Written By Julie Monson
Occupational Therapist &
Certified Car Seat Technician
The Besafe iZi Modular X1 makes our top list of the best toddler car seats. In this article we will discuss the pros and cons of the seat, whether it suits your family's needs and it is one of the safest car seats on the market.
The BeSafe iZi Modular X1 is part of the BeSafe Modular concept, with both the iZi Go Modular X1 infant seat and the iZi Modular X1 toddler seat installing on the same isofix base. It offers deep recline positions and adjustable legroom for the child as they grow. It is ideal for families who need to move a car seat between cars often, as you can buy a spare base for a second car if needs be. And... it is THE highest safety rated convertible toddler seat in Europe i.e. that can rear and forward face.
PROS AND CONS OF THE BESAFE IZI MODULAR X1
- Good 3-position recline
- Good leg room for the child
- Good padding
- Easy and fast installation
- Magnets in harness for easy in/out
- Quite Compact
- Separate base can be bought for additional car
- Base is also compatible with iZi Go Modular X1 infant seat
- Highest scoring toddler seat that can rear face and forward face
CONS
- Takes up more space in the car when the legroom is extended, but can be made more compact
- Complex removal of cover
- Expensive
WHAT ARE THE WEIGHT AND HEIGHT LIMITS OF THE BESAFE IZI MODULAR X1?
The BeSafe iZi Modular X1 is a comfortable iSize approved car seat suitable from 61cm to 105cm/18kg in rear facing or 88 to 105cm in forward facing. This usually lasts average-sized children until they are 4 years old. It is safest for children to rear face as long as possible, and the IZi Modular X1 allows extended rear facing until approximately 4 years.
WHAT ARE THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THE BESAFE IZI MODULAR X1?
The BeSafe iZi Modular X1 i-Size installs with the BeSafe iZi Modular X1 isofix base, with audio-visual indicators to ensure correct installation.
It performs very well in crash tests and meets the severe UN R129/iSize side impact criteria. The SIP+ is placed on the side towards the car door, increasing the safety of the child if an impact should happen.
It scored an overall score of 2.0 (good) with a score of 1.7 for safety by ADAC with low risk of injury in a frontal collision and very low risk of injury in a side impact collision.
WHAT ARE THE COMFORT FEATURES OF THE BESAFE IZI MODULAR X1?
The BeSafe iZi Modular X1 has 2 deep recline settings for rear facing, which offer maximum comfort for younger babies who still nap in the car. There are 4 recline settings that can be used in forward facing.
When rear facing, the front brace box can be extended further to allow additional leg room as your child grows, but when forward facing it should be pushed in completely. It can be installed more compactly to fit smaller spaces.
According to the manual, the front seat should be pushed back so that it touches the back of the BeSafe iZi Modular X1 i-Size when rear facing. If this is not possible, then it should be further forward, at least 25cm away. As with all forward facing car seats, there should be 55cm between the car seat and the front seat to prevent the child striking the front seat.
The headrest has 10 adjustable height settings, to accommodate your growing child.
All BeSafe car seats have magnets in the harness in order to keep it out the way while putting your child in. The magnets may not be suitable for children with medical devices such as shunts and pacemakers. The iZi Modular X1 has ventilation holes in the backrest, to keep your child cool.
HOW IS THE BESAFE IZI MODULAR X1 INSTALLED?
The Besafe iZi Modular X1 must be installed with the BeSafe iZi Modular isofix base. It can be detached from the base making it lighter to transfer it between cars. A second base can be purchased for a second vehicle, to make transfers even easier. The anti-rebound brace must be fitted to the base when using the toddler seat. Please refer to the user manual on how to do this.
HOW TO INSTALL THE BESAFE IZI MODULAR X1 IN REAR FACING
The anti-rebound bar can be adjusted and extended to give your child more legroom as they grow. Once the base is attached to the isofix connectors, the indicators will turn green. The base should then be pushed as close to the vehicle backrest as possible for a secure installation. The support leg should then be adjusted to the correct height in the footwell of the car. The seat is then clicked onto the base. You can then adjust the seat to one of the 2 rear facing recline positions
HOW TO INSTALL THE BESAFE IZI MODULAR X1 IN FORWARD FACING
The iZi Modular X1 is fairly easy to switch from rear facing to forward facing. Simply remove the car seat from the base, ensure that the anti-rebound bar is in the most compact position, and click the seat back into the base in the forward facing position. The seat can then be reclined to one of the four forward facing recline positions.
HOW TO REMOVE AND WASH THE BESAFE IZI MODULAR X1 COVERS:
The covers can be removed and washed, however, they are tricky to remove and replace. Fortunately, summer covers are available which not only protect the textiles but they also make it easier to peel the summer cover off to wash. Remove and wash the covers as per the user manual.
HOW LONG CAN BESAFE IZI MODULAR CAR SEATS BE USED FOR?
BeSafe recommends that the BeSafe Izi Modular X1 (and iZi Modular isofix base) not be used for longer than 7 years, provided it has not been in a crash. Due to ageing, the quality of the material may change as the seat ages.
WHAT IS THE WARRANTY ON THE BESAFE IZI MODULAR X1?
The warranty is 1 year on the Besafe Izi Modular X1 seat and, 6 months on the fabric. BeSafe is well supported in South Africa, with the local importer situated in Johannesburg. They have the tools and spare parts to carry out any repairs.
IS THE BESAFE IZI MODULAR X1 COMPATIBLE WITH MY CAR?
In order to install the Izi Modular X1, it requires isofix and no underfloor storage compartments. A rear facing car seat must never be installed in front of an active airbag. Click here to check if your car is on the approved fit list:
WHAT ARE THE DIMENSIONS OF THE BESAFE IZI MODULAR X1?
The iZi Modular X1 seat weighs 8.1kg and the base weighs 6.7kg. It’s dimensions are a height of 70cm and a width of 44cm.
OUR VERDICT
The Besafe iZi Modular X1 is a high scoring, well padded toddler seat with good recline and sufficient legroom for the child. This extra legroom can make it a bit tight for smaller cars. It is a convenient option for families who need to move the car seat between cars often, as you can buy a second base for a second car. Even without buying a second base, the iZi Modular X1 is easy enough to transfer between cars. Besafe have a wide range of accessories that are crash tested and approved for use with any Besafe seats, such as vehicle seat protectors, anti-escape devices, head support to prevent head flop etc.
