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When the time comes to pick out the right baby car seat for your toddler to get them through the remaining years of their needing a car seat period, it can be a daunting task. Add to that deciding between two car seats from the same brand, like the Britax Pioneer vs Frontier Car Seats and it gets that much more complicated.
If cost is your primary concern, then it probably won’t be hard to choose between the two, as they definitely aren’t in the same cost bracket, but as all parents can attest to, there is a lot more that goes into choosing the right car seat than price alone.
In this case, you’re going to need to look at both the Britax Pioneer and Frontier’s most essential features, like safety, longevity, and comfort for your growing toddler. There’s also the matter of installation, which can make or break your decision with a solid car seat.
If the installation is too difficult to understand or deal with each time you put the car seat in your car, it can sometimes be a deal breaker, so figuring out where both car seats stand where is concerned is also so important here. At the end of the day, the choice is yours and yours alone, but before you go out and buy one of these, it’s important to look at the Britax Pioneer vs Frontier Car Seat from every which way to try and make the right decision first.
Table of Contents
Main Differences Between Britax Pioneer vs Frontier
The main differences between Britax Pioneer vs Frontier are:
- Britax Pioneer weighs 21lbs and is lighter, whereas Britax Frontier weighs 25lbs and is heavier of the two.
- Britax Pioneer has 9 color choices, whereas Britax Frontier has 8 color choices.
- Britax Pioneer’s harness system can accommodate 70lbs, whereas Britax Frontier can accommodate 90lbs.
- Britax Pioneer does not have a ClickTight installation system, EZ Buckle system, and HUGS cushion, whereas Britax Frontier does have Frontier ClickTight.
This is a very safe car seat. There are MANY safe car seats. BUT, It's rated for up to 120 pounds. Most car seats with similar safety features don't come close. Better value because it lasts longer! No need to buy multiple car seats.
Britax Pioneer Car Seat
The Britax Pioneer Car Seat is one of those super convenient car seats that will take your toddler from the days of using a harness booster seat to being able to use your car’s own seat belt once they can transition to a booster seat.
It may not be the kind that’s suitable for children from the infant stage all the way through the duration of their need for a car seat at all, but it will give you years of use and make it possible not to need any other car seat once your child is ready to start using it.
And really, it will feel like no time at all before your child is ready for it, since the Pioneer can be used for toddlers from 25-110 pounds.
As far as safety standards go, there are two layers of protection built into the car seat’s frame as a convertible car seat, which is made of steel and also includes an impact-absorbing base (front and side impacts) to do its best to keep your toddler safe in the event of a crash.
And since installing car seats can be where the biggest headache is for some parents, you can simply use the LATCH system to keep it in place, and eventually, your child will graduate to being able to use the seat as a booster with a seatbelt.
Britax Pioneer Features
- Child Weight Capacity: As a forward-facing harness car seat (forward-facing car seat), your child should be 25-70 pounds and when used in booster mode, the weight limit is 40-110 pounds.
- Safety: There’s an easy-to-adjust nine-position harness system for your child’s comfort and safety and the child car seat itself has multiple layers of protection built in to keep your toddler safe at all times. There’s also a V-shaped tether system used to help reduce abrupt forward movements.
- Installation: There are lower LATCH connectors on the Pioneer, which help make using the LATCH system easier than ever.
- Price: Check out the latest price!
- Where To Buy: You can find it on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon or in-store at Walmart.
Pros
- The material is soft and has a decent cushion to it, but it can also be wiped clean for the most part, which is convenient for spills and crumbs.
- There are multiple recline positions to keep your child in the right position and also give them the most comfort possible.
- It’s relatively easy to use the LATCH system, which has a small storage spot as well.
- There are two convenient cup holders on either side of the car seat which can make long car trips a little bit easier on everyone.
Cons
- In some cars, the highest point of the headrest might be almost too tall for the driver to see above it.
- The headrest itself sometimes feels sort of flimsy or almost loose and therefore rattles around a bit.
- For some parents, it might be a bit on the heavy side, so if you’re using the car seat for multiple cars and have to move it often, it can be a chore.
How to Install the Britax Pioneer
Check out some of the best Backless Booster Seats here.
Britax Frontier Car Seat
As to be expected, you’re going to see some similarities between the design of the Pioneer and the Britax Frontier Car Seat.
Like the Pioneer, the Britax Frontier also has a steel-integrated frame and two layers of side impact protection, along with a durable energy-absorbing headrest and side energy absorption meant to keep your child further safe and give you peace of mind. Your child can also enjoy multiple different recline positions to get the most comfort possible, while also being in the safest position available.
For your own convenience, you can use its unique Frontier ClickTight Installation System, which means that you open the front of the car seat, thread your car’s seat belt across it, buckle it, and close the seat. This means you won’t necessarily have to wrestle with the LATCH system, which can sometimes be more trouble than it’s worth and challenging to work with, especially when you need to uninstall your car seat.
With nine different harness positions, the Britax Frontier easily grows along with your toddler, and adjusting the harness is made to be as easy as possible. Even though you won’t be able to use it from infancy and onward, the child car seat will offer plenty of use to help you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth when it’s all said and done.
Britax Frontier Features
- Child Weight Capacity: When the Frontier is used as a harness seat for toddlers, they should be 25-90 pounds and with the belt-positioning back booster, seat, the weight limit should be 40-120 pounds.
- Safety: It has a slow forward moving tether attached to the back of it as well as an energy-absorbing base and thick layers of protection built into the frame of the car seat itself.
- Installation: With the Frontier ClickTight Installation System, you lift up part of the seat in the front, thread the seatbelt in it, and close it after buckling the vehicle seat belt in your backseat.
- Price: Check out the latest price!
- Where To Buy: You can find it on Amazon and on the manufacturer’s website or in-store at Walmart.
Pros
- The ClightTight installation makes putting the child car seat in pretty much any car a breeze, and it’s hard to get over the benefits it provides.
- It can be used up to 120 pounds, whereas the Britax Pioneer is suitable for children up to 110 pounds.
- Even without a LATCH system in your car, you can get a secure and safe installation each time.
- With all of the different child safety measures in place in the design and production of the car seat, it’s hard not to love all that it offers regarding security features.
Cons
- Although it’s sturdy, the Frontier is also quite heavy to move around.
- The two cup holders are convenient, but they aren’t all that big and may not even fit your child’s sippy cup or snack cup.
- It can be a hassle to adjust the installation straps to get just the right fit for your child.
How to Install the Britax Frontier
This is a very safe car seat. There are MANY safe car seats. BUT, It's rated for up to 120 pounds. Most car seats with similar safety features don't come close. Better value because it lasts longer! No need to buy multiple car seats.
The Verdict: Britax Frontier vs Pioneer?
Whenever you compare two strikingly similar products in the same brand, it can get confusing. While one child car seat might have features that seem perfect for your needs, you could then find that the other car seat also shares those features, much like with the Britax Pioneer vs Frontier Combination Seats.
But after looking at both items closely, the stronger option is going to be the Britax Frontier. Of course, the Britax Pioneer offers plenty for your child and is a fine choice on its own, but when compared to the Pioneer, the Frontier is the superior option.
This is thanks in part to easy installation and belt-positioning, longevity, and overall child safety, so you can be sure that you’re getting exactly what you need for your toddler and, eventually, your small child.
Final Thoughts on Britax Pioneer vs Frontier
Unlike comparing two vastly different combination seats, or at least two from opposing brands, the Pioneer and Frontier are both quite similar in design and what they offer. You honestly can’t go wrong with either, but since this is your child we’re talking about here and their safety is involved, it’s always important to make an educated decision.
If in the end, the Frontier doesn’t seem to work for you, there’s always the option of exchanging it for the other model, but it really does offer the best value for all that you get.
This is especially true since it’s the last car seat your child will need before they graduate to sitting in the back seat with no booster at all. At first glance, these may seem like almost the exact same car seat, but they do have some stark differences that make them their own and set them apart from the others in the Britax brand family.
And because of the fact that your child can use it up to 120 pounds and the safety setup it offers, among other reasons, the Britax Frontier is your best option here.
This is a very safe car seat. There are MANY safe car seats. BUT, It's rated for up to 120 pounds. Most car seats with similar safety features don't come close. Better value because it lasts longer! No need to buy multiple car seats.
Recommended Reads:
- Britax Frontier vs Pinnacle Compared [Which is the Best Britax Car Seat?]
- Britax Frontier vs Chicco MyFit Compared
- Best All-In-One Car Seat Options
- Top Narrow Booster Car Seats
- Best Graco Car Seat Guide
FAQs
Answer: Expensive combination seats do not mean they are safer. However, Britax does not only make car seats that meet government regulations, but they create the safest seats possible in unfortunate conditions, so you can rest assured that your little one/s are safe.
Answer: No. Unfortunately, both the Frontier vs Pioneer cannot be used in rear-facing for babies, as they are made for toddlers who can seat alone.
Answer: Both the Britax Pioneer and Frontier have a long life and they last up to 9 years. You should start measuring the life of the car seat from the day of manufacture which is stated on the label of the car seat.
