This base is worth the extra money. The Latch is the pushbutton kind by SafeGuard (similar to Britax and TrueFit). It is simple on and off, and easy to adjust. The lock-off is unbelievably easy to use, and there are picture instructions everywhere, so anyone could do this correctly. The adjustment to make it higher is just a lever, so it can be done while the seat is installed. I would definitely buy this base instead of the cheaper model every day of the week, and I needed to buy 2 extras (for husband and daycare). The ease of use from the added features is worth every penny.