Britax Roundabout G4.1 Britax Boulevard G4.1
The Britax Roundabout G4.1 remains their entry level convertible car seat. The Britax Boulevard G4.1 on the other hand now has an updated older brother called the Boulevard ClickTight, which comes with Britax’s unique ClickTight belt-installation system and some other enhanced features, including the option of an anti-rebound bar. It also has an increased price tag to reflect those improvements.
There is no Roundabout ClickTight seat on the market.
Despite the arrival of the newer “ClickTight” seats, you can still buy the “G4.1” models at a significantly lower price point.
So, if you have decided to save a little money buy forgoing the extra features on the newer models (many of which are luxury convenience items rather than safety enhancements), you still face the somewhat confusing task of working out the differences between the “G4.1” seats.
As you can see from the table below, there is a big difference between the full list prices of the Roundabout G4.1 and the Boulevard G4.1.
Do the extra features on the Boulevard G4.1 justify that extra money?
In this comparison review of the Britax Roundabout G4.1 and Boulevard G4.1 convertible car seats, I will hopefully provide you with enough information about them to enable you to make an informed decision about which one is likely to be the best for your child and your budget.
The Britax Roundabout G4.1 & Boulevard G4.1 at a Glance
| Feature | Roundabout G4.1 | Boulevard G4.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Full Price | $179.99 | $329.99 |
| Rear-Facing Weight | 5 - 40 lbs | 5 - 40 lbs |
| Rear-Facing Height | up to 46" | up to 49" |
| Forwards-Facing Weight | 20 - 55 lbs | 20 - 65 lbs |
| Forwards-Facing Height | up to 46" | up to 49" |
| No-rethread Harness | No | Yes (10 positions) |
| LATCH Installation | Yes | Yes |
| Infant Insert | Yes | Yes |
| Top Tether | Yes | Yes |
| Seat Expiration | 7 years | 7 years |
| FAA Approved for Flights | Yes | Yes |
Roundabout G4.1 vs Boulevard G4.1 – Similarities
1. Seat Installation
Both seats come with Britax’s simple push button “on & off” LATCH connectors.
All convertible car seats now come with maximum child weight limits for using the LATCH connectors. This is due to the fact that the LATCH anchors within vehicles are only certified to take a certain amount of force in a collision situation.
Once you have reached the seat’s maximum LATCH limits you must re-install the seat using the vehicle seatbelt instead.
The LATCH child weight limits on both seats are 40 lbs rear-facing and 50 lbs forwards-facing.
Whilst the belt-installation systems on the Roundabout and Boulevard G4.1 seats are not as simple and foolproof as the ClickTight mechanism on the newer models, both of these seats do helpfully come with built-in “lockoffs” to make the process of belt-installation easier than otherwise would be the case.
2. Britax’s Safecell Impact Protection Systems
The Roundabout and Boulevard seats come with a number of collision protection systems built into them.
They don’t have the Side Impact Cushion Technology (big head wings) found only on the Advocate ClickTight, but they do both come fitted with:
- Integrated Steel Frame
- Energy-absorbing Base
- V-Shaped Tether
- Side Impact Protection
The Integrated Steel Frame provides added stability and strength to the seat, whilst the Energy-Absorbing Base is engineered specifically to compress in the event of a collision so as to reduce the forces that are transmitted to your child.
This video explains how the Britax Steel Frame works:
The Side Impact Protection comprises a deep protective shell that is said to also absorb crash forces and shield your child from flying debris.
The Tether on both seats is V-shaped so as to prevent seat rotation, and the tether straps themselves are specially stitched so that they release themselves in stages in the event of a collision.
The Tether is an important safety feature that helps to prevent the seat from being thrown about excessively in the event of a collision.
The Boulevard G4.1 does have one extra side impact protection feature, which you can read about below.
3. Seat Recline Options
The recline options on both seats are quite limited.
There are 3 recline options, which means that the seat lacks the precise adjustment of recline angle that you can get with many of the more expensive premium convertible car seats.
You should, however, be able to find a suitable recline angle amongst the few on offer.
4. Infant Insert Pillow
Both seats come with an infant insert pillow to help babies to achieve a better fit.
It can be used up to a maximum of 22 lbs and only in the rear-facing mode.
5. Other Shared Features
The other shared features include:
- Tangle-free 5-point harness with chest clip
- Quick-adjust 2-position buckle
- FAA Certified for Aircraft travel
- Made in the USA
Roundabout G4.1 vs Boulevard G4.1 – Differences
1. Maximum Child Height & Weight Limits
Roundabout G4.1
- Rear-facing mode: 5 to 40 lbs and 46 inches.
- Forwards-facing mode: 20 to 55 lbs and 46 inches (minimum age of 1 years old).
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children remain in the rear-facing position until they are at least 2 years old, and both the Roundabout’s 40 lbs / 46 inches limits and the Boulevard’s 40 lbs / 49 inches limits will allow all children to comply with that recommendation.
Boulevard G4.1
- Rear-facing mode: 5 to 40 lbs and 49 inches.
- Forwards-facing mode: 20 to 65 lbs and 49 inches (minimum age of 1 years old).
Please note that there are seated shoulder height limits too to comply with on both seats.
So, the Boulevard G4.1 seat has an extra 3 inches in the rear-facing position and an extra 10 lbs and 3 inches in the forwards-facing position.
The importance of these higher height and weight limits on the Boulevard seat might depend upon the likely physical characteristics of your child as the get older, and what you intend to buy in terms of booster seats.
If you are likely to buy one of the Britax harness to booster car seats afterwards, then it probably won’t matter to you whether you buy it when your child is 55 lbs or when they are 65 lbs. It won’t cost you any more in the long run and the Britax harness to booster seats are excellent.
The maximum height limits on both seats are subject to the following additional rules. Whilst rear-facing, the top of your child’s head must be at least 1 inch below the top of the head restraint. Whilst forward-facing, the top of your child’s ears must be below the top of the head restraint.
2. Safecell Impact Absorbing Harness Pads
The Boulevard G4.1 seat has special harness pads that are said to help absorb crash forces, whereas the Roundabout G4.1 has a standard harness.
These special harness pads have extra thick rubber on the part that touches your child’s clothing to provide extra cushioning.
3. Quick-adjust Headrest (10 positions)
The headrest on the Boulevard G4.1 is far more flexible than that found on the Roundabout G4.1, which is largely what results in it having a much larger maximum height limit.
The Boulevard’s headrest can be adjusted incrementally through 10 different positions by simply squeezing and pulling the red handle at the top of the seat.
As is obvious from the photographs, the Roundabout does not come with any form of adjustable headrest.
4. EZ Buckle System
The EZ buckle system simply holds the harness buckle forwards to make it easier to load your child into the seat.
5. Click & Safe Snug Harness Indicator
The Boulevard seat comes with the “Click & Safe Snug” harness indicator.
This simply means that you can hear a clicking sound when the harness is adjusted to within the correct range of “snugness”.
6. Extra Side Impact Protection – The Padded Headrest
Again, you can see from the photos that the Boulevard seat looks different around the top of the child’s head area.
It has an extra layer of side impact protection, which comprises and energy-absorbing foam headrest. Not only does this act to enhance the protection in the event of a side impact collision, but it provides a pretty hand place for your child to rest their head whilst sleeping on journeys.
Britax Roundabout G4.1 Video Review
Britax Boulevard G4.1 Video Reviews
Britax Roundabout G4.1 Fabric Color Options
Britax Boulevard G4.1 Fabric Color Options
Check Out Other Fabric Color Options
Britax “G4.1” Seats in Canada
Find Britax “G4.1” Seats in Canada.
Safety Information
After purchasing any child car seat, you should always read the User Manual thoroughly before using it. It is also advisable to visit your local Fire Department or NHTSA Child Car Seat Inspection Centre to ensure that the seat is definitely suitable for your child’s specific requirements and that you have installed it correctly. These services are usually provided free of charge.
You can find your nearest NHTSA Centre here.
Get in Touch
If you have any comments or questions in relation to my Britax Roundabout G4.1 vs Boulevard G4.1 Comparison Review, please leave a comment in the box below or send me an email.
Leave a Reply