UPPAbaby Alta vs. Knox: Which is Better? (2024)

Hi there! We're here to help you decide between the UPPAbaby Alta and the UPPAbaby Knox.

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

Looking at two car seats on the market, the UPPAbaby Alta and the UPPAbaby Knox, we find distinctive features that can guide a well-informed decision for parents. The Alta car seat focuses on comfort and safety for older children, traditionally aged between 5 to 10 years. It boasts a spacious design coupled with thick padding and a reliable SecureFit belt positioning system. It's rather large size, being a high-back booster type, makes it ideal for larger vehicles. The Knox, meanwhile, serves as an stylish yet premium option, intended for children just born up to 65 pounds. This versatile seat can be used as rear-facing and forward-facing, making it adaptable as your child grows.

The Alta has some impressive features, including rigid LATCH connectors for easy installation and added stability. It comes with a seven-position adjustable headrest that grows as your child does. However, some parents reported issues with the shoulder belt slipping out of position frequently, which could pose safety concerns. This car seat is intended for larger vehicles, owing to its wider base and size. Its focus on belt positioning and user-friendly installation makes it an attractive option for families with older children, especially those who don't often switch car seats between different vehicles.

On the other hand, the Knox car seat boasts sophisticated features such as integrated Koroyd technology in the base which is designed to absorb crash impact forces, and 'Side Impact Pods' that provide added safety during a side impact. Despite it being a luxurios choice with high-end aesthetics, it seems to have a more significant issue - a large and heavy structure that makes it unsuitable for smaller vehicles and difficult when needing to move the seat between cars. Furthermore, some parents reported the installation process to be quite challenging.

Given both options, if your family often needs to switch car seats between cars, you may want to put convenience first and choose the Alta seat over the Knox; while the latter offers advanced safety features, its installation challenges and size could pose practical problems. However, if you value high-end aesthetics and don’t mind investing more for luxury, have a larger vehicle and don't often switch car seats around, the Knox could serve as a premium and stylish choice.

In terms of weight provisions, a noteworthy difference between the two is that the Alta, designed as a high-back booster seat, only accommodates children between 40 to 100 pounds, whereas, the Knox provides for a wider weight range from birth up to 65 pounds, offering more mileage in terms of use as your child grows. The Knox comes out on top in terms of being FAA approved for both its forward-facing and rear-facing modes, making it a more ideal choice for families who travel frequently. However, keep in mind, these large car seats may not be the best choice if your children are on the smaller side or if you have smaller vehicles.

Ultimately, depending on your child’s age, weight, the spaces within your car and other individual circumstances, both seats offer solid safety features for each of your child’s travel needs.