Graco GoMax Insta-Install

The Graco GoMax Infant Car Seat is a rear-facing only infant car seat suitable for babies from birth (4 lbs.) to 30 lbs. or 32 inches, whichever comes first. The seat can be installed with the lower anchors without a base, thanks to rigid LATCH connectors, which gives families flexibility to move the car seat between cars (or use a ride-share or taxi) without purchasing a second base. The seat can also be installed with the included base, which means you won’t need to reinstall and realign it every time.

In CR’s crash tests, the Graco GoMax scored a “Basic” rating based on its statistical performance as compared to other infant car seats we crash-tested. The Graco GoMax Baseless Infant Car Seat (installed without the base) scored a “Better” in our proprietary crash tests. 

Overall, we found the seat easy to use and install with and without the base, however we found an issue with the recline indicators not matching up when installing with the base in several vehicles. Per the manual’s instructions, the base should be installed following the level line indicator on the base, but when installing the car seat on the base and adjusting the recline for the 0- to 3-month range, it means adjusting the base so that it’s no longer level.

We also found that the carrier release handle gets hidden under the canopy fabric, making it a bit fussy, and it’s not possible to move the carrier handle to the furthest position when the harness is in its highest position. 

This seat may be a good choice for: 

• Families who want a dedicated infant seat for the first year before switching to a rear-facing convertible or all-in-one car seat
• Families who regularly use taxis, ride-shares, or need to move their car seat between multiple cars
• Anyone who needs a simple and straightforward installation, thanks to the rigid LATCH connectors on the seat itself

Ease of use: Overall, this seat was easy to use, with a streamlined installation process, easily adjustable harness and headrest, and easy open-close buckle. The rigid LATCH connectors on the carrier and the SnugLock seat belt tensioner on the base make installation simple.

Fit-to-vehicle LATCH: The seat itself has rigid LATCH connectors, while the base has push-on LATCH connectors. Caregivers should note that using this car seat without the base means that positioning this seat in the rear center seat may not work, as many vehicles lack lower anchors in that position. We could not install this seat with the proper recline for a 0- to 3-month-old baby using the recline indicator line—it never matches up with the level line on the base, as the instructions dictate. 

Fit-to-vehicle belt: When installing the seat with the base and the seat belt, we found that if the seat belt has a lot of tension, it can require additional effort to close the SnugLock arm. If the tension is reduced, the SnugLock arm is much easier to use.

Crash protection: In CR’s crash test protocol, this seat provided less protection to the child dummy, and the measured injury metrics were higher compared to other infant car seats we’ve crash-tested, earning a Basic rating. Graco told CR that it is committed to rigorous testing of its products and to children’s safety. “The Graco GoMax has been extensively tested both to meet regulatory requirements and through Graco’s own internal testing programs, including our ProtectPlus Engineered™ testing. These internal tests are designed to evaluate performance across a range of real-world and extreme conditions beyond what is required under federal standards,” a company spokesperson said. “We respect Consumer Reports’ independent testing program and appreciate the opportunity to review and discuss their findings. Parents and caregivers who have questions about their Graco car seat or proper installation are encouraged to contact Graco for support and guidance.”

The Graco GoMax Insta-Install is part of the Car Seats test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, Infant Car Seat models like the GoMax Insta-Install are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below.

Maximum weight: The maximum weight of a child that a model will accommodate.

Ease of use: Includes the clarity of instructions, installing the seat, adjusting harness positions, placing a child in the seat, securing the harness, and removing the child.

Fit-to-vehicle LATCH: A rating of how easy it is to securely and correctly install each seat using the LATCH system in a variety of vehicles and how well the seats fit each vehicle once installed.