BeSafe Flex FIX 2 - cheap, flimsy, noise & design flaws - disappointed

Описание: I ordered two BeSafe Flex FIX 2 seats after researching extensively, including AI recommendations and YouTube reviews. My primary criteria were safety, build quality, and comfort for long journeys.

One seat arrived today (the second is on backorder), and honestly, I was disappointed the moment I unpacked it.

First Impressions - Build Quality:

For a seat positioned and priced as premium, the materials feel surprisingly low-end. The overall construction feels comparable to seats in the £90-£120 range.

The mesh cover does not align well with the underlying plastic shell.
There are visible inconsistencies where the fabric doesn’t sit cleanly against the structure.
The padding, especially in the headrest, is very thin and noticeably firm. It feels hard rather than supportive, which raises concerns about comfort on longer journeys.

At this price point, I expected significantly better refinement and cushioning.

For context, I currently use or have used the following:

1. Joie i-Spin™ 360 i-Size

This has been an excellent seat in terms of comfort, quality, and functionality. It feels premium, well engineered, and thoughtfully designed. My kids slept extremely well in it during long trips. Recline is slightly stiff but manageable. Overall, fantastic seat for its category.

2. Cybex Solution G

Decent seat with slight recline. We had an issue where the headrest degraded after prolonged sun exposure. One unit was repaired by the manufacturer; the second was refunded. Still, overall solid build and excellent ADAC safety 1.7 rating.

3. Cybex Solution G2 Plus

Pretty much same as above but without recline and collapses for easy boot storage. We use it for shorter trips. No major complaints so far and the headrest issue appears to be resolved (presumably better glue was used to put it together).

Major Concerns With BeSafe Flex FIX 2

1. Exposed Hip Area Plastics

This is my biggest concern.
There are plastic elements on both sides near the lap belt guides. In my opinion, these plastics have exposed relatively sharp edges and are insufficiently padded.

If a child is sitting fully back in the seat, in a side-impact scenario those plastic structures appear positioned in a way that could press directly into the hip or lower body area. I would expect this region, particularly around belt routing and hip contact points, to be fully padded and energy-absorbing, not exposed.

By comparison, the Cybex Solution G has additional padding covering these areas and integrates belt guides more smoothly into the side structure.

2. Noise

The sides are squeaking quite badly. I have not used it in the car yet because am still thinking about returning the booster seat - hear it for yourself:

   • BeSafe Flex FIX 2 - squeaking badly  

3. Recline Mechanism

The recline adjustment is so far best I have seen in this category but requires two hands and deliberate effort. Practically, this means you must stop the car to adjust it.

By contrast:

The Joie i-Spin 360 allows easier one-handed adjustment.
The Cybex Solution G also allows quick recline changes.

I was able to use the recline while driving by reaching out with one of my hands.

For a seat marketed for convenience and long-distance comfort, this feels like a step backward.

3. Overall Refinement

The seat feels flimsy relative to expectations. Fabric tension and alignment are inconsistent.

The summer covers I purchased (sold as compatible) do not fit properly and are way too small. They appear designed for a slightly different model, as there are attachment hooks that don’t align. Interestingly, the quality of the covers feels better than the seat itself.
EDIT: After over 30 minutes and injured finger (headrest is the worst!) I finally managed to install the cover. I hope I never have to take it off again... wasn't this seat supposed to be a safety thing?

Value for Money

Given the premium pricing, I expected:

Superior materials
Excellent finishing
Thoughtful padding distribution
Clear evidence of advanced side-impact energy management for both upper and lower body

Instead, the seat feels cost-optimised.

At this price level, I would currently choose:

Britax (KIDFIX Pro M or similar with ISOFIX and recline)
Cybex Solution G (if available)
Cybex Solution G2 Plus

All feel more cohesive in build quality and design execution + lower price.

Final Thoughts

Safety, build quality and comfort were the primary reasons I chose this seat. Based on my first-hand experience, the BeSafe Flex FIX 2 does not meet my expectations in build quality.

Unless something changes after further evaluation, I will most likely return it although there's only one alternative that has worse recline.

If you’re considering this seat, I strongly recommend inspecting it in person before purchasing, particularly the hip area construction and headrest padding , to decide whether it meets your standards.