Britax Poplar S Convertible Car Seat Review: Slim And Easy To Use

I take selecting a car seat for my kids very seriously; it’s what keeps them safe on our daily adventures and on long road trips. In my five years as a product tester, there have been multiple car seats that I have stopped using after only a few days of testing. The Britax Poplar S Convertible Car Seat was not one of those. It’s been keeping my kids safe, happy and comfortable for over two months now.

Like other convertible car seats, the Britax Poplar S Convertible Car Seat converts from rear facing to forward facing, meaning you don’t need to buy another car seat when your child is ready to ride facing forward. It’s easy to use, from installation to daily life; it installs quickly with ClickTight technology, and it takes me only seconds to adjust the seat if necessary and to buckle my kids in. It also has machine-washable fabric and two cup holders, so my kids can drink, eat snacks and color on our trips, and I don’t have to worry too much about them spilling something on the seat.

Britax Poplar S Convertible Car Seat Features

Britax has been my go-to car seat brand since my first child was born, so I have a lot of experience with these seats. This one lives up to the others in terms of quality, and it has some nice additional features that I haven’t seen in other Britax seats I’ve used.

Designed With Safety In Mind

Of course, with any car seat, safety is of utmost importance. The Britax Poplar S Convertible Car Seat has a carbon steel frame to help give it strength, and it also features SafeCell technology. According to the manufacturer, this material helps manage the energy in the event of a crash to keep forces away from your child.

As a proponent of car seat safety, I always advocate for leaving kids in a rear-facing position for as long as possible. With the Britax Poplar S Convertible Car Seat, kids up to 50 pounds and 49 inches can ride rear-facing, which gives you a longer window than most other seats. For many kids, this means they can sit rear-facing until they’re about 5 or 6 years old. In rear-facing mode, this car seat also has a ReboundReduce stability bar, which helps keep the seat stable in the event of a crash. When the kids are ready, you can turn the seat around to face forward and continue using it until your child is 65 pounds or 49 inches, but it doesn’t convert to a booster.

I found the removable infant insert along with two additional inserts to be really substantial, especially when compared to the inserts I’ve seen in some other seats that are very small, flimsy and seemingly inconsequential. The Poplar S inserts really help keep tiny babies snug and comfortable.

Slim Profile For Smaller Vehicles

When I had twins and suddenly went from one to three kids, fitting three car seats across in our vehicle became a challenge. At 17 inches wide, the slim design of the Poplar S, however, makes it easy to fit more seats in the car. Though Britax can’t guarantee a three-across installation will work in all cars, this is definitely an option to try if you want to fit three across.

Though the seat has a slim exterior, it doesn’t compromise on comfort and kids don’t seem cramped when sitting inside. At 47 inches tall and 50 pounds, one of my kids is near the upper limits of this seat, but she doesn’t look or feel cramped. Because I test products, I have a few different car seats in our vehicle for my kids to choose from, and she regularly chooses the Poplar S over any other seat.

Features That Make Life Easier For Parents

Safety and comfort aside, there are other features that can make or break a car seat, especially when it comes to making life easier for parents. The Poplar S has a no-rethread harness and headrest, making it easy to adjust the seat as your child grows or if you use the seat for multiple children. It takes me only a couple seconds to adjust it if necessary before my child gets in the seat.

While there are many user-friendly features overall, I do have one gripe: the lever to loosen the straps. The latch is hidden, and it often takes me a bit of time to find where it’s at. While this can be annoying, it’s definitely not a deal-breaker.

My kids and I also really like the removable dishwasher-safe double cup holders. We use them for snacks, drinks, crayons and toys. Having somewhere for them to put their things, especially on a longer trip, makes the car ride smoother for everyone.

The seat is covered in fabric that is machine-washable and naturally flame-retardant. This comes in clutch when my kids inevitably spill food, and it’s ideal for smaller babies who may have blowouts or spit up on their car seat.

Installation is simple, too. Like other Britax seats, the Poplar S uses ClickTight technology for installation. It’s a self-tensioning system that helps ensure the seat is installed safely and securely.

My Expertise

I’m a parenting writer and product reviewer, and I’ve been testing kids and baby gear for over five years. I’ve researched and tested numerous different car seats, from infant seats to convertible and rotating seats. Recently, I tested and reviewed the best strollers and the best kids luggage for Forbes Vetted, and also written a guide on how to clean your car seat. After using many Britax car seats for years, I tested this specific one for over two months.

How I Tested The Britax Poplar S Convertible Car Seat

I used the Britax Poplar S Convertible Car Seat in my vehicle for over two months with three different children. I installed it both rear-racing and forward-facing, and I used it in different seats in our vehicle. Two of the children who tested it were rear-racing and one was forward-facing. We took the seat on well over 100 car trips, from longer road trips to short drives to school. The seat has withstood wear and tear from muddy soccer cleats, spilled crackers and tantruming toddlers.

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