Cosco Scenera Convertible Car Seat Reviews

Brand:
Cosco
Type:
59
Score:
81/100
Other Car Seats:
  • Average: 89
  • High: 100
Ease of installation
Rated 4 out of 5
Child's comfort
Rated 3 out of 5
Support and safety
Rated 4 out of 5
Ease of use
Rated 5 out of 5
Design
Rated 4 out of 5
Durability
Rated 4 out of 5
Based on: 176 reviews
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Reviews (176)

What people are saying about Cosco Scenera Convertible Car Seat

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1 of 12
  • 404 reviews
  • 686,804 reads
  • Last updated: 04/08/2008

Inexpensive 5 Point Harness Car Seat Perfect for Toddler Travel

Overall
Rated 4 out of 5

Our family travels quite frequently, by air, as our family lives out of state and too far to drive.  I have a regular car seat that I use in our mini van on a daily basis, but needed a car seat for my older toddler that I could use in rental cars while traveling.  It needed to be easy to install, inexpensive, cute (of course she is a girl), and have a carrying case.  It needed to be light weight to carry it from parking to check-in and then back out to the rental car.  During my shopping I found the Cosco Scenera Car Seat available at Wal-Mart for $43.74. Since it is $10.00 a day to rent a car seat from the rental car company, it seemed like a good and inexpensive a...

  • 49 reviews
  • 14,365 reads
  • Last updated: 02/09/2012

Very affordable, very basic

Overall
Rated 3 out of 5

We needed a carseat for my second child, and her big brother was still using the convertible car seat we had. I shopped around a little for the best value and good reviews. We ended up purchasing a Cosco Scenera in a really cute pink floral print. I know uni-sex coloring is more practical, but this one was on sale, and I loved the "girly" print for my baby girl! It was pretty easy to adjust to the right fit, and quick and simple to install in the car. We've been using it for several months now. I'm happy with it, and won't replace it since it serves it's purpose. I will say that if you want a cushy, soft seat for your baby, this probably isn't the best choice. I think nearly every other...

  • 62 reviews
  • 47,256 reads
  • Last updated: 11/10/2011

A lot of car seat for not a lot of money

Overall
Rated 4 out of 5

When you have seven kids, you look for something that is going to last, if not through all 7 (no, we don't do that, car seats do age!) then at least through the one child that is going to use it!  This is a durable car seat that can be used from birth (5 lbs) up to 35 lbs rear facing, to 22-40 lbs forward facing when the child is at least 22 lbs AND a year old.  I will be moving my youngest to a scenera convertible car seat very soon (he has nearly outgrown his infant seat) and my 2nd youngest to a scenera (he has an older sibling's Alpha Omega that will hit the destroy date soon).  We have bought one of these and will soon buy these two more.  Definitely worth the price.  Definitely a good buy and protecting my children.  Fits most seat types well.  Comfortable, according to my small 3 year old.  He also likes the cup holder.

Reviewer received a sample of this product.

  • 17 reviews
  • 5,998 reads
  • Last updated: 02/08/2012

The Cosco Scenera is a great bargain!

Overall
Rated 5 out of 5

We purchased the Cosco Scenera as a second carseat for my husband's car. We didn't have much money to purchase a fancy carseat, so we just went with a cheap one we found on sale at KMart.

This carseat has actually ended up being just as good as the carseat we got for our primary car (a Graco ComfortSport). It does not have all the bells and whistles, and there is much less padding, but it is very easy to use and the straps are easy to use and don't get easily tangled.

I like that it has a cup holder, since my son makes a lot of use of that. The only problem is that we have had it for awhile (about 2 years) and the cup holder falls out a lot and the angle of it allows most cups to fall out....

  • 3 reviews
  • 2,450 reads
  • Last updated: 11/11/2011

Perfect for a budget!

Overall
Rated 4 out of 5

This carseat has been a lifesaver for us. We really, really wanted to purchase the high-end carseats with the best brand name, but that was just not possible for us. Instead, we did our research and went with the inexpensive, but effective, Cosco Scenera for our son and, later our daughter. The easy-to-clean covers are only a little complicated to put back together, but we manage just fine. Different colors allow our kids to know which carseat belongs to them, so there is no confusion. Our one complaint is that, if we are not careful, the strap will hang down just far enough under the carseat that when we go to buckle them in the next time, it will get caught on a "sharper" edge of the plastic and it has shredded a part of the strap. Luckily, that was just before we bought our son his convertible booster seat; unfortunately, I cannot relay our experience with replacing it.

  • 7 reviews
  • 830 reads
  • Last updated: 12/04/2011

Makes my life so much easier

Overall
Rated 5 out of 5

My twins just recently outgrew their infant carseats and I was so happy- they were getting way to heavy to carry around in them anymore.  I went online looking for the safest and most affordable options available to me (when you are buying two of everything price really starts to matter). I originally wanted a carseat that would hold them up to 100 pounds but changed my mind after realizing the ones I liked the most and had the highest safety ratings were only holding up to 40 or 60 pounds. I found this particular car seat on amazon for $52.00 and was sold after reading reviews and safety information. I have a 4 door sedan and some people were complaning that certain car seats wouldn't fit in their cars- I can honestly say this car seat would ore than likely fit in a Honda Civic no problem- it is way less bulky than my infant carseats and my 6'3'' husband is able to slide his seat back again since having these new seats. They have been a life saver.

  • 10 reviews
  • 1,312 reads
  • Last updated: 10/19/2011

Don't trust my daughter in this car seat

Overall
Rated 2 out of 5

We bought this car seat for my inlaws Jeep for the few times they take her places. I wish I had a good review for it, but I think this car seat and their Jeep are just a bad combination. They don't have the latch system in their vehicle, or child safety lock on the seat belt so it's up to the metal clip to keep the car seat in place. Unfortunately, the car seat moves A LOT when they turn a corner or go around a curve. We refuse to let them use it and instead go through the hassel of installing our Britax in their vehicle any time they take her someplace because it has built in clips that fasten the seatbelt much tighter than the metal clip. I'm not sure how the Cosco holds up in a vehicle equipped for children, but it is a horrible choice for one that doesn't have much to work with. As far as cost, it's very affordable but I would rather spend the money on something that can be used in ANY vehicle.

  • 55 reviews
  • 21,469 reads
  • Last updated: 02/07/2012

Good value, I feel safe with my child riding in this carseat

Overall
Rated 4 out of 5

I think that the most important thing when you're picking out a carseat is that you feel safe with your child riding in it.  In that respect, this carseat is everything that you could really need in a carseat.  The price is also incredible (I believe last time I looked at Walmart, it was under $40).

I actually got mine from my brother after his daughter outgrew it (she is incredibly tall & grew out of this carseat more quickly than most kids probably would.  It was only used for a few months before they bought a larger convertible seat).  She is in (or above) the 100th percentile for height, however, so your average kid will probably do just fine with this seat.  Ev...

  • 2 reviews
  • 315 reads
  • Last updated: 08/09/2011

Easy to install and to buckle child in.

Overall
Rated 4 out of 5

I have owned two cosco scenero's now. One for my son who is now 2 and a half and one for my daughter who is one. We just put my daughter into one. The reason we first looked at the cosco scenero is because of the price. I also looked at reviews online because safety is a very big concern for me. After reviewing it and the price I got it. I have never had a problem with it. They are very easy to install in the car and put both of my children in. They are comfortable too. The only thing I wish they had were arm rests for the kids.

I also searched for a pink carseat for my daughter after 2 boys and the cosco scenera and many options for her which I loved. A year ago for the boys selection though they only really had one pattern.

  • 6 reviews
  • 1,969 reads
  • Last updated: 03/14/2011

Great quality for the price

Overall
Rated 3 out of 5

We use the Cosco Scenera in my husbands car, it is a great back up car seat. Most of the time, my son is in his bulky, expensive car seat, but we really needed one in our other car, for those times my husband picked him up or dropped him off at daycare. We didn't want to have to remember to leave the car seat, plus it is a hassle. So we looked around for an inexpensive, but still safe, seat. The Cosco Scenera has worked out great in that capacity. It doesn't take up too much space, but is still securely harnessed into the car. The reason I don't recommend it for use as a primary car seat is that has very thin padding and doesn't seem super comfortable, like the more expensive car seats. But, if you are not using it for long trips or every day, it is worth buying.

  • 34 reviews
  • 11,074 reads
  • Last updated: 01/20/2011

I now own 3! Love them!

Overall
Rated 5 out of 5

When I had my first child, I had heard everyone talk about the expensive car seats, and I really did not want to spend 200+ on a car seat!  However, safety was also a factor, so I wanted to research and find a car seat at a good value that would keep my child safe. 

I looked and searched, read reviews, and even consumer reports and came upon this Cosco Scenera.  It had amazing reviews for a great price, so I got it.  We have now had it for almost 3 years and my child has never complained of discomfort.  The straps sometimes twist, but to me that isn't a big deal to fix.  I had twins and ended up buying one for each of them, so now we have three of these.  The kids love the little cup holders and all sleep great in these.  

I never used these for infants, I just used them as front facing seats, but that is a plus (I prefer infant carriers until they are one)

Overall, this has been a great value for our family, and I would highly recommend this car seat as well as buy another!

  • 14 reviews
  • 8,181 reads
  • Last updated: 12/27/2010

Cosco Scenera is great for travel!

Overall
Rated 4 out of 5

When my daughter was small enough for an infant carrier, traveling by airplane was easy. We'd just roll her up to the airplane, gate check the stroller, and bring the infant carrier on the airplane. Once she outgrew the infant carrier, things got a bit more complicated. Fortunately, I found out about the Cosco Scenera. It's a great, safe car seat that is very light. It doesn't have many frills and isn't the most comfortable seat, so I wouldn't recommend it for a regular car seat (unless its the only one that you can afford). However, it is perfect for travel. It is light, so it is much easier to carry around the airport than a more bulky convertible seat. It is also relatively easy to install in an airplane. And once you get to your destination, you have a good, safe seat that you can use in the car. Also, the seat it relatively cheap compared to other convertibles out there. Overall, I would recommend this car seat as a second seat or a travel seat.

  • 34 reviews
  • 8,345 reads
  • Last updated: 12/04/2011

The Cosco Scenera is the best option for a tight budget!

Overall
Rated 3 out of 5

I recently purchased the Cosco Scenera for my daughter for my husband's car as a spare car seat. She has a Britax Marathon in our minivan and it's too much of a hassle to uninstall it and reinstall it in his car any time we feel like taking his vehicle anywhere with us. It was on sale at Kmart for $35.

I realize it's not the fanciest option and most people may be turned off by the price, thinking how can something this cheap be safe. Our daughter is 18 months old and a little over 20 lbs. so forward facing her in a moving vehicle is just not an option for us. She will be rear faced to the max of her car seat, and even then we might go and purchase something that she can rearface in longer. ...

  • 33 reviews
  • 7,495 reads
  • Last updated: 11/17/2010

Safety first... and I'm glad it comes at an affordable price!

Overall
Rated 5 out of 5

My husband jokes that when I drive, I need to double the amount of time it takes a normal person to get from point A to point B. From the day I was christened a mother, the safety of my kiddos is paramount. From buying a new vehicle to buying a car seat, my number one concern: safety. Now the vehicle was a huge expense to get what I felt was acceptable. Thankfully, though, after much research, I was relieved to see that the Cosco brand of car seat provided the same key elements of safety as the pricier brands but at a better price. So, here's what I love:

  • Safety: A five-point harness with adjustable height and crouch straps make for a customized safety system.

  • Convertible: I used ...

    • 11 reviews
    • 5,122 reads
    • Last updated: 01/27/2011

    Good for an extra seat but not much more

    Overall
    Rated 2 out of 5

    My husband and I are on a budget and needed to buy two convertible carseats to install in both of our vehicles.  We decided to buy two Cosco Sceneras as they are highly rated for safety but very affordable at about $50 apiece.  I wish that we had bought one more expensive car seat instead and just dealt with the hassle of moving it from car to car.  I have found that the Cosco Scenera is difficult to install.  I have tried to do it myself and have always needed help.  I have also found that it is very difficult to get the straps tight.  Safety ratings are great, but they don't mean much if you are not able to use the seat properly.  I have spoken to another...

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