When you think of sequels, you are usually thinking of movies. But even a car seat can have a sequel. The Britax Advocate 70 is the new replacement for the now discontinued Advocate 65, which was a well-designed child seat that came with many desirable features. The question is, is this new version a real improvement over its predecessor? The answer is a resounding Yes! These are just a few of the ways Britax has managed to improve on this already fantastic design.
One of the features that really impressed me about the Advocate was the use of side impact cushions. While these had the downside of making the car seat slightly wider than normal, they were intended to provide an additional level of protection in the event of a side impact. The latest version of Advocate improves on this feature, and Britax reports that this new side impact cushioning technology reduces side impact force by 45%. This means that more of the energy is diverted from your child at impact, as the new cushions compress and redirect force better. These cushions also do double duty as a way to protect other passengers, including adults who may be pushed against the outside of the car seat during a collision.
Seat capacity has also been improved with the 70 version. The older 65 model could only carry children in its rear-facing configuration up to 35 pounds and only up to 65 pounds when facing forward. The Advocate 70 has increased capacity by five pounds in both configurations: 40 pounds facing rear and 70 pounds facing forward.
The new model also features a low-gravity control that will minimize felt impact and any whiplash during an accident. Surprisingly, this gives the new Advocate 70 the ability to pass the clamping test. Without having to use its built-in tie!
Many other enhancements were added as well, including the softening of the belt system and the addition of a color-coded locking mechanism on the buckles so you can see at a glance if your child is completely secure.
All of these features add up to be a fantastic improvement on a tried and true design. Britax has really done a great job with the Advocate 70 by making it one of the safest and most robust car seats on the market today. If you are looking for a high quality child seat, it will be difficult to find a better option than the Advocate 70.
