Evenflo Embrace Car Seat: An Affordable, No-Frills Car Seat
 Montara fashion |
The Evenflo Embrace Infant Car Seat ($120) is also available as part of the Evenflo Aura Travel System.
Together the Aura Select Stroller and the car seat are just $170, a great deal in this economy, considering that many infant car seats alone cost more than that!
The Embrace accommodates infants from 5 to 22 pounds in the rear-facing position. The handle doesn’t have any rubbery, grippy stuff, but it is articulated so parents’ arms don’t have to twist sideways to carry it.
The fabric is removable and washable and a removable infant head support also works with the stroller. It’s not a cushy, luxurious seat but it is side-impact tested and is compatible with the Aura stroller.
The sun shade is not big enough for my taste, though it meets the stroller’s sun shade for 100% coverage when it is mounted in the stroller.
Installing the car seat isn’t as easy as more expensive models with more bells and whistles, but it only took a couple of minutes to get a good fit. It installs with the LATCH system or using the car’s seat belts, then the seat easily clicks into the base. The carrier can also be used in the car without the base, which is useful for occasional trips in a second car or a taxi.
Pros: Great value as part of the Aura Travel System. Comprehensive safety testing includes side-impact tests.
Cons: Feeble sun shade and a less-than-cushy seat pad.
Final Verdict: For the short time that infants use infant seats (usually only six or eight months but technically as long as they don’t exceed the weight and height limits) this is an affordable option that works well with the full-featured Aura stroller.
– Kristen
- Posted on Jul 8, 09 at 10:00AM
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- 5 Comments
July 8th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Just let readers know its not good for small cars. The handle must down with 1.5 inches between the handle and the seat infront of it.
July 8th, 2009 at 10:52 am
My sister in law has this carseat for my nephew I wouldn’t recomend it. Poor little guy everytime you put him in he he starts sweating up a storm even when it was winter, the fabric does not breathe at all
July 8th, 2009 at 11:19 am
I have the Aura travel system. I used one for both of my kids and for the price, it is well worth it.
I haven’t noticed any excessive sweating from my boys, but I can see how the fabric might be stuffy.
As the car seat tech said, it is not ideal for small cars. I’ve had mini vans with both kids and it works well in those.
I would recommend it for the mom on a budget.
July 8th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Evenflo really needs to figure out how to make their straps less twisty. I have had issues with every Evenflo carseat I’ve owned and twisting straps! At this point I’ve left Evenflo behind out of frustration and am sticking with Graco’s newer seats (the safeseat series, nautilus, and myride) and Britax seats. The only ones that I’ve found besides the Chicco infant seats that don’t twist up from normal everyday use!
July 8th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
We looked at this, but I’m VERY short (4′11″) and the stroller was just too high for me to be comfortable with. I can’t imagine it’d be an issue for anyone even a couple of inches taller (and really, I COULD have dealt with it, but if I’m going to spend that much money I want to be comfortable.) It’s cute, though!