Kiddy Cruiser 3 Review

Kiddy Cruiser 3

We’ve been big fans of the now-retired Kiddy CruiserFix Pro for quite some time so we were eager to see how the revamped Cruiser 3 stacks up to its predecessor.

And by “fans,” I mean that I’m quite possibly the biggest fan of that seat ever.  My very picky kiddo has ridden in that seat every day since she started booster training and had ZERO issues with getting herself buckled in or with being comfortable while she rides.   Even though I’d spent an irrationally long time with the Cruiser 3 during our visit to the ABC Kids Expo last fall, I honestly couldn’t wrap my head around how this booster that’s worked so well for us could possibly be improved.

Well.  It has been.  Read on and I’ll tell you how!

Kiddy Cruiser 3 measurements

• Lowest shoulder belt guide position: 14 inches
• Highest shoulder belt guide position: 23 inches
• Width at widest point: 24.5 inches with headrest fully extended
• Narrowest internal width: 7.5 inches at the back of the seat pan  (the seat pan is contoured — the side thigh supports offer extra room)
• Widest internal width: 11 inches  (the seat pan is contoured — the side thigh supports offer an extra 3 inches of room)
• Seat pan: 17.5 inches with the thigh support fully extended
• Weight: 17 pounds

Kiddy Cruiser 3 shoulder belt guide

The Cruiser 3 includes an improved shoulder belt guide that magically adds an additional 2.5 inches of growing room over its predecessor.  I’d call the increased 2.5 inches of height an engineering marvel — by moving the belt guide further up on the seat’s shell and making it align horizontally, the same basic shell now offers a significant amount of additional growing room!

And now for the design– the previous version of the belt guide was amazing.  The CruiserFix Pro’s belt guide kept the belt in place within the guide and in position on the child’s shoulder.  The Cruiser 3’s belt guide takes this concept a step further.

That red piece at the right moves up and down — thread the vehicle seat belt through there once.  And it will remain in place.

Seriously.  It doesn’t slip out, you won’t have to get out of the car and help your kiddo thread it back in.  It just works.  All the time. I took an embarrassingly long time to write this review, during that time, the shoulder belt never once came out of that shoulder belt guide.

Kiddy Cruiser 3 leg support

The Cruiser 3’s thigh support extends without creating a gap under the child’s legs.  To adjust, simply grab the end of the panel and pull out. Fully extended, this thigh support creates a whopping 17 plus inches of thigh support!

Kiddy Cruiser 3 leg panel extended

Once extended, the thigh support adds an extra 2 inches of thigh support for our long-legged friends.  My model has yet to need this feature but I’m pleased as punch that this version of the seat does not have a gap under the child’s legs when the panel is extended.

Kiddy Cruiser 3 lower anchors

The Cruiser 3 has rigid lower anchor connectors to secure the seat to the vehicle. The main purpose of lower anchors on a booster is to keep it in place if it’s empty during a crash. For my main booster model, lower anchors also prevent the booster from moving around while she’s getting settled.

Kiddy Cruiser 3 lower anchors

To extend the lower anchors, squeeze the grey handle underneath the front of the seat.  The anchors will pop out of the back of the seat, rotate them away from the seat, then click them into the vehicle’s lower anchors.  Once they’re attached, push the Cruiser 3 back into the vehicle seat and the anchors will lock into place.

Kiddy Cruiser 3 eye level indicator

A challenge we see over and over when it comes to booster seat use is where the headrest should be in relation to the child’s head.  For the Cruiser 3, the correct position is when the child’s ears are at the narrowest area of the headrest.  The Eye Level label on the front of the headrest makes this so clear.

This small label is a big change.  I found that it made adjusting the headrest to the proper spot quite easy.  I then found myself checking to be sure that her head was in the right place all the time.

When our model had a growth spurt, she noticed that the Eye Level line was no longer at the right height. She insisted that I pull over and adjust it RIGHT THEN.

Kiddy Cruiser 3: we love our kids

Most of the time, we don’t get to choose the cover color for review seats so my main model was thrilled that she had the chance to select the Ocean Petrol fabric.  Once the seat arrived, and every ride since, I have been wowed by the vivid lovely color of the smooth, plush cover. Even my family members who have no interest in car seats have commented on the amazing color.

The cover has a little rubber tag with the Kiddy tagline: We love our kids. My model tells me that this little tag is her favorite part of the seat.

Kiddy Cruiser 3: 7 years old

My 7 year old model is 50 inches tall and weighs 61 pounds.  She finds the Cruiser 3 quite comfortable and she’s got plenty of room to grow.  The ample side wings are a great way to remind her to sit in the proper position.

Her only complaint is that the seat doesn’t have cupholders.

Kiddy Cruiser 3 labels

FAA Approval

Because the Cruiser 3 is a booster seat that requires a lap and shoulder belt, it’s not approved for use on aircraft. We’d suggest that families who would like to use the Cruiser 3 on trips that involve an airplane trip pack the seat in a cardboard box, then check that box through as luggage.

Date of Manufacture
The Cruiser 3 has an 8 year expiration. The date of manufacture is found on a label underneath the seat’s bottom.  The label also includes information on replacement after a crash.

Kiddy Cruiser 3 manual storage

Manual Storage
The manual is brief but clearly written. It stores in a handy compartment on the back of the seat.