Pallas G3

The Pallas G3 is the latest generation of Cybex's impact-shield car seat, covering 76-150cm (roughly 15 months to 12 years) forward-facing only. Instead of a conventional 5-point harness, the child sits behind a padded shield that clicks into place across the lap - Cybex's own testing and independent reviews credit this design with reducing frontal neck-injury risk, and it also makes getting a wriggly toddler in and out noticeably quicker than buckling a harness.

Against the Britax Advansafix Pro, its closest rival in this list on price and age range, the Pallas G3 trades the familiarity of a harness for the shield's quicker in-and-out and its side-impact headrest, at a very similar RRP. It replaced the earlier Pallas G i-Size and Pallas G2, both since discontinued, so this is the version currently sold and supported in the UK. Like the Britax, it does not offer extended rear-facing - both are strictly forward-facing seats for the stage after infancy.

It's best for parents who find shield-style seats easier to use day-to-day than a harness, particularly for a toddler who resists being clipped in. The one real limitation is that the shield isn't compatible with every car interior or every child's comfort preference - some toddlers find the shield restrictive against the stomach, and unlike a harness it can't be adjusted for a snugger fit as the child's proportions change season to season.