What is the Swedish Plus Test?
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What is the Swedish Plus Test?

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What is the Swedish Plus Test?

The Swedish Plus Test is one of the most rigorous child car seat safety tests in the world. Designed to evaluate the highest level of safety, it specifically focuses on the neck forces experienced by a child during a frontal crash. This makes it one of the most trusted certifications for parents looking for the safest car seats.

How the Swedish Plus Test Works

Unlike standard car seat tests, the Swedish Plus Test goes beyond legal requirements and imposes stricter crash simulations. It is conducted by the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) and measures forces that could be fatal in real-life accidents.

1. Frontal Impact Crash Test

  • The test simulates a high-speed frontal collision.
  • The seat is subjected to extreme forces to measure its effectiveness in reducing neck strain.
  • Only rear-facing seats have passed this test so far, as forward-facing seats expose a child to higher neck forces.

2. Neck Force Measurement

  • Unlike other safety tests, the Plus Test specifically measures neck loads.
  • If the forces exceed a safe limit, the seat fails immediately.

3. Higher Testing Speeds

  • Conducted at higher speeds than standard European tests (ECE R129/i-Size).
  • Ensures that seats offer protection beyond minimum legal requirements.

What Does "Swedish Plus Tested" Mean?

A child seat that carries the Swedish Plus Test label has passed the test and ensures maximum protection for a child’s neck in a severe frontal crash. If a seat does not have this label, it has either failed the test or has not been tested at all.

Limitations for Forward-Facing Seats

A notable example is the Cybex Anoris T i-Size. Despite achieving an exceptional overall score of 1.5 in the ADAC tests, making it one of the safest seats evaluated by ADAC , the Anoris T i-Size cannot be approved by the Swedish Plus Test. This is because the Plus Test exclusively evaluates rear-facing seats, given their superior performance in minimizing neck forces during frontal impacts. Forward-facing seats, regardless of other safety features, inherently subject the child's neck to higher forces, making them ineligible for Plus Test approval.

Car Seats That Have Passed the Swedish Plus Test

As of 2025, only rear-facing car seats have passed the Plus Test. Some of the most trusted models include:

Approved Car Seats (by VTI Number):

105 cm Limit

  • Karwala Aerofix RWF (VTI-0051)
  • Thule Elm RWF (VTI-0050)
  • Axkid Spinkid, Spinkid 2 (VTI-0049)
  • Klippan CarGo (VTI-0048)
  • Graco Ascent (VTI-0036)
  • Nuna Norr (VTI-0035)
  • BeSafe iZi Modular A RF X1 i-Size RF (VTI-0034)
  • Joie i-spin Safe (VTI-0033)
  • Axkid Modukid (VTI-0032)
  • BeSafe iZi Twist B i-size (VTI-0026)
  • BeSafe iZi Twist i-size (VTI-0025)
  • Britax Römer Swingfix M i-size (VTI-0024)
  • Nuna (RWF) (VTI-0023)
  • Karwala Avionaut Aerofix RWF (VTI-0022)
  • Britax Römer Swingfix i-size (VTI-0021)
  • Maxi-Cosi Pearl XP + Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix XP (VTI-0012)
  • BeSafe iZi Kid X1/X2/X3 i-size (VTI-0011)
  • Concord Reverso i-Size (VTI-0016)

125 cm Limit

  • Axkid Movekid (VTI-0046)
  • BeSafe Beyond (RF Toddler seat) (VTI-0045)
  • Britax MaxSafe Pro, Safe-Way M (VTI-0044)
  • Joie i-Prodigi (VTI-0043)
  • BeSafe Stretch B (VTI-0042)
  • Axkid MiniKid 3, MiniKid 4 (VTI-0041)
  • HTS BeSafe Stretch (VTI-0040)
  • Karwala AV370.Q (VTI-0039)
  • Karwala AV370 Sky (VTI-0038)
  • Axkid One, One+, One 2, One+ 2, One 3, One+ 3 (VTI-0037)
  • Klippan Opti 129, Deplus (VTI-0027)

18 kg Limit

  • Joie Spin Safe (VTI-0028)
  • Klippan Uno (VTI-0020)
  • Klippan KISS 2 (VTI-0015)
  • MK666S (VTI-0014)
  • Axkid Rekid (VTI-0013)
  • Britax Max-Fix (VTI-0009)
  • AKTA Graco Be-Logic (VTI-0005)
  • Britax Secura Hi-Way (VTI-0004)
  • AKTA Graco Duo Logic 2 (VTI-0003)
  • BeSafe iZi Kid X1 ISOfix (VTI-0002)
  • BeSafe iZi Kid X2 (VTI-0001)

25 kg Limit

  • Klippan Century (VTI-0019)
  • Axkid Wolmax (VTI-0018)
  • BeSafe iZi Plus X1 (VTI-0010)
  • Axkid MiniKid/Minikid 2 (VTI-0008)
  • Britax Maxway (VTI-0007)
  • Britax Secura Hi-Way (VTI-0006)

For the full (updated) list of Plus Tested models, visit the official VTI website.

Understanding Car Seat Groups: What Does 0+/1 Mean?

How to Check If a Seat Has Passed the Plus Test

To verify if a car seat is Plus Tested, check for the VTI Plus Test label on the seat itself or the manufacturer’s specifications. Additionally, an updated list is always available on VTI’s official site.

Why Forward-Facing Seats Fail the Plus Test

No forward-facing car seat has passed the Swedish Plus Test because:

  • The test measures neck forces, which are significantly higher in forward-facing seats.
  • Rear-facing seats distribute crash forces more evenly, reducing strain on a child’s neck.
  • Swedish safety standards recommend keeping children rear-facing until at least 4 years old for maximum protection.

Conclusion

The Swedish Plus Test is the gold standard in child car seat safety, ensuring that only the safest seats earn certification. Parents looking for maximum protection should prioritize rear-facing seats with the Plus Test label to reduce the risk of serious injuries in a crash.

By choosing a Plus Tested car seat, you can have peace of mind knowing your child is in one of the safest seats available today.