Cosco Scenera Convertible Car Seat Features
- Convertible car seat faces rear and front.
- Rear-facing weight limit is 35 lbs.
- Forward-facing weight limit is 40 lbs.
- 4 harness height slots ( approx. 7", 10", 12", 15").
- 3 buckle positions.
- Available in basic fabrics for about $50. Premium fabrics and padding available for $20-$30 more.
What I Like About the Cosco Scenera Convertible Car Seat
The Scenera's simplicity is great if you need to move the car seat around a lot. Switching from rear-facing recline to forward-facing involves a quick flip of the foot.
The harness strap changes are very simple, too. Just slip the straps off the metal yoke on the back, feed them through the harness slots, and reattach to the yoke. The belt paths are wide and easy to get seat belts through, even when there's a large latchplate involved.
The LATCh belt is a fairly standard one, but it is attached to the car seat so it won't get lost, and it also moves through the belt guides easily. The top tether has a tilt-lock mechanism, too, that is easy to use. I like that Cosco put a little loop at the top of the foot so you can clip off the top tether when you're not using it, to keep it from swinging around and hitting baby.
The rear-facing capacity of the Cosco Scenera car seat is enough to keep most babies rear-facing to at least the minimum recommendations. The lowest harness slot should fit most newborns well, too.
What I Don't Like About the Cosco Scenera Convertible Car Seat
The shell height and harness height mean that most toddlers will outgrow the Cosco Scenera before they're ready to move on to a booster seat, so you may have to purchase a second harnessed car seat or a combination car seat to fill the gap.
The harness straps will twist. You will need to smooth them every time you use the car seat to keep them from becoming twisted ropes that don't function well.
There is no EPS foam or other added impact protection in this car seat. The cover sits directly over the plastic shell.
I seem to find more sharp or rough edges on the plastic near the belt paths on the Cosco Scenera than on any other car seat. Watch your hands when you're threading belts through, so you don't end up with scrapes.
Should You Buy a Cosco Scenera Convertible Car Seat?
The Cosco Scenera is also a good choice if you need a spare seat to switch around between cars, or if you want a lightweight travel car seat that you'll be carrying through airports.
If your baby is on the higher end of the height and weight growth charts, you should consider budgeting for a taller car seat with higher weight limits. However, the Cosco Scenera car seat will hold most kids comfortably and safely for a few years, at least. The cheaper Scenera may give you time to save for a larger car seat or combination car seat to use down the line.
