Joie Elevate Black 2.0 review

from Joie
RRP  £59.99
Joie Elevate 2

by Clare Bradley |
Updated on

At a glance:

A brilliant car seat that grows with your child (until they are 12-years old), is simple to install and folds down flat when not in use. Our panel of mum testers loved everything about the Elevate 2, from the handy cup holder to the washable seat covers.

What they say:

Meet elevate – a streamline guardian that grows to go the distance. Ready to ride along with mini from 9-36kg. With a five-point harness for little ones from 9-18kg, the elevate converts to a belted booster from 15-36kg. With full side impact protection, plus Guard Surround Safety™ panels that shield little ones from head to hips, you can rest assured your little one is protected. The elevate is also loaded with comfort and convenience extras, including fully ventilated mesh sides and an integrated cup holder.

Tested by mum Kirsty Garner for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:

Would you recommend this to other mums?

I would definitely recommend this car seat - since installing the Elevate 2, my little boy has been far happier to get into the car, leading me to think he is comfier. Not having to fight with him to get him into a car seat is not only a time saver, but lessens my mum guilt when he is screaming in a car park! When he falls asleep, the lower head support meant that he was comfier, and his head wasn’t falling forward each time giving him a stiff neck (and waking up grisly). The fitting of this car seat, makes it a lot quicker and so much easier to swap the seat between cars if we go out with someone else.

How did this product make your life easier?

I loved the ease of fitting the Elevate 2 into the car, and the extra seat belt lock system meant I wasn’t worried about it moving around. Although there were assembly instructions, I found that the car seat was really easy to put in with minimal instruction. The instructions were really easy to follow, with pictures just in case you needed additional help understanding the text. The Elevate 2 car seat was so easy to use, my little boy is a proper wriggler when putting into the car seat, but I was able to fasten him in without too much hassle. I also think that the head support heights are great, a selection of ten different positions meant that my shorter than average son still had great support around his head, leading to him being ultimately more comfortable. Finally, the style is quite utilitarian, but I like that, it means that it will grow with him rather than getting bored of a particular “trendy” design.

Would you choose this product to win?

Personally, I would choose this car seat to win a Mother & Baby award. For me, the functionality of it ticks all the boxes. The removable washable covers, great total body support in case of accident, multiple levels for the head support with integrated strap system so no fiddly refitting and a cup holder!

What changes would you make to this product?

The only thing that I would want to change on this car seat is the button that loosens the straps to get my son out quicker and strap him in easier. I found it a little difficult to reach the button to quickly do this job, it was accessible, but if Leo was asleep, I sometimes ended up disturbing him while trying to loosen the straps to get him out undisturbed, defeating the object really.

Tested by mum Louise Ditchman for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:

Would you recommend this to other mums?

I would recommend this product as it’s so easy to install, it fits all cars I have tried and I love the fact you can take the back off when your baby gets bigger. If we aren’t using it and need the space in the car, it folds flat so it hardly takes up any room in the boot. It feels so secure when fitted, it’s very comfortable and overall, it’s a great car seat.

How did this product make your life easier?

I have found the Elevate 2 to be easy to install into the car, and with every car I have installed it in, it has fitted perfectly. It’s a wide car seat so when my son is throwing a tantrum I can still fit him in it. It also comes with a cup holder so we don't have to pull over every time he drops his drink, his dummy, or his toy as he puts them in the holder.

Would you choose this product to win?

The reason why I would choose this car seat above all the others on the market is because it’s not over-priced for such an excellent car seat. I think the Elevate 2 should win a Mother & Baby award as it feels safe when fitted, it has extra side impact panels and it is a solid car seat. It doesn’t take up too much room in the car which is also a good thing with a new born too.

What changes would you make to this product?

The one thing I would change would be the variety of colours available as not everyone likes a plain coloured car seat. It would also be great to have two cup holders – one for a drink and then another for dummies or muslins so they are easily accessible for the child.

Tested by mum Tamara Potts for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:

Would you recommend this to other mums?

I would recommend this to my fellow mum friends because I loved this car seat – the unisex design is fantastic, plus the fact you can easily amend the straps and headrest to suit your child. The price is good for such a high-quality car seat, and I have already recommended this car seat to a fellow mum, who has gone and bought it because she loved mine so much.

How did this product make your life easier?

This product makes my life easier as a mum in a number of different ways. Firstly, the bottle or cup holder is such an excellent idea, as I no longer have to pull over and get out the car because my toddler has dropped her bottle. Having the plain unisex colours is a bonus because I have a boy and a girl, so they will both be able to use this seat. The easy strap adjustment is great too, because my toddler is always trying to escape from her seat and this makes it easier to adjust it for her, and more importantly, keep her sat still!

Would you choose this product to win?

Yes, I would one hundred percent choose this car seat over the others on the market! I have had over three different car seats for my toddler and this one is by far the best I have used. I will buy it for my son once he reaches the right age as having the cup holder and easy adjustable straps make life on the move with a toddler so much easier.

What changes would you make to this product?

If I could possibly change one thing about this car seat it would be to have a range of colour options for mums to choose from. Plus, I’d love the option to rotate this car seat, as I feel like this would make it easier to get my baby in and out of the car.

Tested by dad James Newton for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:

Would you recommend this to other mums?

This product has completely been designed with parents in mind, with the amazing price and the way it grows to accommodate your child until they no longer need a car seat. I would completely recommend this product to everybody, as my little boy was so comfortable and settled in the seat. He enjoyed being able to move his head around with enough space to do what he liked. The colour of the seat did cause it to attract a lot of heat from the sun, so a shade on the window is definitely recommended. I will continue to love and use the product and vouch for it every time somebody asks for recommendations – this car seat is amazing!

How did this product make your life easier?

The car seat makes my life easier because it goes right up to 12 years, so I know I will not need to buy a car seat again! It is extremely easy to install and has a drink cup holder so I don't have to keep passing his cup back and forth, as he can put it into the holder and find the drink himself. It was very easy to install and extremely convenient if you have to remove and reinstall. Now that I have discovered this product there is no chance of me going back to another car seat as it has been amazing for me and my family. It fits right into our busy lifestyle with no added stress.

Would you choose this product to win?

I absolutely think this product should win a Mother & Baby award as it has been fantastic. This product stands out because of its simple but elegant style, the way it has no bulk, but is roomy for our little one to sit in. The cup holder makes my life one hundred times easier and really helps on those rushed journeys. A massive well done to Joie who not only thought about baby but mummy and daddy too!

What changes would you make to this product?

The only thing I would change about this car seat is the instruction manual, which needs to include more words alongside the pictures. I would also love for there to be a way to carry the car seat easily, just to make transporting it between cars a little easier. That said, these points are all minor compared to the fantastic results – another massive well done and thank you to Joie!

Tested by mum Amy Grady for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:

Would you recommend this to other mums?

I would recommend this car seat as it is good value for money with the adjustable headrest, as this makes the seat last until your child is 12-years-old. The ease of use is a major plus, as is the ability to remove the cover of the seat so you can chuck it in the washing machine and easily clean up any inevitable spills!

How did this product make your life easier?

I found this car seat so easy and straightforward to put together and fix into my car, the instructions were fantastic and overall took less than 15 minutes to figure out and fasten securely. The biggest bonus with this seat is the fact it is really light and easy to fix into the car, which makes having to transfer the car seat between two vehicles trouble and stress free.

Would you choose this product to win?

I would choose this car seat above many others because of the lightweight design and the ease of moving the car seat between cars. I like the simple design and the two-tone black colour that looked really smart. I liked the fact that once fitted in the car, the seat felt very secure and study. My little boy is a wriggler, and despite him moving around a lot, the car seat stayed in place nicely.

What changes would you make to this product?

The only tiny thing I would change is the straps, as I have found sometimes it can be quite difficult to lengthen the straps once my child is already in the seat. That said, I wonder whether this is also down to the position of the headrest and think once the headrest is in a higher position the straps will run more freely.

Product Information

Suitable from 12-months to 12-years (9-36kg).

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