IIHS Releases List of Top-Rated Booster Seats

Things keep getting safer for children. In the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) latest round of booster-seat tests 27 newly designed chairs were rated “Best Bet,” the top score available.

And that figure is higher than in any other year, meaning manufacturers of these safety restraints continue to improve. The 27 “Best Bets” came out of a field of 41 new models that have debuted in 2014.

Beyond this, three seats were deemed to be “Good Bets,” the second-highest rating while eight models fell in the “Check Fit” category. Three booster seats were not recommended by the institute.

SEE ALSO: What are IIHS Rating?

Depending on their features and complexity these devices range in price anywhere from $25 to $370 so there’s a safe choice for every budget.

Seats rated “Best Bet” correctly position a typical 4-to-8-year-old child in almost any vehicle. “Good Bets” fit well in most cars and trucks while “Check Fit” rated seats may be alright with certain children in certain vehicles. Here’s a complete list of the latest ratings from the IIHS.

Best Bet-Rated Booster Seats

Baby Trend Hybrid 3-in-1 (backless mode)

Baby Trend Hybrid No Back (backless)

Britax Frontier 90 (highback)

Britax Pinnacle 90 (highback)

Britax Pioneer 70 (highback)

BubbleBum Neon (backless)

Cybex Solution X-Fix (highback)

Diono Solana (backless)

Dream On Me Turbo Booster (highback mode)

Eddie Bauer Deluxe Belt-Positioning Booster (highback mode)

Eddie Bauer Deluxe Highback 65 (highback)

Evenflo Chase (highback)

Evenflo Symphony 65 (highback)

Graco Argos 80 Elite 3-in-1 (backless mode)

Graco Argos 80 Elite 3-in-1 (highback mode)

Graco 4Ever All-in-1 (backless mode)

Graco 4Ever All-in-1 (highback mode)

Graco Milestone All-in-1 (highback)

Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 with Safety Surround (highback mode)

Kids Embrace Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (highback)

Maxi-Cosi Rodi AP (highback mode)

Maxi-Cosi RodiFix (highback)

Peg Perego Viaggio HBB 120 (highback mode)

Recaro Performance Booster (highback)

Safety 1st Store ‘n Go (highback mode)

Safety 1st Store ‘n Go No-Back (backless)

Safety 1st Summit 65 (highback)

Good Bet-Rated Booster Seats

Baby Trend Hybrid 3-in-1 (highback mode)

Cybex Solution Q-Fix (highback)

Diono Rainier (highback)

Check Fit-Rated Booster Seats

Dream On Me Coupe Booster (backless)

Dream On Me Turbo Booster (backless mode)

Eddie Bauer Deluxe Belt-Positioning Booster (backless mode)

Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 with Safety Surround (backless mode)

Harmony Folding Travel Booster (highback)

Maxi-Cosi Rodi AP (backless mode)

Peg Perego Viaggio HBB 120 (backless mode)

Safety 1st Store ’n Go (backless mode)

Not Recommended Booster Seats

Diono Olympia (highback)

Diono Pacifica (highback)

Kids Embrace Batman No Back Booster (backless)

[Source: IIHS]