Evenflo Maestro Booster Car Seat Review

The Evenflo Maestro is a forward facing-harnessed car seat holding children from 22-50 pounds (height: 28-50" ) that also can be converted to a belt-positioning booster for children from 40-110 pounds (height: 43-57" ). In addition to 4 shoulder harness and 2 crotch strap positions, this seat's innovative design adjusts to fit your child's needs as they continue to grow.
 

The "Best Bet"

Accredited as a "Best Bet" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Maestro's auto adjusting belt path assists in properly positioning a vehicle lap's shoulder belt across your child's shoulder to provide optimal safety. We've designed and tested the Maestro's structural integrity to withstand approximately two times the energy of the Federal Crash Test Standard. It also exceeds Evenflo's own rigorous side impact testing standards. The great thing about the Maestro headrest is that the unique shape guides the belt around your child's neck and shoulder for a perfect fit. Your child will also appreciate that the integrated cup holders have flexible bands to keep their snacks and drinks secure. The soft, machine washable seat pad allows for easy cleanup of any messes. The lightweight design comes equipped with an easy to use LATCH system, including tether, for easy installation and movement between multiple vehicles. The Evenflo Maestro 2-in-1 Harness Booster Car Seat for infants and toddlers is designed, engineered, tested, molded and assembled in the United States. For almost a century, Evenflo has been a leader in safety, innovation and education. The Evenflo Maestro adheres to that mission in providing a convertible car seat that combines safety, comfort and ease for the ultimate value in child restraints.

About the Product                                              

• This 2-in-1 Combination Booster Car Seat fitting children from 22-110 lbs. converts from a 5-point harnessed car seat to belt-positioning booster allowing for extended use as your child grows
• The Maestro Harness Booster Car seat helps protect harnessed children from 22-50 pounds and belt-positioned children from 40-110 pounds                
• This lightweight Booster Car Seat comes equipped for LATCH systems allowing for easy installation and transfer between multiple vehicles
• Designed and tested for both Side Impact and Structural Integrity at energy levels approximately 2 times the Federal Crash Test Standards to keep your child safe
• Integrated cup holders keep drinks close without increasing the width of the car seat, allowing multiple car seats to fit your back seat
• Extended use converts from 5-point harness to vehicle seat belt use as child grows
• Auto-adjust belt path correctly positions the seat belt to your child for a proper fit
• 4 shoulder harness positions and 2 crotch buckle positions for extended use
• Simple adjustment with upfront tightening and loosening makes it easy to get your child in and out of the seat
• Integrated cup holders keep drinks close without increasing the width of the car seat, allowing multiple car seats to fit your backseat

 

From the Manufacturer

Evenflo Maestro Harness Booster Seat, Thunder    

The Evenflo Maestro Harness Booster Seat meets Evenflo's rigorous test standards which include side impact tested, meets all federal safety standards and is designed & tested for structural integrity at energy levels approximately 2X the federal crash test standard.

This booster seat converts from a 5-point harness to vehicle seat belt use and is suitable for children 22-110 lbs.

 

Colors and Safety Features





Thunder



Taylor





Wesley    

Easley



5-Point Harness

22 - 50 lbs | 28 - 50 inches.



Belt Path

Auto-adjust belt path correctly positions
the seat belt to your child for a proper fit. 

 

Belt-Positiong Booster

40 - 110 lbs | 43.3 - 57 inches.

Upfront Harness Adjustment

Simple adjustment with upfront
tightening and loosening makes it easy
to get your child in and out of the seat.

 





Multiple Harness & Crotch Buckle    

4 shoulder harness positions and
2 crotch buckle positions
for extended use.



Dual Cup Holders

Integrated cup holders keep drinks
close without  increasing the width of the
car seat, allowing multiple car seats to fit
your backseat.

 





Made in the USA

Designed, Engineered, Tested, Molded

and Assembled in the USA with

US and global components

Side Impact Tested

Meets or exceeds all applicable federal

safety standards and Evenflo’s side impact

standards. Designed and tested for structural

integrity at energy levels approximately 2X

the federal crash test standard.



 

 

Top 10 Users Reviews by Amazon.com

1. 5/5. Love the SAFETY, LONGEVITY and COMFORT of this car seat for our 3-year-old

By audreyofdc on June 2, 2016

 

Color: Wesley|Verified Purchase

 

Why we love it:

- SAFETY: 5-point harness keeps our 3-year-old more securely in the seat for longer (plan to use until 5 years old)

- LONGEVITY: converts to seatbelt booster for use up to 110 lbs/57 inches

- COMFORT: lots of padding, great for longer car rides

- easy to buckle, doesn't tangle

- great design with lots of detail stitching

- attached to latch system, so it doesn't slide around and is easy for child to climb into

- affordable at under 70 dollars

 

After many hours of research online, comparing car seats in stores and ordering two car seats as "finalists" from Amazon, we have chosen this one for a number of reasons.

 

The main consideration for us was keeping our 3-year-old in a 5-point harness seat for as long as possible, but not wanting to purchase a new seat in two years when she moves up to a seatbelt booster. We had to purchase a new seat for her now, because our second child is moving up into her old seat. Technically, our child meets the minimum requirements for a seatbelt booster now, but after reading a few discussion on this, it seems that with every seat "upgrade" (changing to forward-facing, then changing to seatbelt booster) you loose a layer of safety. In fact, even in our car manual it states that due to a child's anatomy, they recommend a 5-point harness until 5 years old (their skeleton isn't mature enough to "properly" handle a car accident if they are using a seatbelt booster this young).

 

While safety was the biggest selling point for us to choose a convertible 5-point harness/seatbelt car seat, there are a few features that made this car seat stand out within this category. It is very nicely padded and the angle in the car is nice (not too steep or too upright), which makes for a comfortable ride. It's very easy to buckle, tighten, unbuckle, loosen and the straps don't tangle easily. This seat attaches to the latch system of the car, so it doesn't slide around when my 3-year-old climbs in the seat herself (this will be useful when we convert to the seatbelt function as well). As for any carseat that attaches via the latch system, you should check your car specs to see what the weight limit is for using a latch seat.

 

I also love the colors — sleek and neutral but with a bit of custom stitching and hints of red that give some nice detail. My child loves the cup holders (I never knew she cared, but it's the first thing she noticed...) — they have an elastic band in the front which holds in the cup.

 

The other seat we had ordered, but ended up returning is the "Evenflo Chase LX Harnessed Booster, Jameson" (Evenflo Chase LX Harnessed Booster, Jameson). The two models are very similar, the main difference was the amount of padding — the Maestro is just so much more comfortable, while with the Chase seat you could feel the hard plastic through the thinner padding.

 

2. 5/5. Amazing Car Seat.

By madyline on September 2, 2016

 

Color: Wesley|Verified Purchase

 

I did a lot of research into car seats before I chose one. I decided on this one based on the raving reviews. I wasn't disappointed. The seat is padded well and looks amazing. It fits in the seat securely and snug. I don't have the securement bars under the seat so I use the seatbelt to secure it. Its easy to put in and take out of my car. And size wise, its great. I have a Chevy Tracker. For those of you that don't know those are ridiculously small and lacking in leg room. This seat fits well and still gives my daughter leg room without taking to much room from the front passenger. We also have a Yukon, that thing is huge. I only have a hard time outing the seat in the car because I am short and have to climb over the car seat to snap it in. My daughter loves the seat. She sleeps in it well also. She loves the cup holders on it. She puts her snacks in there where I go to take her out of the seat. We also have all kinds of shapes and sizes sippy cups and they fit in there well. I only wish they were a little deeper. Over all the seat is amazing. Its worth every penny I spent on it.

 

3. 5/5. Great seat, great value, excellent for tall young children.

By J. Gunn on April 24, 2016

Color: Black/Blue|Verified Purchase

This seat arrived all put together and ready to go, except for the cup holders, which have an awesome stretchy band on them to accommodate any sized cup, including awkward sized sippy cups and snack cups!

 

The seat was extremely easy to adjust for everything on it. The straps slid so smoothly, but once they were locked in place that car seat literally is not going anywhere. I got it out of the box, adjusted, and installed in less than an hour.

 

My kid loves it too, the blue color is very pretty and he said that it was "Super comfy and snuggleifrick." Not 100% sure what snuggleifrick means but it sounds like a good 2 year old review.

 

This seat is great, especially for tall children. My two year old is the size of an average 4 year old and trying to find a 5 point harness that would accommodate him for at least a couple more years was difficult until I found this one.

 

Definitely worth it for the value. Will recommend to my friends and family.

4. 5/5. Perfect for flying with toddlers!

By L. Rechnitz on September 30, 2015

 

Color: Wesley|Verified Purchase

 

We have two of these for our 3 and 2 year old. We mostly use them for when we travel and for Dad's car. They are really light and we attach them to our Go-Go Babyz Travelmate.Go-Go Babyz Travelmate Black

 

We have flown several times with these and the Go-Go and both are super durable and still look pretty new. Since the seats are light, they're easy to carry down the aisle of the plane, but you can't roll them, still a little too wide. Our kids sleep much better in these seats, than if they were just in the airplane seat too. We detach the Go-Go right before we get in line to board. Our kids like to roll it, so that helps and then we put them in the overhead for the flight. Our longest travel time has been a 6 hour flight, 1 hour layover with a 1 hour flight with a 1.5 hour drive home and the kids preferred to seat in the carseat even when we weren't flying.

 

We also enjoy strolling these through the airport, instead of a stroller. When you go through security. Pop the kids out, keep the carseat and Go-Go attached and they will do a separate check. We walk through the metal detector with the kids. We found that security usually tries to get us through pretty quickly, because we have two small children. People usually think we are pulling our suitcases until they get behind us and see the kids. Our kids love it and always wave and yell out Hi! to people. We have also been lucky to not need strollers at our destinations, but it is also nice to not have to rent a car seat or putting responsibility on whomever we are staying with too.

 

Generally, if we have two suitcases, one of us will pull both kids and the other parent deals with the luggage.

 

One less stress with traveling!

 

The picture attached, shows how we store them in our garage. The handles of the Go-Go are adjustable, just like rolling a suitcase.

 

 

5. 5/5. Perfect!

By J H on March 13, 2016

 

Color: Black/Blue|Verified Purchase

 

This is an amazing car seat for the price, it's a slim fit and my son LOVES it! If you're looking for a nice, safe car seat and not able to spend a lot, this is it!

 

 

6. 5/5. Nice Car seat

By Jodi Button on March 3, 2016

 

Color: Taylor|Verified Purchase

 

I got this car seat for my 2 year old. She's big for her age so I wanted a harnessed booster seat. This seat is made nicely. She seems to be comfortable in it. The clip and buckle are easy to buckle and unbuckle. (but not too easy) The cup holders are nice and well made unlike some. It's a great product for the price.

 

 

7. 5/5. Very Happy with this seat.

By Sally Mae on April 11, 2014

 

Color: Taylor|Verified Purchase

 

I bought this for my mother in laws car. I wanted something light and easy to strap in correctly. This fits for us. It's significantly lighter (11 lbs) than the convertible car seats we have. The LATCH is simple and easy to use. I did a ton of research and this is an IIHS Best Bet booster seat. It is safe for aircraft use. The only small issue I have is that you have to rethread the shoulder straps when your child grows.
It's easy for grandma to strap in and get tight. I'll be taking it for our trip to the west coast this summer because it's smaller and lighter for airports and car changes.
We now have bought four of these total. One for each grandma and two for our work cars. I will say that the bottom buckle is a little hard to push for one of the grandmas. But she seems to have trouble with car seats in general so I am not sure it is the seats problem.
Overall we still love them.

 

8. 5/5. Lightweight and easy to install

By Duval Girl on January 15, 2016

 

Color: Wesley|Verified Purchase

 

The car seat was purchased as a second car seat to make the work swap off easy, but somehow it has quickly become the baby's favorite. Lol

 

 

9. 5/5. I would purchase again!

By Cassinay_on November 29, 2016

 

Color: Wesley|Verified Purchase

 

We love, Love, LOVE this seat! Light weight, convenient if needing to swap between cars when you choose to carpool in a bigger car, and my son was so excited to have cup holders! The two final deciding features that made me hit the purchase button (other than the fact with prime I get 2 day shipping FREE) is the cup holders are not full cups themselves, they have an open side to prevent gunk getting stuck and collecting more nasty gunk (YUCK!), and I love the strap holder for when my son is big enough for a regular car seat belt! It seriously makes it look so much more comfy for the kiddo! I loved my first order so much I replaced my mother in laws with one as well since she expressed wanting to get rid of my son's bulky seat in her car! So not one but TWO orders were placed so far and we will probably replace my husbands in a matter of time once he's done being in denial our baby is truly big enough to upgrade!

* my reviews of products are completely of my own experience and I do not receive products at a discount for the purpose of a review, I reserve the right to update or edit my review at any time during the lifespan of me owning the product

[...] thank you! :)

 

10. 5/5. EXCELLENT seat.

By Lizzy on November 16, 2016

 

Color: Black/Blue|Verified Purchase

 

We were looking for a convertible booster, and this is EXACTLY what we needed! I love that it is very cushioned for comfort, but I also love that it gets top safety ratings from multiple sites! My 3-year-old loves the color, and he actually ASKS to get in his car seat at rest time. haha. He tells me it's so comfy! The double cupholders are SO helpful too. It's easy to install, and when he gets big enough, we will be able to remove the 5-point harness straps and use the seatbelt. I highly recommend this seat. If you're looking not to spend a ton of money but still have high quality, this is it.