Graco Slimfit, Extend2Fit, and 4Ever DLX are 3 of the best-selling baby car seat models in the market. There is still confusion though as to what the main differences are between these car seat models besides the price tag.
In this comparison report, we have helped you identify the main differences and similarities between GRACO Slimfit 3-in-1, Extend2Fit 3-in-1, and the 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 baby car seats. If you continue reading below this table, you will get an elaborate scoring system that will help you understand which of these 3 models is the best for your child.
| Graco Slimfit 3 in 1 | Graco Extend2Fit 3 in 1 | Graco 4Ever DLX 4 in 1 | |
 |  |  | |
| Foot Extension Panel | No | Up to 5 inches of Extended Leg Room | Available in 4Ever DLX 4 in 1 Extend2Fit model |
| Integrated Belt Lock Off | No | No | Yes |
| Dimensions | 21.5 x 19.9 x 25.5 inches | 19.25 x 22.52 x 25.16 inches | 20 x 21.5 x 24 inches |
| 5 Point Harness | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Adjustable Headrest | No rethread simple adjust – 10 Positions | No rethread simple adjust – 10 Positions | No rethread simple adjust – 10 Positions |
| Cup Holder | 2 x Rotatable | 2 x Integrated | 2 x Integrated |
| Fabric Breathability | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Front Facing Adjustment Options | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Front Facing Weight Limit | 22-65 lbs | 22-65 lbs | 22-65 lbs |
| Rear Facing Adjustment Options | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Rear Facing Weight Limit | 5-40 lbs | 4-50 lbs | 4-40 lbs |
| High Back Booster Weight Limit | 40-100 lbs | 40-100 lbs | 40-100 lbs |
| Backless Booster Weight Limit | – | – | 40-120lbs |
| Recline Positions | 4 (2 front facing, 2 rear facing) | 6 | 6 |
| Safety | Graco® ProtectPlus Engineered™ | Graco® ProtectPlus Engineered™ | Graco® ProtectPlus Engineered™ |
| Side impact protection | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stroller Compatibility | No | No | No |
| Build Material | Steel Reinforced Frame with EPS Energy Absorbing Foam | Steel-reinforced frame | Steel-reinforced frame |
| Installation Latch | Push-button InRight™ LATCH | Push-button InRight™ LATCH | Push-button InRight™ LATCH |
| Removable Cover | Rapid Remove Cover | Yes | Rapid Remove Cover |
| Washable Cover | Machine Washable | Machine Washable | Machine Washable |
| Harness Storage Compartment | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Removable Plush Head & Body Inserts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Level Indicators | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Average Customer Rating | 4.9 out of 5 | 4.9 out of 5 | 4.9 out of 5 |
| Where to Buy | Click here for price | Click here for price | Click here for price |
The Similarities
Before we go into the differences, let’s take a look at what’s similar in these 3 models.
Level Indicators
Even though it’s not mentioned in some of the specifications of each car seat, the Slimfit, Extend2Fit, and 4Ever DLX all come with built-in level indicators that help you latch the car seat to your vehicle at the perfect and safest angle for your child.
Plush Head Inserts
Removable plush inserts are a necessity for your baby, especially during the first few months when the baby’s head is still unsupported. These plush inserts help keep the baby supported comfortably without parental supervision at all times.
Harness Storage
Storing the harness is a lifesaver. It doesn’t wave around or knock around. You do not have to spend minutes looking for the ends of the harness to put them in place. These storage options differ slightly in each of the models, but they function the same way.
Installation Latch
One of the hardest things to do with a car seat is to safely install it in your vehicle. Graco understands this issue quite well and makes sure all car seats come with a Push-button InRight™ LATCH that makes things a whole lot easier. Pair it with the built-in level and you become a pro at installing and removing the car seat within seconds.
Adjustable Head Rest
The headrest needs adjusting as the baby grows in size. Not all babies are the same. Some may be taller than others, while some necks may be shorter. With the 10-point headrest adjustment harness, it’s as simple as pulling the headrest with the press of a button to the desired height. The Slimfit, Extend2Fit, and 4Ever DLX all include a 10-point headrest adjustment feature.
The Differences
Cup Holders
Most car seats in the market come with a single cup holder, but the 3 car seats we have chosen to compare today come with dual cup holders. This is a great feature, especially during the growing stages of the child.
The 4Ever DLX and the Extend2Fit come with integrated cup holders, which cannot be removed but CAN be easily cleaned. The Graco Slimfit on the other hand comes with 2 ROTATABLE cup holders.
These cup holders can be rotated inwards in a creative manner allowing for more space for other passengers in the backseat of the vehicle.
Foot Extension panel
Being able to stretch the foot out in a vehicle is obviously a comfortable thing to do for us adults. Wouldn’t it feel the same for children? Especially for those beginning to get taller?
The Extend2Fit feature allows to pull out the leg rest in the baby car seat up to 5-inches allowing the baby to be more relaxed than allowing the legs to dangle around during the journey. This is a great feature for long-distance travel as the baby is less prone to getting cranky on the way out of sheer discomfort.
The Graco Extend2Fit as the name suggests includes this comfortable foot extension panel that can be stretched out up to 5-inches. The Graco Slimfit and the 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 do not include this foot extension panel.
In the 4Ever series though, you DO get the Extend2Fit option. It’s called the Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit 4-in-1 Car Seat.
- Graco Slimfit 3-in-1: 0
- Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1: 1
- Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1: 0.5
Integrated Belt Lock off
The Push Button In-right latch makes rear-facing installation much more easier in these car seat models, but what about the front-facing installation?
The Slimfit and Extend2Fit variations of the Graco car seat have a basic procedure of passing the seat belt through and around in a front-facing installation, whereas the 4Ever DLX comes with an Integrated Lock Off system which has a more solid and simple installation system in comparison. See the demo video below to see the difference in installation procedures.
- Graco Slimfit 3-in-1: 0
- Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1: 0
- Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1: 1
Watch this video if you want a better understanding of the lock-off system
Seat Width
Being able to share the backseat with other passengers is a necessity for most parents. Some car seats are so bulky, that only one extra passenger can share the backseat with the baby, which would be fine if there was only one extra passenger.
The Graco Slimfit as its name suggests comes with a slim frame design that allows for 2 more passengers to share the backseat with the baby. This is quite so even in a compact mini vehicle. The same goes for the Graco Extend2Fit model as well. The Slimfit3 LX is even more compact, but that’s a different comparison altogether.
Even though there is no mention of it being space-saving, the numbers don’t lie. Both Extend2Fit and Slimfit car seats share a 19-inch Seat width whereas the 4Ever DLX goes beyond 21 inches. That’s 2 inches more, and every inch counts.
Unfortunately, the cup holder in the Extend2Fit 3 in 1 cannot be rotated or removable, which means there’s a slight protrusion in the front which may take up a few extra inches, but it still wouldn’t extend beyond 21-inches when compared to the 4Ever DLX.
- Graco Slimfit 3-in-1: 1
- Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1: 0.5
- Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1: 0
Build Material
Graco ProtectPlus Engineering protocol makes sure all Graco Car Seats are made with the best build quality to surpass industry standards for Child Safety and Comfort. The Extend2Fit and the 4Ever DLX models come with the top-notch Steel-reinforced frame, the most widely used build structure for most Graco Car Seats.
The Graco Slimfit goes one step further with EPS Absorbing Foam for extra safety purposes. This would be mainly due to the slim frame design.
Recline Positions
Recline positions in the Graco Slimfit model are limited to 4 whereas the Extend2Fit and the 4Ever DLX come with 6 recline positions which makes Slimfit less comfortable in comparison to the other 2 models.
- Graco Slimfit 3-in-1: 0
- Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1: 1
- Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1: 1
Backless Booster Feature
Backless booster is the next step in the child’s journey as they are close to becoming a young adult who can sit in the big boy car seat. They can now use the main car seat belt thanks to the booster seat.
The 4Ever DLX as its name suggests is a 4-in-1 car seat that includes the backless booster option whereas the other 2 models are 3-in-1 options that do not include this feature.
- Graco Slimfit 3-in-1: 0
- Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1: 0
- Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1: 1
Removable Cover
Being able to remove and wash the cover of the seat is crucial for hygiene purposes, especially after a long journey. The cover IS removable in all 3 models, Extend2Fit, 4Ever DLX and the Slimfit, but there is a small difference in how convenient this process can be. The Extend2Fit requires some effort to remove the cover, you have to remove the seat from the vehicle and then spend a few minutes removing the cover. It’s not impossible, but it’s a slow process.
The Slimfit and the 4Ever DLX on the other hand come with Rapid Remove covers which according to their descriptions takes only 60 seconds to remove. This cover can be removed without removing the seat from the car. An added convenience that most parents will be grateful for.
- Graco Slimfit 3-in-1: 1
- Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1: 0
- Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1: 1
Rear Facing Weight Limits
The Graco Slimfit and 4Ever DLX come with a weight limit of 4 to 40 lbs in the rear-facing position while the Extend2Fit 3-in-1 comes with a weight limit of 4 to 50 lbs in the rear-facing position. An extra 10lbs weight limit support is excellent but is it necessary? It depends on the baby.
- Graco Slimfit 3-in-1: 0
- Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1: 1
- Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1: 0
Final Conclusion
- Graco Slimfit 3-in-1: 4 points
- Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1: 3.5 points
- Graco 4Ever DLX 4-in-1: 4 points
- Graco 4Ever Extend2Fit 4-in-1: 4.5 points
If you look at the numbers scoreboard, the Graco 4Ever DLX 4 in 1 and the Graco SlimFit 3 in 1 land in a tie. The scoreboard is still just for reference sake and does not confirm which of these Graco Baby Car Seats is best suited for YOUR specific requirement.
The Graco Slimfit is still the most ideal for a compact vehicle or with multiple passengers in the backseat, but the 4Ever DLX has the best comfort to offer especially if you opt for the 4Ever Extend2Fit option.
