Britax Poplar S Review

The Britax company launched in America in 1996 after finding popularity in Europe after creating a best-selling car seat. For over 70 years, Britax has been making baby gear with an eye for safety, taking an interest in side impact protection, easier car seat installation, and strollers. Britax also owns BOB strollers.

Performance Comparison

Crash Test

The Poplar has largely average crash test analysis results, with a better chest clip sensor result than the head sensor result.

This seat offers an anti-rebound bar in the rear-facing configuration. This bar is designed to help limit the movement of the seat and theoretically limit the forces of a potential impact. We tested this seat in a forward-facing configuration as your child will spend more of their time using this configuration than rear-facing, so our crash test analysis is not based on results using the anti-rebound bar.

All of the seats in this review have passed the federal guidelines outlined for car seats and should be considered safe. We run tests a little faster, with a more modern seat cushion than the guidelines outline to see which seats stand apart from the competition and could potentially offer an additional margin of protection over the standard.

The Poplar is only an average seat for crash test analysis, and while it performed better than some seats in our tests, it wasn't a standout. As stated, it has a lower chest clip sensor result (lower is better, like with golf) than the head sensor result, but neither could match the results of some better competitors with much lower results.

Ease of Install - LATCH

The Poplar is easier to install using LATCH than the average option, but not as easy as some of the competition. This should be a simple, straightforward process, and LATCH was designed to help reduce the possibility of mistakes.

The Poplar has the hook style of LATCH connectors that are safe and work well but are likely a choice made to reduce costs and are harder to operate getting on and off.

Getting them unhooked requires loosening the LATCH strap so the hook can be pushed forward to unhook; this is harder than it sounds and significantly harder than the connectors that have a push button to release. While we expect to see these kinds of connectors on inexpensive seats, it feels like a misstep to us to see it on a seat in this price range.

This seat has a rolling ball indicator level on each side for easy viewing, and the recline adjustment is under the seat near the base. This makes recline adjustments to be challenging after the seat is installed.

The LATCH strap uses the same belt path as the vehicle belt and goes across the ClickTight seat bottom. The process is easy enough if you don't tighten the strap too much. Closing the ClickTight secures the seat to the strap, and it feels solid. The process is easier in the forward-facing position as the recline adjuster isn't pushed against the seat back. The tether strap has a triangle-shaped design that allows it to go around the sides of the vehicle headrest instead of underneath it, which is less convoluted.

Ease of Install - Belt

The Poplar is one of the easiest options to install using a vehicle belt. In our tests, installing the vehicle belt was easier than installing LATCH connectors.

This seat has color-coded pathways that make installation more straightforward. Threading the belt is easy and it feels like ther is enough room for your hand and to get the belt flat.

Once the belt is threaded, the ClickTight belt lock seat bottom does the hard work of getting the strap tight and securing the seat to the belt.

The Poplar feels snug and secure with the ClickTight closed and barely wiggles, with a rock-solid feel.

Ease of Use

The Poplar is not as easy to use as much of the competition, earning a below-average score for this metric. While we suspect parents who have never touched another seat will be content, it pales in comparison to many competitors.

Harness

Overall, the harness and all its components are largely average. The buckle has a pad around it, but the button is still easy to press. Pressing the button does not eject the prongs, so you need to pull them out yourself. There is no containment system for the prongs, and they do slide down the straps, so you need to retrieve them every time your child gets in the seat. The chest clip isn't as easy to operate as some, but it feels secure and can be a one-hand operation to open.

The harness takes more effort to tighten than most, and it almost feels like the pull strap is experiencing more friction than it should.

Releasing is also strange, with a hidden lever instead of a button to press. The lever pushes forward instead of down, and the slit in the fabric isn't the best for getting a good vantage point on it.

The harness height is adjusted using the hearest assembly and is non-rethread. This means you can do it on the fly when you see it is time. It has 14 possible positions with a 10-inch range. The range is pretty standard, but we like the idea of more possible stopping points. It doesn't move as smoothly as we'd like, but it is still better than threading straps.

LATCH Storage

When not in use, the LATCH connectors are stored in a compartment on the rear of the seat. They do a good job of keeping them out of the way but aren't as nice as those that offer a pocket you can close. The tether strap connects to the back of the seat when not in use, and the adjuster can keep it snug, but the loose end of the strap will continue to dangle without some finessing.

Cover

There is a lot going on with this cover with hidden bungee straps and took us a significant amount of time to mess with it and over 17 minutes to get it back. While you might not need to take it off that frequently (frankly, some parents never do), almost 20 minutes to put it back on feels like a design flaw.

Comfort/Quality

The Britax impressed in our test for comfort and quality, scoring higher than some seats that cost more.

The fabric is soft, almost bordering on slippery. It does better with fabric than some seats that put more abrasive fabric near the edges. The shoulder straps have padding with a rubberized back to prevent slipping, and the rubber is a bit aggressive and could irritate bare shoulders. The cushion on most of the seat is good, but the back is thinner and less supportive. It also sports a crotch pad, which is a nice bonus and, while 100% necessary, does improve overall comfort.

The shell on the Poplar is above average for the group. It is solid, with few places for gunk to hide, but it has a lot going on, with stickers and clutter that take away from an otherwise sleek design.

This model has removable dual cup holders and could be easy enough for a toddler to do themselves and drop or throw. If you decide not to use the cup holders, there are caps you put in place instead, and we worry parents will lose parts they don't use immediately.

The infant insert comes in three parts that are easy to install and remove. The fabric is soft like the rest of the seat, and the bottom component has a slot for the crotch strap that helps keep it in place.

Weight/Size

The Poplar is a heavy seat, weighing 26.1 lbs in our tests. However, this doesn't compare to the truly heavy seats in the group, with some weighing over 29 lbs. You probably don't want to have to lug it through an airport, though, and there are lighter options if you travel frequently.

This seat is on the narrow side and could be a potential for those who have smaller space or need to comfortably sit more people or car seats. With a measured width of 17 inches, it is one of the most narrow in the group. It is one of the shortest from front to back and could be a good choice for those with smaller cars or taller front-seat riders.

Should You Buy the Britax Poplar S?

The Poplar is largely an average seat with no real problems but nothing to brag about, either. It did rank well overall and has some interesting features, like the ClickTight installation lock-off, but the crash test analysis is lower than similarly priced seats. For us, we think finding a seat that is easier to install or has been analysis results would be a better way to spend your budget. Whether you want the absolute best crash test results, a rotating seat, or a budget-friendly seat, the lineup offers better options. However, it isn't a bad seat if you are a Britax loyalist, and you likely won't be disappointed.

What Other Convertible Car Seat Should You Consider?

The Graco Extend2Fit 3 in 1 offers better performance in key metrics like crash test analysis, comfort, and ease of use. It has a significantly lower price and we think it is worth consideration for the crash test score alone. Alternatively, the Graco 4Ever DLX has one of the best crash test analysis results and is easier to install with LATCH connectors. It is an easy-to-use seat with a price similar to the Poplar; it is the option we'd recommend to a friend. If you want a rotating seat with better crash test analysis, the Graco Turn2Me sports a similar price to the Britax and is easier to use.

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