Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 Review (2024)

Peg Perego is an Italian baby product brand that specializes in the production of car seats and strollers. The firm has been in the business for decades and is renowned for the luxurious quality of its products.

The refined design of the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 thus comes as no surprise. You can easily tell that this rear-facing infant car seat was made with both aesthetics and functionality in mind. It is, however, not just a pretty car seat. Its safety features, ease of use, and quality build are certainly worth writing home about.

Introducing the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4/35

The Peg Perego 4/35 Primo Viaggio is designed for babies weighing between 4 to 35 pounds and measuring up to 32″ inches in height. It can be installed with or without its base and secured using either a seat belt or the LATCH system. In the package you will find:

• The Peg Perego Primo Viaggio car seat
• A matching car seat base
• Dual-stage cushions

As expected, this car seat has some great and not so great features. They include:

Pros:

• An anti-rebound bar for extra safety
• Easy installation
• No-rethread harness
• Flame retardant free fabric

Cons:

• The canopy fabric is not durable
• Not enough room between the handle and the canopy

Frequently Asked Questions When Buying the Peg Perego Car Seat 4/35

Whenever I have had to buy a car seat, my purchase has always been preceded by immense research. One look at my search history and you would be forgiven for thinking I was writing a thesis on car seat brands. However, my efforts are driven by the need to find a car seat that will keep my baby as safe and comfortable as possible.

If you are considering the Primo Viaggio car seat, keep in mind that it is an infant car seat. Therefore, if your child is over 18 months or thereabouts, I would suggest you consider booster seats instead. On the other hand, if they are younger than that then this is a car seat worth having on your shortlist.

With that said, let us address some FAQs you may have as you evaluate this car seat.

Is Peg Perego a good brand?

Yes. The quality of Peg Perego car seats over the years has been undeniable and it ranks highly even when pitted against similar brands in the market.

Can you use Peg Perego Primo Viaggio without its base?

You certainly can. This design provision is actually intentionally included to make it easy for parents to use the car seat on-the-go in taxis or airplanes during travel.

How long is the Peg Perego car seat Primo Viaggio good for?

As a rule of thumb, car seat expiration dates take effect from the date of manufacturing not the day of purchase. The Primo Viaggio is good for use for 7 years from its indicated year of production.

Is the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio car seat FAA approved?

Yes, the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4\35 is approved for air travel by the FAA. It is recommended that you use it without the base in the airplane.

What to Expect: Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4/35 Features and Benefits

While the overall quality of a car seat may be great, I prefer to investigate its features beyond face value. This helps me determine whether it would be ideal for my needs and that of my little one. In that spirit, let’s check out what this Peg Perego infant seat has to offer.

Ease of Installation

The Primo Viaggio infant car seat installation can be done with or without the base. Installing the base is a quick and easy process as there is a level indicator to guide you on how to adjust it to a proper angle. The adjustment is easily accomplished by rotating an automatic lever. Lastly, securing the base using the LATCH system is equally a breeze.

If you are using a different car without the Peg Perego base, you can secure the car seat on its own using the seat belt system. You will find red level indicators to guide you on the right angle of installation. In this baseless setup, the anti-rebound bar should be pulled forward such that it rests on the vehicle’s seat to provide extra stability.

Viewpoint: it is truly easy to install and this particular design is compatible with a large variety of cars. That degree of freedom is essential as opposed to a car seat that limits you to certain cars.

Safety Features

During impact, a well-secured car seat would resist movement by moving downwards on the vehicle’s seat. However, as the impact stops and the car seat is readjusting to normal, it tends to over-correct due to the force of a sudden halt.

This readjusting force is what is referred to as the rebound. Unfortunately, it can result in your baby being pushed towards the back seat of your car along with the car seat.

An anti-rebound bar like that on the Peg Perego Viaggio solves the rebound problem. It pushes back on the car seat and prevents it from flying into the vehicle’s seat during the rebound. This would save your child from unthinkable head and neck injuries.

The anti-rebound bar is the most proclaimed safety feature but there are others. The Side Impact Protection, for instance, provides protection from horizontal crash impacts and can be adjusted in 6 different positions as needed. The tough car seat shell is also lined with bouncy EPS foam which absorbs and minimizes impact force to protect your baby during a crash.

Viewpoint: It is clear to see why the Peg Perego safety rating is so high from the many Peg Perego infant car seat reviews for this model. These safety features would give you significant assurance that your baby would be well-protected in the event of a tragedy.

Seat Weight

The weight of a car seat is an important factor to consider if you will need to switch cars from time to time or just need it to get around most times. The Primo Viaggio weighs about 9.5 pounds. It might feel a bit heavier with your baby in it but its weight distribution makes it bearable.

Viewpoint: I would go for a quality build that is slightly hefty than a lightweight build that is poorly made, any day. For this reason, I feel the weight of this car seat is acceptable.

Seat Usage Limit

The weight limits for the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio are set at 4 to 35 pounds. To put this in perspective, this car seat can safely accommodate a baby as small as a preemie and still see them through to 18 months of growth. The maximum height limit is set at 32″.

Viewpoint: Most people are afraid to handle newborns because they are so small and fragile. This seat is designed to keep your little one comfy right from that stage until they are much bigger and ready for high back boosters or backless boosters. It is everything that an infant car seat ought to be.

Seat Comfort

The Peg Perego Primo Viaggio comes with dual-stage cushions which are also known as inserts. The first stage cushion is for tiny babies and is used to prop them up so that the harness secures them properly.

As they get bigger you can switch to the second stage cushion which is designed to support their body posture for both comfort and safety. Additionally, the Fresco Jersey fabric used in the insert cushions is breathable and wicks off sweat. This could be very helpful in avoiding heat rash.

This is a feature I wish I had in my daughter’s first car seat. Her body posture would often seem out of place and I would have to pull over and adjust her sitting position. Our experience may have been a whole lot different if we had these inserts at the time.

Viewpoint: These car seat provisions are designed to accommodate a wide array of needs. You can even take out the inserts if you would prefer to. An overall amazing design, in my opinion.

Ease of Cleaning

The covers of a Primo Viaggio car seat, including the canopy, are easily detachable for cleaning. Various parts such as the harnesses and other nooks and crannies that crumbs can fall into are also easily accessible. All you would need to clean up after your bambino is a soft cloth and some soapy water.

As for the covers, it is recommended that you hand wash and air dry them. Avoid harsh soaps and bleach as they could both compromise the quality of the fabric. Alternatively, if you have a gentle cycle setting on your machine, you can cautiously try and use it then proceed to air dry.

Viewpoint: Handwashing covers might be a bit of an inconvenience and can understandably be a deal-breaker. However, the Fresco Jersey fabric has a great feel and is quite comfortable for babies so that might be a mitigating factor to consider.

Stroller Compatibility

If you intend to get a complete travel system from Peg Perego then stroller compatibility is not something you need to worry about. This is because the Primo Viaggio car seat is compatible with all Peg Perego strollers save for the Skate and Pliko mini versions. You would not even need adapters to join the car seat to the stroller.

In contrast, if your stroller is from a different brand, you will need adapters to make it compatible with this infant car seat. On the upside, Peg Perego does offer some adapters for a handful of stroller brands though you would have to purchase those separately to have a travel system ready.

Viewpoint: Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4/35 compatible strollers are limited to the brand. This might be a downside especially if your stroller of choice is not among those the brand offers adapters for.

Canopy

The Peg Perego Primo Viaggio car seat has a UPF50+ canopy. This high rating means that your child will be well protected from the sun. I have always had my reservations about using a canopy unless it is made of mesh. My worry was that my baby would not get enough air and that it could also get too hot under the canopy.

It turns out I was not the only one worrying about these issues. Peg Perego has designed the Primo Viaggio 4-35 with vents on the EPS foam that lines the interior of the car seat. This ensures that there is constant air circulation even when the canopy is used.

On the flip side, the canopy fabric leaves much to be desired. Its feel does not promise much durability and could easily start to unravel if it is caught on a car door. The car seat handle is also too close to the canopy. This not only makes carrying the car seat uncomfortable but the friction could also contribute to the canopy fabric getting worn out.

Viewpoint: The canopy is a bag of mixed fortunes but overall, I feel that there is much room for improvement on this particular feature.

Harness and Straps

The 5-point harness is easily adjustable and is a no-rethread design. As your baby grows and you have to adjust the seat you will not have to undo and rethread the harness each time. Instead, the harness too is adjustable within minutes using straps.

Speaking of straps, they can sometimes be tricky to manage and can even get entangled with your baby’s limbs. Thankfully the Primo Viaggio has strap holders.

Viewpoint: No-rethread harnesses are a heaven-sent convenience. It is, however, small but thoughtful design aspects like the strap holders that make this car seat stand out for me.

Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 Review Summary

The Next Best Thing

The features of the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4/35 infant car seat, while remarkable, may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Should that be the case for you, here are some alternatives that I would say are the next best thing to a Primo Viaggio.

Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat

The Chicco Keyfit 30 is a rear-facing infant car seat whose weight limits are set at 4-30 pounds while its height limit is 30 inches. Both these limits are below those of the Peg Perego. Other differences include:

• A heavier 10 pounds car seat weight
• Machine washable seat covers
• 6-year lifespan
• It has a canopy and a sun visor

Overall, the Chicco Keyfit 30 offers most of the features of the Primo Viaggio but on a basic level and is $200 cheaper. This would, therefore, be a good choice if you are shopping on a budget and can do without the extra features.

If this sounds like what you need, then check out the Chicco Keyfit 30 infant car seat.

Cybex Aton 2 Sensorsafe

The Cybex Aton 2 Sensorsafe is built for infants weighing 4-35 pounds. Like the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4/35, it also has side impact protection and a 5-point harness.

Comparatively, it has stand-out features like:

• A load leg base stabilizer instead of an anti-rebound bar
• The chest clip of the harness has Sensorsafe technology that notifies you of any safety issues via a car receiver or your smartphone
• The seat fabric is made of polyester

Safety-wise, this infant car seat gives the Peg Perego infant seat a run for its money although its overall build quality would not be my first choice. Nonetheless, if you would enjoy features like the Sensorsafe alert at $100 lower than the Primo Viaggio, have a closer look at the Cybex Aton 2 Sensorsafe.

No products found.

UPPAbaby MESA

The UPPAbaby MESA is the closest alternative to the Primo Viaggio in this review. It is a rear-facing infant seat for 4-35 pound babies of up to 32 inches in height. Its seat is made of luxurious merino wool and is also free of fire retardants. Other similarities include:

• 7-year life span
• Side impact protection
• No-rethread harness
• Seat belt or LATCH installation

I would recommend the UPPAbaby MESA if you would like a durable option to the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio and do not mind paying over $300. If this is your definition of your dream car seat, consider the UPPAbaby MESA.

Alternatively, do check my UPPAbaby MESA vs Nuna Pipa review for more comparison.

Conclusion

The core function of a car seat is to keep your baby safe whenever you bring them along with you on trips. The Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 is built to deliver just that. I would recommend it to any parent that:

• Prefers extra safety features
• Would like a user-friendly car seat
• Prefers a flame retardant-free car seat
• Wants a comfortable seat for their baby
• Travels often

Do these features match the kind of car seat you have been hoping for after going through our Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 Review? If your answer is in the affirmative, look no further, get the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments!

Last update on 2024-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API