Multimac car seat review: Now R129 accredited for maximum safety and convenience

Multimac is a unique, multiple child car seat, which is fitted securely across the back seat of your car, allowing you to seat up to four children between the ages of 0-12. Mum of three Gemma Calvey tested out the Multimac 1000 3 seater along with the Minimac infant car seat, with her three boys aged 5 years, 3 years, and 12 months - here's how she got on.

When our third child was due, we were looking at options for accommodating all three children in our car. Those in this situation of having to fit multiple children into one car will know that there are few options available, outside of purchasing a new car entirely. Our car is a 7 seater, however the two seats in the back are foldable and very small, and I was not comfortable with seating my 5 year old in the very back of the car. So, initially, my eldest sat in the front with my husband and I squeezed myself into the back middle seat, between the two car seats. This was, unarguably, uncomfortable and not as safe as I was aiming for.

The Multimac car seat aims to provide a solution for getting more than two car seats in a five-seater car. It is legal to use in the UK and now with R129 accreditation has undergone extensive testing to ensure it provides excellent safety. The car seat is available in options for 3 or 4 children and can be easily installed and also removed, plus it is simple to wipe clean, which we know is important because we understand how messy car seats can get with little ones.

The car seat comes with an option for varying widths too, which means it can fit in nearly all cars including compact, family, saloons and SUVs. You won't need to change your car to fit your family and even better the Multimac is customisable and you can choose the finish in standard faux leather or real leather to suit your style and car.

Whether you want a car seat for a 3 year old, a newborn, or your 10 year old, the Multimac works for all the family, plus there are lots of accessories to purchase too. But, most importantly, it provides a safe option for your little ones when on the road.

Testing the Multimac Three Seater Car Seat and Minimac

When I saw the Multimac, and what it offers parents (and carers) of multiple children, I was immediately impressed. The design is fantastic – smart, classic appearance, made from faux leather, and with soft padding and comfortable straps. It appears very durable and will last us until our children reach age 12, with no need to upsize to new car seats every few years. The complete design is very stylish and complements the interior of the car. The fact that it is the only car seat of its kind in the world, and instantly resolves the problem of seating 3+ children across the back row of the car, makes it invaluable as a product.

Due to being securely mounted to the chassis of the car, the Multimac recommends professional installation with one of the company’s approved fitting agents (please note a charge applies for this). This was a straightforward process and the team communicated well with us; providing a date and time for us to attend. On the day, they were friendly and helpful, explaining everything we needed to know about using the car seat. The fitting itself took around an hour, where they bolted the seat in place using the existing mounting points for the seat belt buckles, under the back seat. Everything was very streamlined, and I was pleasantly surprised with how neat the Multimac looks in the car and how the back row seems more spacious.

The Minimac is also well designed and stylish – though obviously more slim and compact than regular infant car seats – and locks easily, in the rear-facing position, onto the Multimac. The Minimac also offers a newborn insert, and it is possible to lift the seat in and out of the car, however the seat is fixed in one position, with no option to rotate or recline as some other car seats offer.

My three children found the seat very comfortable. The 5 and 3 year olds had plenty of space, leaned comfortably on the headrests, and were seated securely with the 5-point harnesses with comfortable shoulder straps. We had the chance to test out the Multimac on our recent holiday to Devon, which involved many hours in the car, and were very grateful that all three children were comfortable throughout and even went to sleep on several occasions!

Our 12 month old appeared very happy in his infant seat, which is suitable up to 18 months. We found the Minimac slightly more upright than his previous car seat which was great for him, as he was often trying to sit up more and felt restricted before. It is worth noting that you are unable to use the Minimac with a buggy in the way other baby travel systems work, for the ease of popping the seat on a buggy for a quick stop or if baby is asleep. This wasn’t an issue for us, as our baby is older but worth considering for parents of young babies.

With the faux leather material, the Multimac and Minimac were really easy to wipe clean. They still look clean and new, despite the various snacks and drinks that have been spilled on it. Another benefit we found during our holiday, was having the full boot space without our eldest child sitting in the third row.

My two eldest children have been able to get in and out of the car with no issue and, being in the same style seat, there were no arguments over who gets to sit where. The only slightly tricky part was fastening the 5-point harnesses and tightening the straps. The children were unable to do this themselves, so it required leaning over to reach the middle child, but we did manage ok.

Despite the fixed position of the Minimac, we found putting our 12 month old into the car very easy. I am not sure why it doesn’t have a 5-point harness like the other seats, however it did make it easier to fasten him in, as the straps can be hung over the back of the car seat and easily pulled over once ready to fasten. In all other previous car seats we’ve used, the straps usually end up underneath the baby and difficult to retrieve.

One of the main concerns for children’s car seats is that of safety, and I wanted to be able to seat my three children in the car in the safest way possible. With previous car seats offering safety options such as side impact protectors, impact-absorbing padding, and extended use of rear-facing seats, I wanted to make sure that the Multimac would deliver on the safety side of its function.

Firstly, the seat itself is bolted in place, meaning it is as secure as you could get; even more so than an Isofix base. Secondly, the structure of the Multimac is made with a solid, horizontal, aluminium frame, which acts as a very sturdy side impact protector. The whole Multimac car seat has been designed and tested with safety in mind, with several impact absorbers such as the seat frames, supporting structure, seatbelt tethers and material padding of the seatbelts.

Although it is safer to seat children in a rear-facing position, in our circumstances of seating three children, we find the Multimac the safest option. Our children would previously have been sitting in a booster style seat using the regular seatbelt so they will now be in a secure 5-point harness for longer. We also like the fact our children are all sitting together – a much safer position than the front or very rear of the car, a lot more convenient to supervise and assist them during journeys, and allows a much quicker exit with all children in the same car seat system and position in the car, especially if needing to evacuate in an emergency. I did read that there are also developments of a rear-facing option so that will raise the overall safety options to an even higher level.

Final verdict

I think the Multimac is a fantastic product, and conveniently solves the issue of seating 3+ children in the back of the car. It is an expensive product, but good value when you consider that you only need to purchase it once with no need to change to bigger seats as children grow, and no need to buy separate Isofix bases. It particularly suits older children, who are provided a spacious and comfortable seat, but with the added safety of the 5-point harness.

I love the safety features and how sturdy and secure the seat is. The convenience of having all three children seated comfortably together, while not compromising on safety, and knowing that this will last us until they turn 12, makes the Multimac a product I would definitely recommend. The Multimac and Minimac are sturdy but stylish, very well designed and made with high quality and durable materials.

If I could change anything on the Multimac, it would be to have a rear-facing option for longer and also a 5-point harness on the Minimac, and perhaps a cover/sunshade. It would also be good to have a drinks holder attachment for the main seats. Overall, I am so happy with the Multimac and feel it has been the perfect solution for us as a family of 5.

If you are looking for a convenient and stylish car seat for your family, then the Multimac car seat might just be what you are looking for. Multimac is the creator of the world's only multi-child car seat for children between the ages of 0-12. They have a range of 3 or 4 seater car seats which are great for families when they have a third or fourth child but don't want to buy a huge car to accommodate their growing family.

Now, not only does Multimac offer convenience but excellent safety too because in April 2024 they were accredited with the R129 safety rating. When it comes to car seats, as parents, our first concern is safety and the R129 rating, which is the newest and safest car seat rating, means that the Multimac complies with all required safety standards and has undergone rigorous testing to meet the stringent safety requirements.

Are Multimac car seats legal in the UK?

Yes they are. Multimac say, "the United Kingdom recognises the European standard that we are crash tested under and the Multimac has been approved for use in the UK by the VCA, ABI, and British government."

Are Multimac car seats safe?

Multimac have recently been awarded the R129 safety accreditation and have undergone extensive testing. The car seats for R129 accreditation are now tested using Q dummies which have 32 sensors to really evaluate seat safety. The difficulty with Multimac crash testing was the Q dummies are extremely expensive and most test house only have one. Multimac required four in order to test, but they overcame this challenge and the Multimac car seat was tested with four Q dummies ensuring it was accredited with R129.

What does R129 approved mean?

There are two safety standards which all car seats must adhere to in the UK. The first is ECE R44 which is based on your child's weight, can be fitted using either ISOFIX or the car's seatbelt and is tested for rear and frontal impact. However, ECE R44 car seats are not tested for side-impact collisions. The newer standard ECE R129 is based on your child's height. It is the safest standard with improved head and neck protection as well as being tested for side-impact crashes.

The Multimac car seat is available from www.multimac.com/range with prices starting from £1599.

Laura Healy is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby. She is a mum-of-two girls and loves writing about all things parenting, she is particularly interested in the toddler years and eco-friendly baby products, as well as children’s literature. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and has published short stories in the UK and Ireland, as well as previously writing freelance for her local paper.