Well, despite it feeling like the longest year known to man, another year has come around and brought with it the latest ADAC car seat test results. For the car seat newbies amongst us, ADAC is a vehicle insurance company that tests the safety of car seats to standards that far exceed the standard EU regulations. So, if a car seat is recommended by ADAC, it’s definitely worth your attention.

The ADAC test results are released in German, but don't you worry, we've done the hard work so you don't have to. No need to agonise over the Pidgin English of Google Translate, we've summarised the everything in English right here for you.

ADAC concluded that there is a low risk of misuse with the Axkid One + and that the seat is very easy to install, with simple operating instructions and warnings. This is ideal for parents who worry about making a mistake with the installation, and thus putting their children at risk.

They did find that buckling the child up was a little more complex, although that’s a small price to pay for security.

ADAC praised the leg rest on the Axkid One + as well as the cushioned padding of the seat.

They also found the seating position to be convenient for comfort.

Their notes in terms of weaknesses with this seat were that it took up a larger footprint in the car than would be ideal, and also they felt that the child’s view outside the vehicle was obstructed somewhat by the side of the seat, impacting the child's overall experience in the seat.

We feel it’s worth noting that the side of the seat is larger in order to optimise its effectiveness in a side collision, so it’s really a matter of personal preference which aspect is more important to you.

After testing the materials, ADAC found that there is little to no risk of pollutants within the fabrics. They also noted that the cover was easy to remove for cleaning which is ideal for parents paranoid about drinks spillages.

ADAC confirmed that there is a low risk of misuse with the Cybex Solution S i-Fix and applauded the ease in which the child can be buckled in, how simple the seat is to install and how straightforward the instructions are.

They also commended how lightweight the seat is, so this is definitely a hot product for parents looking for a seat which can be moved between cars.

ADAC highlighted that the Cybex Solution S i-Fix has a good leg rest, soft, comfy upholstery and an ‘exemplary’ seating position. ADAC applauded how little space the seat takes up, which is ideal for parents pressed for room in their vehicles.

The material tests on the Cybex Solution S i-Fix deduced that there was very low pollution in the fabrics. Furthermore, the cover is easy to remove and wash so you can keep it nice and fresh for baby. ADAC recommends that you wash the cover before usage.

ADAC found that there was a low risk of human error with this seat and that it is simple to install, lightweight and comes with straightforward instructions, so parents nervous about fitting the i-Traver need not worry.

ADAC also noted that securing the child in the seat is easy as well, so you can look forward to hassle free journeys with your little one in the Joie i-Traver.

ADAC liked the leg rest on the Joie i-Traver, and said there was a good amount of space for the child in the seat. They particularly commended the padding on the seat and said that the ergonomic sitting position for the child was ‘exemplary’, so you know you're little one will be comfy and cosy in the i-Traver.

ADAC also liked that when in the seat, the child has a good view outside the vehicle. Their only criticism in this area for the i-Traver was that it requires a fair bit of space in the backseat.

The materials used in the Joie i-Traver contained very low traces of pollutants, and ADAC stated that the seat itself was a product of very good workmanship.

ADAC also liked that the cover was easy to remove in terms of keeping it clean, but they did highlight that the materials required hand washing where possible.

The last thing you’ll want as a parent is to spend a lot of money on a super-safe, all-singing, all-dancing car seat, only to install it incorrectly and put your child at risk.

ADAC tested the accessibility of the user manual, and assessed the risk of incorrect operation of the Recaro Mako Elite 2 and found the seat to pose a low risk of misuse, with the instructions being very easy to follow and the installation itself to be simple.

Additionally, ADAC noted that securing the child in the seat was straightforward, which is great in terms of convenience as well as safety.

ADAC had no criticisms regarding the ergonomics of the Recaro Mako Elite 2, praising the ‘very good’ leg rest, the ‘very good’ padding, its very small footprint within the car itself and also commended that the child has a good view of the outside when sat in the seat.

ADAC was satisfied with the seating position of the child within the Recaro Mako Elite 2 and noted the child had a good amount of space.

ADAC noted that there was low pollution within the materials used for the Recaro Mako Elite 2. The covers are easy to remove and machine washable for your convenience.

ADAC confirmed that the Maxi Cosi Marble posed a low risk of incorrect operation thanks to the easy-to-install seat and straightforward user manual.

They noted that for the typical day-to-day, it is very simple to secure your child in this seat. Perfect for parents who are always on-the-go!

ADAC's only criticism in this category was that the seat + base were quite heavy, so it's worth bearing this in mind before installation.

In regard to comfort for the child, ADAC noted that the Maxi Cosi Marble had a good leg rest and was made with snug fabrics. They noted that the seat holds the child in a suitable position with a lot of room for them to grow.

The only caveat with having a lot of room for the child's comfort, is that the seat does take up a fair bit of space in the car, and thus ADAC did deduct from the score in respect to this.

ADAC was satisfied with the quality and purity of the fabrics used for the Maxi Cosi Marble, noting that they contained very low pollution and that the fabrics were easy to remove for general housekeeping.

ADAC noted that it was very easy to buckle the child into the seat and that the operating instructions were simple to understand.

However, they also pointed out that there is a slightly increased risk of misuse with the Maxi Cosi Tinca, as the seat installation is a little complex. That being said, this risk is only prevalent for the belted installation of this car seat, as this is not foolproof and leaves room for human error. When ADAC tested the Tinca with the ISOFIX base, the two combined scored 1.9 in this category, with ADAC praising the ease of installation and the low risk of incorrect operation.

ADAC noted that the Maxi Cosi Tinca used soft, plush fabrics for the seat, and had a good leg rest and a suitable seating position for your child's comfort. They also commended that there was a good amount of space for the child, without the car seat itself taking up too much space in the car itself.

They also noted that the child's view to the outside was unobstructed, thus adding more to the child's comfort and contentedness for your journeys together.  

There was low pollution found in the fabrics of the seat, and they were easy to remove for cleaning.

The only drawback in this aspect is that the fabrics require handwashing, so this seat isn't as simple to keep clean as some of the others tested. But it seems a small price to pay for its excellent safety features.

As a parent, you appreciate the added safety of an ISOFIX base but you can't help but groan at the thought of having to install the bulky thing. Well, ADAC found the Simplicity Plus and ISOFIX base very easy to install, with simply instructions that were easy to follow.

With the ISOFIX base, ADAC noted that there is very little risk of misuse, so if you're worried about the months of sleep deprivation affecting your ability to install this safely, you need not worry.

Again, the only criticism from ADAC in this category was concerning the harness. ADAC found that the buckle was quite complicated, which affects the score for the previous safety category, as well as this one for its impact on convenience and serviceability.

ADAC commended the leg rest on the seat, and noted that it had good, plush padding and a suitable seating position for the child. The child's view to the outside is unobstructed and there is lots of room in the seat for the child to grow.

That being said, the roomy seat does come with a larger space requirement, and this is where ADAC marked the Simplicity Plus & ISOFIX base down.

There is a low risk of pollutants in the fabrics used for this seat, and the cover is easy to remove. ADAC do highlight that the materials require handwashing.

And that's it for our selection of this year's ADAC forerunners! Hopefully you'll have seen something to pique your interest. With such a selection spanning from birth right up until 12 years old, you may have even found two seats to last your little one! Which car seats have you got your eye on?