Can it be the best between two similar car seats?

1. Graco Nautilus 65 Car Seat Installation
2. Graco Nautilus Car Seat To Booster Instructions
3. Graco Nautilus Car Seat Instructions
4. Graco Nautilus Booster Seat Instructions Folding

The market is filled with lookalike products. What’s the difference between the Graco Atlans 65 and the Nautilus 65? Which one should you get?

This is the reason why I’ve created the Graco Atlas vs Nautilus 65. By reading this article, you will find out what the differences are and which the best fit is for you.

View the manual for the Graco Nautilus 65 3-in-1 Harness here, for free. This manual comes under the category Car seats and has been rated by 1 people with an average of a 6. This manual is available in the following languages: English, Spanish. Do you have a question about the Graco Nautilus 65 3-in-1 Harness or do you need help?

As you know, Graco made a name for itself for being safe. No wonder they hold so many top positions on Consumer Reports.

Graco Nautilus Manual Uk. Graco Nautilus 65 Lx 3 In 1 Car Seat Review By An Actual Mom. Graco Nautilus 65 Car Seat Installation To Booster Instructions Cover Washing How Loosen Straps Elite Racbaby Janabebe Foam Liner For Lexus Covers Toyota Manual Anunfinishedlifethe Com. Graco 1758196 nautilus car seat owner 3 in 1 manual 65 installation how. Buy it on Amazon: helpful video showing how to assemble the Graco Nautilus 65 3-in-1 Car seat.

Many of my readers requested this comparison. So I’m here to deliver.

Look:

Here’s the bird’s eye view of the Graco Nautilus 65 Harness Booster Car Seat. It gives the best safety possible. Plus, it’s 3 in 1, so this will be the last seat that you will ever buy.

Here’s the bird’s eye view of the Graco Atlas 65 Harness Booster Car Seat. It’s an excellent lightweight car seat for the growing child. It helps relieve motion sickness.

What Will I Learn?

• Safety
• Size Limits
• Installation
• Fabric/Material for these Booster seats
• Bonuses and Features
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Direct Comparison Graco Atlas vs Nautilus 65 Harness Booster Car Seat

Breaking it down

What you have seen above is my checklist when I’m looking at a new car seat. The list is prioritized, and the most important item is on top, and the least is on the bottom.

I always look at safety first. A child’s life is the most precious thing in this world. As a rule of thumb, get the best security that you can afford.

Next on the list is the size limits. Here I’ve managed to find a money-saving tip. And I will share it with you in a bit.

After this comes to the installation, if you have seen the few reviews, you know how difficult it is for some to get that tight fit. We will dive deep into this section. It’s important to know how much time it takes.

And the last important item on the list is the cover material. Kids will always spill something or make a mess, so you have to know how easy it is to clean it.

Finally, I check the secondary features. Sometimes the comparison ends in a draw, and this section tends to be the tiebreaker.

Safety

From infancy to young adulthood, your child will need protection while traveling. Here’s something that not many talk about. Here’s the truth. Every car seat is safe on the market. If there are issues, the recall is immediate.

On the other hand, there are minimum government laws. There are a few cheap brands that barely pass those. So would you trust the safety of your child in the hands of those brands or stick to the one that has gone the extra mile.

Graco Atlas 65 Harness Booster Car Seat

The Graco Atlas 65 caters to older kids. So anti-rebound bar and other safety features are removed. Even though they don’t advertise it, but the Atlas went through rigorous crash testing. If not, it wouldn’t be on the market.

It offers everything that you will ever need. Your young one is protected form front and rear collisions and even side impact as well.

If you’re using the harness mode, your little one is protected by the 5-point harness. This is the safest one on the market. Slowly it’s getting to be the standard.

Graco Nautilus 65 Harness Booster Car Seat

The Graco Nautilus 65 comes packed with safety features. First of all, the frames are reinforced with steel, which will give strong support in case of a crash.

The ProtectPlus safety feature is unique to Graco. Besides the usual front rear and side protection, it offers rollover protection as well. You probably know that rollover crashes are the deadliest of them all.

And of course, your little one is kept safe thanks to the 5-point harness.

Winner

The Graco Nautilus 65 Booster seat offers a bigger set of safety features, so the point goes there.

Size Limits

These car seats are expensive, and they have a short expiration date. It’s such a waste to switch car seats every half a year or yearly. Here’s a secret way to save some money in the long run. Choose car seats that are 2 in 1, 3 in 1, or all in 1. By buying one seat, you are saving money, and you only have to learn one car seat installation tricks.

I typically break this down, but I don’t want to bore you by repeating myself.

The Graco Atlas 65 offers a 2 in 1 solution. This car seat has the function of forwarding facing harness mode and high back booster mode. As you have seen, this car seat caters to older kids.

Now it’s true that you can put a 22-pound child in it. And many officials recommend using the forward-facing only after your child turned the age of two. Many countries in the EU recommend switching only after the child reached four years of age. In forward-facing harness mode the weight limit is between 22 and 65 pounds (22-65 lbs). The weight range for high back booster mode is 30 to 100 pounds.

The main difference between the two car seats is that you can transform in booster mode with the Atlas earlier.

For both car seats, the top weight limit is 100 pounds or 57” (30-100 lbs).

Winner

It’s a tie

Installation

It’s funny when you read those reviews; some people have such a hard time with the install. There’s the manual, and there are tons of installation videos on YouTube. I read a review for a different car seat that on the highway, the seat has fallen over. I don’t think that the seat was at fault there.

Luckily Graco went the extra mile to make the install as easy as possible.

Graco Atlas 65 Harness Booster Car Seat

The Graco Atlas 65 uses the old installation technology. Before you get started, you should put your child in the car seat first and adjust the harness. After that, you can start with the installation.

Now the first thing you have to do is remove the back cover. Because you have to route the seat belt or the latch system behind the cover, it’s a straight forward procedure. You follow the belt guides, and you’re done.

Compared to the Nautilus, it seems that the Atlas relies on older technology. Also, when you’re making the seat tight, it’s a good idea to push either your hand or your knee to get a better fit.

Also, make sure after the installation that the wiggle room is less than an inch.

Graco Nautilus 65 Harness Booster Car Seat

The Graco Nautilus 65 uses a newer technology called the Snuglock. You have to remove the back cover here as well. Then you will have to pop the back because that’s where you’re going to route the seat belt or the latch.

The procedure is the same as above. For the tightening process, the easiest way was to sit in it and then pull the straps.

Also, it’s a good idea to remove the cover from the side and pull the strap through the hole towards you.

Once it’s snug close the back door and put the back material in place, and you’re done.

Winner

It’s a tie.

Fabric/Material for these Booster seats

Kids can get in the funniest accidents. This means cleaning time for the parents. This is why you have to know in advance how easy it is to remove and wash the material.

Again the material is almost the same. So I will go through it in one go.

The material is easy to remove. If you have to adjust the car seat frequently, you will get the hang of it fast. Washing is quite simple. All you have to do is pop it in the washing machine. It’s a good idea to use cold water and a gentle program, so your cover lasts a long time.

Now, as for drying, the safest thing is letting it air dry.

Winner

It’s a tie.

Bonuses and Features

In this section, I check out the smaller secondary features. Sometimes they are very useful and sometimes they are a deal-breaker. Let’s see how the Graco car seats perform.

Both the Nautilus and the Atlas have two cup holders. They are built in and easy to clean. For older kids, this is a must-have.

To get the most out of safety, all car seats have to have some kind of reclined feature. The Graco Nautilus has 4 options to choose from, and the Graco Atlas only has two.

On the other hand, the Graco Atlas makes up with the multiple headrest options. You’re getting ten options while the Graco Nautilus only offers 6.

The biggest issue with cheaper car seats is that you have to manually rethread the harness. Luckily that’s not the case with either of these Graco seats. When you adjust the headrest, the harness is adjusted as well.

I hate rethreading with a passion. I could never get it done, and I always had to ask for my husband to help.

Winner

It’s a tie again.

Graco Nautilus 65 Backless Booster Car Seat

Pros:

It’s super easy to install just listen to the “Click” sound

It’s top-rated on Consumer Reports

Padded side protection for older kids not many car seats offer this

Cons:

The material stitched on by elastic that par won’t last

There’s no leveling guide, so you have to guess

Graco Atlas 65 Backless Booster Car Seat

Pros:

It offers all-around protection for the sides as well (head and torso protection)

The fabric is easy to remove and wash very important if you have a child with motion sickness

Most parents reported that kids fall asleep fast

Cons:

It’s harder to install in older cars

It’s huge both vertically, and it takes up a lot of space

Final Recount

Graco Atlas 65 Backless Booster Car Seat won with one point (1/5)

Graco Nautilus 65 Backless Booster Car Seat lost (0/5)

The other categories were a draw.

Graco Atlas vs Nautilus 65 Harness Booster Car Seat Verdict

At first glimpse, these Graco car seats look the same. When we started to check out the differences, we saw that there are some benefits for the Graco Nautilus.

The biggest difference was in the safety section. It offers more options than the Graco Atlas 65. Rollover crashes are the deadliest, and the Graco Nautilus protects from that as well.

In other categories, it was the same. Even though the Graco Nautilus 65 relies on newer tech, the installation is just as simple as with the older one. The only bothersome is that they both use the older version of the latch system. It’s time to upgrade.

Every other category was the same. So if you value the extra safety, then Graco Nautilus 65 Backless booster seat is the winner.

We have reached the end of the Graco Atlas vs Nautilus Backless booster seat comparison. I hope you’ve learned a lot from this article. By now you should know which the best fit is for you. Get the one that suits you best fast because stocks are running low.

If you have ideas or tips on this comparison, please share them below.

Catch you next time!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does the Graco Nautilus 65 or the Atlas 65 have a cup holder?

Yes as a matter fact both of them have two cup holders. The dual cup holders come handy when your little ones wan to store both drinks and toys.

Who is an expert with car seat installation?

The experts are who have the child passenger safety technicians license.

What are the safety features Graco Atlas 65 vs Nautilus 65 car seat?

Both car seats have strict safety standards. Both car seats have a steel reinforced frame. As you know this is the critical component for most car seats the steel reinforced frame will keep your little one protected from no matter what. These combination seats have a wide weight range 30-100 lbs for forward facing booster mode. And 22-65 lbs for simply safe adjust harness system (belt-positioning booster). Graco has set the car seat standard for many in the industry. There’s more than enough side impact protection.

How comfortable are compared to each other Atlas 65 vs Graco Nautilus 65?

Make sure you adjust the crotch buckle on the size of your child on each combination seat. With the Graco Nautilus 65 you’re getting 6 position adjustable head rest while with the Atlas 65 you’re getting 10 position adjustable head rest. To get the most comfort out of these seats make sure you use the best recline positions possible. The Atlas 65 only offer two recline positions while with the Graco Nautilus 65 you’re getting 4 recline positions. The harness car seat was designed for older kids so it’s not an infant car seat. Now the nautilus features are long so if you want to read the full car seat review you can read it here.

What are the most important features for these car seats?

Here are the features: adjust harness system, simply safe adjust harness, harness storage compartment, car seat harness booster, seat pad, recline feature.

What so special about the harness system?

Because it’s simply safe adjust harness it’s easy to install. For installation you can use the shoulder belt just make sure that the latch strap parallel. The harness height is 25 to 28 inches. The simple adjust harness system make moving kids in out a breeze.

Which one should I buy Tranzitions or Nautilus?

Both the Tranzitions and Nautilus car seats are great.

Graco or Evenflo car seats, which is the right choice?

Graco car seats are better for most parents.

Last Updated on September 9, 2020

The Graco Nautilus 65 LX 3-in-1 car seat is a forward facing only combination car seat that functions as a 5 point harness, high back booster, and backless booster. Other, similar versions of this seat include the Nautilus 65 DLX and Nautilus 80 Elite.

In the past, we have reviewed the Graco Nautilus, and the Graco Nautilus with Safety Surround. Graco has revamped the Nautilus into the Nautilus 65 LX/65 DLX/80 Elite. Instead of having the Nautilus and the Graco Argos, Graco has merged the two different seats into this flavor of the seat, let’s take a closer look.

CSFTL Quick Stats

• Forward facing weight range: 22-65 pounds (22-80 pounds for the Nautilus 80 Elite)
• Forward facing height range: 27-49″ (27-52″ for the Nautilus 80 Elite)
• High back booster weight range: 30-100 pounds
• High back booster height range: 38-57″
• Backless booster weight range: 40-120 pounds
• Backless booster height range: 40-57″
• Highest harness position: 18.25″
• Highest belt guide position: 19.5″
• 10 year expiration
• Lower anchor weight limit: 45 pounds

Features

• Three position crotch strap
• Can use LATCH in high back booster mode only
• The DLX version has a built in seat belt lockoff

Measurements

• Widest point: 20″ wide at the base, measured cupholder to armrest, outside edge of seat to outside edge of seat
• Seat pan: 12.5″ deep, 12.5″ wide

The Nautilus is not a new seat to the market, but Graco has combined the best features of the Nautilus and Argos into one seat. There was nothing wrong individually with either seat, but Graco has new combination seats coming to the market, and they didn’t need two very similar seats sitting side by side on store shelves.

So, what has changed from the Nautilus we’ve loved since 2007?

Features

The red rollers on an older Graco Nautilus. No more up and over on the new ones!

The main change is that the Nautilus now has a no-rethread harness. The simple readjustment from the Argos has been integrated into this version of the seat.

In addition, the Argos had a headrest restriction, meaning you could only use the lower four headrest positions in harnessed mode. The Nautilus 65 LX allows use of the headrest in any position for harnessed mode. That means less confusion and misuse for the parent. A good thing.

Graco now puts right on the Nautilus 65 LX box, very clearly, “Forward-Facing Harness.”

The Nautilus continues to be a three mode seat, allowing children who are of a safe forward facing age (at least 2 years old) and over 22 pounds to sit in a harness. Then it becomes a high back booster for older children, then a backless booster to finish out the hat trick.

This seat does NOT rear face.

The “three in one” terminology on the Nautilus boxes has confused many parents in the past, but Graco has heard the comments and now marks far more clearly that this seat is forward facing only, the Graco Nautilus does not rear face.

New crotch strap spacing on the Graco Nautilus 65 LX

Another common complaint in past years with the Nautilus, and touched on in our 2013 review of the seat, was the short crotch strap depth and the challenge in moving the strap. Graco has listened to consumers and made the crotch strap adjustment much easier. In the 2013 review, and until this version of the seat, there were two crotch strap positions at 5.5″ and 7″ deep. Now, in the updated Nautilus there are three crotch strap positions. They still have the 5.5″ and 7″ deep slots, but they’ve added a third at 8″ out.

No recline on the left Graco Nautilus 65 LX, third recline position on the right. It will change the angle of the thighs more than the angle of the back.

Graco has also added a third recline position for the Nautilus. Any recline position can be used at any age, weight, or mode of seat. However, they really don’t do a lot in terms of comfort for the child. The distance between them is just not great enough for it to be more than an aid in installation, or perhaps a small change for the child. For the parent hoping to recline the seat on the fly for a comfortable sleeping position, this won’t do it. Nor will any combination seat on the market, to be fair to Graco.

Graco Nautilus 65 LX showing no recline and full recline feature

Another change to the Nautilus from previous versions is now the backless mode goes to 120 pounds, rather than 100 pounds. It’s a direct merge from the Argos.

New to this version of the Nautilus, the harness now has little pockets on the cover. The tongues of the buckle tuck in so the harness stays out of the way as the child gets in and out of the seat. I found them to be a little annoying to use (a little high and a little hard to shove in to the point where they’d stay), but I think that is something that will get much easier with habit and time. It’s a great idea. Because they’re pockets the tongues are also covered and away from bright sunlight, so less chance of burning the child or the parent buckling them. Graco calls it their Fuss Free Harness.

Installation and Usage

A LATCH install is easy on the Nautilus 65 LX, the strap is already routed through, just attach and add weight and tighten.

Installing the Nautilus is generally very easy in harnessed mode. The belt path is open behind the child, and the lower anchor connector strap comes routed in the belt path already.

The seat belt install is straightforward and generally easy for the Graco Nautilus 65 LX.

When installing the Nautilus with lower anchors, simply make sure the strap is not twisted, attach the lower anchor connectors on the seat to the lower anchors in the vehicle, add weight, and pull the tail tight. If you cannot pull the tail tight enough using this method, pull the seat’s cover aside to access the belt path, then continue to add weight to the seat and pull the tail again. Pulling the cover aside changes the angle at which you’re pulling, and often makes it far easier to continue to tighten.

The tether is stored here at the top right of the Graco Nautilus 65 LX. The lower anchor connector strap is stored at the lower right, with a matching spot for the other connector on the other side.

To install the Nautilus with the seat belt, store the lower anchors in their dedicated storage positions and route the seat belt through the belt path. Lock the belt as required by your car, or use the included locking clip, add weight, and pull tight.

The lockoff on the Nautilus 65 DLX and Nautilus 80 Elite.

The Nautilus DLX and Nautilus 80 Elite have a built in lockoff. Graco states to use the lockoff when installing with a lap and shoulder belt instead of locking the retractor. The lockoff is easy to use, and it’s familiar to parents who have used most Graco lockoffs for the past eight years or so. A gray and red arm that clamp down in opposite directions from one another.

The Nautilus 65 LX in high back booster mode with LATCH.

The Nautilus allows LATCH to be used while in high back booster mode. Since the LATCH strap is straight through the belt path on the high back portion, this cannot be used while the seat is backless. The child’s weight has no impact on the lower anchor use while in booster mode, as the lower anchors are only holding in the seat, not the seat and the child.

The Graco Nautilus 80 Elite with the required strap covers.

The Nautilus 80 Elite has strap covers that are required any time the seat is used in harness mode. With the Nautilus 65 LX and 65 DLX, the harness covers are optional.

Switching between modes

Switching between modes on the Nautilus is not particularly difficult, but it does take a few minutes. This is not a seat that you can use easily harnessed for a 4 year old for one ride, boostered for a 7 year old for the next, as a backless for a 10 year old, and then reversed without spending time making changes. But those changes are not difficult.

To convert the Nautilus from harnessed mode to high back mode, you first remove the harness from the splitter plate in the back, then pull the harness out at the shoulders. Protip: Buckle up the chest clip and crotch buckle. That’ll make it easier to keep everything together after you’ve pulled it apart. Next, undo the cover at the hips of the seat and pull up the back. You’ll push back on the two red buttons so that they release and the back of the seat hinges back. That will expose the arms and the connections for the hip end of the straps. Remove them from these arms, and then put the arms back in by setting the back upright again and pushing back on the buttons as necessary. Unthread the crotch strap and remove it from the seat. The harness adjuster strap gets pulled tight so the splitter plate is against the plastic along the bottom.

To convert the seat back to harnessed mode, reverse this process. Put the hip parts back on the arms, rethread the crotch strap, rethread the shoulder straps and reattach to the splitter plate.

These red tabs allow the Graco Nautilus 65LX to be moved into backless mode

To go from high back to backless mode on the Nautilus, once again hinge the seat back with the red buttons pushed back at the hips. When those are sticking up, at the very back of the backless portion there are two more red buttons. Squeeze them together and pull the backless portion away from the high back portion.

Going from backless to high back booster mode, reverse this process.

Fit to Child

The fit in all modes is generally good in the Nautilus. Graco has traditionally has good belt fits for nearly all size kids. The Nautilus is a little more hit and miss, but with this model (newly turned 6 years old, 45″, 48 pounds) the belt fit was ideal. It is still a slimmer seat through the shoulders, so while it’s not a safety issue, if you have a child with broader shoulders you may find they’re uncomfortable sooner than a more slender child through the shoulders. I have used a Nautilus with my older daughter (I bought it in 2008, she was 6 at the time) and the fit was great on her. My younger daughter, the current model, is a little broader through the shoulders and fits well. This is purely a comfort issue, but with broader shouldered kids who cannot understand the details of safety, they will try to make themselves comfortable by twisting their bodies, moving the seat belt, or otherwise moving themselves out of position. As with any seat, fit to child is important. The Nautilus will fit most children well, but broader children may not be as comfortable as children with a different build.

Harness Mode

Graco Nautilus 65 LX- 6 years old, 45 inches, 48 pounds using the harness mode

Our model is six years old, 45 inches tall, and 48 pounds. For an easier reference, she’s just coming into size 6 shirts, size 5s often still fit. The Nautilus was on the second to highest position, much to my surprise. The seat would last her in harness mode for probably another year, until she’s moving from a size 6 to about a size 7.

High Back Booster Mode

The high back mode often provides a proper belt fit for most children. The lap belt goes low enough along the hips, the shoulder belt is nicely adjustable and centers along the collarbone well. In this mode our model was still on the second to highest position, since the belt guides are above the slots for the harness. She would have had probably another two years, maybe a little longer in high back mode.

Backless Mode

Graco Nautilus 65 LX- 6 years old, 45 inches, 48 pounds using backless mode

Here the fit is a little more hit and miss and is very much dependent on the fit of the booster to the car. This is true for all backless boosters, though. The Nautilus comes with a belt adjuster to adjust the height and hold the shoulder belt more toward the body if necessary. It’s added to the backless portion, though is not required if the belt fit is good.

On this model, the belt fit in backless mode was good in multiple cars, though I might have wanted to use the belt adjuster guide in one car. Overall, though, the belt fit was good, with the lap belt low on her hips and the shoulder belt on her collarbone. Because there is no headrest or slots, she could continue to use this until 57″, 120 pounds, or the belt fit was no longer good.

The belt adjuster guide for this seat, like all Graco boosters, comes in the baggie with the manual (in this case, two manuals. Graco has separated English and Spanish to two, rather than two halves of one).

Side Overhang

When this car seat is installed on the plus one or jump seat of a minivan, Graco has confirmed up to 20% of the base can overhang the edge of the vehicle seat while in harness mode. In booster mode the entire base must be in contact with the vehicle seat.

Important Information: Where to Find

Graco Nautilus 65 LX Aircraft certification on the left, the sticker with the model number and date of manufacturer on the inside.

The model number for the Nautilus is on the bottom of the seat. A suggestion for parents: When you first get the seat, take a picture of that model number and date. Get it in your photo stream. That way if you’re at your computer and wondering about something for your seat, you can contact Graco or google it using the actual model number and date for your seat, you won’t need to go to the car and uninstall the seat. Also on the bottom is the FAA approval in a red sentence. This seat is NOT approved for airplane use in booster mode. Boosters require a shoulder belt, and airplanes don’t have shoulder belts. However, in harnessed mode this seat can and should be used on board if it is your child’s harnessed seat.

Graco Nautilus 65 Car Seat Installation

This seat, like all Graco combination, multi-mode, and booster seats has a 10 year lifespan from the date on the sticker. It is both in the manual as well as stamped on the seat.

However, it is a simple embossment, so it’s not highlighted in any way, and it’s also on the underside of the seat, so it cannot be seen while the seat is installed. It’s even difficult in the picture to the left (which is why I’m pointing to it).

* The manual does have a few errors we noticed. The high back booster goes to 100 pounds, but one page of the manual says 120 pounds. Part of the instructions for putting the seat in booster mode state to use LATCH and then check for movement. That’s fine, but the picture shows the seat belt used through the belt path, which then makes it physically impossible to use the seat belt for the booster. Graco is aware of these issues, and I’m sure is working to resolve them.

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Easy to install
• One recline setting
• Can use LATCH in booster mode

Graco Nautilus Car Seat To Booster Instructions

Cons

Graco Nautilus Car Seat Instructions

• Doesn’t have great head support for sleeping which can be uncomfortable for some kids

Overall Thoughts

The Nautilus has generally been an easy seat to install and use since it was released in 2007. It fits most kids well in all modes, and installs well in most vehicles. I had a problem with the seat belt installation in a 2015 BMW M235i. Because my model is over the weight limit for the lower anchors, I did not attempt a lower anchor install. In a 2015 Toyota Camry and a 2011 Mercedes E350 wagon the installs were nearly instantaneous and very easy, which is how the Nautilus has installed since it was released. The cubbies and cupholder that have been on the seat since it first came out are still there, and still a child favorite.

This beautiful Graco Nautilus 65 LX in the Raquel cover was generously supplied by Graco. However, they did not sponsor this review, and all opinions are my own.

Graco Nautilus Booster Seat Instructions Folding

The older version of the Nautilus with the rethread harness is still available at many retailers. You can find the new Nautilus 65 LX on Amazon.com.