Evenflo Sonus 65 Review: Is this the most affordable convertible car seat?
Can I afford it if I’m on a shoestring budget? Let’s find out!
Well, in this post, I will be walking you through various aspects of Evenflo Sonus 65 in order to help you make an informed buying decision.
Moreover, our intention would be to discuss the nuts and bolts of Evenflo Sonus 65 so that you can have a clear idea about whether it syncs well with your requirements and budget or NOT.
Lastly, I will be responding to the queries related to Evenflo Sonus 65 Review to help you clear your doubts before you make a purchase.
All in all, we will be trying to the best of our capabilities to bring you the most detailed and informative review so that we can help you in the best possible way.
Needless to say, the final buying decision is totally yours, and by no means do we want to influence it.
izzysmarthomeguide.com has been in the industry for quite a few years now and has been highly appreciated and rewarded for the unbiased reviews that we bring to the table.
We floated an online survey wherein we asked our clientele to rate The Evenflo Sonus 65 convertible seat on various parameters depending upon their past experience and trust me, we never expected the ratings would be mind-boggling.
Frankly speaking, before we share with you these ratings, I would like to affirm that other than the survey, our core also evaluated the product on various parameters and found it in sync with what our clients have given the feedback.
We will be presenting to you separately our evaluation rating and the client’s rating.
Of course, there are some variations that were acceptable and under the limits.
IzzySmartHomeGuide.Com Client’s Rating
| Features | Client’s Rating |
| Comfortability | 4.7/5 |
| Affordable | 4.6/5 |
| Value For Money | 4.3/5 |
| Ease Of Use | 3.9/5 |
| Durability | 4.1/5 |
IzzySmartHomeGuide.Com Core Team Rating
| Features | Core Team Rating |
| Lifespan | 4.1/5 |
| Comfort | 4.5/5 |
| Ease Of Installation | 3.7/5 |
| Brand Value | 4.3/5 |
| Competitive Advantage | 4.5/5 |
What Our Client Says About Evenflo Sonus 65
Well, we had an in-depth discussion with our clients to whom we had recommended Evenflo Sonus 65 in the past.
Just for your information, here we will be covering both the positive as well as negative comments that we received so that you can have a clear view of the Evenflo Sonus 65.
Positive Comments:
- The car seat is comfortable, durable, and the best in its category for the price
- I had a rear-ended collision and the seat did a great job, would love to recommend it
- Definitely, I’ll prefer it over the Graco adjustable car seat
- I love the impact protector feature
- Well, I’ll give full marks to Evenflo Sonus 65 for safety but not for ease of installation
Negative Comments:
- The cupholders are detachable and come out very easily
- It’s large and cumbersome for travel
- The installation process could be easier though, and the worst part, it can’t be tightened once installed
To be honest, most of our clients complained about the tedious and time-consuming installation process, and if the manufacturer is hearing what our loyal customers are saying then definitely, the brand work on its area of improvement.
When it narrows down to comfort, then the brand is definitely one of the best in its category, it will provide your baby with the much-needed comfort.
In order to keep your baby cool and comfortable during the summer, the manufacturer has embedded an air vent into the seat.
Moving further, we will be discussing the pros, cons, and top features but also comparing Evenflo Sonus 65 with three other close competitors in order to help you make an informed buying decision.Features
It wouldn’t be possible for us to discuss almost all the features.
However, we will be throwing light on some of the important features that put Evenflo Sonus 65 into a different league altogether.
Robust Structure
It goes without saying that the Evenflo Sonus 65 is a safe and secure convertible seat that you can easily afford even though you’re on a shoestring budget.
Our core team did the testing for structural integrity and found it to match our expectations, in fact, it exceeded our expectations on some of the evaluation parameters.
It performed really well against parameters such as side impact, rollover, etc.
Since the performance of this convertible car seat was mind-boggling on parameters such as all side-impact I can infer that your kid is in safe hands.
On top of it, the Evenflo Sonus 65 can be used on airplanes as it is certified by the FAA.
Ventilation
In order to keep heat buildup at bay, a proper air circulation system is needed right in the place, and the same has been secured by the brand.
On top of it, the manufacturer gives high priority to features such as comfortability and durability so has inculcated two cup holders which are detachable as well.
The ease of use is further enhanced with the five-position harness that can be readily adjusted as per your baby’s requirement.
The Sonus 65 could be a perfect fit for kids whose weight falls in the range of 5 and 65 pounds and any kid outside this range shouldn’t use this convertible car seat.
When you’re switching your cars it wouldn’t be a pain in your butt because it is lightweight, compact, and portable, and the credit goes to the plastic materials used in the seat.
I really like the fact that the latched connector on the Sonus 65 is the regular hook-style clip that connects to your vehicle with ease.
And, in case, you want to free the strap, all you need to do is to push the white button present on the seat.
- Can be converted from rear-facing to forward-facing in an epigrammatic span of time which increases its timeline for use
- Universal fitting – Fits 3-across in a good number of vehicles
- For child safety, it has an extended rear-facing well in place
- Designed and examined for structural integrity at energy levels
- The side impact was examined for impact and exceeds federal safety standards
- Up-front harness adjustable for a simple, snug fit from the front
- The seat grows with your children which is clearly depicted by the fact that it comes with 5-shoulder strap positions for an accurate fit for developing children
- The seat pad is machine washable and easy to clean
- Double cupholders
- An effective ventilation system is right in place to provide your baby the much-needed comfort
- Free video support to make the installation process newbie-friendly
- In order to fit a wider range of child sizes, the car seat has a wider base
Specifications
- Rear-facing weight range 5-40 lbs
- Rear-facing height range 19-50 in.
- Two top harness slots
- Forward-facing weight range 22-65 lbs
- Forward-facing age minimum 2 years
- Forward-facing height range 28-50 in.
- The highest harness slot is 17 in.
- The lowest harness slot is 6 in.
- 6 harness slots 6, 8.5, 10.5, 12.5, 15, and 18 in.
Measurements
- Weight 10.8 lbs
- Width at widest point 18 in.
- Seat pan depth 12 in.
- Crotch buckle 2 slots, 3.5 and 5 inches from the back.
- Shell height 25 in.
Things That Matches IzzySmartHomeGuide.Com Core Team Expectations
- We liked the fact that the convertible car seat has been tested for impact and is rollover as well
- Lightweight, durability, and compatibility are yet other important parameters on which the Evenflo Sonus 65 has performed extremely well in our evaluation process
- An airflow vent is right in place to keep air circulation on track and prevent heat buildup
- The Sonus 65 is highly flexible which can be clearly depicted by the fact that you can adjust the harness from the front as well as fit 3-across in many vehicles
- Free video support to enhance the usability
- Approved by the FAA for airplane travel
Area Of Improvement
- We don’t like the fact that Sonus 65 has got just one recline angle in the rear-facing installation
- If you’re installing it in the rear-facing mode then be ready to sacrifice a good amount of passenger legroom
- Inculcation of an infant insert pillow would’ve definitely enhanced the comfort level
- Lastly, the cupholders can’t be used in rear-facing installation which might offend quite a few of you if not many
Competitors’ Comparison
We believe that the review of Evenflo Sonus 65 would be incomplete if we don’t tell you where it stands in front of its close competitors.
Does it make sense? Well, I hope so…
Evenflo Sonus 65 vs. Evenflo Stratos 65
The good thing about Evenflo Sonus 65 vs. Evenflo Stratos 65 is that both are highly affordable and value-for-money car seats.
Moreover, since they are the product line of the same brand similarities are much more than the differences between the two.
In the 5 to 40 lbs range, both these car seats can function in both modes, that is, forward-facing, and rear-facing.
And, both are capable of handling kids up to 65 pounds.
Not only that but both Evenflo Stratos 65 and Evenflo Sonus 65 had shown great results when tested by the Federal Crash Test and rollover standard test which clearly depicts that the car seat is safe and secured for your kids.
A significant difference between the two is that the Evenflo Stratos 65 is sealed with E3 Side impact protection which takes the safety to the next level altogether.
Definitely, E3 Side impact protection will be of great help in the event of a side collision.
With multiple shoulder strap positions and temperature monitor features, both are bound to deliver high performance without compromising on safety and comfort.
Another important difference between the two is that the Stratos 65 has an addition of a 5-position adjustable headrest that allows you to propel the headrest to the height of your kids, interesting, isn’t it?
| Spec | Stratos 65 | Sonus 65 |
| E3 Side Impact Protection | Yes | No |
| Safe Installation | Yes | No |
| Adjustable Headrest | 5 Positions | No |
| Shoulder Positions | 6 | 5 |
| Rear-Facing Weight | 5-40 lbs | 5-40 lbs |
| Forward-Facing Weight | 22-65 lbs | 22-65 lbs |
| Side Impact Tested | Yes | Yes |
| Federal Crash Tested | Yes | Yes |
| Rollover Tested | Yes | Yes |
| Check Price On Amazon | $$$ | $$$ |
Evenflo Sonus 65 vs. Cosco Scenera
Wait, we’ve got another interesting comparison for you.
This time it’s a tough fight between two very popular brands, Let’s see who is gonna win the battle.
To begin with, Cosco Scenera is relatively lightweight as compared to the huge and bulky Evenflo Sonus 65 so for portability we’ve got a clear winner in the form of Scenera.
The Sonus 65 weighs approximately 4 pounds more as compared to the lightweight Cosco which weighs as low as 7 pounds.
However, the bulkiness of Sonus 65 comes with its own sets of advantages in the form of a weight limit which is 25 pounds more than Cosco Scenera, The latter is capable of handling at a max of 40 pounds.
In other words, your kids can use Sonus 65 till 2 years of age, such flexibility isn’t possible with Cosco Scenera because of its reduced capacity to handle the weight.
In the case of Cosco Scenera, you would need a booster seat to fit.
Both follow the latch installment system and are safer for your kids.
The Evenflo Sonus 65 could be a great pick for long drives as it is properly padded with a headrest.
Evenflo Sonus 65 Vs Graco Contender
The Graco Contender can give good competition to the Evenflo Sonus 65 in terms of quality, comfort, usability, convenience, and most importantly, performance.
As mentioned earlier, the Sonus 65 is uniquely designed to protect you from a side collision.
Well, protection during the collision is a top priority of Graco Contender as well but it follows an entirely different mechanism to achieve a high level of security.
In fact, the Graco seats are built with energy-absorbing foam in order to take care of your kids during any unprecedented event including collision.
Both these convertible car seats can be used in the rear position for kids whose weight falls in the range of 5 and 40 pounds, and in the forwarding position, they can handle a kid who weighs less than or equal to 65 pounds.
For additional height, Graco would be a better choice for sure as it has a harness slot of 18 inches but the Sonus 65 is measured at 17 inches
On the other hand, one of the major drawbacks of Graco is that it doesn’t have an adjustable headrest.
For your information, Sonus 65 can be adjusted up to 28 inches.
And, if you’re a price-sensitive customer then you should opt for Sonus 65 as Graco is way costlier.
Evenflo Sonus 65 Vs Britax Marathon G4
So, here I come with yet another comparison that involves two well-recognized brands.
The Evenflo Sonus 65 Vs Britax Marathon G4 could be a close competition as both of them are equipped with almost all the essential ingredients that you might be looking for in your favorite convertible car seat.
But, at the same time, I can assure you that we’ve got a clear winner so keep reading.
The Britax Marathon G4 convertible seat is definitely one of the best on the market but Sonus 65 has an edge over the former.
When it comes to comfortability the built-in airflow vent does the trick for Sonus 65.
On the measurement front, Sonus 65 completely dominates its competitor.
The harness slot of the Britax Marathon G4 is measured at 16 inches while the Sonus 65 is at 17 inches.
In layman’s terms, Sonus 65 will give you more flexibility in terms of height.
Nonetheless, Britax overshadows Sonus 65 when it comes to lower anchor connectors.
The Britax G4 allows you to connect the seat to your vehicle without necessitating a seat belt resulting in enhanced safety.
What I really liked about Britax Marathon G4 is that it is equipped with an anti-crash feature that plays a crucial role in safeguarding your kids during a collision.
Since it can check any forward movements so your kids stay seated even in the event of a collision.
Both are exceptionally good for sure.
However, the overall winner as per our evaluation is Sonus 65.
But, at the same time, if your requirements and budget sync well with Britax G4 then you should opt for it.
FAQs
In this section, I will be responding to the queries related to Evenflo Sonus 65 Review in order to help you make an informed buying decision.
Is Evenflo Sonus FAA-approved?
Yes, it is FAA approved and you can carry it in the airplanes.
Is Evenflo a good car seat?
Frankly speaking, the Sonus 65 is one of the best convertible car seats available on the market.
Not only is it equipped with almost all the essential features that you might be looking for in your favorite car seat but is also affordable.
They are lightweight, comfortable, durable, and long-lasting.
In order to present to you the best piece of information that we could, our team has done a comparison with its close competitor to highlight the competitive advantage that Sonus 65 possesses.
How do I install Evenflo Sonus rear-facing?
I’m attaching a self-explanatory video for your perusal.
Wrapping Up Evenflo Sonus 65 Review
First and foremost, I would like to thank you for being with us till the end.
Secondly, I would like to bring to your notice that I along with my core team have put loads and loads of effort into coming up with this idiosyncratic superlative piece of information.
And, in case, you liked our efforts then feel free to share the information with like-minded people and the ones who are in need of it.
After all, sharing is caring, isn’t it?
Cutting a long story short, the Evenflo Sonus 65 is a comfortable and affordable convertible car seat that can provide its service to your baby till she weighs 65 pounds.
The unique design and idiosyncratic features including safety, convenience, portability, etc. make it a preferred choice.
In layman’s terms, the Sonus 65 comprises almost all the essential ingredients that you might be looking for in your favorite convertible car seat.
I personally like the air vent feature that helps in proper air circulation and keeps the heat buildup at bay.
Last but not least, I highly recommend Evenflo Sonus 65 and from my past experience as well as feedback from my clients, I can affirm that it’s worth the investment and will definitely pay you in the long run.
That’s all, as of now:)
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