the seat is great!
Now I do think that, for the price, they could have included padding similar to the gracopedic foam, but it's definitely more than adequate (you're going to hate me for how I explain this, but it's more padded than the combis, less padded than the Britax Companion)
It's definitely better padded than the less expensive graco snugrides, though... maybe even equal to the safeseats without the gracopedic foam.
Here are some things that people either love or hate....
1. the buckle - not only is it a puzzle buckle (as all seats in europe have), but it's plastic. I don't feel this is a biggie... it's not going to heat up like metal, so it won't burn as easily, and all the infant seats in europe use them... heck, the combi infant seats here have them... they passed testing and everything.
The concern of course is the durability of plastic and will it stand up in really high temps.
So you have to figure out how you feel about the issue. I have talked to sales reps at stores where they sell tons of different seats and they don't see it as an issue. Do they have favorite seats? Yes. Are they always the combi or Maxi cosi?? No... usually they love the Companion for the TSIP headrest or they love the Safeseat for it's large capacity or the Keyfit for the super-easy latch install.
It's really more an objective view that there haven't been any problems with the buckles anywhere for so many years... so it's fine.
But again... it's a parental thing.
2. the chest clip - we always worry about chest clips being too big for babies or even too small for parent fingers (I hate hate hate the one on the snugride) This is the cheap cosco chest clip that you see on every seat. It's a little big... feels a big cheap, but it's not as bad as the big huge evenflo clips on infant seats they were using until recently, but it does feel like it's too cheap to be on the seat sometimes. Still, it's not horrible and not a deal breaker if I were shopping.
My friend who owns this seat doesn't like the clip, either, but she LOVES the seat because her high-maintenance baby loves it (and he is VERY VERY picky... hated the Keyfit and the SS1 and even wasn't thrilled with the combi seats, but he loves his Mico).
3. Price - for what it is.. a cosco infant seat, I think we were surprised to find it so high in price. I do think they put it a little high, but there are some great frills and it's a great seat
Okay... so the pros...
Large seat... roomy for width and height... probably now the tallest 22lb limit seat on the market... and nice and roomy for those little babies who have big shoulders for their builds (like my friend's baby who is 15lbs at 9mo... tiny... but has these wide shoulders for his body)
Straps don't twist
front harness pull
Lightweight seat (maybe lighter than the combi or right the same)
the tabs at the side hold back straps when loading/unloading baby
the install is pretty easy
multiple positions for the buckle.
Really I can't think of any true CONS... just things you'll either be fine with or not.
If it were me, I love the combi seats and prefer them, but the Mico will give more grow room (not a lot, though) and definitely gives more width room and it works with all the quinny and maxi cosi stroller.