Graco Tranzitions booster seatBooster type: Combo.

Weight: 22-65 lbs. with harness; 30-100 lbs. high back booster; 40-100 lbs. as backless booster.

Price: $80-$103.

IIHS rating: Best bet (both high back and backless mode).

NHTSA ease of use rating: Not yet.

Pros: Under $100. Converts to backless booster. Nine position headrest. Lightweight (14.2 lbs.), good bet for carpools.

Cons: Basic side impact protection.

Comments Booster Car Seat Review: The sub $100 market for a good harnessed booster car seat is rather thin—into the gap comes the Graco TranZitions. Despite the too-clever-by-half-name, the TranZitions fills a niche: most quality harnessed boosters run $150-$250; the ones under $100 tend to be low rated (in our book, at least).

(Confusingly, Evenflo also has a booster called the Transitions, sans Z).

The TranZitions features a no-rethread harness that adjusts both the headrest and harness. Unfortunately, you do have to remove the harness to clean the machine-washable pad (the harness pads and seat insert for smaller toddlers also are machine washable). And this being a Graco seat, you also get two cup holders.

Even though this seat starts at 22 lbs., we recommend all kids ride rear-facing until age two. The Graco TranZitions is a forward-only facing seat.

This seat was released in late fall 2015, so reader feedback is limited as of this writing. Initial reports are positive and we’ve been able to inspect a TranZitions in person. Overall, it is impressive. We like the nine-position headrest and relatively light weight (14.2 lbs.)—car poolers take note. The only downsides: the TranZitions has only basic side impact protection. Other seats have beefed up headwings for additional side impact protection.

The TranZitions offers good value, considering it also converts to a backless booster. Bottom line: we like the TranZitions and will recommend it.

Rating: A-