Evenflo Symphony DLX Review: Is This The Best Bang for Your Buck?


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Finding the best car seat for their baby is on the mind of every parent when they find out they are expecting. Many people choose a 3-in-1 car seat because it is the only seat they will ever have to buy as it grows with the baby. Finding the best 3-in-1 then becomes the priority. We have researched some of the best seats on the market and written our Evenflo Symphony DLX review to feature our choice.We will compare 3 other car seats along with the feature in our Evenflo Symphony DLX review so that you can have the most informed choice when choosing the best seat for your little one.

[amazon box= “B07DNXMJ4M,B07GZDVLK8,B00MS9VTG0,B071VS2XKT” template=”table”]

What Is the Evenflo Symphony DLX?

Evenflo Symphony DLX

Image via Amazon

The Evenflo Symphony DLX is a 3-in-1, or all-in-one, car seat (rear facing, front facing, booster). Because all three seats are conveniently combined in this one seat, it is unnecessary to purchase another one.

The seat has adjustments so the child can fit comfortably at each stage in their growth. It has anchor connectors to secure it into any vehicle that has the factory anchors, or seatbelt adjustments and connections for older vehicles.

Product Specs: Evenflo Symphony DLX Review

The highlight of our Evenflo Symphony DLX review is a 3-in-1 seat that is FAA approved. It has an 8-year lifespan to cover your child until they no longer have need of a booster (5 to 110 lbs). It has an infinite slide system so the harness can be adjusted easily to fit your child. It has a 5-point adjustable headrest with the bottom two positions being used specifically for rear facing.

It has 3 recline positions for ultimate comfort, and the deep head wings are great for sleeping while also providing advanced side impact protection. It has 2 built-in cup holders for convenience and provides both anchor connectors and seat belt options for securing it into your vehicle. Evenflo remains an industry leader in safety and rollover test standards and their E3 side impact testing is included in the Symphony DLX to keep your child as safe as possible.

Pricing for Items in the Evenflo Symphony DLX Review

Each of the car seats in our Evenflo Symphony DLX Review can be purchased at Amazon.com. They range in price from around $165.00 to $230.00. The price differences are usually dependent on features.

How Others Compare in the Evenflo Symphony DLX Review

We picked a few similar products available on the market to see how they compare to our featured item in the Evenflo Symphony DLX review.

  • Britax Endeavours Infant Car Seat
  • Chicco Key Fit 30 Zip Infant Car Seat
  • Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 Special Edition Car Seat

Evenflo Symphony DLX

[amazon box=”B07DNXMJ4M”]

Ease of Use

One nice feature that makes the Symphony easy to use is the infinite slide harness system. It is easy to adjust the straps to keep your child safe while they are in the seat, and it gives the ability to get your child in and out quickly and easily. For convenience, the anchor connectors allow for a 60-second installation. 

Installation Time

It takes about 60 seconds to install this seat securely using the quick connectors. It will take a little longer to install if the car does not have connectors because the seatbelt will have to be laced through beneath the seat. This should take less than 5 minutes. 

Design Quality 

The two integrated cup holders are a nice touch to the Symphony because they take up less space than external or clip-on models, and they expand for different size cups. The seat is only 20″ at its widest point which makes it easier to put in even small vehicles. We also appreciated the safety head wings and how they not only keep your child safer but provide a nice resting place for taking a nap. 

Warranty

Evenflo promises their product and accessories to be free of any manufacturing defects for a period of 90 days and only to the original purchaser. 

Pros

  • All-in-one convertible
  • Meets or exceeds all federal safety standards
  • E3 side impact protection
  • Infinite slide harness
  • Proven in actual crashes by customers

Cons

  • No padding on harnesses

Britax Endeavours Infant Car Seat

[amazon box=”B07GZDVLK8″]

The Britax Endeavours Infant Car Seat features the patented Britax SafeCell Impact protection system. This includes a steel frame, energy absorbing base, V-shaped tether to minimize rotation, and stage-release stitches that slow forward movement in the event of an accident. The anti-rebound bar featured in the Endeavour minimizes force in an accident by stabilizing the seat.

Secure the seat base easily into your vehicle with the SafeCenter Latch, or secure the seat itself into the vehicle without using the base. The Endeavour is travel system that works with compatible strollers and the harness needs no re-threading, but adjusts easily as your child grows. It can be used rear facing between 4-35 pounds.

Ease of Use

The Endeavour features a European belt guide and is Rideshare-ready so that it can be installed without the base. It also easily connects to and can be removed from the base easily. The harnesses require adjustment, but no re-threading. 

Installation Time

Once the base is installed using the threading pattern underneath, the seat can be quickly installed and removed from the base with a latch. The seat can be installed without the base by following an easy thread pattern around the seat. After reading customer reviews though and considering different size vehicles, we took away a half star because your time of installation can increase depending on the vehicle, and also when moving from car to car.

Design Quality

The Endeavor is designed with a child’s safety in mind and the SafeCell Impact Protection System is a definite plus. The quick in and out is nice if you use the base with the seat. We took away a half star, though, because in some vehicles, the anti-rebound bar did not touch the seat in front of it no matter how the seat was adjusted. This is necessary for the seat to be fully secured in an accident. Overall, the design quality is good and safety and convenience are a priority.

Warranty

Britax offers a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty against defects in materials or workmanship. Proof of purchase is required. 

Pros

  • SafeCell Impact Protection
  • Built-in seat belt lock-offs
  • Rideshare and travel system ready

Cons

  • Seat can hold heat
  • Not convertible to front/booster

Chicco Key Fit 30 Zip Infant Car Seat

[amazon box=”B00MS9VTG0″]

The Chicco Key Fit is an infant car seat for babies 4-30 pounds. It has a 5 point harness with one-pull adjustment and an adjustable, multi-position canopy. It has upper zipper accents and an easily removable pad for machine washing. The base is equipped with premium latch connectors and a super cinch tightener and the seat is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam for more safety protection. The reclining sure-leveling foot assures a proper angle.

Ease of Use

The Chicco is easy to install and connect, and the idea of the machine washable pad and zip-on cover and visor is great. We took away a half star, though, because it isn’t quite as easy to zip it on and off.

Installation Time

The Chicco is designed to be easy to install every time. Once the base is installed properly in the vehicle, it does so with ease. It also easily fits into compatible strollers quickly. 

Design Quality

The gender neutral design of the car seat was nice, and the base and seat fit securely. Because of the reports of issues people had with the padding and zip-on-visor and canopy. Customers commented that it was a great idea but poorly executed.

Warranty

Chicco offers a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty against defects to material and workmanship. 

Pros

  • Removable head and body supports
  • Travel system ready
  • Zip off canopy and zip on visor

Cons

  • Some issues with zippers reported by customers
  • Some issues with padding reported by customers

Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 Special Edition Car Seat

[amazon box=”B071VS2XKT”]

The Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 is a 2-in-1 car seat used for rear facing and extended-use front facing. It is best for children between 14 and 85 pounds. It features advanced side-impact resistance with its Air Protect advanced cushioning system. The seat pad and harness covers are machine washable and easy to remove. The harness is one-hand adjustable, and the seat is made from premium fabric and cushioning.

Ease of Use

The Pria 85 is easy to use with the one-hand adjustable harness and head rest. The seat quickly unsnaps to wash, and the seat can be easily turned when your child is ready. 

Installation Time

We could find very few complaints about installation time. It is quick and easy to install; rear or front-facing. 

Design Quality

The Pria 85 has an attractive design with great safety features. The padding is nice and comfortable for the baby/child. We did take away a star, though, because the Pria 85 is not designed to hold an 85 pound child; it is too small. We felt this was misleading. The straps also can move after much use.

Warranty

The Pria 85 is covered for one year from date of original purchase.

Pros

  • Air Protect cushioning
  • Machine washable
  • Premium fabrics

Cons

  • Children usually outgrow before age 8
  • Straps may move after a lot of use

Conclusion

Image by Quinn Dombrowski from flickr

For our featured product in our Evenflo Symphony DLX review, we decided on a solid 5 star rating. We were a little disappointed by the 6 month warranty, considering the fact other seats in our Evenflo Symphony DLX review offered a year and up on their warranties.

But the excellent reviews of our featured product could not be ignored; nor could the testimonies of the children that were protected in actual crashes by this 3 -n-1 seat. We feel you can purchase the Symphony DLX with confidence.

Featured Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

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