Britax Parkway SG-L Review

Britax Parkway SG-L EPS foam

EPS foam– The Britax Parkway has EPS foam in the headrest and the torso wings; part of the True Side Impact protection designed to absorb energy in a crash.  There is also comfort foam on the seat portion to make the ride more comfortable for the child.

Britax Parkway SG-L SafeCell technology

SafeCell technology – The base features SafeCell technology, developed by Britax, which also helps to absorb energy in a crash. You can learn more about SafeCell technology on the Britax website.

Britax Parkway SG-L SecureGuard clip

SecureGuard – This optional, but recommended clip attaches to the seat pan of the booster. It helps to properly position the lap portion of the vehicle belt and helps prevent submarining under the vehicle seat belt in the event of a crash.

Submarining happens when a passenger slides under the lap portion of the vehicle belt during a crash. While submarining is not a common occurrence, some families prefer this extra feature.

Britax Parkway SG-L lower anchor connectors

Premium lower anchor connectors – These keep the booster more stable in the vehicle and secures the booster  when unoccupied, preventing it from becoming a projectile in a crash.

Britax Parkway SG-L and its features

The Britax Parkway is straightforward to set up; simply place the booster on the vehicle seat then adjust the headrest using the one hand adjuster at the top of the seat.  Then, once you’ve confirmed that the shoulder belt lies across the middle of the child’s shoulder, buckle the seat belt over the child. The headrest should be adjusted so that the shoulder belt guide falls just above the child’s shoulder. When the shoulder belt guide is no longer above the child’s shoulder, the seat can then be used in backless mode.

The Parkway has a feature unique to booster seats, the SecureGuard. The SecureGuard is a clip that goes between the child’s legs and attaches to the lap portion of the seat belt. To use the SecureGuard, slide the lap portion of the seat belt into the clip before buckling the seat belt, then tighten the seat belt as usual. Use of the SecureGuard is optional, but recommended by Britax. The SecureGuard’s length can be adjusted by removing it from the seat and adjusting the strap.
CSFTL recommends use of a high back booster as long as possible, as the structure of a high back helps children stay in position, especially when asleep, and offers the advantage of energy absorbing foam in the head and torso areas.

Fit to Child

High Back Mode

We tested this seat with both a 5 and 7 year old model.  Both models liked the way the seat felt in high back mode — the sides felt supportive and they were able to buckle themselves without issue (using the SG clip or not), though the cupholders were a bit difficult to open and close at first.

Backless Mode

Britax Parkway SG-L in backless mode

With an adjustable backrest that allows for up to a 21.5″ torso height, the Parkway is one of the tallest high back boosters on the market. This allows for kids to use the high back several years longer than many other seats. Once the backrest is outgrown, the Parkway can be converted to a backless booster for children who weigh up to 120 pounds and are 63″ tall. Since the seating width between the armrests is a narrow 10″, it may not be comfortable for older children with wider hips.

Britax Parkway SG-L has a 6 year expiration

Expiration: The expiration date for the Parkway SG/SGL is six years from manufacture date. This is on page three of the manual.

Date of manufacture/Manufacturer information: The date of manufacture sticker is under the manual in its storage spot on the bottom of the seat.

Britax Parkway SG-L is not FAA approved

FAA Approval:  Like all belt positioning boosters, the Britax Parkway SG-L is not FAA approved because it requires a lap-shoulder belt. This is noted on a label on the side of the headrest. Even though it cannot be used on the plane, it’s still okay to bring it on as a carry-on item. The full seat is a little heavy, but the backless portion is fairly lightweight, so it’s easy to carry on the plane when flying with kids who still need a booster at your destination.

Britax Parkway SG-L manual is stored on the bottom of the booster

Manual Storage: A handy storage pocket for the manual is right on the bottom of the base.

Pros:

• SG clip helps position lap belt low on the hips
• Does not require vehicle headrest
• SGL model has lower anchors
• Converts to backless
• Very tall.

Cons:

• SG version does not have lower anchors
• 40 lb minimum does not allow small but appropriately mature 6-7 year olds to use the seat

Overall Thoughts

The Parkway SG-L has been upgraded over its previous version. While there’s nothing wrong with something more basic, I do appreciate some of the bells and whistles that come with the Parkway. The headrest is easy to adjust, even the kids could do it. The belt guides are very open and allow the vehicle belt to move smoothly. Having the lower anchor connectors is something I really like because although they’re not necessary, they can make the drop off lane at school just a little easier. With the Britax Parkway SG-L, I don’t have to remember to buckle the booster back in after my kids get out of the car. We’ve actually used the Parkway SG-L in a seating position that does not have lower anchors, and it’s okay there, too, but we have to remember to buckle it when our children aren’t using it.  I find the push-button lower anchor connects are really easy to attach to lower anchors in different vehicles.  I also really like the fabric that covers the back of the Parkway when using the seat in backless mode. It covers the connector part for the high back portion of the seat nicely.

Our opinions, as always, are all our own.

Originally written by Laurel, edits maintained by CSFTL.