Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat Review (2024)

We purchased the Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. Keep reading for our full product review.

Welcoming a new baby to the family is a fun and exciting time. It can also be very expensive as you add up the price of all the necessary gear. Given this, it makes sense that items that can grow with your child are invaluable to new parents. One such item is the Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat, which is immensely popular for keeping children safe and comfortable. To see if the car seat lived up to its excellent reviews, we took it home and had our two young sons, ages 1 and 3, use it. Afterward, we evaluated its various features, from its design and durability to its overall value. Read on for our insights.

Installation and Setup Process: Easy and safe

Most vehicles and car seats are equipped to use the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system for installation, in which the seat attaches to the steel frame of your vehicle via under-seat anchors that are designed specifically for this purpose. The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 uses its own InRight LATCH system, meaning that the tethers from the car seat need only to be pushed down on the corresponding steel anchors—so thankfully, there was no need to try and manipulate hooks with our fingers. When the hooks engage, there’s an audible click. This signal that the seat was secure gave us instant peace of mind. And when we needed to remove the car seat for cleaning, disconnecting it was just as simple—all we had to do was push down on the red button and pull out the LATCH tethers.

When installing a car seat, you also have to consider its angle. The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 offers six recline positions, which can keep your child comfortable as they get taller. Fortunately, each side of the seat has a level indicator that shows is it’s in a safe position, whether it’s front- or rear-facing. The height of its 10-position headrest is also easy to adjust; we could do it with just one hand.

An important thing to note is that the LATCH system setup can differ from vehicle to vehicle, so you should check your car’s manual to see exactly where you can find the anchors.

Also, if you’re unsure about any aspect of your car seat installation, you can check with your local police or fire departments to get a professional to inspect your installation. Many cities have designated times or events open to the public that include free car seat inspections.

Age Range: Birth through age 10

The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 is one of the most popular car seats on the market because it has such a long life. This car seat has four positions: rear-facing, front-facing with harness, highback booster, and backless booster. While car seat use is based on weight as well as age, the company advertises that this one car seat can take a child from 4 pounds (using the infant insert in a rear-facing position) through the toddler and preschool years, and all the way to a booster seat for a 120-pound child. (Rear-facing is recommended, and often required by state law, for children younger than two years old or who are 40 pounds or less and shorter than 37 inches.) The expiration date of the car seat—an important thing to know especially if you’re using a hand-me-down seat—is ten years from the manufacturing date.

Many parents prefer an infant-only rear-facing car seat for the first few months of their child’s life. An infant car seat can be taken out of the car with the baby still in it, while a convertible car seat is designed to remain in the car. Having the option to keep a sleeping baby in the car seat and use it with a travel system stroller is worth the extra purchase for many families, but if you want to use a convertible car seat from the very first day you bring baby home from the hospital, the Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 is a good option when used with the included infant insert.Keep in mind that babies should not be left to sleep in a car seat when not traveling, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

We’ve used the Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 for a little more than two years with our oldest child. When he was ready to transition out of an infant car seat, we wanted something that would grow with him. We first used it when he was 12 months old in the rear-facing position with the five-point harness. When he was a little more than 2 years old, we moved it to the forward-facing position, still using the five-point harness. We like that he stayed in a familiar seat through that transition and that we didn’t have to keep buying new gear and equipment as he grew.

With our younger son, we started using the Graco when he was around 1 year old and still use it in the rear-facing position. We found that, even in this position, there is plenty of room for his legs. We have not used the Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 as a booster seat but are confident that the familiarity of the seat and ease of use will make it the best choice for our family.

Design: Comfortable and practical

Our children spend a lot of time in the car, so a comfortable car seat is a must-have. The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1’s cushions are made with plush fabric that doesn’t scratch delicate skin. It also has a special harness system (no need for rethreading), plus six-position reclining and a 10-position headrest. The harness is easy to use and makes us feel confident that our kids are safely buckled.

If you’ve ever taken a long trip with young children in the car, you know that having snacks and drinks helps keep them happy. The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 has two cup holders which we used for water bottles. A typical disposable water cup fits in them, as well as most sippy cups. While baby bottles also fit, infants using the car seat will most likely not be able to reach the cup holders themselves.

In terms of overall size, convertible car seats tend to be some of the largest car seats on the market as they must be versatile enough to convert from rear- to front-facing and beyond. The Graco is 21.5 inches wide (with the cup holders being the widest part), 20 inches deep, and 24 inches high.

If your family is larger, you may wonder how multiple 4Ever 4-in-1 car seats will fit into your vehicle. We drive a mid-size SUV and are able to fit two Graco seats and an infant car seat across the back row without any issues. Sometimes, depending on who’s in the car, we leave space in the middle of our backseat for toys, books, and the occasional adult passenger. It isn’t exactly easy for adults to climb into the car around the installed car seats, but because it isn’t a daily occurrence for our family, it rarely presents a challenge.

Cleaning: As easy as can be

Overall, we find this car set easy to clean. For crumby messes, we use a handheld vacuum with a crevice tool; baby wipes work well for cleaning spills and debris that accumulates in the cup holders.

When the seat itself needs more cleaning, we take it inside to remove the cushions and wipe down the plastic. We machine-wash the cushions (as instructed by Graco) using regular detergent and let them air-dry overnight. According to the company, the five-point harness and buckles can also be wiped down with mild soap and warm water. Occasionally, we use an old toothbrush to deep clean the buckles to make sure that they’re free of any sticky residue and able to function properly. All in all, the car seat takes no more than 15 minutes to deep clean.

Graco also provides instructions for removing and reattaching all the pads, but we found that watching YouTube tutorials was the best way to learn. There are four main pads that come off the car seat, but some of the smaller tabs and elastic loops are tricky to reattach. The hardest part of the cleaning process (for us, anyway) was having to carry the bulky, 22.75-pound car seat in and out of the car and house.

Safety: Follow all guidelines

With any car seat, it’s important to follow the height and weight restrictions for that particular model. Because the Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 can be used in so many different modes, parents may find themselves referring to the manual or Graco’s online resources as their child grows. The manual clearly outlines weight limits of the rear-facing position (40 pounds) and forward-facing harness position (65 pounds). As mentioned above, states may also have specific laws about car seat use. Graco recommends checking with the state you live in to make sure you’re following all regulations.

We love that the Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 car seat complies with all Federal Aviation Administration guidelines and can be used on an airplane in the rear or forward-facing positions with the five-point harness. The seat also has a convenient sticker outlining correct airplane use.

We actually brought the Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 on a flight, which prevented us from worrying about any damage it might incur as checked baggage. It fit easily into the airplane seat and our son, who was 2 years old at the time, enjoyed a flight strapped into his familiar spot.

Price: A worthwhile investment

The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 is not a cheap car seat; it retails for $299.99, though you can often find it for less through online retailers like Amazon. For my family, the price is worth it as the car seat offers quality and longevity. If we bought a cheaper car seat, we’d likely be replacing it before our children were out of car seats or booster seats. We are confident that the quality of the pads, the actual structure of the car seat, and the four position options will allow us to use this car seat for years.

Competition: Good price for years of use

Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible Car Seat: Those looking for a more basic convertible car seat should consider the Evenflo Tribute LX. We tested the car seat and found that despite its great price, it still offers comfort and all the required safety features. For around $60, parents can purchase this car seat for rear-facing or forward-facing use. It can be used for children up to 40 pounds and has multiple settings to adjust for height as they grow. It doesn’t have the LATCH system and uses the car’s seat belt for installation, but if you’re looking for a budget car seat for travel, the Evenflo Tribute LX has just what you need.

Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat: We also tested the Britax Marathon ClickTight, which is popular with parents looking for a high-quality car seat that’ll last for many years. This model is well-made and can accommodate children up to 65 pounds in the front-facing position. It promises easy installation and has seven recline positions for babies. At $279, it’s one of the more expensive options out there but it has a lot of advanced safety features, which some parents may prefer. If you’re looking for a similarly priced seat that’s safe and can eventually be used as a booster, however, the Graco is the way to go.