The Advocate 70-G3 is Britax’s top-of-the-line model. But is it worth the added expense over other models? Read on for my complete review.
Safety Features
Britax is well regarded for the safety of their seats, and the Advocate 70-G3 is touted as their safest seat.
The primary safety feature that the Advocate adds to the Britax lineup is its Side Impact Cushion Technology. Just looking at the photo of the seat, you’ll notice the large side cushions. While it’s not possible to find out detailed NHTSA crash data on seats, Britax has a reputation for researching the best in child safety features. If you’re looking for better side impact protection than the average seat, I would bet on the Advocate following through with their claims.
The seat also comes with HUGS chest pads that can be used for toddlers and older children to reduce strain in the event of a crash. Instead of using a cloth pad for ride comfort only, these pads will compress to absorb energy.
Like other Britax 70-G3 seats, the Advocate has steel reinforcement bars, an energy-absorbing Versa-tether system, and the recently-added SafeCell system in the base to absorb crash forces.
You can’t go wrong with a Britax seat in terms of safety, in my opinion. If you’re looking for the safest seat Britax has to offer, the Advocate is it.
Weight and Dimensions
When selecting a car seat it’s important to look at the size to make sure it will fit your vehicle. Here are the specs and how they compare to other seats:
Depth: 21” – Depth is average. Fits well in most vehicles. Not recommended for small cars with tall passengers in front when the seat used in the rear-facing position.
Width: 22” – This is currently the widest seat on the market. A large sedan, truck, or SUV is recommended if the seat will be installed in the center position and there will be additional seats or passengers in back.
Height: 26” – Average. The driver’s rear visibility isn’t impacted in most cases.
Weight: 21.6 pounds – Not the heaviest seat out there, but it weighs more than most. If you plan to travel a lot with the seat, consider a Britax Travel Cart.
Due to the enhanced side impact protection, the Advocate 70-G3 is a wide seat. If you have a roomy vehicle, it’s not a big issue. However, in smaller cars this reduces the available space for additional car seats and passengers in the back seat.
Installation
Seats in the Britax 70-G3 line have the same installation procedures. Both the LATCH and seatbelt installation methods for rear and front facing positions are straightforward, with LATCH being easier to tighten to the point of having the required 1” or less of seat movement.
The seat has a simple blue line to use as a leveling guide. It’s recommended to stay within a 15 degree range; if the line is even with the ground, it’s in the center of this range. With this seat you’ll need to “eyeball” whether it’s level, and use a pool noodle or rolled up towel to raise one end if needed. Some seats use a bubble level which is a better method than what’s available on the Advocate 70-G3.
The recline position is based on whether the seat is used forward or rear-facing and can easily be changed by pulling the handle and rotating the seat.
As for the instruction manual, it’s not the easiest to follow. Some illustrations and descriptions are better than others. If you’re unclear on a particular step, I recommend calling Britax for clarification.
Rear Facing
When used in the rear-facing position, the Advocate can be used for children up to 40 pounds. This is a bit above the average weight limit, and means that most children can be seated rear-facing for around 4 years.
The minimum weight for the Advocate is 5 pounds, which is fairly typical.
Forward Facing
The forward facing minimum for the Advocate is 20 pounds, but as with any seat I’d recommend using it in the rear-facing position well beyond 20 pounds.
As the name indicates, the Advocate 70-G3 can be used for children up to 70 pounds, which is on the high side. The height limit is 49”, which is more average. Most children will outgrow this seat in height before weight – anywhere for 6 to 9 years old.
Adjustment
It can be a bit trickier than some seats to get your child seated in the Advocate. This is due to the large side impact protectors. Otherwise, it’s an easy seat to use and adjust. The Advocate (along with the Pavilion) adds a Click & Safe harness indicator. Once your child is seated and the harness buckles are locked, simply pull on the harness adjuster strap until the indicator clicks. You’ll want to double-check the slack in the harness, but this system generally does a good job of adjusting the belt properly with one tug.
In some cases, the included harness straps may be outgrown before your child reaches the height/weight limit. If this happens, contact Britax and they should send you longer straps free of charge.
Fabric and Design
Britax has five different fabric options for the Advocate – Anna, Onyx, Opus Gray, Serene, and Zebra. One thing to keep in mind is that the Onyx seat uses a different material than the others. It uses a fabric which is a bit like a canvas bag. It’s not as plush as the others, but it’s easier to wipe clean and will be less warm for your child if you live in a hot climate. The other fabrics are very soft and fuzzy – they’re a good choice if the seat will often be sitting in a cold car during the winter since they’ll feel warmer.
Warranty and Customer Service
The Advocate has a 1-year manufacturer warranty, which is typical for car seats. Britax has a very good reputation for their customer service, even beyond the warranty, which is a big reason why Britax seats come so highly recommended.
Lifespan
The Advocate 70-G3 has a 7 year expiration date. This is a year longer than most seats on the market, which is helpful if you start using it when your child is an infant or if you plan to later use it for another child.
Some models by Clek, Diono, and Chicco can safely be used even longer if that’s a big concern for you.
Value
While the Advocate is fairly pricey, it also has some of the best safety features available. It’s still far from being the most expensive seat on the market. I recommend purchasing from Amazon – they price Britax seats at 15-25% less than stores like Babies ‘R Us and Buy Buy Baby.
Included Accessories
A removable insert is included with the seat for use with small infants. That’s all that’s included as far as accessories go.
Optional Accessories
Britax has a good line of accessories, but they do come at an additional cost. Add-ons include a cup holder, seat protector, kick mats, travel bag, and travel cart.
Pros
- Some of the best safety features available
- Straightforward installation
- Good rear and forward facing size limits
- Harness is easy to fasten and adjust
- Great fabric choices
- Excellent Britax customer service
- Good overall value
Cons
- The widest of any convertible car seat
- Heavier than most seats
- Basic leveling system
- No cupholder included
Conclusion
If you’re looking for the very best in terms of safety features from a well-regarded company, the Britax Advocate 70-G3 is my top pick. Keep in mind that it may not fit small cars when taller passengers are seated up front, and in all cars it takes up more width in the back seat than most convertible car seats. If you have the cabin space in your car, truck, or SUV, the Advocate 70-G3 is the best Britax has to offer.
If the price is out of your budget, the Britax Boulevard, Marathon, and Pavilion are also great choices which have many of the same safety features at a lower cost.