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If you’re looking for a new car seat, you’ve most likely heard of Graco. A tried and tested brand that’s popular all over the world; Graco should definitely be on your radar. There are two great car seats on the market right now – the Affix Youth Booster Seat vs Highback Turbobooster.
Both are from the same brand but there are clear differences between the two. This guide plans to tell you a bit more about each one, weighing up the pros and cons so you don’t have to.
Car seats are incredibly important so it’s vital you choose the right one. Children grow incredibly quickly and you may find it’s not long before they need to upgrade to a booster seat. If you’re also on the road a lot, you’ll need to look for a car seat that offers plenty of cushioning and back support to keep their joints comfortable.
We know there’s a lot to consider, but as a general idea of what to look out for in a car seat, we’ve reviewed both the Affix and Turbobooster models based on their size, safety rating, practicality, and affordability. These are all really important features to consider, so carry on reading and at the end of this guide, you should have a much clearer understanding of what both car seats have to offer.
Table of Contents
The Main Differences Between the Graco Affix Youth Booster Seat vs Highback Turbobooster Car Seat
The main differences between the Graco Affix Youth Booster seat vs Highback Turbobooster car seat are:
- The Affix features a latch security system that the Turbobooster doesn’t have.
- Unlike the Affix, the Turbobooster comes with cup holders.
- The Turbobooster has a weight limit of 30 – 100lbs, while the Affix doesn’t seem to have one.
- The Affix weighs 9.8lbs – the Turbobooster weighs 9lbs, so marginally lighter.
Which is Better for Your Child?
At face value, both seats are very similar and offer many of the same features. Since choosing between the two could end up being a tough call, we definitely recommend studying the features and pros and cons sections of our reviews in order to help make the decision easier. If all else fails, it could come down to how much you’re willing to spend for the extra protective gear.
Graco Affix Youth Booster Seat
The Graco Affix Booster Seat is an Amazon bestseller that you really can’t go wrong with. It’s a great seat with some great features, and it’s been tried and tested by parents across the world.
There are plenty of neat features that come with the seat. For example, you can switch it to a backless seat, which helps to prolong the longevity of its lifespan. The headrest is also fully adjustable and designed to give maximum comfort to your child while on the move. This is incredibly important, especially on long car journeys.
Graco says that this seat has undergone extensive crash and impact testing to provide buyers with as much peace of mind as possible when transporting their little ones. The seat also contains EPS energy-absorbing foam liner for added comfort.
The Affix car seat can be used for children from 30 to 100 pounds (or 38-57”), meaning they are adequately comfortable during the first car rides of their toddler lives. After this, you can convert the seat to the backless system when they grow bigger and continue to use the car seat as your child grows (which, as you know, is often scarily quick!).
This seat also features what Graco call ‘Safety Surround Side Impact’ technology, which has been developed to protect and support your child’s head and body. However, perhaps the most important benefit of Affix is the latch system. This means your seat can be securely locked into place and will not budge, even when on the move.
Not all car seats offer this and it’s a surefire way to ensure your child’s seat isn’t going anywhere. This is a massive plus point.
Features:
- Suitable from 4-12 years of age.
- Adjustable headrest.
- Features isocatch latch system for security.
- Built-in storage.
- Extra padding for added comfort.
- Machine washable fabrics.
- Meets Graco’s safety standards.
- Side impact protection in both seat and headrest.
Pros:
- The storage tray hides away to keep it neat and tidy.
- It comes with a detachable backrest to allow for growth.
- It also comes in a variety of different colors to suit your child’s personality.
- The latch is easy to tighten.
- The padding is really comfortable so great for longer car journeys.
- It’s been tested to meet or exceed all federal safety standards.
Cons:
- It’s slightly more expensive than the Turbobooster.
- The latch system can take a while to set up initially, especially if your back seat headrest jut out a little bit.
- Cleaning the armrest padding isn’t always the easiest task, as it can be hard to remove to clean.
- Some parents report that the seat belt can sometimes feel a little bit uncomfortable.
Price:
- You Can Find the Graco Affix Booster Seat on Amazon, and you can check its price here!
Parents’Opinion
There are loads of reviews on Amazon for the Affix and it currently has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars. In fact, 74% of all reviews are 5-star rated, which shows it’s well-loved by parents from all walks of life. However, we’ve gathered some of the best reviews so you can get a better understanding of what real moms and dads think.
- Many parents love that it’s so easy to assemble and found the latch system very easy to use.
- It’s been reported that this car seat is very comfortable and keeps their child upright when traveling.
- A few parents did mention that at first, they had difficulty locating the cup holder until they played around a little bit with the car seat.
- One parent had a very unfortunate accident in their car, but thanks to the Affix car seat her son “emerged without a scratch”.
Graco Highback Turbobooster Car Seat
The Graco Turbobooster is a very reliable seat with backing from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That’s always a good thing to bear in mind when making a purchase. It’s been awarded ‘Best Bet Booster by the institute as it’s such a reliable, comfortable baby seat.
This helps to provide parents or guardians with peace of mind as we’re well aware that putting your trust into a product for your baby can sometimes feel a bit scary.
When it comes to listing features, the seat contains almost everything that the Affix boasts (including backless capability), with the exception of the latch security system. However, one feature which the Turbobooster has over the Affix car seat is the storage.
On the Turbobooster there are cup holders which are completely hideable underneath the seat. This means when they are not in use they can be conveniently tucked away out of sight. In comparison, the cup holder on the Affix can’t be hidden away.
The only real downside, when compared to the Affix car seat, is the fact that it has no latch system. This means the seat is never truly connected to the actual car seat and allows for a little wiggle room.
Features:
- Suitable from 4-12 years of age.
- Adjustable headrest.
- Features cup holders that hide away.
- Built-in storage.
- Extra padding for added comfort.
- Machine washable fabrics.
- Meets Graco’s safety standards.
- Side impact protection in both seat and headrest.
Pros:
- It’s ever-so-slightly cheaper than the Affix.
- It won the ‘Best Bet Booster’ Award from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.
- It features hideable cup holders.
- It’s lightweight, so it’s easy to move from car to car.
- It’s super comfortable.
- It’s been extensively crash tested to meet or exceed US safety standards.
Cons:
- No latch system to strap the seat directly to the actual car seat.
- It’s not the best choice with cars that feature a forward-leaning headrest.
Give your big kid a boost. Loaded with comfort features for kids, the Graco TurboBooster Highback Booster Seat helps protect your growing child, from 40-100 lb. This 2-in-1 seat converts from a highback to a backless booster as your big kid grows.
Parents’ Opinion
Like the Affix, the Turbobooster has plenty of reviews on Amazon – again with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5. 72% of reviews are 5-star rated, so it almost perfectly matches the Affix if you compare the two side by side with their reviews. To make life a bit easier, here is what some parents are saying:
- One parent raved that their “four year old thinks its very comfortable and loves the dual cup holders and armrests”.
- Another parent liked that their children could sleep comfortably and upright, while their backs and necks remained supported.
- The armrests are well-liked, as is the fact you can use it without the backrest.
- A few people struggled with the weight limit.
The Verdict
In our opinion, both seats provide adequate support and safety for your child, but the Affix seat gives you extra peace of mind knowing the seat is locked firmly in place during a journey. This means the Graco Affix Youth Booster Seat is our top choice this time.
We think it’s worth spending the extra ten dollars for the added security for your little one. We also prefer the look of the Affix seat – it looks a little more upmarket and modern than the Turbobooster, particularly in the black and red finish.
FAQs
Question: What do they both come as with as standard?
Answer: Both have the removable back option to allow for growing children and eliminate the demand to purchase new car seats frequently. They also both come with storage such as cup holders and a tray sizeable enough for devices such as toys and handheld gaming devices, etc.
Question: How do I clean the fabric on both car seats?
Answer: The fabrics on the Graco Affix Youth Booster Seat and Turbobooster are removable and machine washable. Metal and plastic parts may be cleaned with water and mild soap.
Question: How do I attach the back of the Highback Turbobooster to the base?
Answer: You’ll find ‘U’ shaped hooks on the bottom of the backrest will interlock with bars on base. When you’re attaching the backrest to the base, make sure no part of the seats covering interferes. Them, push the backrest up once it’s securely attached to the base. Your car seat is now ready.
Question: What is EPS foam?
Answer: In a nutshell, it’s a type of foam that’s mainly used on car interiors and special seats that are designed to protect the person sat in it from impact. EPS foam gives great protection and adds a huge safety element to the car seat, which is what makes Graco a trusted brand.
