Nuna aace vs. Safety 1st Guide 65: Which is Better? (2024)

Hi there! We're here to help you decide between the Nuna aace and the Safety 1st Guide 65.

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

When it comes to ensuring the safety and comfort of our children during car rides, a reliable car seat is paramount. Two such car seat options are the Nuna AACE and the Safety 1st Guide 65. Both these car seats have been designed with special features and comforts, but they cater to different needs and budgets.

The Nuna AACE is a high-quality booster seat, designed to grow with your children, from 4 years and above. This seat stands out for its safety, adjustability, and comfort, featuring advanced side-impact protection, multiple recline and depth options, and a breathable, washable fabric. However, this comes with a higher price point. On the other hand, we have the Safety 1st Guide 65, a convertible car seat that can be used as rear-facing for children from 5-40 pounds and transitions to a forward-facing seat once your child is over 22 pounds. The Guide 65 tends to be more budget-friendly and compact enough to fit three in a row in most cars, which can be vital for families with multiple young children. Yet, parents have reported difficulties in installing this car seat, especially in the rear-facing mode.

As for weight specifications, the Nuna AACE has a larger range with weight limits of 40-110 pounds for high-back mode and 50-120 pounds for no-back mode in booster configurations. Whereas, the Safety 1st Guide 65 offers a 5-65 pounds weight range with capacities of 5-40 pounds for rear-facing and eligibility for forward-facing for children over 22 pounds.

When we consider these car seats from a travel perspective, the Safety 1st Guide 65 pulls ahead with its FAA approval for both forward-facing and rear-facing modes. Unfortunately, the Nuna AACE is not FAA approved. This is an important distinction for families who travel often and need the flexibility of using their car seat on the plane.

Evaluating the two, both Nuna AACE and Safety 1st Guide 65 have their strengths and are designed to cater to different needs. If you prioritize safety features, adjustability for growing children, and are willing to invest in a more expensive, premium product, the Nuna AACE could be an excellent choice. However, if you're looking for a more affordable car seat that transitions from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat and is suitable for travel, the Safety 1st Guide 65 may be the winner here, especially for those on a tight budget or with smaller cars. It is critical to remember that appropriate installation is key to harnessing the safety potential of the car seat; hence, the reported installation shortcomings of Safety 1st Guide 65 should be taken into consideration.