Maxi-Cosi Perle
$200, Maxi-Cosi, Baby Earth
Overall score: 4. It's got a couple of flaws, but by and large it's a quality stroller.
Value: 3.5. At such a great price, the pros totally outweigh the cons.
The basics: 17 pounds. Good from 6 months to 55 pounds. 19.5 inches at its widest point when unfolded. Collapses to 42.5 by 10 by 12 inches.
The extras: This stylish European stroller offers full-size features in a lightweight umbrella style. The multiposition reclining seat has a five-point padded harness and an adjustable leg rest. The stroller also comes with a rain cover.
Folding and storage: The Perle folds up in two simple steps and locks automatically, but you need two free hands to do it. Once folded, the stroller is fairly compact. It might take up a good chunk of a closet, but it'll fit. Unfolding the stroller takes two hands and a good jostle, so holding a child at the same time doesn't work.
Pros: Testers were impressed with the sturdy yet light frame and the attractive, streamlined design. Narrow wheels and dual handles allow the stroller to maneuver around obstacles and navigate down tight store aisles with ease. Testers were also pleased with the Perle's harness and safety restraints. Once the harness was adjusted to the right size, parents felt very secure taking the stroller up and down stairs with a child in it. Plus, the well-designed harness clips and the comfortable angle of the seat make getting a baby into and out of the stroller quick and painless. A large, well-padded seat makes for a comfortable ride for even older babies. The storage basket provides enough room to stash a standard-size diaper bag, though removing the bag took a little force. Parents also liked that the Perle's two ergonomic handles are longer than those of other lightweight umbrella strollers. Even one of our tall dad testers didn't have to hunch over. Our suburban family was pleased to see that when the stroller was collapsed, it fit well into the trunk of their Jetta, with room for groceries.
Cons: Two hands are needed to unhinge the locking mechanism to unfold the stroller. One urban tester noted that needing two hands to unfold the stroller meant either putting her daughter in the stroller before heading down her building's three flights of stairs, or taking the stroller down first and then running to grab her daughter, which was "not ideal." Even more, taking the stroller up or down stairs was incredibly awkward. "I couldn't see my feet," said one mom. "It was nerve-racking." The stroller's fabric, while supercushy, worried our moms. The folded position pushes the front wheels against the light-colored canopy fabric a bad combination. The seat, which doesn't have a removable cover, is fairly absorbent. A bottle spill wasn't too bad, but the thought of a potential diaper leak on this seat was a bit anxiety inducing for our testers.
Who will love this stroller? Car-friendly families that do a lot of errands but are also looking for a stroller sturdy enough for a good walk. The Perle can handle being jostled around, and it is compact enough to be tossed into a trunk.
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