Independent Car Seat Tests May 2026: The Good, the Bad, and the Real Danger
Here they are. Twice a year, the release of the European independent crash test results (ADAC) causes sleepless nights for thousands of families. If you're reading this, you've likely felt that pang of anxiety wondering if your child's car seat is truly safe or which one you should buy to ensure an informed choice.
At Gotu, we analyze these studies without the marketing noise from brands. We look at physics, anatomy, and the day-to-day reality in the car. If you want to understand what these May 2026 results mean in practice, without embellishment, you've come to the right place.
How to read the test scores
In this evaluation, the scale works in reverse of the usual: the lower the score, the better the car seat's performance.
- 1.6 to 2.5: Good
- 2.6 to 3.5: Satisfactory
- 3.6 to 4.5: Sufficient
- 4.6 to 5.5: Very Poor (Not Recommended)
⚠️ Urgent Safety Alert: Critical Isofix Base Failure
The Kinderkraft Mink Pro 2 in combination with the Mink FX2 Base received the minimum rating of 5.5 (Very Poor) and its use is considered highly dangerous.
During frontal impact simulations, the connectors attaching the car seat to the base failed. The "egg" completely detached from the Isofix base and was thrown uncontrollably through the vehicle. In real conditions, the consequences would be extremely severe.
The combination that failed in frontal crash tests.
If you own this set, stop using the base immediately. When installed only with the car's 3-point seat belt, the infant carrier received a reasonable score (3.3 overall), but the base should be avoided.
General Results Table (May 2026)
Here is a list of the main models tested in this study, organized from best to worst overall performance. We've highlighted in green the high-safety models available at Gotu:
| Brand and Model | Overall Score | Safety | Height (cm) | Installation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kikkaboo i-Class (Twin Silver Cross Glide infant carrier - Gotu) | 2.4 | 2.5 | 40 to 87 | Car seat belt |
| Cybex Sirona Ti | 2.5 | 2.1 | 40 to 105 | Isofix with support leg |
| Kinderkraft Junior Fix 2 i-Size | 2.5 | 2.9 | 100 to 150 | Car seat belt |
| Nuna Arra Flex / Next + Base (Gotu) | 2.7 | 3.0 | 40 to 87 | Isofix with support leg |
| Kikkaboo Goya / i-Class Plus (Twin Silver Cross - Gotu) | 3.0 | 3.1 | 40 to 105 | Isofix with support leg |
| Maxi-Cosi Emerald 360 Pro | 3.1 | 3.1 | 40 to 150 | Isofix with support leg |
| Joie i-Irvana (Gotu) | 3.2 | 3.5 | 76 to 150 | Isofix + Top Tether |
| Axkid Minikid 4 Pro (Gotu) | 3.6 | 2.8 | 61 to 125 | Belt + Support Leg + Tethers |
| Kinderkraft Mink Pro 2 + Base FX2 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 40 to 87 | Isofix with support leg |
Analysis of Featured Car Seats at Gotu
1. Infant Carriers and Newborns (40 cm to 87 cm)
This stage is the most sensitive of all. Babies have disproportionately heavy heads and developing neck muscles. The only safe way to travel is rear-facing.
Kikkaboo i-Class (Score: 2.4 | Safety: 2.5): This infant carrier represents an excellent opportunity to save money with proven safety. The manufacturer of this model produces the same structure for the reputable British brand Silver Cross (the Glide Plus 360 model). By choosing the i-Class at Gotu, you buy the same top safety, the same mold, and the same impact protection that achieved an excellent safety score of 2.5, but at a much more accessible price.
View Kikkaboo i-Class in Store
Nuna Arra Flex / Next with the Next Base (Score: 2.7 | Safety: 3.0): This modular set achieved a very balanced rating. The infant carrier stands out for its extreme lightness and for allowing a very ergonomic recline (157 degrees), ideal for protecting the baby's spine on long journeys, without the usual continuous use time restrictions of traditional infant carriers.
Infant carriers installed with an Isofix base ensure stability that a belt alone rarely achieves.
2. Extended Rear-Facing (61 cm to 125 cm)
Kikkaboo i-Class Plus (included in the Goya Platinum 4-in-1 set) (Score: 3.0 | Safety: 3.1): As with the infant carrier, this car seat shares the same manufacturing, the same impact absorption materials, and the same structure as the prestigious Silver Cross Approach. It is an excellent transitional option, very robust, practical, and economical for the family budget.
View Goya Platinum Set in Store
Axkid Minikid 4 Pro (Score: 3.6 | Safety: 2.8): The car seat with the highest extended safety in the test, allowing rear-facing travel up to 125 cm or 36 kg (approximately 7 years old). It passed the demanding Swedish Plus Test. Its overall score of 3.6 is solely due to the test penalizing car seats that require more space or whose installation with belts and tethers is complex. In terms of pure physical safety (score of 2.8), it is a true safe haven for the child's neck.
Extended rear-facing safety surpasses any bureaucratic rating for ease of use or installation.
View Axkid Minikid 4 Pro in Store
3. Evolutionary and Multi-Group Car Seats (up to 150 cm)
Joie i-Irvana (Score: 3.2 | Safety: 3.5): A classic evolutionary option (76 to 150 cm) that focuses on the transition from a 5-point harness car seat to a high-back booster seat. Although it is a very light and practical solution, remember that it is used exclusively forward-facing. At Gotu, we advise transitioning to this type of car seat only when your child has completely reached the rear-facing height or weight limit (minimum 105 cm or 4 years old).
The Joie i-Irvana is lightweight and practical for those who need to change vehicles frequently.
Practical Advice Before Choosing Your Car Seat
1. Handling scores don't save lives, physics does: Many car seats with fantastic safety scores lose points because they are heavy, difficult to clean, or complex to install. If you need a car seat that stays fixed in your family car, always prioritize the crash score and the possibility of extended rear-facing.
2. The danger of incorrect installations: The May 2026 test proved that the Kinderkraft infant carrier works very well without the base but fails terribly with it. This reminds us that compatibility and correct installation are everything. An excellent car seat, if poorly installed, protects just as much as none at all.
3. Always try it in your car: The angle of your car seats dictates whether your child's head will fall forward when they fall asleep, regardless of the test's ergonomics score. Visit our physical store to test real compatibility in your vehicle.
Do you have questions about these results or want to know the ideal model for your car? Talk to us.
