Graco Sequel 65 Review [Ratings & Specs]

Have we mentioned that we love Graco products? They’re so affordable and safe. The Graco Sequel is a budget-friendly car seat that can convert from rear to forward-facing. 

Some may say that just because it only goes from rear to forward-facing that it’s useless. Well, it’s not.

We loved this car seat other than the fact that the cup holders made it a little too wide to fit multiple car seats across one area. It has an infant insert that comes standard with the car seat and a multi-recline feature. It’s ideal for children from 4-65 pounds and 49 inches tall. 

There is a 10-height headrest that grows with your child and is easily adjustable. It allows your child to remain in a rear-facing position for longer. Additionally, the Simply Safe Adjust Harness System adjusts the height of the harness and headrest in one simple motion for optimal ease of use. It’s also easy to install thanks to the LATCH system. 

We recommend this car seat if you’re on a budget and need something in a hurry. It’s not going to last forever and will need to be changed out for a booster seat, but overall it’s a great product that will keep your child safe and comfortable.

If you’re on a tight budget and can’t really find a better option, then the Sequel 65 may be a decent option for you. I say decent because that’s really all it is.

After testing , we found it has its flaws. The cup holders on each side may seem like a convenient feature, but it actually makes the seat wider, making it difficult to place multiple car seats in one row.

Additionally, since it doesn’t have a base, it can’t be moved easily from vehicle to vehicle or attached to a stroller. As I said earlier, it’s not the best car seat on the market, but if you’re tight on money and need something in a pinch, this would work.

Price Comparison

Graco Sequel 65 Convertible Car Seat, Ara Pink

$143.00

in stock

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Walmart.com

Graco Sequence 65 Convertible Car Seat, Codey , 22.13x19.25x25.16 Inch (Pack of 1)

out of stock

as of March 27, 2023 2:01 pm

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Amazon.com

The Sequel 65 can be used in two different positions in your vehicle, depending on your child’s weight, height, and age. It can either be used in the rear-facing position or the forward-facing position. The rear-facing setup will accommodate children weighing four pounds to forty pounds. The seat has three recline positions for use when rear-facing.

In addition, it has a padded and removable newborn insert to keep even the tiniest little ones comfortable and secure. The forward-facing position is for children twenty-two to sixty-five pounds and less than forty-nine inches tall. There are three recline options available for this setup, as well.

In addition to the multi-recline feature, the Sequel 65 includes a few other versatile components. The crotch strap, headrest, and harness all have different settings to conform to your child. The harness and headrest have ten height options and can be adjusted together in one swift motion by pulling a lever.

Once you have the appropriate height release, the lever, and the headrest should click into place. The following guidelines must be followed when adjusting the harness and headrest:

• Rear Facing: the harness straps should be positioned just above the child’s shoulder tops. The child’s head should be one inch below the headrest lever.
• Forward Facing: the harness straps should fall just above the tops of the child’s shoulders. The tops of their ears should be below the top of the headrest.

The crotch strap can be moved to one of two positions. The following must apply:

• Rear Facing: The crotch strap should be in the slot that is closest to their bottom without the child sitting on top of the strap.
• Forward Facing: The crotch strap must be in the forward-most slot.

The Sequel 65’s forty-pound rear-facing weight limit means that your child can stay rear-facing for quite a while. As they grow, the seat can be easily adjusted with the use of levers.

The seat is effortless to install and features both LATCH connectors as well as a seatbelt option. As this is a convertible car seat, there is no base.

For Rear Facing LATCH Installation (80% of the car seat must be on the vehicle seat)

• Connect the tether strap to its storage position
• Place the car seat in your vehicle’s back seat and make sure the LATCH strap is in the rear-facing blue belt path
• Recline the car seat to positions 1,2, or 3. Check the level indicator.
• Fully extend the LATCH straps, connect the to the anchors, and then remove all slack
• Check to make sure the base doesn’t move more than one inch in any direction and check the level indicator again

For Forward-Facing LATCH Installation (80% of the car seat must be on the vehicle seat)

• Remove the LATCH straps and the tether strap from storage and make sure the LATCH strap is through the orange-colored belt path
• Place the car seat in your vehicle’s back seat and recline the car seat to positions 4,5, or 6.
• Fully extend the LATCH straps, connect the to the anchors, and then remove all slack
• Connect the top tether to the anchor and remove all slack
• Check to make sure the base doesn’t move more than one inch in any direction

Thanks to the clearly marked belt paths, seat belt installation is simple and secure.

For Rear Facing Seat Belt Installation (80% of the car seat must be on the vehicle seat)

• Connect the tether strap and LATCH straps to their storage position
• Recline the car seat to positions 1,2, or 3. Check the level indicator
• Lock the seat belt through the path marked in blue
• Fully extend the seat belt so that it locks, then buckle it so that it is flat and untwisted
• Remove all slack from the belt while pushing down on the car seat
• Check to make sure the base doesn’t move more than one inch in any direction and check the level indicator again

For Forward-Facing Seat Belt Installation (80% of the car seat must be on the vehicle seat):

• Connect the LATCH straps to their storage position but leave the tether strap available
• Place the car seat in your vehicle’s back seat and recline the car seat to positions 4,5, or 6.
• Lock the seat belt through the path marked in orange
• Fully extend the seat belt so that it locks, then buckle it so that it is flat and untwisted
• Fasten the seat belt and remove all slack while pushing down on the car seat
• Attach the top tether strap to its anchor and remove all slack
• Check to make sure the car seat is secure, not moving more than one inch in any direction and check the level indicator again

Thanks to the colorized belt paths and bubble level indicator, installing your seat is straightforward and easy.

Recommended Use

• Rear Facing: 4-40lbs and head 1” below the top of the headrest (when fully extended)
• Forward Facing: 22-65lbs and less than 49” in height

Unique Features

• Two cup holders
• 40lb rear-facing weight limit
• 10-year lifespan
• 10 available positions for harness and headrest
• Available in two different color schemes
• Removable and washable seat cover

Specifications

• Seat weight: 19.75lbs
• Height: 25.16”
• Seat depth: 22.13”
• Listed seat width: 19.25”

Pros

• Keeps children rear-facing longer
• Converts from rear-facing to forward-facing
• Crotch strap, recline positions, headrest, and harness are extremely adjustable

Cons

• The two cup holders make the seat a bit wide
• Transitions only from rear-facing to forward-facing and not to a booster
• Is a convertible seat so it does not have a base, meaning it cannot be moved easily from vehicle to vehicle or attached to a stroller

The Graco Sequel 65 vs The Graco Sequence 65

The Sequel 65 and Sequence 65 are the same car seat, just manufactured for and sold by different retailers. They have all of the same specifications.

Graco Sequel 65 vs. Graco 4Ever

The main difference between these two car seats is the car seat types they convert into. They are both convertible car seats, but while the Sequel 65 converts into two positions, the 4Ever converts into 4 different positions.

The Graco Sequel 65 can be used as a rear-facing car seat with a child up to 40 pounds and then used as a forward-facing car seat. The 4Ever can be used as a rear-facing car seat, a forward-facing car seat, a high back booster, and a backless booster.

Its rear-facing weight limit is also forty pounds. Both car seats have an easy-adjust harness and headrest system, dual cup holders, a removable, washable seat pad, infant insert, LATCH system, and multi-position/adjustment features.

They both have a lifespan of 10 years. The Graco 4Ever is more expensive as it converts to more positions than the Sequel 65. The features of both car seats are very comparable, aside from the transitions.

Graco Sequence 65 Convertible Car Seat, Codey , 22.13x19.25x25.16 Inch (Pack of 1)

 out of stock

Buy Now
Amazon.com

as of March 27, 2023 2:01 pm

Similarities

• 40lb rear-facing weight limit
• Dual cup holders
• Easy-adjust harness and headrest
• Six position recline
• Removable and washable seat cover
• 10-year lifespan
• Padded infant insert
• LATCH installation

Differences

• Conversions, the Sequel 65 can convert from rear-facing to forward-facing. The 4Ever can convert from rear-facing to forward-facing, to highback booster, to backless booster.
• Price
• The 4Ever car seat is lighter, shorter in terms of height, and shallower
• The Sequence 65 is narrower

Honest Customer Reviews

Overall, the Graco Sequel 65 is a well-liked car seat. Parents appreciate that they can keep their little ones rear-facing longer due to the 40lb rear-facing weight limit. They also like that the car seat is simple to adjust with the use of levers. The headrest and harness, as well as the recline, can be adjusted with one hand.

One concern among parents was the width of the seat when measured at the cup holders. The dual cup holders flare out a bit, making the seat rather wide. In a car, this is not too much of a concern unless you are trying to fit in multiple car seats.

However, parents did have an issue with the width when flying. The cup holders make the seat too wide to fit comfortably on airplane seats. It is important to note that the cup holders must be attached to the seat before use.

Parent Likes

• Easy adjustability
• Converts from rear-facing to forward-facing
• Removable, washable seat cover

Parent Dislikes

• Seat width, especially with airplane use

Customer Reviews on Installation

The seat is easy to install and adjust. The adjustment for the harness/headrest and recline is made with levers and can be done with one hand. The clearly marked bubble level indicator ensures correct positioning.

The Sequel 65 is uncomplicated to install whether you are using the LATCH system or your vehicle’s seat belt. All belt paths are clearly marked and colorized.

Expiration Information

The Graco Sequel 65 has a ten-year life span from the date of manufacture. This date should be located on your car seat label.

Warranty

Graco provides a limited warranty on their products. If you discover an issue with your product during the warranty period, Graco recommends that you contact them so that they may replace or repair the part.

Some states do not allow limitations to be placed on warranties, and therefore, all exclusions may or may not apply to you. In most cases, Graco’s standard warranty expires one year after the date of purchase.

Cleaning

Thankfully, the seat pad is removable and machine washable on a cold setting. It can be removed by raising the headrest, unthreading the harness, and taking it off the car seat shell. If you would prefer not to remove the entire cover, it can be spot cleaned with a damp cloth and a mild soap.

The crotch buckle can be spot cleaned with cool water and a cloth. If it is filled with debris, the buckle can be submerged in warm water. You should take care not to soak the crotch strap and not to use any soap or detergent.

The harness straps and buckle can be wiped down with a damp cloth and a mild soap. Do not soak or immerse the harness straps as it could weaken their integrity.

Graco Sequel 65 Convertible Car Seat, Ara Pink

$143.00

in stock

Buy Now

Graco Sequence 65 Convertible Car Seat, Codey , 22.13x19.25x25.16 Inch (Pack of 1)

out of stock

as of March 27, 2023 2:01 pm

Buy Now

Frequently Asked Questions 

Are Graco car seats FAA approved?

Many of Graco’s car seats are FAA approved with the use of the 5-point harness. This is true of the Graco Sequel 65. The FAA approval sticker is located on the back of the car seat. You should always check your car seat and owners manual for an indication of manufacturer approval.

How do you loosen the straps on a Graco convertible car seat?

There is a lever located on the front of the seat, in between where your child’s calves should be. Pull up on the lever while simultaneously pulling the harness straps at the chest clip away from the car seat back.

How do I clean Graco sequel 65?

The seat pad, harness straps, and buckle can be spot cleaned with water, a cloth, and mild soap. For tough stains, the seat pad can be removed and washed in a washing machine on the cold setting.

The crotch buckle can be placed in a cup of warm water to soak, but the crotch strap should not be immersed.

Final Thoughts

As part of the Graco line, the Sequel 65 has undergone numerous crash testing and has met standards that are equivalent to twice the impact force set by federal regulations. It is designed to mirror many features of the well-liked Graco Extend2Fit.

Though it does not have the extendable footrest, the Sequel 65 has a forty-pound rear-facing limit to keep your child rear-facing longer.

It is straightforward to install and simple to adjust. Car seat occupants will love the dual cup holders, and parents will appreciate the security and versatility of the seat. Overall, it is a great convertible car seat at an affordable price.