In short: the latest ADAC car seat test (published 26 May 2026) assessed 26 child car seats. Six were rated "good", with the Foppapedretti Disk Infant i-Size infant carrier on its base scoring best (1.9). The Cybex Sirona Ti and Cybex Pallas G3 both scored 2.5, and one seat was rated "poor". A lower score means a better result.
Author: Eva Birsa, mum and co-founder of Evitas · Updated: 27 September 2026
Who tests child car seats?
The ADAC car seat test is run by the German automobile club ADAC together with Stiftung Warentest, twice a year (spring and autumn). The same results are published by partner clubs across Europe, including ÖAMTC (Austria), TCS (Switzerland), HAK (Croatia) and AMZS (Slovenia) – which is why you will find the same score on several websites in different languages.
- Latest test: ADAC May 2026 (26 seats: 6 "good", 16 "satisfactory", 3 "adequate", 1 "poor"; none rated "very good").
- Previous test: ADAC October 2025 (17 seats: 5 "good", 3 "poor").
- Next test: as of today (27 September 2026) the autumn 2026 results have not been published. Autumn results usually appear in October (2025: 21 October). We will update this article once they are out.
ADAC car seat test results May 2026
The table lists models whose overall score we verified on official ADAC pages (model page or press release). Models we could not verify have been left out. A score applies to the exact combination tested (e.g. infant carrier with or without base).
| Model | Child height / type | ADAC score (May 2026) | Test highlight | Available at Evitas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foppapedretti Disk Infant i-Size + Tech i-Size (base) | 40–87 cm, infant carrier | 1.9 good | best score in the test | – |
| Foppapedretti Disk Infant i-Size (no base) | 40–87 cm, infant carrier | 2.2 good | same carrier, installed with the seat belt | – |
| Silver Cross Glide Plus 360 | infant carrier (up to approx. 18 months) | 2.4 good | – | – |
| Cybex Sirona Ti | 40–105 cm, 360° rear-facing seat | 2.5 good | very low injury risk in side impact; heavy seat (13.5 kg) | – |
| Cybex Pallas G3 | 76–150 cm, impact shield seat | 2.5 good | low risk in side impact, exemplary seating position; not every child accepts the shield | Cybex Pallas G |
| Kinderkraft Junior Fix 2 i-Size | 100–150 cm, high-back booster | 2.5 good | – | – |
| Bugaboo Otter by Nuna | 40–87 cm, infant carrier | 2.6 satisfactory | low risk in frontal impact; slightly higher risk of incorrect installation | – |
| Bugaboo Otter + 360 Base by Nuna | 40–87 cm, carrier with base | 2.7 satisfactory | easy installation with the base | – |
| Nuna Arra Flex + Base Next | 40–87 cm, carrier with base | 2.7 satisfactory | easy to use (2.1), very low levels of harmful substances | Nuna Arra Flex |
| Maxi-Cosi Emerald 360 Pro | 40–150 cm, rotating | 3.1 satisfactory | very heavy (15.7 kg) | – |
| Britax Römer Dualfix 5Z + Vario Base 5Z | 61–105 cm, rear-facing | 3.2 satisfactory | increased risk in frontal impact | – |
| Joie i-Irvana | 76–150 cm | 3.2 satisfactory | no recline, smaller children sit very upright | – |
| Chicco Fullseat 360 i-Size + Full 360 Base | 61–150 cm, rotating | 3.3 satisfactory | long rear-facing use, but compromises in safety and handling | – |
| Axkid Minikid 4 | rear-facing | 3.8 adequate | – | – |
| Jané Concord Kombikid | – | 3.8 adequate | flame retardant harmful to health found in the cover | – |
| Lionelo Lavender | – | 3.9 adequate | safety only "adequate" | – |
| Kinderkraft Mink Pro 2 + Base Mink FX2 | 40–87 cm, carrier with base | 5.5 poor | carrier detached from the Isofix base in the frontal crash | – |
Source of scores: ADAC (May 2026 test, individual model pages). The Cybex Sirona Ti belongs to the Cybex Platinum line, which we do not offer outside Slovenia. "Available at Evitas" means an active product in our shop; the link goes to the collection as stock changes quickly.
Warning: seats that failed
In April 2026 ADAC had already warned about eight seats whose key attachment points failed in the frontal crash: the Kinderkraft Mink Pro 2 with Mink FX2 base and the rotating seats Buf Boof Tweety Plus, Ding Aiden 360, Kidiz 360, KidsZone i-Size 360, Lettas i-Size 360, Miophy i-Size 360 and Xomax 946i – the latter are built the same way as the previously failed Reecle 360, sold under other names. If you own one, check the manufacturer's or retailer's advice.
ADAC October 2025: the previous round
In the autumn 2025 test (published 21 October 2025) ADAC tested 17 seats. "Good" ratings went to, among others, the Joie i-Level Pro, BeSafe Beyond 360, Britax Römer Kidfix Pro and Axkid Up; "poor" to the Reecle 360, Chipolino Olympus i-Size and Maxi-Cosi Nomad Plus (the latter partly due to excessive PFAS). Verified scores for models in our range:
| Model | Child height | ADAC score (Oct 2025) | Available at Evitas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joie i-Level Pro (belted) | 40–87 cm | 2.3 good | Joie |
| Joie i-Level Pro + i-Base Encore | 40–87 cm | 2.3 good | Joie |
| Nuna Arra Flex (belted) | 40–87 cm | 2.6 satisfactory | Nuna Arra Flex |
| Nuna Arra Flex + BaseCurv | 40–87 cm | 2.7 satisfactory | Nuna Arra Flex |
What ADAC assesses and how the score is weighted
| Area | Weight | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | 50% | frontal impact (40%), side impact (40%), belt routing (10%), stability in the car (10%) |
| Ease of use | 40% | risk of misuse, buckling the child, installation, conversion, manual, cleaning |
| Ergonomics | 10% | space for the child, space in the car, seating position, comfort |
| Harmful substances | – | if rated worse than "good", the overall score is downgraded; PFAS included since 2025 |
Since 2025 ADAC has used a Kia Sportage body for the frontal crash and checks installation in several current cars. The procedure last changed in 2020 and 2025, so scores from different periods are not directly comparable.
How to read an ADAC score
ADAC uses the German school grading system: the lower the number, the better.
| Score | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0.6–1.5 | very good (sehr gut) |
| 1.6–2.5 | good (gut) |
| 2.6–3.5 | satisfactory (befriedigend) |
| 3.6–4.5 | adequate (ausreichend) |
| 4.6–5.5 | poor (mangelhaft) |
- Compare within the same height group. A 40–87 cm infant carrier and a 100–150 cm booster do different jobs.
- Look at the sub-scores. The Sirona Ti, for example, scores 2.1 for safety but 2.9 for ease of use – weight matters if you move the seat often.
- With or without base? The same carrier can score differently: Foppapedretti Disk Infant 1.9 with base and 2.2 without, while the Nuna Arra Flex did better without a base (2.6) than with one (2.7) in autumn 2025.
- The test year matters. 2025/2026 scores are not directly comparable with older ones.
Is an ADAC score the same as i-Size approval?
No. i-Size approval (UN R129) is the legal minimum every car seat sold in the EU must meet. The ADAC test is an independent comparative test that is stricter than the regulation (frontal crash severity based on Euro NCAP criteria) and also rates ease of use, ergonomics and harmful substances. Even seats rated "poor" were approved – so the test is a valuable extra, not a replacement for approval.
Why the score isn't everything
- Fit in your car. The best seat won't help if it can't be installed correctly in your car. Check the vehicle fitting list (Isofix, top tether, support leg, front passenger space).
- Your child's height and age. Choose by height (i-Size). More in our guide How to choose a car seat.
- Rear-facing travel. An extended rear-facing seat lets children travel backwards until about age 4 – read why in Rear-facing car seat until age 4.
- Everyday use. Seat weight, 360° rotation and easy buckling affect whether you use the seat correctly every time.
- Not tested ≠ bad. ADAC tests only a selection of models each year. We found no KikkaBoo scores in the ADAC database – we compared those models using manufacturer data in KikkaBoo 360 car seats comparison.
Common buying mistakes
- Buying on the overall score alone without checking fit with your car and your child's height.
- Comparing scores from different years or different combinations (with/without base).
- Turning forward-facing too early and moving to a booster too soon.
- Buying a second-hand seat with an unknown history (a seat must be replaced after a crash).
- Very cheap rotating seats from unknown brands – this is exactly where ADAC found several "poor" seats in 2025 and 2026.
Car seats from the test available at Evitas
From the May 2026 test we stock the Cybex Pallas G3 (2.5 – one of six rated "good") and the Nuna Arra Flex infant carrier (2.7 with Base Next); from the October 2025 test, the Joie i-Level Pro infant carrier (2.3). For a brand comparison see Cybex vs Nuna, or browse all car seats or by height: 40–87 cm, 40–105 cm, 76–150 cm, 100–150 cm.
FAQ
Which car seat won the ADAC test 2026?
In the May 2026 test the best score went to the Foppapedretti Disk Infant i-Size on the Tech i-Size base (1.9 – good). Among toddler seats the best were the Cybex Sirona Ti (40–105 cm) and Cybex Pallas G3 (76–150 cm) with 2.5, and among seats for older children the Kinderkraft Junior Fix 2 i-Size (2.5).
What does a score of 1.x or 2.x mean?
ADAC scores from 0.6 to 5.5 – lower is better. 0.6–1.5 is "very good", 1.6–2.5 "good", 2.6–3.5 "satisfactory". So 1.9 is "good", close to "very good".
Is the ADAC test the same as i-Size approval?
No. i-Size (R129) is the legal approval; the ADAC test is an independent, stricter comparison that also rates ease of use, ergonomics and harmful substances.
When is the next ADAC test?
ADAC tests twice a year. The autumn 2026 results had not been published at the time of writing (27 September 2026); autumn results usually appear in October.
Are older ADAC results still valid?
According to ADAC, seats rated "very good" or "good" in previous years can still be recommended. As the procedure changed in 2020 and 2025, don't compare scores from different years directly.
Is the ADAC test relevant outside Germany?
Yes. It is an independent European test and the seats tested are sold across the EU. The legal requirement everywhere in the EU is an approved child restraint (UN R129 i-Size or, for existing seats, R44).
Sources
- ADAC – child car seat test 2026 (in German)
- ADAC – press release, 26 May 2026 (in German)
- ADAC – press release, 21 October 2025 (in German)
- ADAC – how the test works (criteria and weighting)
- ÖAMTC – child seat test spring 2026 and grading scale
This content is for information only. Always follow the car seat and vehicle manufacturer's installation instructions.
