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Quick verdict
Choose the Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat if you want fits from 4 pounds with the included insert, one of the lowest starting weights of any infant seat. Choose the Evenflo LiteMax 35 Infant Car Seat if you'd rather have lightest carrier in this list, a real difference when carrying it through an airport terminal. Overall we rank the Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat higher: #1 versus #2 in our Best Car Seats for Newborns list.
Winner overall: Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat
Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat vs Evenflo LiteMax 35 Infant Car Seat compared
Every difference that matters, in one table.
Keep researching
- Best Car Seats for Newborns
- Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat review
- Evenflo LiteMax 35 Infant Car Seat review
- All car seats
Bottom line
Choose the Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat if you want fits from 4 pounds with the included insert, one of the lowest starting weights of any infant seat. Choose the Evenflo LiteMax 35 Infant Car Seat if you'd rather have lightest carrier in this list, a real difference when carrying it through an airport terminal. Overall we rank the Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat higher: #1 versus #2 in our Best Car Seats for Newborns list.
Top pickChicco
Fits from 4 pounds with the included insert, one of the lowest starting weights of any infant seat
- Fits infants 4 to 35 pounds
- Removable infant head and body support insert
- Stay-in-car base with load leg and level indicator
- UPF 50+ full-coverage canopy
- Compatible with most Chicco strollers for a travel system
✓ Pros
- Lightest carrier in this list, a real difference when carrying it through an airport terminal
- Belt lock-off means it installs securely in a rental car without needing to bring or check the base
- Typically the least expensive seat here, lowering the stakes if travel handling causes wear
✕ Cons
- Still needs to be checked or gate-checked without a base, since the base itself is bulky to travel with
- Fewer premium comfort features than the pricier picks
- Height limit means it will not last as long for an older, taller toddler
Evenflo
Evenflo LiteMax 35 for a genuinely lightweight carrier at the lowest price in the category.
- Fits infants 4 to 35 pounds
- 8.7-pound carrier, one of the lightest in its class
- Belt lock-off for base-free installation
- Dual weight range recline indicator
- Removable infant head and body pillow
✓ Pros
- Lightest carrier shell in this list, easier to carry one-handed with a diaper bag
- NHTSA ease-of-use rating of four out of five stars
✕ Cons
- LATCH connectors on the base are reported as stiffer to attach than Chicco's
- Fewer stroller travel-system pairings than Chicco or Graco
- Fabric and padding feel less premium than the pricier picks
FAQ
Common questions
Which is better, the Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat or the Evenflo LiteMax 35 Infant Car Seat?
Choose the Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat if you want fits from 4 pounds with the included insert, one of the lowest starting weights of any infant seat. Choose the Evenflo LiteMax 35 Infant Car Seat if you'd rather have lightest carrier in this list, a real difference when carrying it through an airport terminal. Overall we rank the Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat higher: #1 versus #2 in our Best Car Seats for Newborns list.
What is the difference between the Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat and the Evenflo LiteMax 35 Infant Car Seat?
The Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat stands out because fits from 4 pounds with the included insert, one of the lowest starting weights of any infant seat, while the Evenflo LiteMax 35 Infant Car Seat stands out because lightest carrier in this list, a real difference when carrying it through an airport terminal. The trade-offs differ too: the Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat's ma in caveat is that height limit around 30 inches means many babies outgrow it before 35 pounds, and the Evenflo LiteMax 35 Infant Car Seat's is that still needs to be checked or gate-checked without a base, since the base itself is bulky to travel with.
Is the Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat worth it over the Evenflo LiteMax 35 Infant Car Seat?
For most buyers, yes: it's our #1 pick. Consider the Evenflo LiteMax 35 Infant Car Seat instead if height limit around 30 inches means many babies outgrow it before 35 pounds is a deal-breaker for you.
Who should buy the Evenflo LiteMax 35 Infant Car Seat instead of the Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat?
The Evenflo LiteMax 35 Infant Car Seat suits travel, while the Chicco KeyFit 35 Infant Car Seat is best for newborns.
Keep researching
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