Nine out of 27 child car seat models are not as effective in protecting children from frontal impact when installed facing forwards - and they were not the cheapest on the market, the Consumer Council has found. It concluded, after testing, that it was safer to install the car seats using the International Organisation for Standardisation Fix (Isofix) system or in a rear-facing position. Some cars come with the Isofix system built in, and child safety seats must also have the specific anchor points and attachments fitted. The nine models got scores of 2.5 or less out of five in the safety tests when the seats were installed facing forwards. They were priced from about HK$2,500 to HK$4,000. The cheapest model on the market costs less than HK$900. The worst performer was Italian brand Cam, which costs about HK$3,700 and scored 1.5 in the testing. However, when installed facing forwards using Isofix, which includes a top tether, the seat scored 3 points. Another Italian brand, Peg Perego, scored 2.5 for safety when installed facing the front, but got full marks in the rear-facing position. The model costs HK$3,600 and Isofix is not available for it. Most of the car seats fared better on the side-impact tests. Only one model, Italian brand Brevi, got a score of 2.5 no matter which way it was installed. The Brevi costs about HK$4,000. For overall safety, two models from Cam and Brevi were the worst performers, both scoring 2.5. The models are the Viaggiosicuro Isofix S157 and TAO B.fix. The council also ranked the models for a combination of safety, ease of use and levels of hazardous substances using a five-point scale. The lowest scorer was Britax Roemer's Max-Way with a 2. At a cost of HK$2,900 it was deemed the hardest to use of all the seats. Seven models received the highest score of 4.5. "The more expensive models were not necessarily the better performers," said Philip Leung Kwong-hon, a member of the council's Research and Testing Committee. "Parents should choose the most suitable car seats according to their child's body weight and build, not age." He said although hazardous substances were detected in the seats, parents should not worry as they are common in daily life.