Introduction
The My Ride 65 LX is one of several convertible seats from Graco. How does it compare against other brands and the rest of the Graco line? Read on for my full review.
First off, Graco has an almost overwhelming number of seats to choose from. However, many of the seats are identical in construction but have small differences in options. Here is a brief comparison of the different My Ride seats:
vs. My Ride 65 DLX: The My Ride LX includes an infant head rest only, while the DLX includes an insert which adds support for both the infant’s head and torso. The DLX costs about $20 more.
vs. My Ride 70: This model is sold in Target stores only. As its name indicates, it has a 70 pound weight limit instead of 65 pounds. The height limit is the same as the My Ride 65 LX and DLX. The infant insert is not identical to the DLX, but also supports the head and torso. This model costs about $40 more than the LX.
So currently, there are three choices under the My Ride name. Since most children will outgrow their convertible seats in height before weight, I don’t feel the 5 pound higher limit on the My Ride 70 is worth the extra money. If you’ll be using the seat with an infant, I would go with the DLX. If not, I think the LX I’m reviewing here is the best value.
Safety Features
The My Ride 65 has rather large side impact wings and is touted as having been side-impact tested.
This seat doesn’t have any innovative safety features, but that’s to be expected as it costs about ½ what the higher-end competition does. Graco has been making seats since the late 90’s and does have a good reputation for safety. Of course, this seat has passed all NHTSA safety tests as required to be available on the US market.
Weight and Dimensions
Depth: 27 inches – This measurement is much higher than other seats, but only because Graco for some reason measured the seat fully reclined while other seats (Graco or otherwise) use an upright measurement. The forward-facing depth is at least a few inches shorter and would be considered average.
Width: 20.8 inches – The width of this seat is higher than a lot of its competition. This has a lot to do with the dual cupholder design. If you’ll be installing the seat on either the left or right side of a bench seat, or in a bucket seat, this shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you’d like to install it in the center seat, it will cut into the space available to either side.
Height: 26 inches – Height is a below average and doesn’t impact rear visibility as much as the average seat.
Weight: 15.8 pounds – This is a fairly light seat, which makes it easier to move between vehicles and travel with.
Installation
The instruction manual does a good job of explaining terminology at the start of the guide. It’s then broken up by installation type – forward or rear facing, LATCH or seat belt. It’s a fairly easy guide to follow. This seat earned a 4 star overall ease-of-use rating from the NHTSA.
The rear-facing LATCH installation is probably the one area where this seat is tricky to install. Due to their positioning, it can be hard to reach the LATCH belts to tighten them. You might find that the seat belt installation is easier when installing the seat rear-facing.
The My Ride does have a ball-level indicator which makes leveling the seat easier than the simple printed line used on many seats.
Rear Facing
This seat has a rear-facing weight limit of 40 pounds, which is quite good. This allows children to remain rear-facing longer, which is of course the safest position.
Again, LATCH installation is tricky when rear-facing, so I would recommend the seat belt installation.
Forward Facing
The My Ride has a weight limit of 65 pounds and height limit of 50 inches. These both compare well to most seats, even those costing twice as much.
The forward-facing installation procedure is straightforward, making this seat pretty easy to safely install.
Adjustment
Since this seat supports high weight and high limits both forward and rear facing, it’s important to look at what adjustments can be made and how easy it is to make them.
Some seats offer multiple positions for the crotch buckle. Unfortunately, the My Ride only has one position, which can make it a bit snug on older, heavier kids.
At the shoulders, there are 5 different slots for the harness. The range of adjustment is good with this seat for anywhere from newborns on up. You will need to rethread the harness through these slots to adjust the height of the straps, unlike some pricier seats that don’t require rethreading the harness. Rethreading isn’t too time consuming, but if you’ll frequently be seating children of different heights in one seat, consider the Size4Me 65.
This seat did have a recalled latch in early 2014 due to an issue with the buckle sticking. Most new seats should ship with the new and improved buckle – you can tell by whether the seat’s red buckle release button is square (new design) or round (recalled design). If you end up with the old design, you simply need to call Graco at 1-800-345-4109 for a replacement.
Fabric and Design
There are six different colors available for the My Ride 65 LX. The brighter “Ezra” and “Lana” colors are Wal-Mart exclusives, while the others are widely available and can be found a bit cheaper at Amazon. The fabric has a comfortable feel and can be wiped clean easily.
For bigger messes, the entire top cover of the seat is machine washable.
Warranty and Customer Service
This seat has a 1 year warranty, which is standard for most child car seats.
Customer service is an area where Graco stands out. Many parents are devoted users of Graco products because of their reliable and responsive support.
Lifespan
Every car seat is given an expiration date by the manufacturer, based on the materials used and the date it was made. The My Ride has a 6-year expiration date, which is typical. Many newer car seats in the $200+ price range have 7 year expiration dates, but 6 years is pretty typical for this price range.
Value
The My Ride is a reasonably priced seat. It’s an excellent value if you’re looking for a seat with high weight and height limits – there are few options in this price range that support up to 65 pounds and 50”. Value is probably the best reason to choose this seat over its many competitors.
Included Accessories
This seat is one of the few out there with two cup holders. This is great for keeping one drink cup and one snack cup for long road trips, or for other passengers to have a cupholder when there otherwise isn’t one.
A removable infant support is also included.
Optional Accessories
Since this seat has cupholders covered, the only other accessories you might consider are a travel bag, travel cart, or seat protector. Graco does not make these items, but there are plenty of universal products out there which will work. Though this seat is pretty wide, the J.L. Childress travel bag supposedly fits it fine.
Pros
- High weight and height limits
- Lightweight seat
- Easy installation
- Machine washable cover
- Dual cupholders
- Great value
Cons
- Wide seat
- No crotch buckle adjustment
- Harness must be rethreaded to adjust height
Conclusion
The My Ride 65 LX is one of the better values out there in a convertible car seat. The high limits for both height and weight extend the time you can use the seat both rear facing and forward facing. The easy installation helps ensure the seat can be used safely. Though it’s missing the no-rethread harness and crotch buckle adjustment found in pricier seats, it costs about half of what Britax and other fully-featured seats do.