Silver Cross Motion All Size 2 vs CYBEX Sirona T: Which Rotating Car Seat Deserves a Place in Your Car?

COMPARISON · ON THE GO

Choosing a car seat that will last from birth through the toddler years is one of the most consequential purchases you will make as a parent. It needs to be safe enough that you never think twice about it, practical enough that you are not wrestling with buckles in a supermarket car park, and comfortable enough that your child actually tolerates being in it.

Two rotating car seats sit at the top of most UK shortlists right now. One is a heritage British brand that has packaged everything into a single all-stages purchase, covering birth right through to 12 years. The other is a German engineering powerhouse whose seat covers birth to roughly four years, but does so with such refinement that parents routinely describe the rotation as "effortless". Both are 360-degree ISOFIX seats. Both carry strong independent safety ratings. Both will set you back a meaningful amount of money.

We gathered feedback from parents across forums, review sites, and retailer comment sections, then cross-referenced specifications and crash-test data to build this head-to-head. Below you will find exactly where each seat excels, where each falls short, and which one deserves a place in your car.

Lil' Bubba's verdicts

• Best Overall: CYBEX Sirona T i-Size Plus · 8.5/10 - Smoother rotation, ADAC Test Winner, exceptional comfort for long journeys
• Best Value for Money: Silver Cross Motion All Size 2 · 8.0/10 - Birth-to-12-years coverage in a single seat with ISOFIX base included

Quick comparison

Feature	Silver Cross Motion All Size 2	CYBEX Sirona T i-Size Plus
Price (seat)	~£299	~£310
Base included	Yes (integrated ISOFIX)	No (Base T ~£200 extra)
Age range	Birth to ~12 years (40-145 cm)	Birth to ~4 years (45-105 cm)
Rotation	360° (built-in)	360° (requires Base T)
Weight	~14.4 kg	~15 kg (seat + base)
Headrest positions	8	12
Recline positions	3	5
Extended rear-facing	Up to 18 kg	Up to 105 cm (~4 years)
Side impact	Yes	L.S.P. System (adjustable)
ADAC rating	2.5 ("Satisfactory")	"Good" (Test Winner)
Fabric	Bamboo blend	3D mesh (Plus), UPF50+ canopy

How we compare

Every score in this comparison is built from three layers. First, we gather structured community feedback from UK parent forums, retailer reviews, and independent discussion boards. Second, we cross-reference manufacturer specifications against independent test results from organisations like ADAC, Which?, and the EU i-Size framework. Third, we apply an editorial judgement layer, weighting long-term value, daily usability, and safety performance equally. No brand has paid for placement in this article.

What makes a great rotating car seat?

A top-tier rotating car seat needs to do four things well. Safety is non-negotiable, and independent crash-test ratings from ADAC or Which? matter far more than marketing claims. Rotation quality is what separates a rotating seat from a fixed one that merely swivels, because a stiff or clunky mechanism defeats the entire point. Comfort and adjustability determine whether your child is happy on a two-hour motorway run, and enough headrest and recline positions make the difference between a sleeping child and a screaming one. Finally, longevity matters, both in build quality and in how many years the seat remains usable before you need to buy another.

Silver Cross Motion All Size 2 i-Size Car Seat

Silver Cross has been making baby products since 1877, and the Motion All Size 2 represents their bid to end the multi-seat merry-go-round. This is a birth-to-12-years seat, which means one purchase covers the entire car seat journey, from the newborn insert through rear-facing toddler use and on to high-backed booster mode for older children.

The integrated ISOFIX base with 360-degree rotation makes loading a wriggling toddler genuinely easier. Parents consistently highlight the swivel as a back-saver: "As the seat can swivel round to face you, this makes it so much easier to strap him in." The bamboo-blend fabric feels premium to the touch and is removable for washing.

Safety credentials are solid. The ADAC rating of 2.5 places it in the "Satisfactory" band, and it meets the latest R129 i-Size standard. Extended rear-facing is supported up to 18 kg, which covers most children until around four years old. Eight headrest positions and three recline angles provide reasonable adjustability, though this is fewer positions than some competitors offer.

The main reservation parents express is weight. At 14.4 kg, this is not a seat you will want to move between cars regularly. And while the birth-to-12-years promise is appealing, some parents question whether the comfort level truly holds up in the later booster years, when children are bigger and the seat's padding has had years of use. One parent put it well: "The car seat feels very sturdy and our child feels protected", but another noted that the padding gets firmer over time.

What parents love

• One seat, one purchase. Birth to 12 years means no second or third seat purchase. For families on a budget, this can save hundreds of pounds over the car seat years.
• 360-degree rotation with integrated base. No separate base to buy. The swivel is smooth enough for daily use, and parents with back problems particularly appreciate not having to lean into the car. "It's really easy to adjust as my son has grown."
• Strong safety performance. R129 i-Size certified with ADAC 2.5 rating, extended rear-facing to 18 kg, and reinforced side-impact protection throughout the seat shell.
• Premium materials. Bamboo-blend fabrics feel soft and breathable, and the removable covers are machine-washable for the inevitable spills.

What to know before you buy

• Heavy at 14.4 kg. Moving this seat between cars is a two-person job. If you share school runs with a partner who drives a different vehicle, this matters.
• Bulky footprint. The seat takes up significant space, and in smaller cars the front passenger may need to slide forward. Check your car's compatibility before buying.
• Comfort questions at the booster stage. While the seat technically covers up to 145 cm, some parents feel the padding and support are better suited to the younger years. Children aged 8-12 may find dedicated booster seats more comfortable.

Best for

• One-car families who want a single seat for the entire car seat journey
• Safety-focused parents who value ISOFIX and extended rear-facing
• Parents with back problems who need easy-load rotation
• Budget-conscious families who want to avoid buying multiple seats

CYBEX Sirona T i-Size Plus Car Seat

CYBEX has built a reputation for seats that feel engineered rather than assembled, and the Sirona T i-Size Plus is arguably the jewel in their T-Line collection. This is a birth-to-four-years seat, covering 45 to 105 cm, and it does that narrower age range with noticeably more refinement than most competitors.

The rotation is where this seat truly distinguishes itself. Parents use words like "smooth", "effortless", and "one-handed" to describe the 360-degree swivel, which requires the Base T (sold separately at around £200). One parent captured it perfectly: "The turn of the seat is really smooth." The 12 headrest positions and 5 recline angles mean you can fine-tune the seat to your child's exact size and mood, which makes a real difference on longer journeys.

The Plus version adds a 3D mesh fabric that breathes better in warm weather and a UPF50+ sun canopy that folds out for rear-facing use. These are not gimmicks. Any parent who has peeled a sweaty child out of a dark-fabric car seat in July will appreciate the mesh, and the canopy means one less loose accessory to manage.

Safety is exceptional. The Sirona T earned ADAC's "Good" rating and was named a Test Winner in its category, which places it at the top of one of Europe's most respected independent crash-test programmes. The adjustable L.S.P. (Linear Side-impact Protection) system adds an extra layer of protection that extends outward on the door side.

The downside is cost. The seat alone is around £310, and the Base T adds roughly £200, bringing the total to over £500. You also only get four years of use before you need a Group 2/3 seat. For some families that maths works, for others it does not.

What parents love

• Best-in-class rotation. The 360-degree swivel is consistently described as the smoothest on the market. One-handed operation is genuinely possible, which matters when you are holding a baby in the other arm.
• ADAC Test Winner. Independent crash-test excellence is not just a marketing badge here. The Sirona T earned it against a full field of competitors, with particular praise for its side-impact performance.
• Exceptional comfort. 12 headrest positions and 5 recline angles give you fine-grained control. The Plus version's 3D mesh keeps children cooler, and parents on long journeys notice the difference. "Well-made and well-thought-out."
• T-Line ecosystem. If you already own the Base T from a previous CYBEX seat, the Sirona T clicks straight on, saving you £200.

What to know before you buy

• Base T sold separately. At around £200, this is a significant additional cost that brings the total package to over £500. If you do not already own a Base T, budget accordingly.
• Only covers birth to ~4 years. You will need to buy a separate Group 2/3 seat when your child outgrows this one, adding another £100-300 to your total spend.
• Initial installation can be fiddly. Several parents report that getting the base and seat aligned correctly takes patience the first time. Once installed, daily use is straightforward.

Best for

• Safety-first parents who want the best independent crash-test rating available
• Families with larger vehicles where the seat's footprint is not an issue
• Parents already in the CYBEX T-Line ecosystem who can reuse their Base T
• Long-journey families who need maximum comfort and recline options

How to choose

If your priority is buying one seat that covers the entire journey from birth to booster age, the Silver Cross Motion All Size 2 is the practical choice. The integrated ISOFIX base, extended rear-facing, and birth-to-12-years span make it a genuine one-and-done purchase. At around £299 with everything included, it represents strong value for families who want to avoid the cost and hassle of multiple seats.

If you want the best possible seat for the first four years of your child's life, and you are willing to pay for it, the CYBEX Sirona T i-Size Plus is the stronger seat in this matchup. Its rotation is smoother, its ADAC rating is higher, and its comfort features are more refined. The total cost is higher, especially with the Base T, and you will need a second seat from around age four. But for the years it covers, nothing we have tested does it better.

Both are excellent seats from trusted brands. The Silver Cross wins on longevity and value. The CYBEX wins on refinement and safety credentials. Your decision comes down to whether you would rather buy once or buy the best for each stage.

Add it to your Nest

Found your match? Add it to your free BubsNest registry so friends and family can chip in for the big purchases. Car seats make perfect group gifts.