If you've been searching for an extended rear-facing car seat and the Britax Safeway M 2 has caught your eye, you're in good company. It's one of the more recognisable names in the ERF (extended rear-facing) market, and for good reason — Britax is a brand with decades of safety engineering behind it, and the Safeway M 2 is built to reflect that.
But is it the right seat for your child, your car, and your lifestyle? That's what this review is here to help you figure out.
A quick note on specs: Car seat specifications — including weight and height limits, regulatory approval status, and installation details — do change, and we'd always recommend checking the latest figures directly with Britax before purchasing. What we can tell you is how this seat performs in the real world, and how it stacks up against the alternatives we stock and fit every day.
What Is the Britax Safeway M 2?
The Britax Safeway M 2 is an extended rear-facing car seat designed to keep children travelling rear-facing for as long as possible — which, as the research consistently shows, is significantly safer than forward-facing. For full details on its regulatory approval and classification, we'd recommend checking directly with Britax or your retailer, as these details are best confirmed from the manufacturer.
For parents choosing between car seat standards, it's worth familiarising yourself with the differences between the older ECE R44 rules and the newer i-Size (R129) regulations — including how children are matched to seats and what safety tests apply. For accurate and up-to-date guidance on this, we'd point you to official sources such as GOV.UK or Which? rather than relying on any single retailer or review.
For installation specifics — including whether the Safeway M 2 uses ISOFIX, a load leg, a top tether, or another configuration — we'd encourage you to check the current model details directly with Britax, as installation options can vary between production runs and markets.
Does It Pass the Swedish Plus Test?
This is one of the first questions we get asked about any rear-facing seat, and it matters. The Swedish Plus Test is a voluntary additional crash test with a strong reputation among ERF specialists — for an authoritative explanation of exactly what it involves and how it compares to other standards, we'd recommend checking with an independent testing organisation or specialist ERF resource rather than taking our word for it.
As for whether the Britax Safeway M 2 holds Swedish Plus Test certification, we'd encourage you to verify this directly with Britax, as certification status is a product-specific detail that's best confirmed from the manufacturer rather than third-party sources. If Swedish Plus Test status is high on your checklist, it's worth raising that question explicitly when you speak to them — or asking us when you book a fitting appointment.
How Does It Fit in Real UK Cars?
One of the most common concerns parents bring to us is whether an extended rear-facing seat will actually fit in their car — especially in smaller or mid-size vehicles that are common on UK roads.
The Britax Safeway M 2 has a relatively established footprint in the UK market, and Britax provides a car compatibility checker on their website. We'd always recommend using this before purchasing, as fit can vary significantly even between trim levels of the same model.
In our experience fitting rear-facing seats across a range of vehicles, a few things tend to determine fit:
- Front seat legroom — rear-facing seats extend further into the cabin, which can push the front passenger seat forward
- Seat angle — some cars have pronounced angled floors which affect how a support leg sits
- Isofix anchor position — varies more than you might expect between manufacturers
If you're unsure about placement, our guide on rear car seat placement covers the key considerations in more detail.
If you're based in Somerset and want to make sure everything is correctly installed before you put your child in it, our Smalls Install Plus fitting service is available by appointment — we'll check the seat is properly installed, the recline angle is correct, and the harness is fitting your child well. If you're further afield, get in touch with us and we'll do our best to point you in the right direction.
Britax Safeway M 2 vs the Alternatives
At Saunders & Smalls, we only stock seats we genuinely believe in — so if you're weighing up the Britax Safeway M 2, here are a few of the alternatives worth considering alongside it.
Axkid Minikid 4
The Axkid Minikid 4 is one of the most popular seats we fit, and for good reason. It holds Swedish Plus Test certification and has built a strong reputation among ERF specialists across the UK. It's particularly well-regarded for its robust build quality and the confidence it gives parents who want to know they're at the top of the safety standard tree. For full installation details — including how it fits in your specific car — we'd recommend checking with Axkid directly or speaking to us at a fitting appointment.
If Swedish Plus Test certification matters to you, the Minikid 4 is probably where your shortlist should start. Read our full Axkid Minikid 4 guide for more detail.
BeSafe Models
BeSafe is another brand that appears frequently in conversations around the very best rear-facing seats. Their range — including the iZi Turn and iZi Plus — is widely respected. For details on which specific BeSafe models hold Swedish Plus Test certification, we'd recommend checking directly with BeSafe or consulting an authoritative ERF specialist resource, as certification details are best verified from the manufacturer.
BeSafe seats tend to be particularly popular with parents who want the option of a rotating seat (which can make getting a child in and out much easier, particularly for parents with back problems or smaller cars with tighter door apertures). If rotation is a priority, our BeSafe Beyond review gives a detailed look at one of their standout models alongside the Britax Safeway M 2.
What If You're on a Budget?
Budget is always a real consideration, and the Britax Safeway M 2 sits at a price point that many families find approachable within the ERF category — though pricing does shift, so we'd encourage you to check current figures with retailers directly. Whatever your budget, we'd always encourage you to make sure you're comparing like-for-like in terms of installation type and safety credentials rather than price alone.
Our honest take: The Britax Safeway M 2 is a competent, well-built extended rear-facing seat from a trusted brand. If it's in your car and correctly installed, your child is travelling safely. Where we'd gently push back is on Swedish Plus Test status — if that's something you care about (and many parents who've done the research do), the Axkid Minikid 4 or BeSafe alternatives are worth the extra consideration.
Why Extended Rear-Facing Matters
It's easy to lose sight of the why when you're comparing seat specs. So here's the short version.
In a frontal collision, a rear-facing child benefits from the seat absorbing and distributing crash forces across their head, neck, and back — which is why rear-facing is so consistently recommended by safety specialists for young children. A forward-facing child is restrained differently, and the forces in a collision are managed in a fundamentally different way. For a detailed, authoritative explanation of the biomechanics involved, we'd point you to resources from organisations such as Which? or GOV.UK rather than summarising it ourselves.
UK law sets out the requirements for child restraints — including rules around height, age, and seat type. For the current, precise legal requirements, we'd always recommend checking GOV.UK directly, as the details matter and legislation can be updated. But it's also worth knowing that "legal" and "safest" aren't always the same thing. Many children can — and should — remain rear-facing well beyond the age at which parents typically switch them forward. The question of how long a child should be rear-facing is one we get asked a lot, and the answer is almost always: longer than you think.
Is the Britax Safeway M 2 Right for You?
Here's a quick summary to help you decide:
- Consider the Britax Safeway M 2 if: you want an extended rear-facing seat from an established UK brand — confirm the full spec and approval details with Britax directly before purchasing
- Consider the Axkid Minikid 4 if: Swedish Plus Test status is important to you and you want one of the most comprehensively tested ERF seats available
- Consider BeSafe if: you want a rotating option or are particularly interested in a brand with a strong ERF-specific heritage
Still not sure? That's exactly what we're here for. Our Smalls Install Plus service isn't just about installation — it's a proper conversation about which seat makes sense for your child, your car, and your family. Book an appointment with us and we'll work through it together.
Saunders & Smalls is an independent extended rear-facing specialist based in Somerset. We only stock seats we believe in, and we're always happy to help you find the right one.
