As a mom of 3, who has used many car seats, I'm impressed! I recently started using the Joie Saffron SI car seat with my 4-month old. After two weeks of using this car seat with her, I think it's fair to say we both love it. It's truly designed with parents and child in mind. The car seat's versatility ranges from infant car seat to booster seat. It's a 4-in-1 convertible seat that promises longevity, which is what I typically look for in a car seat.
The Saffron SI was a breeze to install thanks to the easy LATCH system. It took me less than 5 minutes to install. The level indicators made proper adjustment straightforward in my 2017 Hyundai Tucson. It fits well in a mid-sized SUV. I have the car seat installed in the middle back seat, still giving my other two children ample room. The Saffron SI also has enhanced side-impact protection, which is another reassuring feature. The harness system equally stands out to me; it's incredibly easy to adjust, and the chest buckle is both secure and simple to use.
My baby seems very comfortable in the Saffron SI. The padding is thick, soft, and durable, and I find that the fabric is easy to wipe clean. Adjusting the seat to the rear-facing position was also simple. The two sturdy cup holders are a nice touch, even though we haven't needed them for the baby yet. It is worth noting, in my opinion, that this car seat is best suited for stationary use in one vehicle when used as an infant car seat. I have not yet tested using the car seat as forward-facing or as a booster seat, neither have I removed and put fabric back on the car seat or washed fabric.
Pros:
Affordability
Durable build quality
Comfortable padding and fabric
Easy LATCH installation
Stress-free, adjustable harness
Versatile 4-in-1 design
Cons:
May not be ideal for frequent transfers between vehicles as an infant car seat
Does not function as a carrier for infant
Does it connect to a stroller system for infant
The Joie Saffron SI is an excellent value for the money. It offers a combination of style, safety, comfort, and longevity that's hard to beat! I would highly recommend this car seat to parents and guardians looking for an affordable and functional car seat that will grow with their child.
Saffron SI 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
$
229.99
Free shipping & returns for Babylist orders $45+
color
Mocha
1
Overview
Highlights
- Fits child between 4-120 lbs
- Stages: Infant, Convertible, High Back, Backless Booster
- Does not rotate
- Comes with two cup holders
Description
This convertible car seat offers four modes in one:
- Rear-facing with harness: 4-40 lbs; up to 43”
- Forward-facing with harness: 30-65 lbs; up to 49”
- Highback Booster: 40-110 lbs; up to 57”, min. 4 years
- Backless Booster: 40-120 lbs; up to 60”, min. 4 years
A plush infant insert gives the littlest babies a perfect fit in their car seat, and can be easily removed for machine washing. Super-soft cushioning and knit fabrics let sensitive skin breathe. The removable cover also pops right off the seat, so you can shake out any crumbs and let the washing machine take care of the rest.
The 3-position recline adjusts in seconds, whether in forward or rear-facing mode. An integrated flip foot provides the deep recline needed when rear-facing, so baby can lay back comfortably and securely.
With just the press of a button, you can adjust the 10-position headrest and harness simultaneously. Easy-clean cup holders keep essentials (cup, snack, pacifier, toys) close.
The car seat transitions to backless booster with a one-hand pull. The AutoClick magnetic chest clip positions the harness to keep them secured in their seat.
Easily tuck away the harness once they’re ready to buckle up with the vehicle seat belt in booster mode.
Installation:
- Rear-facing mode: Push-button LATCH can be used the entire time your child is rear-facing up to 40 lbs or use the vehicle belt
- Forward-facing mode: Installs with vehicle belt and top tether or LATCH and top tether in forward-facing mode (up to 45 lbs only)
- LockTight belt tensioner ensures car seat is held firmly against the vehicle seat and won’t slide around
For safety, Saffron SI is tested to the newest safety standards (FMVSS 213a and 213b). Side impact protection pods help absorb the energy from a crash, the removable insert provides extra side impact protection for kids up to 40 lbs and the cushioned headrest includes extra protection.
What we about it
Covers you from 4-120 lbs, plus it's easy to clean.Details
- Stages: Infant, Convertible, High Back, Backless Booster
- Overall Dimensions: 22”L x 19”W x 24.5-33”H
- Product Weight: 23.1 lbs
- Rear Facing Capacity: 4-40 lbs, Max 43”
- Forward Facing Capacity: 30-120 lbs, Max 60”
- Number of Recline Positions: 4
- Number of Head Rest Positions: 10
- Number of Crotch Strap Positions: 2
- Car Seat Features:
- Belt Tensioning Plate
- Level Indicators
- Harness Holders
- Magnetic Chest Clip
- No-Rethread Harness
- Number of Cup Holders: 2
- Cleaning and Care: Machine wash fabrics
- Manufacturer’s Warranty: 1 year
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Q&A
Have a question? Ask an expert.
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Does this car seat fit the ginger and rue travel system?
Convertible car seats are not compatible with strollers.
Customer reviews
19 Ratings
1-10 of 19 Reviews
Rated 5 out of 5
Feb 26, 2025
Joie Saffron SI: The Only Car Seat You'll Need
Rated 5 out of 5
Feb 26, 2025
Great seat!
I have two kids under 4 and two cars, so this is my fourth car seat and third brand. Right out of the box, it's a really nice-looking seat, and my first impression was how light it is — which is great if you need to move it between cars. Installation was a breeze using the lower anchors (for rear-facing), and the seat felt very secure once it was in place. One of my favorite features is the "foot" (I’m not sure if that’s what it’s called), which helps balance out the seat when positioning it in the car. It just clicked into place with no need for fiddling with reclining numbers or buttons.
The seat itself seems comfortable enough. My 1-year-old doesn’t mind being put in it and thinks the magnetic chest buckle is magic. I will say that one of the other high-end brands I own has a chest clip that's easy for my older toddler to open, but neither of my kids have figured out the magnetic clip yet. I also really appreciate the placement and size of the cup holders. Unlike my other seat, these are large enough to hold a children's Yeti bottle and are easy for my kids to reach.
So far, I've only used the seat in rear-facing mode, and I love that it can grow with them. However, I haven’t quite figured out how to completely hide the forward-facing back anchor while using it rear-facing.
All in all, a great seat at a great price point that I will continue to use as my child grows.
The seat itself seems comfortable enough. My 1-year-old doesn’t mind being put in it and thinks the magnetic chest buckle is magic. I will say that one of the other high-end brands I own has a chest clip that's easy for my older toddler to open, but neither of my kids have figured out the magnetic clip yet. I also really appreciate the placement and size of the cup holders. Unlike my other seat, these are large enough to hold a children's Yeti bottle and are easy for my kids to reach.
So far, I've only used the seat in rear-facing mode, and I love that it can grow with them. However, I haven’t quite figured out how to completely hide the forward-facing back anchor while using it rear-facing.
All in all, a great seat at a great price point that I will continue to use as my child grows.
Rated 5 out of 5
Feb 25, 2025
Comfortable and Convenient!
Babies don’t keep, and this carseat is perfect for my growing children. The fabric and cushioning feels high quality, making the seat exceptionally comfortable. I find the seat easy, adaptable, and sturdy. I have used this seat for my infant and my seven year old. Both children fit comfortably, and it is easy to adjust the inserts and buckles as needed. The magnetic chest clip makes buckling convenient and quick. The range for the head rest is impressive, and the cupholders are a great feature. I am looking forward to using this seat for years to come.
Rated 5 out of 5
Feb 25, 2025
Convenient, Safe, and Perfect for Growing Kids!
The Saffron SI 4-in-1 Car Seat is a game-changer! The magnetic chest clip makes securing my child effortless, and installation is quick and simple. The removable insert provides extra SIP for kids up to 40 lbs., perfect for my smaller toddler. While I wish there was a way to secure the crotch buckle cover, the seat’s lightweight design, adjustability, and overall convenience make it a fantastic choice!
Rated 5 out of 5
Feb 22, 2025
Love the adjustable features!
We’ve been using this car seat for a week or so now and love it! My daughter fits very comfortably in it and I love how adjustable it is. It was also very simple to adjust and I love that it will grow with her until she doesn’t need it anymore! Great design and functionality!
Rated 5 out of 5
Feb 22, 2025
Happy Baby, Happy Mama
My infant daughter was not a fan of her last car seat, and would cry every single time we got into the car. She has not cried once being put into the Joie saffron SI seat. I had some questions before install, and experienced excellent customer service. This seat provides ample room for comfort while keeping my baby snug and safe. I love the side impact bolsters, magnetic chest clip, and the deep seating created by the recline foot and additional recline options. I would recommend this seat without hesitation.
Rated 4 out of 5
Feb 21, 2025
Sleek and Easy to Adjust
The Joie - saffron SI carseat is beautiful and very easy to use. We love it for our two-and-a-half-year-old. Installing the carseat was a learning curve. We chose to install rear facing with the belt path. It took about 45 minutes of trial and error. Now that it is installed, I'm a big fan. Tightening and loosening the straps is very easy - which is such a change compared to our old carseat! Our son seems very comfortable and incredibly secure. The sides of the carseat have really handy reminders about how to/when to adjust the carseat as your child grows. The cupholders are the perfect size and actually fit his Yeti kid's water bottle, which was too big for his old carseat's cupholders. Over all, we really like it. I love that this will grow with our son. I would recommend it!
Rated 4 out of 5
Feb 21, 2025
Solid Car Seat with Slight Learning Curve
We've been using this new 4-in-1 car seat for about a week in winter conditions with both our 2.5-year-old and our 1-year-old, both rear-facing. Overall, it's a solid, well-built seat, that's esthetically pleasing, but there are some usability quirks, in our opinion. Based on my husband's and my first-hand experience, we tried to note everything from unboxing to full use.
Unboxing: The safety seal sticker across the box flaps was a reassuring touch, confirming it was brand new.
Installation: On par with other car seats we've installed. The instruction manual was clear, and the installation video was helpful.
Magnetic Chest Clip: The magnetic feature was new to us, and initially, we questioned its safety. It does clip in securely, but unbuckling requires two hands—one to hold each side while squeezing the release buttons. The buttons are curved, which can cause dry, winter, fingers to slip. If they were slightly dented or textured, it would be easier to operate.
In addition, while the chest clip moves smoothly along the straps, we’ve noticed that it requires an adjustment each time we secure our child, more so than our other car seat.
Harness Buckle Holders: There are two small elastic loops designed to hold the buckle tongues, keeping the straps out of the way when placing the child into the seat. While this feature appears helpful at first glance, we found it slightly tricky to use in practice. It might be worth considering a magnetic option, similar to the chest clip, for added convenience.
Crotch Buckle Tongues: For our 2.5-year-old, the plastic pieces pressed into his inner thighs when seated with bent legs, specifically with the bolsters in place. Straightening his legs helped.
Harness Adjustment Button: This is located deeper in the seat than other models we've experienced, making it a bit tricky to find and press when loosening the harness.
Side Impact Bolster: When placing our child into the seat, the bolster sometimes pushes inward causing the child to sit on top of it. A snap or Velcro attachment would help keep it secure.
At this point, adjusting and securing our kids in this seat takes a little longer than it does with our other car seat that we've had for at least a year. We anticipate with more use, it will feel more intuitive, but so far, there's a bit of a learning curve. We look forward to becoming more familiar with it over time.
We thoroughly appreciate the safety features and overall quality. We are interested in seeing how well it disassembles for washing, when we experience our first mess in it! We're also eager to grow with the seat in the future stages with our kids.
Unboxing: The safety seal sticker across the box flaps was a reassuring touch, confirming it was brand new.
Installation: On par with other car seats we've installed. The instruction manual was clear, and the installation video was helpful.
Magnetic Chest Clip: The magnetic feature was new to us, and initially, we questioned its safety. It does clip in securely, but unbuckling requires two hands—one to hold each side while squeezing the release buttons. The buttons are curved, which can cause dry, winter, fingers to slip. If they were slightly dented or textured, it would be easier to operate.
In addition, while the chest clip moves smoothly along the straps, we’ve noticed that it requires an adjustment each time we secure our child, more so than our other car seat.
Harness Buckle Holders: There are two small elastic loops designed to hold the buckle tongues, keeping the straps out of the way when placing the child into the seat. While this feature appears helpful at first glance, we found it slightly tricky to use in practice. It might be worth considering a magnetic option, similar to the chest clip, for added convenience.
Crotch Buckle Tongues: For our 2.5-year-old, the plastic pieces pressed into his inner thighs when seated with bent legs, specifically with the bolsters in place. Straightening his legs helped.
Harness Adjustment Button: This is located deeper in the seat than other models we've experienced, making it a bit tricky to find and press when loosening the harness.
Side Impact Bolster: When placing our child into the seat, the bolster sometimes pushes inward causing the child to sit on top of it. A snap or Velcro attachment would help keep it secure.
At this point, adjusting and securing our kids in this seat takes a little longer than it does with our other car seat that we've had for at least a year. We anticipate with more use, it will feel more intuitive, but so far, there's a bit of a learning curve. We look forward to becoming more familiar with it over time.
We thoroughly appreciate the safety features and overall quality. We are interested in seeing how well it disassembles for washing, when we experience our first mess in it! We're also eager to grow with the seat in the future stages with our kids.
Rated 5 out of 5
Feb 20, 2025
Great carseat!
I absolutely love this car seat! It was very easy to install, I just followed along with the video. The auto-click magnetic chest piece is really nice, I like it a lot more than the normal harness clips. The belt slides very smoothly and is very easy to tighten. I really like how it can be used for all stages so you don’t have to buy another seat as they grow! My son isn’t a huge fan of being in his car seat but he definitely does better in this one compared to the one we had before this. I think he likes the fact that he sits up higher as well. I also like that you can adjust the recline! I love the idea of the two latch storage locations but they can be kind of hard to use. You have to really loosen the harness for them to reach the storage loops. Overall a really nice seat and I would definitely recommend it!
Rated 5 out of 5
Feb 20, 2025
Great Carseat. Very large.
I'm excited about this carseat lasting us through to age 12! It feel very well made. My husband installed it and seemed to have no difficulty. The manual was helpful to figure out how to make it be angled so our rear facing baby was at a better angle for her neck. The buckle in the chest is magnetic so that is very easy to click. The only downside so far is that it's much bigger than say an infant carseat that you click into a base. So at first I missed seeing my baby in her mirror. But I can see a sliver of her and so that is helpful it's also very large as a rear facing install. So if your car is not very roomy, you probably can't climb through to the other side - it will take up that whole seat space. Which is OK if you just open the other door to let others climb in.
We've only used it for a short time, but so far I'm looking forward to using it as our baby grows and not needing to get a new carseat every time baby transitions out of the next stage. I feel comfortable getting her in and out and she seems to be comfortable in her chair. The material feels very nice. I also like that it has cup holders for her.
We've only used it for a short time, but so far I'm looking forward to using it as our baby grows and not needing to get a new carseat every time baby transitions out of the next stage. I feel comfortable getting her in and out and she seems to be comfortable in her chair. The material feels very nice. I also like that it has cup holders for her.
