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Cozy N Safe Augusta EZFix review
Best Value Child Car Seat 2020
A Group 2/3 seat that costs less than £100, the Cozy N Safe Augusta EZFix provides great value without compromising on safety or comfort.
By Mumsnet HQ | Last updated Apr 17, 2024
At a glance
Age range: Approximately three-a-half to 12 years; 15 to 36kg; Group 2/3
Safety credentials: R44/04
Fixing system: Three-point seatbelt and ISOFIX or seatbelt only
Dimensions: 68 × 44 × 46cm
Weight: 4.9kg
Guarantee: 12-month warranty
RRP: £90
Pros
Very easy to install
Lightweight
Covers easy to remove
Cons
A no-frills, basic seat
Headrest difficult to adjust
Covers not machine-washable
Key features
ISOFIX and seatbelt fitting
Adjustable headrest
Reversible cushion
Deep padding
Armrests
How safe is the Cozy N Safe Augusta EZFix?
Cozy N Safe's Augusta EZFix complies with R44/04 regulations. While the majority of the child car seats we tested feature ISOFIX and three-point seatbelt fixings, we think it's a real plus point that this seat offers both options while still sitting at the budget end of the market.
The seat feels secure and stable when installed, both with or without a child in the seat, but particularly when using ISOFIX fittings.
It’s also very easy to install, which reduces the possibility of errors – great news for parents plagued by the school run. Red belt guides ensure you know exactly how to route the seatbelt and it’s really intuitive, giving parents added peace of mind.
While the EZFix may not have all the bells and whistles you'd see on pricier car seats – it doesn’t have additional side impact protection like the BeSafe iZi Flex Fix i-Size or a Secureguard lapbelt guide like the Britax Römer Kidfix III M. However, it has been tested to R44/04 standards, has a simple seatbelt routing to reassure parents that it’s been installed properly and it has the added advantage of ISOFIX fittings as well.
How easy is the Cozy N Safe Augusta EZFix to install?
The Cozy N Safe EZFix can be installed with ISOFIX fittings and the car’s three-point seatbelt, or with the seatbelt alone. It comes in two parts that need to be clicked together.
As with all the seats we tested, the Cozy N Safe was installed in both configurations in a matter of minutes – although slightly quicker without ISOFIX – thanks to simple and clear instructions containing lots of diagrams. Instructions for installing the EZFix using a car's ISOFIX points are also visible on the side of the seat itself.
Once the child is in the seat, you need to adjust the headrest to the correct height, but Jemma found the adjustable headrest generally tricky to adjust. She had trouble lowering it far enough for her five-year-old daughter's head to be in the correct position, and she found adjustments easier to accomplish without a child in the seat, which meant it was often difficult to get the position of the headrest exactly right.
She also tried out the the Cozy N Safe with her four-year-old niece and experienced the same issue with the headrest.
The final step in the installation process is to route the seatbelt through the guides to secure the car seat and the child into the car.
If you get stuck, there's a helpful section on the Cozy N Safe website that includes a jargon buster, a guide to choosing the right car seat for your child, information on the laws and regulations around car seats, and additional FAQs. You can also find customer service contact details on the website.
The seat comes with a 12-month warranty.
What’s it like to use day-to-day?
On a day-to-day basis, the Cozy N Safe Augusta EZFix was comfortable, secure and simple to use. It was easy enough for Jemma to strap her child into the seat, even in a rush, and her daughter was able to climb in and out of the seat by herself.
The shape of the base of the seat and the seat's armrests may make it difficult for a child to strap themselves in until they're a bit older, especially if there there are three car seats installed in a row – less space means it could be tricky for them to access the seatbelt socket.
That said, the EZFix fitted well in the middle row of Jemma’s Citroën Grand C4 Picasso with two other child seats. The car seat is approximately the same width as the actual vehicle seat and didn't cause distraction to the driver when positioned in the middle.
Thanks to the deep padding, Jemma’s child was comfortable in the EZFix on short trips to the supermarket and on the school run, as well as on longer car journeys of up to about an hour, although she didn't manage to fall asleep.
At just 4.9kg, the Cozy N Safe Augusta EZFix is one of the lightest car seats we tested, coming in behind the Diono Everett NXT (4kg). It is easy to switch between vehicles (a real bonus for parents with more than one car), can be used in a taxi and, as the seat separates into two pieces, it would also be suitable for family holidays.
How does it look?
The seat is simple in design, but it's nicely padded, hard-wearing and made of 100% polyester.
It only has one colour option (black, with red contrasts at the arms and on the headrest), which won't come as a surprise considering the EZFix's budget-friendly price tag. But the neutral aesthetic may well be a plus point when your child is older and wants to feel more grown up, and a positive for parents who want a seat that will blend in well with the rest of the car. Darker fabrics are also very good at hiding stains.
Overall, both Jemma and her daughter were happy with the colour of this seat.
How easy is it to clean?
The surface of the Cozy N Safe Augusta EZFix can be cleaned with a damp cloth and soapy water, but the covers are also removable for a more thorough wash at 30 degrees. They can also be reversed if needed.
Despite the advise to hand-wash only, milk and juice stains that had been left to dry came out in the first wash and there were no signs of wear and tear during the five-month period the seat was tested.
As with all the child car seats Jemma put through testing, crumbs did get caught in the creases of the seat, but these could be brushed out with only a couple of swoops.
What about value for money?
While you can’t put a price on your child’s safety, the Cozy N Safe Augusta EZFix means you don’t have to. Not only does it meets safety regulations as laid out by R44/04 guidelines, but it's also easy to install, comfortable for small passengers and has a price tag that won't make you flinch.
At £30 less than the next cheapest seat in our Mumsnet Best 2020 winners list (the Apramo Ostara Fix) and a whopping £160 less than the BeSafe iZi Flex FIX iSize, the Cozy N Safe EZFix offers excellent value for money.
Final verdict
If you want a seat that does what it says on the box, last for up to eight years and doesn’t cost the earth, then you can’t go far wrong with the Cozy N Safe Augusta EZFix.
It may not boast any extras, but it's a safe, comfortable and practical child car seat that we think most parents will absolutely love.
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All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing – this includes recommendations from the Mumsnet forums. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.
All prices correct at time of publication