Century Drive On 3-in-1 vs. Chicco KeyFit 30: Which is Better? (2024)

Hi there! We're here to help you decide between the Century Drive On 3-in-1 and the Chicco KeyFit 30.

Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to feel confident that you're choosing the optimal car seat for your family's needs and budget. Let us know if you have any other questions!

At A Glance

Our Thoughts

The Century Drive On and the Chicco KeyFit 30 are both solid car seat options, each with features that lend themselves to different needs and preferences.

The Century Drive On 3-in-1 truly embodies versatility. It is a convertible car seat, meaning it adapts from a rear-facing seat for infants to a forward-facing seat with a harness for toddlers and finally to a belt-positioning booster, able to accommodate kids between 5 and 100 lbs. Parents and environment enthusiasts will find this car seat appealing as the fabric is composed of recycled materials aligning with Century's sustainability initiative. This eco-friendly seat is fairly lightweight and compact, designed to save space in smaller vehicles. However, while it scores high marks for safety features and overall value, Century Drive On received mixed reviews concerning the ease of installation. But on the bright side, potential challenges of installing can be mitigated by closely following video instructions.

On the other hand, the Chicco KeyFit 30 is a renowned infant car seat known for its unmatched safety and comfort. As the name suggests, it is primarily designed for infants weighing around 4 to 30 lbs. The Chicco KeyFit 30 impresses with its robust design, easy installation, and comfort features. The seat's compatibility with a range of Chicco strollers is a definitive plus for parents who currently own or plan to buy a Chicco stroller. Some parents have raised issues about the canopy design and strap comfort, but these seem to as outliers rather than the common experience.

Thoroughly examining the two options reveals a significant discrepancy when it comes to weight accommodation. The Century Drive On 3-in-1 shows clear advantages with significantly higher maximum weight limits in the forward-facing mode (65 lbs) and booster mode (100 lbs) compared to the Chicco KeyFit 30's capability that peaks at 30 lbs in rear-facing mode only. Furthermore, the Century Drive On seat has FAA approval in both rear-facing and forward-facing modes, indicating it is suitable for air travel in these configurations. The KeyFit 30, however, only has the rear-facing configuration approved for travel, which may present a restriction for families often on the move.

While both options offer perks of their own, the Century Drive On 3-in-1 holds the edge in versatility, weight accommodation, and FAA-approved modes, offering longer-term usage as you watch your child grow. If the installation aspect is a roadblock, it's advisable to invest time in understanding the product's installation process and guidelines. On the contrary, if you seek a simple solution for infants and prioritize ease of installation and user-friendly features, the Chicco KeyFit 30 car seat could be your ideal bet.