Baby Jogger City Turn Review

In 1984, two fathers started the Baby Jogger company when they failed to find a quality jogging stroller. From its humble beginnings, Baby Jogger became a well-known baby gear brand that sells a variety of strollers and car seats. The company was purchased by the Newell Rubbermaid company in 2015.

Performance Comparison

Crash Test

The Baby Jogger performed well in our crash testing and, as a result, earned a higher crash test analysis score.

We ran our crash test slightly faster than the federal guidelines require. We also used a test sled more akin to a modern-day vehicle. Given this, we expected that some of the seats would have results outside the acceptable standard. However, the Baby Jogger proved a real contender for higher-crash test analysis results.

While all of the seats in the review are considered safe and have passed federal guidelines, with one of the lowest HIC (head sensor) results (lower is better) and a lower chest sensor result, the Jogger earned one of the highest analyses in the group. We suspect this option might offer an additional margin of protection over the average or lower-scoring seats in our review.

Ease of Install - LATCH

The Baby Jogger is one of the easiest options in the review to install using LATCH. It has a bubble indicator on both sides, a flexible connection style LATCH, and a lock-off.

A foot under the base rotates for forward or rear-facing installation. It is somewhat hidden, so installers will need to look for it. The foot has three different adjustments to ensure you get the right angle. Pinching the adjustment handle is easy, and the seat moves well. The chair swings out and out of the way to uncover the belt pathway.

There is color-coding for each option, helping ensure you are where you should be. Despite this, threading the LATCH strap is confusing as the seat sticker and the user manual seem contradictory. The strap and connectors all got twisted, and it would have been helpful if they had been identified somehow.

There is a tensioner, so tightening isn't a chore; it is pretty straightforward, but you need to find the sweet spot in the strap and keep the tail end of the strap out of the way when closing the locking system. It won't pass the wiggle test if you don't pull through enough slack. Pushing the lock-off down was harder in car 1, and leverage is the key to smooth operation. Overall, it is a nice seat to work with, and once you get the hang of it, it is much easier than some of the competition we tested. The base easily passes the wiggle test, and parents shouldn't be misled by the rotating chair portion that can feel wiggly.

Uninstalling is easy by pressing the LATCH connector release buttons and unthreading the strap.

Forward-facing installation of the Baby Jogger also includes a lock-off, and there is no indicator for the installation angle. While it is marketed as a rotating seat, and it does rotate, it will not rotate in the forward-facing position. Arguably, this is less important as, typically, little ones can climb in on their own at this stage, and the need is less. Yellow indicators indicate the forward-facing position and the tensioner is also yellow. You must remember to move the foot forward-facing, and there are three comfort levels. You need to move the headrest out of the way for good access to the pathway and tensioner. The tensioner/lock-off helps get the extra bit of slack out of the belt and creates a stable installation with only a tiny amount of wiggle. Our second test car proved easier with the tensioner, but we had to use a knee in the seat to pull the strap tightly.

Ease of Install - Belt

This seat is also relatively easy to install with the vehicle belt, with a slight drop in scoring from the LATCH performance. It has a bubble level indicator, a color-coded pathway for forward and rear-facing installation, and a belt lock-off/tensioner.

Rear-facing is a breeze on the Baby Jogger. The seat spins out and away from the color-coded belt pathway with a side diagram to help you navigate the route. Rotating the seat didn't cause tipping or balance as in other rotating options, which is a plus for managing the installation alone. With no seat in the way, you can feel confident you threaded the belt correctly. Uninstalling is a release of the tensioner and reversing the steps on the low profile base.

The lock-off is utilized the same for the belt as for LATCH installation. It was more challenging in the second test car, requiring a little more leverage to get the lock-off to close. A slightly different design to the lever would make this infinitely easier. It is straightforward and needs a little extra push, but nothing exhausting to get the last bit of snugness. It has very little wiggle and feels stable. Installing with LATCH is easier, but this is still unproblematic.

Forward-facing installation doesn't require a level indicator, and it is also color-coded with the belt lock-off/tensioner, something we think makes installation and stability so much easier. The tensioner is easier to use in forward-facing, especially in the second test car. Unlike the rear-facing mode, there is nothing on either side of the lock-off, so it is easier to press down. You move the foot of the seat back for forward-facing mode, and you need to raise the headrest to get it out of the way. It has the usual belt threading through the back of the seat, which will end the seat's rotating feature, as you can no longer turn it. Once again, the seat feels stable, and we didn't need any towels during installation. Last, a word of caution: if your goal is a rotating seat in all positions, this isn't the seat for you. However, toddlers can typically climb in independently when you have a forward-facing seat, making a rotating seat less useful.

Ease of Use

The Baby Jogger is easier to use than the average seat in this review, but it isn't a super standout in the group.

Harness

The buckle and chest clip are both about average, with the chest clip being somewhat below the average in the group. The prongs slide freely along the harness straps and tend to slide down where you don't want them to be. You have to use a little more force than most when pushing them into the buckles. The clip reminds us of backpack buckles, where you squeeze the sides to release the sides. However, they are easy to squeeze and move smoothly.

The harness has some resistance when pulling the tightening strap, but we could still get a snug fit. The webbing connects under the seat, and if it is lopsided, it will tighten lopsided, so you need to keep the strap straight. Releasing the harness is a button that is further back than we anticipated, and it is a tight fit where our finger rubbed on everything. There are two layers of materials inside the access point, and our finger wanted to go in between them, but it shouldn't.

The harness height adjustment is a non-rethread option with ten height differences and a crotch strap with two positions. The adjustment is a pinch device at the top to release and move the assembly up and down. It moves smoothly and locks into place easily. The crotch strap is easy to access when you rotate the seat, which gives you better access.

LATCH Storage

The LATCH storage should have been obvious with the seat icon on it, but it took us a minute to find it. It is a cubby on the front under the seat. The connectors clip into place, so some effort is involved, and you can't just shove them into the space. The cubby is small, and everything barely fits, so you must be careful with your placement. There isn't enough room in the cubby to reach the disengage button on the LATCH with our thumbs, so it takes some patience to remove them. You have to angle the seat upwards to access the area.

Cover

The cover comes off in two pieces: the main body and the headrest. It is straightforward, and nothing is hard or time-consuming. There are some buttons, but they are not excessive or burdensome to operate.

Comfort/Quality

Only a handful of options in this review offer more comfort or quality than the Baby Jogger, which fared well compared to the competition. The fabric overall is good and isn't rough when rubbed on sensitive skin. It feels like it might have some cooling properties, making it suitable for warmer climates, perhaps.

A warning flap on one of the shoulder straps could be annoying over time. The headrest is nicely integrated into the rest of the seat and is over 11.5 inches tall for added comfort. The foam padding feels almost like memory foam, but not quite. It doesn't bounce back immediately after pressure but has some nice give. We'd like to see more foam overall as it is only a 1/4 of an inch or so thick on the back and sides, but there is more in the seating area, which is thoughtful. However, at this price, it still feels like not enough.

The swivel mechanism and the shell make us worried that gunk will collect between the seat and the base and that rotation will get more challenging over time. There is no great way to clean this area. The cup holder is removable but not very flexible and could crack over time or if stepped on. There is only one cup holder, it is easy for little ones to reach, and it has a notch insert to prevent removal.

The infant insert includes some doubling up of the backing and a three-stage system of padding pieces for size transitions. However, we still believe getting an infant-style car seat is best for many reasons.

Weight/Size

The weight and size of a seat is only important depending on your lifestyle. If you need to fit multiple seats across one car row, the width could be a factor in your decision-making process. The weight might matter to you if you must carry the seat frequently for travel or other reasons. Many of the seats in this review are hefty, and some are narrower than others.

This seat weighs 27.5 lb and has a width of 19.3 inches. This is heavier and wider for a group with 24.3 lb and 18.6 inches averages. These might not seem like significant differences, but it will matter if you need to carry it or use multiples.

Should You Buy the Baby Jogger City Turn?

The City Turn is a rotating option many parents are interested in. It performed well during testing and earned impressive crash test results and ease of installation scores. While we love this seat and think many families will too, it does not turn in the forward-facing position, and it is expensive. These factors cost it an award and tester love, but it could be a good fit for some families looking for good crash test analysis, ease of installation, and rotation when rear-facing.

What Other Convertible Car Seat Should You Consider?

If you want a revolving seat that works forward and rear-facing, our top pick is the Cybex Sirona S. While this seat did not have crash test results as high as the City Go, it does rotate in both facing positions. It is easier to use with impressive features and materials, indicating high quality and comfort levels. If you aren't sold on the rotating feature, the Graco 4Ever DLX is a high-scoring seat that can save you a couple of hundred dollars while providing some of the best crash test results.

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