Understand the Swedish Plus Test, the toughest car seat crash test worldwide. Learn why rear-facing seats excel in child safety & why you should consider it before buying.
Quick Summary: When it comes to child car seat safety, the Swedish Plus Test sets the gold standard. Unlike standard regulations, which focus on general crash safety, the Plus Test is designed specifically to prevent life-threatening neck injuries in frontal collisions - the most dangerous type of crash.
Introduction
If you’ve been researching car seats, you may have come across the term Swedish Plus Test. It’s often mentioned in discussions about the safest car seats, but what exactly is it? And why is it considered the toughest crash test in the world?
Unlike standard European safety regulations, which all car seats must meet to be sold, the Swedish Plus Test is a voluntary extra test that only rear-facing car seats can undergo. It’s designed to ensure that no child in a Plus Test-approved car seat would suffer life-threatening neck injuries in a crash.
For parents who prioritise safety, understanding the Swedish Plus Test can help when choosing the best car seat for their child. In this guide, we’ll explain:
- What the Swedish Plus Test involves
- How it compares to standard regulations like R129 (i-Size)
- Why it’s considered the hardest crash test in the world
- Which car seats have passed the test
- The importance of rear-facing travel for safety
By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of why the Plus Test matters and whether it should influence your car seat choice.
What Is the Swedish Plus Test?
The Swedish Plus Test is a voluntary crash test that car seat manufacturers can choose to undergo to prove the superior safety of their rear-facing seats. It was introduced in 2009 by VTI (the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute) in collaboration with leading road safety organisations, including the Swedish Transport Agency, Volvo, and Folksam Insurance.
Unlike standard European car seat regulations, which focus on multiple crash scenarios, the Plus Test has a single, strict focus: frontal collisions - the most common and dangerous type of car accident. The goal of the test is to ensure that no child using a Plus Test-approved seat would suffer life-threatening neck injuries in a crash.
How Is the Plus Test Conducted?
The test simulates a severe frontal crash, but with much tougher conditions than standard safety tests:
- Higher crash speed - The test is carried out at 56 km/h, compared to 50 km/h in standard European tests.
- Shorter braking distance - The vehicle comes to a near-instant stop, creating extreme crash forces.
- Neck force measurement - Special sensors measure the strain placed on the child’s neck. A seat can only pass if the forces remain below a strict safety limit of 122 kg.
Why Is the Plus Test So Important?
In a serious crash, a child’s neck is one of the most vulnerable areas. Standard car seat regulations (like R129, also known as i-Size) do not measure neck forces at all, meaning a seat could pass without fully protecting a child’s head and neck. The Plus Test fills this gap, making it the only crash test that guarantees a child will not experience excessive neck forces in a frontal collision.
Because of its strict criteria, no forward-facing car seat has ever passed the Swedish Plus Test. Only rear-facing seats can meet the required safety standards, reinforcing the well-documented fact that rear-facing travel is the safest option for young children.
What Is the Difference Between R129 and the Swedish Plus Test?
Many parents are familiar with R129 (i-Size), the current European car seat safety regulation. While both R129 and the Swedish Plus Test assess car seat safety, there are some key differences:
| Feature | R129 (i-Size) | Swedish Plus Test |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory or voluntary? | Mandatory for all new car seats sold in Europe | Voluntary – only for rear-facing car seats |
| Crash types tested | Front, rear, and side impact | Only frontal collisions (the most dangerous type) |
| Speed of crash test | 50 km/h | 56 km/h (harder impact) |
| Neck force measurement? | ❌ No neck load limits | ✅ Strict neck force limits (max 122 kg) |
| Rear-facing only? | ❌ Allows forward-facing seats | ✅ Only rear-facing seats can pass |
| Approval for sale | Required for all car seats in the EU | Extra certification for maximum safety |
Why Does This Matter?
- R129 ensures a minimum safety standard, including side-impact protection and better crash dummies for testing.
- The Swedish Plus Test goes further, focusing solely on frontal crashes and neck injury prevention, which are critical for child safety.
Many high-quality car seats meet both R129 and the Plus Test, offering parents the highest possible level of safety for their child.
What Is the Hardest Crash Test to Pass?
The Swedish Plus Test is widely recognised as the toughest crash test in the world for child car seats. Unlike other tests, it has three key factors that make it incredibly difficult to pass:
-
Higher Speed - The crash test is conducted at 56 km/h, compared to 50 km/h in standard European tests (R129 and ECE R44). The extra speed increases the force of impact.
-
Shorter Braking Distance - The car stops almost instantly in the test, creating extreme crash forces. The shorter the stopping distance, the greater the deceleration, meaning the seat must absorb much more force.
-
Neck Force Measurement - Unlike other crash tests, the Plus Test uses sensors on the dummy’s neck to measure the force applied. A seat can only pass if the neck load stays below 122 kg.
Why Is It So Hard to Pass?
Because of these extreme conditions, no forward-facing car seat has ever passed the Swedish Plus Test. The forces placed on a child’s neck in a forward-facing seat are simply too high.
Seats that pass the Plus Test provide the best possible protection against life-threatening neck injuries, which is why safety experts strongly recommend choosing a Plus Test-approved seat.
Which Car Seats Have Passed the Swedish Plus Test?
Because of the test's strict criteria, only rear-facing car seats can pass the Swedish Plus Test. If a car seat has earned this certification, parents can be confident that it offers exceptional protection against life-threatening neck injuries in a frontal collision.
Examples of Plus Test-Approved Car Seats
Several manufacturers have designed car seats that meet the high standards of the Plus Test. Some of the most well-known models include:
BeSafe Plus Test-Approved Seats
- BeSafe Beyond
- BeSafe Stretch
- BeSafe Stretch B
- BeSafe iZi Twist i-Size
- BeSafe iZi Twist B i-Size
- BeSafe iZi Twist M i-Size
- BeSafe iZi Modular RF X1 i-Size
- BeSafe iZi Modular A RF X1 i-Size
Axkid Plus Test-Approved Seats
- Axkid ONE 2
- Axkid ONE 2+
- Axkid Minikid 4
- Axkid Minikid 4 Pro
- Axkid Minikid 4 Max
- Axkid Minikid 2
- Axkid Movekid
- Axkid ONE 3
- Axkid ONE+ 3
These car seats have undergone the extreme conditions of the Plus Test and met the strict neck force limits, ensuring they provide the highest level of safety in a frontal crash.
How to Check If a Car Seat Is Plus Test Approved
Look for the Plus Test label on the car seat or check with the manufacturer. A seat with this certification means it has passed the world’s toughest crash test, offering peace of mind for parents who prioritise safety.
What Is the Difference Between the Swedish Plus Test and ADAC?
Both the Swedish Plus Test and ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club) are well-known car seat safety tests, but they assess seats in different ways. Here’s how they compare:
| Feature | Swedish Plus Test | ADAC Test |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory or voluntary? | Voluntary | Voluntary |
| Crash types tested | Frontal crash only (most dangerous type) | Frontal, side-impact, and rollover |
| Speed of crash test | 56 km/h | 64 km/h (for frontal and side impact) |
| Braking distance | Very short (high-impact forces) | Longer braking distance (less intense forces) |
| Neck force measurement? | ✅ Yes – strict 122 kg limit | ❌ No direct neck force measurement |
| Seat orientation | Only rear-facing seats can pass | Both rear-facing and forward-facing seats can be tested |
| Additional factors rated | Crash safety only | Ease of use, comfort, and potential harmful substances |
Which Test Is Stricter?
- The Swedish Plus Test is tougher in terms of crash safety, particularly in protecting the child’s neck from excessive forces.
- ADAC tests multiple crash types, making it useful for assessing overall car seat performance, but it does not measure neck loads like the Plus Test.
- ADAC also considers ease of use, comfort, and materials, which can affect the overall safety rating of a seat.
Which One Should Parents Prioritise?
If safety is your top priority, a Swedish Plus Test-approved car seat offers the best frontal collision protection. However, ADAC results can still be useful in assessing side-impact protection and ease of use.
For maximum safety, choosing a seat that has passed both the Swedish Plus Test and received a good ADAC score is ideal.
What Is the Speed of the Swedish Plus Test?
The Swedish Plus Test is conducted at a crash speed of 56 km/h, which is higher than the 50 km/h used in standard European car seat regulations (R129 and ECE R44).
While this may not seem like a huge difference, it has a significant impact on crash forces. The higher speed, combined with a much shorter braking distance, results in a much more violent crash simulation than standard tests.
How Does the Speed Compare to Other Tests?
| Crash Test | Speed |
|---|---|
| Swedish Plus Test | 56 km/h |
| R129 (i-Size) / ECE R44 | 50 km/h |
| ADAC Test (Frontal & Side Impact) | 64 km/h |
Why Is the Speed Important?
- Higher speed = greater crash forces. The extra 6 km/h creates significantly more energy in a crash, putting car seats under extreme strain.
- Short braking distance = severe impact. In the Plus Test, the vehicle comes to a near-instant stop, meaning the forces acting on the child’s body are much higher than in other crash tests.
What Does This Mean for Parents?
A car seat that passes the Swedish Plus Test has been proven to withstand one of the most extreme frontal crashes possible, making it one of the safest choices for protecting your child.
Is It Better to Be Rear-Facing or Forward-Facing?
When it comes to car seat safety, experts agree: rear-facing is the safest way for young children to travel. This is because in a frontal collision - the most common and dangerous type of crash - a rear-facing car seat provides far better protection for a child’s head, neck, and spine.
Why Is Rear-Facing Safer?
- Reduced Neck Force - In a frontal crash, a child in a forward-facing seat is thrown forward, putting immense strain on their neck. In contrast, a rear-facing seat absorbs the impact and spreads the force across the child’s entire back.
- Head and Spine Protection - Young children have proportionally larger heads and weaker neck muscles, making them more vulnerable to serious injuries in a crash. Rear-facing seats keep the head and spine aligned, reducing the risk of severe injury.
- Proven by Crash Tests - The Swedish Plus Test only approves rear-facing car seats because no forward-facing seat has ever been able to meet its strict safety requirements.
How Long Should a Child Stay Rear-Facing?
- Minimum: UK law requires children to travel rear-facing until at least 15 months old.
- Recommended: Safety experts, including Swedish road safety organisations, advise keeping children rear-facing for as long as possible - ideally up to 4 years old or beyond.
- Best Practice: Seats that pass the Swedish Plus Test often allow rear-facing travel up to 25 kg (approximately 6-7 years old), providing the highest level of protection.
What About Legroom?
A common concern for parents is that older children may not have enough legroom in a rear-facing seat. However, children are naturally flexible and can sit comfortably with crossed legs or resting them against the seat. Safety always comes first, and research shows that leg injuries in rear-facing seats are extremely rare compared to the serious risk of neck injuries in forward-facing seats.
Final Verdict
Rear-facing car seats offer the best protection against life-threatening injuries in a crash. The longer a child remains rear-facing, the safer they will be.
Why Is Rear-Facing Safer in the UK?
While rear-facing travel is standard practice in Sweden - where children are kept rear-facing until at least 4 years old - many UK parents still switch to forward-facing much earlier. However, research shows that rear-facing is the safest option, especially on UK roads.
1. UK Road Design & Crash Risks
- The majority of serious car crashes in the UK involve frontal collisions.
- Rear-facing seats absorb the crash forces, significantly reducing the risk of life-threatening neck injuries.
- Studies show that a rear-facing child is five times safer in a head-on crash compared to a forward-facing child.
2. UK Law vs. Best Practice
- UK law states that children must stay rear-facing until at least 15 months old if using an R129 (i-Size) approved seat.
- However, 15 months is the legal minimum, not the safest option.
- Countries like Sweden—where rear-facing is encouraged until age 4 or beyond - have some of the lowest child road fatality rates in the world.
3. The Swedish Plus Test & UK Parents
- The Swedish Plus Test only approves rear-facing seats because no forward-facing seat has ever met its safety requirements.
- Choosing a Plus Test-approved rear-facing seat ensures your child gets the highest level of protection, even beyond the legal UK minimum.
Final Thought: Why Wait?
While UK regulations allow forward-facing from 15 months, the science is clear—rear-facing for longer is much safer. Many seats allow rear-facing up to 25 kg (around 6-7 years old), offering parents peace of mind and maximum safety for their child.
Conclusion
When it comes to child car seat safety, the Swedish Plus Test sets the gold standard. Unlike standard regulations, which focus on general crash safety, the Plus Test is designed specifically to prevent life-threatening neck injuries in frontal collisions - the most dangerous type of crash.
Because of its high-speed impact, short braking distance, and strict neck force limits, the Swedish Plus Test is the toughest crash test in the world. The fact that no forward-facing car seat has ever passed reinforces what safety experts have been saying for years: rear-facing travel is significantly safer.
Key Takeaways for Parents:
✅ If safety is your top priority, choose a Plus Test-approved rear-facing car seat.
✅ Rear-facing seats protect the head, neck, and spine far better than forward-facing seats.
✅ Keeping your child rear-facing beyond the legal minimum (15 months) is strongly recommended - ideally up to 4 years or longer.
✅ The Swedish Plus Test is not mandatory, so not all car seats are tested. Always check for the Plus Test label when choosing a seat.
By choosing a Swedish Plus Test-approved seat, you’re giving your child the best possible protection in the event of a crash - offering peace of mind every time you travel.
