a bit harder than it would otherwise be.
• The straps are hard to tighten.

Third Place: Britax Frontier

Price:

Specs:

• One year warranty
• Expires in nine years
• Child Weight Limits for forward facing harness – Two years and 25 pounds, up to 90 pounds
• Child Weight Limits for booster – 40 to 120 pounds
• Product Weight – 25 pounds
• Product Dimensions at minimum 19″ W x 28″ H x 21″ D to a maximum of 19″ W x 36″ H x 21″ D

Features:

• ClickTight Installation System
• SafeCell Impact Protection
• Impact-absorbing base
• Impact-absorbing steel frame
• Patented V-shaped tether
• Two-layers of side protection
• Quick-adjust, nine-position harness, and two-position buckle
• Multiple-position recline
• Integrated cup holders
• Easy-buckle system
• Easy-remove cover
• Hassle-free transition
• Compatible with SecureGuard clip
• Easy-on/off lower anchors
• Color-coded, easy-access belt paths

Pros:

• Double cup holders are awesome for snacks as well as drinks.
• The steel frame holds up to impacts really well.
• Easy to install right out of the box.
• The seat feels sturdy and secure when installed.
• The extra buckle slots in the crotch and harness make it easy to find a great fit for almost any child.

Cons:

• The harness is hard to tighten while the child is in the seat which is understandably frustrating.
• The seatbelt is hard to buckle and to get the belt to stay in the guide when the seat is in booster mode.
• There have been complaints about the lack of cushioning on the bottom of the seat. Overall comfort of the seat is usually one of the big sticking points.

Britax Pioneer vs Frontier vs Pinnacle: Final Thoughts

We felt the Britax Pinnacle out performed both the Pioneer and the Frontier in comfort. Britax seats are renowned for being safe, and it is one of the single most praised thing about the seat, but Britax is definitely starting to hear the clamor for more comfort.

Pioneer provides a more economical way to get the safety and reliability of Britax. This model uses the latch system instead of the ClickTight system so keep that in mind if you want that particular system. The Frontier might be last in the rankings due to some nagging flaws, but it is still a solid seat.

All in all, if you choose a Britax seat, you will get your money’s worth for safety. Other seats might be a bit cozier, lighter, or cheaper, but Britax definitely makes up for it in solid engineering to keep your child safe.

Check out our other car seat reviews: Britax Boulevard vs Chicco Nextfit vs Britax Marathon vs Britax Advocate

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