Joie Tilt Review – A Car Seat on a Budget

Today I’m going to be reviewing the Joie Tilt Car Seat, having used it for over 18 months with a large baby and now a toddler. I started using the Joie Tilt when my son was 6 months old and used it until he was 2 years old at which point he outgrew the size limitations. He’s on the 99th percentile, so those with smaller children may get much more use out of it. I wanted to share my Joie Tilt review and experience as I read a lot of reviews when choosing car seats, many of which were far more expensive.

With a big baby who had outgrown the initial group 0 car seat that I purchased by 6 months, I was in the position of needing a group 1 car seat far quicker than anticipated. With us both being self employed and having little in the way of maternity pay I was definitely very conscious of our budget. Browsing in-store in a few places and reading car seat reviews was a bit daunting, especially as some car seats were costing £200-£250 or more – and I’d need two, as my mother wanted one for her car as she helps us with childcare two days a week. In comparison the Joie Tilt cost us less than £75, but of course safety and comfort are as critical as price, so I was quite nervous buying it.

I was also stuck with the issue of my son’s size. A baby in the 99th percentile means weight and size restrictions are suddenly really important. I must have browed a hundred car seats when I finally happened on the Joie Tilt Group 1 Car Seat, which at around £75 came in far cheaper than others. In fact, I could buy two cheaper than I could buy a lot of single seats! I purchased it at full price and wasn’t asked or compensated in any way for this review. I read a lot of reviews on dozens of car seats before buying, so I thought I’d share my own Joie Tilt car seat review having used it for 18 months.

I ordered my Joie Tilt from Uber Kids and it came very fast and well packaged – with free delivery too!

I’ve had time to extensively test out the Joie Tilt car seat in order to write this review and have even taking this car seat on epic road trips, including a round trip driving from Cardiff to Inverness! That trip wasn’t as smooth as we’d hoped, but certainly nothing to do with the car seat.

Joie Tilt Group 0+/1 Car Seat Review

Advantages of the Joie Tilt Group 0+/1 Car Seat

The Joie Tilt car seat was very easy to fit – but we found the instruction manual a little bit confusing and complicated! Instead we ended up browsing YouTube videos to figure it out. One we knew how to fit it, both my husband and I and my mother have no problem popping it in and out. It only takes about 3 minutes to get it in and the Joie Tilt is quite lightweight at 6kg, so ideal for car swapping or carrying, but they could definitely work on making the manual more user-friendly.

The Joie Tilt is rear facing for the full duration of the weight limit – that’s up to 18kg (40lbs), or you can switch it front facing. In front facing it has three recline positions, but safety recommendations these days are to keep rear facing as long as possible. In rear facing it has a sleeping tilt mode or upright, and the sleeping is ideal for younger babies or trips where you hope they’ll be sleeping.

My son is currently 2 years old at last update, and still rear facing comfortably at 32lbs. However, as a larger toddler it’s worth noting there is absolutely no way he will still be under 40lbs by the time he’s three. His legs are starting to get a little bit cramped, he is 95cm tall, so he is very tall as well as heavy.

The car seat has had absolutely no complaints at all from my son and it comes with a secure 5 point locking harness with shoulder protection that’s easy to clip on and off. In 2018 we traveled from Cardiff to Edinburgh and then toured the Scottish Highlands for a week using this car seat. We had no problems using it on such a long journey and he sleeps in it very well.

The recline options are good and this is a feature that most car seats in this budget range don’t offer.

The Joie Tilt is lightweight (6.1kg) so easy to transfer between cars when needed.

The Joie Tilt is also available in two colours. We use the “two tone black” which is black and dark grey in our car, but my mother went for the “ladybird”, a jazzy red and black in hers, which I actually really like.

Disadvantages of the Joie Tilt Group 0+/1 Car Seat

The Joie Tilt is only a group 0+ and 1 car seat. This means it’s suitable to 18kg (40lbs). So when your child hits 40lbs, you will need to upgrade again, however when you consider the price, I feel quite happy that it has lasted us long enough to switch to a front-facing seat that progresses upwards for the rest of his childhood.

It doesn’t have ISOFIX and the base can feel a little bit unsteady compared to my previous ISOFIX car seat, although I’m reassured that it’s a good brand and it’s passed all the safety tests, so I feel quite confident using it. I like to just re-adjust and lock the seatbelt every time before we set off to make sure it’s secure, which only takes me a few seconds. I think this is a downside that most seat-belt strapped car seats will have over ISOFIX.

It’s a little bit awkward to get my son in and out of the Joie Tilt in the rear facing position. In part due to the high sides, and in part due to the seatbelt position. You have to do a little bit of a tilt and a swivel. My son goes in like a dream, but if you have a baby that’s hard to get in and out of a car seat, I imagine this battle could be a little bit harder due to the somewhat limited accessibility.

A Quick Recap of the Pros and Cons of the Joie Tilt Group 0+/1 Car Seat in this Review

Pros:

• Very budget friendly and lower priced than most car seats with the same features.
• High ratings for safety.
• Rear facing up to 18kg.
• 3 front-facing recline positions
• 1 rear-facing recline position
• Comfortable
• Lightweight
• Attractive

Cons:

• Not a very clear user manual.
• Only group 0+/1 so will need to be replaced at 40lbs.
• No ISOFIX.
• Limited accessibility in rear facing.
• Seatbelt placement can get in the way.

I’m actually very impressed with what the Joie Tilt offers for the cost and I think it compares with car seats that cost double or more the price. It’s definitely not perfect, but I do think that it’s safe and comfortable which are my two important concerns, and I’d be very surprised if you could get something better in this price range. A thumbs up for the Joie Tilt Group 0+/1 Car Seat, especially for those shopping on a budget – I’d give it 4 stars.

What are you looking for in a car seat right now? Leave a comment below!