Safety 1st Guide 65 vs. Turn and Go 360 DLX: Which is Better? (2024)

Hi there! We're here to help you decide between the Safety 1st Guide 65 and the Safety 1st Turn and Go 360 DLX.

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

As a parent, choosing the right car seat can be a daunting task. Let's consider two options: the Guide 65 and the Turn and Go 360 DLX, both manufactured by Safety 1st.

The Guide 65 is a convertible car seat praised for its affordability and compact build, fitting 3 across in most vehicles – a relief for households with multiple young children. Weighing only about 11.6 pounds, this light seat is portable and a good fit for smaller cars. However, parents found the installation, especially in rear-facing mode, to be tricky. There are also concerns about the lack of legroom in rear-facing mode, particularly for taller kids. For these reasons, this car seat might not be the optimal choice for everyday use or larger toddlers. But, it does provide safety essentials such as a 5-point harness and side impact protection.

On the other hand, the Turn and Go 360 DLX is an all-in-one convertible seat which caters to a broader range of stages, from infancy through to booster seat phase. One standout feature is its unique rotation mechanism, which promises to ease the process of getting the child in and out of the car. While this rotation feature is essentially a major selling point, some caregivers voiced frustration with the stiffness of the rotation mechanism, especially with a child in the seat. Also, the Turn and Go 360 DLX is noticeably heavier at about 38.2 pounds, which poses challenges when moving the seat between vehicles. The higher price point might also be a deterrent for families looking for budget-friendly options.

Now, it's important to note that while both seats allow for rear-facing and forward-facing configurations, the Guide 65 rear-facing mode can support up to 40 pounds, whereas the Turn and Go 360 DLX can only support up to 40 pounds in its rear-facing mode as well but adds the flexibility of a booster mode that supports up to 100 pounds.

In terms of FAA approved modes for travel, the Guide 65 has approval for both the rear-facing and forward-facing configurations, providing more flexibility while on the move. In contrast, the Turn and Go 360 DLX doesn't have FAA approval for any of its configurations.

On the whole, if you're after an affordable and lightweight option, the Guide 65 might be ideal. However, if convenience and versatility across multiple stages of child growth are on the top of your priority list, and you are willing to work around a somewhat stiff rotation mechanism as well as a higher price tag, the Turn and Go 360 DLX might be the more fitting choice.