Graco 4Ever DLX Grad 5-in-1 Car Seat Review

I was sent a Graco 4Ever DLX Grad 5-in-1 Car Seat for this review. As always, all opinions are my own.

When I heard that Graco released a new 5-in-1 car seat, it immediately sparked my interest. The fact that I could purchase ONE car seat to use for my child from birth to 12 years old absolutely fascinates me. Once you find a seat that you love, know how to install it, and that fits well in your vehicle; it’s nerve-racking when it’s time to upgrade. With Graco’s 4Ever DLX Grad 5-in-1 Car Seat, you no longer have to worry about finding a new car seat for your growing child. This one is the last seat you’ll need to buy as it grows with your kiddo!

4Ever DLX Grad 5-in-1 Car Seat Review

The biggest problem I see when it comes to choosing a car seat is the size. If I am being honest, I thought this car seat was going to be bulky. I mean how else could a car seat accommodate a child from birth to 12 years of age? To my surprise, it features a slim design and actually fits flawlessly in my vehicle.

My favorite feature of this car seat, besides being a 5-in-1, is the no-rethread simply safe adjust harness. With just a push of a button, I can adjust the height of the 10-position headrest and harness in one motion. That means I don’t have to remove the car seat from the vehicle, re-thread the harness to adjust to my growing child, and then properly re-install the car seat once again.

The Graco 4Ever DLX Grad 5-in-1 Car Seat was easy to install. The process took me about 3 minutes to install the car seat with the seat belt buckle. Had I used the latch system, it would have taken me less than a minute.

The design of the 5-in-1 car seat is beautiful. The contrast of the grey and black neutral colors is sure to fit any parent’s style. The carseat looks and feels sturdy giving this mama that extra peace of mind. Cup holders on a child’s car seat are a must and this one has two! My daughter utilizes her cup holders every car ride. Whether it’s to hold her water bottle, a snack cup, or toys, the items she travels with are always within reach.

Description

The Graco 4Ever DLX Grad 5-in-1 Car Seat is the first car seat to offer 5 modes, including a removable seat belt trainer to help keep children riding safely for longer. It is designed to fit kids ranging from infant to 12 years old, making this 5-in-1 car seat comfortable for the child and convenient for parents as it transitions from a rear-facing harness to a forward-facing harness, to a highback belt-positioning booster, to a backless booster, and finally to a seat belt trainer. Plus, the seat belt trainer is removable, so this seat can be used with 2 kids at once!

The No-Rethread Simply Safe Adjust Harness System allows me to adjust the height of the headrest and harness in one motion for just the right fit. Featuring a slim design that saves space in the back seat, while giving the child plenty of room to grow. (It has a 10% slimmer design at the cupholders than 4Ever DLX to save precious back seat space!)

Graco’s easy installation SnugLock technology works in the rear- and forward-facing modes to get your seat installed in less than one minute (based on the average time to buckle or latch, remove slack, and lock for a secure install) with the vehicle seat belt or LATCH system. The 6-position recline smoothly adjusts to help with installation and to keep your child comfy.

The Rapid Remove cover is machine-washable for easy cleanup and features fuss-free harness storage to hold the harness out of the way while your child gets in and out. The car seat is Graco ProtectPlus Engineered to help protect in frontal, side, rear, and rollover crashes.

Features At A Glance

• Graco ProtectPlus Engineered: a combination of the most rigorous crash tests that help to protect your child in frontal, side, rear, & rollover crashes.
• No-Rethread Simply Safe Adjust Harness System allows the headrest and harness to adjust together in one swift motion.
• Choose the perfect headrest height from 10 positions to get the safest fit for your child as they grow.
• The 6-position recline helps with installation and keeping your child comfy.
• Graco’s exclusive InRight LATCH provides an easy, one-second attachment with an audible click to help ensure secure installation in your vehicle.
• The Rapid Remove machine-washable cover removes in 60 seconds, without uninstalling the seat
• Steel-reinforced frame provides strength and durability.
• 2 adjustable, space-saving cup holders keep your child’s drinks and snacks close at hand during travel.
• Removable, plush head and body inserts help to keep your infant feeling cradled and comfortable.
• Fuss-free harness storage pockets conveniently hold the harness out of the way for easy in and out.
• EPS, energy-absorbing foam for effective impact management.
• This car seat meets or exceeds the child restraint criteria for a frontal crash test under the US FMVSS 213.
• Side-impact tested for occupant retention with the built-in 5-point harness system.
• Rear-impact tested based on the European Rear-Impact Crash Pulse.

Recommended Use

Rear-Facing Harness: 4-40 lb, head must be at least 1″ below headrest adjustment handle; Forward-Facing Harness: 22-65 lb, up to 49″; Highback Booster: 40-100 lb, 43-57″, at least 4 years old; Backless Booster: 40-120 lb, 43-57″, at least 4 years old; Seat Belt Trainer: 50-120 lb, 43-60″, at least 5 years old
STOP using this child restraint and throw it away 10 years after the date of manufacture.

Children are safer riding rear-facing and should ride rear-facing as long as possible; until they reach the maximum rear-facing height or weight rating for their car seat. Then children should ride forward-facing, using the built-in harness system for as long as possible until they reach the maximum forward-facing weight or height for their car seat. At that point, children should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat. A booster is no longer needed once the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they reach 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between ages 8-12. Be sure to check your local and state laws, as well as AAP and NHTSA recommendations, for car seat usage.*

*Graco Supports the American Academy of Pediatrics and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Car Seat Guidelines. Visit our safety page for information on car seat usage recommendations.

Specifications

• Product Width:18.0 inches
• Product Height:26.2 inches
• Product Depth:19.8 inches
• Product Weight:24.1 pounds

Care & Maintenance

• CLEANING SEAT PAD: Machine wash pad and canopy in cold water with gentle soap on a delicate cycle and drip dry. Do not use bleach.
• CLEANING BUCKLE: Place in a cup of warm water and gently agitate the buckle. Press the red button several times while in the water. Do not submerge the buckle strap. Do not use soap, detergents, or lubricants.
• CLEANING HARNESS: Surface wash only with mild soap and a damp cloth or wipes. Do not immerse harness straps or latch straps in water. For full instructions see here
• CLEANING HARDGOODS: Metal and plastic parts may be cleaned with mild soap and cool water For full cleaning instructions, please refer to your user manual or contact Customer Service at www.gracobaby.com or 1-800-345-4109

Overall Thoughts

The longevity of this Graco 5-in-1 car seat still fascinates me. Its slim-fit design is a perfect fit for my 2500 GMC Sierra. The colors are neutral to use for my daughter or my son. It looks and feels sturdy, giving me that extra peace of mind that my children are safe during travel. Graco really hit a home run with this car seat so if you’re in the market for a new car seat, definitely check this one out.

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If you’re not sure about this Graco car seat, check out my other review on the Graco Size4Me 65 Rapid Remove Convertible Car Seat.

You will also find additional car seat reviews on the Thrifty Nifty Mommy Blog here.