Appearance at a Glance

Graco Nautilus 65

The Nautilus 65 and Nautilus 80 Elite are both front-facing, 3-in-1 car seats for children, manufactured by Graco. Despite being almost identical to each other, they do have a few differences. The Nautilus 65 is available in multiple color options four of the more popular options are lustre, tara, curio and pratt; whereas more color options are being offered for Nautilus 80 Elite – azalea, splash, chili red, go green, quinley and chase. Many customers have remarked positively on the availability of multiple color options for these seats.

They are almost identical looking with 5-point harness and both weighing the same at 20.5 pounds and having the exact dame dimensions with a height of 28 inches, 18 inches depth and width of 20 inches. However, as you will read further, the Nautilus 80 has the capacity to fit a bigger child, meaning that you get more use out of a same-sized seat.

Usage

Both these car seats are front facing only. They cannot be installed to face the rear. As 3-in-1 car seats, both Graco Nautilus 65 and 80 Elite can be used in three different modes – harness mode, high back mode and as a backless booster. The Nautilus 65 can be used to in the 5-point harness mode for child weight 22-65 pounds or from 27 to 49 inches. The harness mode can be converted to a high back booster seat as the child grows, using it for children weighing 30-100 pounds and with a height of 38 to 57 inches. It can also be used as a backless booster seat for a child of 40-100 pounds and 40-57 inches in height.

The 80 Elite model shares the similar limits for the high back booster mode. However, the other two modes can be used for a bigger child. The harness mode can be used for a child weighing up to 80 pounds and the backless booster can be used for a child weighing up to 120 pounds. Thus, the 80 Elite can be used for a longer duration as your child grows, or for a bigger child.

Safety

Both these car seats feature a strong, steel-reinforced frame for durability. They both have been adequately crash tested to meet the US standards FMVSS 213. They also come with the trademark “Safety Surround” side impact technology, which ensures adequate protections for your child’s head. Both these models feature EPS which is energy absorbing foam making them extra safe in case of impact. They can also withstand extreme car interior temperatures.

However, a common issue with both these car seats that many customers have faced is that their child’s head slumps forward when they fall asleep in the car seat (This is common with many car seats on the market). This happens despite the Safety Surround feature of these car seats. Also, a lot of customers have reported difficulty in adjusting the front buckle for a bigger child in Nautilus 60. This makes it difficult to tighten the seat. A few customers also remarked on the difficulty of tightening the straps in Nautilus 80 Elite.

Click here to get more details on the Graco Nautilus 65

Click here to get more details on the Graco Nautilus 80

Additional Features

Both the Nautilus 65 and the Nautilus 80 are equipped with the Simply Safe adjust harness system which allows the harness and the headrest to be adjusted together, without rethreading. This makes these car seats both easy to adjust and comfortable for you child. Also, they possess a 3 position reclining system. This enables you to adjust the car seat depending on your child’s need so that he is comfortable during long trips.

Both these car seats also have a one-hand, height-adjustable headrest. Both are equipped with open-loop belt guides which aid in positioning your car’s seat belts correctly. They also feature an integrated cup holder and a snacks storage compartment in their design.

Though the two car seats are similar in their features, there are a few key differences. In comparison to Nautilus 65, the Graco Nautilus 80 Elite has a Fuss Free harness feature, which is basically a storage pocket that makes it easy to buckle up your child. By tucking the 5-point harness into this pocket, you can ensure that the harness is out of the way when you get your child in or out of the seat, making it easier to do so.

The Nautilus 80 Elite also focuses slightly more on your child’s comfort by providing fabric-covered armrests. This feature is found lacking in Nautilus 65. Moreover, the Nautilus 80 Elite also comes with additional, removable cushions that can be used when smaller children are using the car seat.

Ease of Installation

Graco Nautilus 80

As per the customer feedback, both these car seats are extremely convenient as far as installation goes thanks to the Hook latch mechanism. However, weighing slightly more than 20 pounds, many customers have found it difficult to move these car seats. Both come with a detailed manual outlining clear instructions for installation. The seats also have a manual slot built in the bottom of the seat where you can store the manual and refer to it in case you need to install the car seat in another car.

However, an extra feature that is seen in the Nautilus 80 Elite is the Belt Lock Off, which makes its installation even easier.

Maintenance

The Nautilus 65 and 80 Elite are both well-built, durable car seats meant for long-term use with their steel-reinforced frames. They are provided with an easily removable, machine-washable seat cushion. The metal and plastic components of these car seats can be cleaned with a mild soap and a cloth. A damp cloth can be used to clean the buckle. The website recommends spot cleaning of the harness straps.

Price & Warranty

You are likely to find the Graco Nautilus 80 Elite priced slightly higher than Grace Nautilus 65. Although it is important to note that this could change because of a sale. This is due to the few additional features in this car seat. They both are covered with a limited one-year warranty from the manufacturer.