Tested by
Angelita and her 12-month-old daughter Arya live in rural Pembrokeshire and they tested the Salsa 4 at the beach and on countryside walks.
What were your first impressions of the ABC Design Salsa 4?
Once set up, the Salsa 4 looked like a tower against my 5’3 height. I felt a bit intimidated by it and instantly thought it would be challenging to use every day. Luckily, I was wrong! My 1-year-old daughter Arya seemed to really like the look of the pushchair and was excited to sit in it.
How does the ABC Design Salsa 4 compare to other travel systems?
It’s more compact and robust than the City Jogger pushchair which I have used before, and I preferred the Salsa 4 for this reason. I found it quite similar to the UppaBaby Vista (£1029.25 on Amazon), although the Vista has the option to attach a second seat in order to accommodate 2 little ones, which can be really useful depending on the age of your children.
What age is the ABC Design Salsa 4 suitable for?
The Salsa 4 can be used from birth and the carrycot comes included at no extra cost, which is a major bonus. ABC says it can be used for a child with a maximum weight of 25kg, which means it should last until your little one doesn’t need a stroller anymore.
Does the ABC Design Salsa 4 come with a carrycot for newborns?
Yes. The carrycot is a good size at 80cm x 35cm. It not only seems comfortable for young babies but also spacious which is great if your little one loves having a good stretch.
Because of its unique air ventilation design, ABC Design says the carrycot can be used for overnight sleeping, although I personally wouldn’t use it in this way as the cot would be too high for me to easily check the baby while in bed.
What did you think about the ABC Design Salsa 4’s seat unit?
The seat is a generous size at 20cm long by 30cm wide, which gave Arya the space she needed to feel comfortable in. There are 3 recline options in the adjustable backrest and Arya definitely preferred to be upright.
The next level down is quite low and was ideal for when she was sleeping. The footrest can easily be adjusted depending on whether your baby is sitting upright or napping too. Changing over from the carrycot to seat is as easy as 1-2-3!
How is interacting with your child when in the ABC Design Salsa 4?
Good – I only used the stroller forward-facing but I found that allowed me to talk and sing with Arya and I could easily adjust the hood to keep the sun and wind from her face too.
What do you think of the ABC Design Salsa 4's hood?
I really like the hood on the pushchair as it offers the perfect amount of sunshade. Also, I once forgot the rain cover and the hood did a brilliant job of keeping my baby dry. If the seat is forward-facing there is a flap in the hood to check on the baby, which is really useful too.
How easy is the Salsa 4 to fold?
Folding the Salsa 4 is really straightforward and happens in 2 stages – first, you remove the carrycot or seat. Then, you pull up 2 levers on either side of the frame in order to fold it down. The lock then clicks into place. Just bear in mind that when folding you need to ensure the wheels are aligned with the frame to completely close.
To unfold, you unclick the autolock with one hand and pull the frame up. This action does require 2 hands, as you have to hold the bar with one hand and push the frame down with the other. Once the chassis is up, you then place the carrycot or seat back on top.
How compact is the ABC Design Salsa 4 when folded?
When folded the pushchair measures 81cm x 62.5cm x 31cm. The large rear wheels may be an issue for some when trying to store it away but these are easy to remove as they’re quick-release.
Does it fit in the boot of your car?
The pushchair fitted easily in the boot of my Kia Jeep even when I was travelling with 2 medium sized suitcases. If you have a really small car you could easily remove the rear wheels to ensure it fits.
Is the Salsa 4 compatible with other car seats?
With the adaptors, the stroller can be used with a variety of car seats, as well as ABC’s own versions. Compatible car seats include the Cybex Aton, the Kiddy Evolution pro, the Maxi Cosi and Pebble and the Britax Römer.
How lightweight is the ABC Design Salsa 4?
At 12.9kg (with the seat unit), the stroller feels lightweight and comfortable to push but once the shopping basket is full, walking around town with it seems like a mini workout!
How easy is it to push the ABC Design Salsa 4?
I found the pushchair really easy to push – it simply glides along smooth surfaces, ensuring a smooth ride for the baby, and the large wheels and heavy-duty suspension make it ideal for countryside walks.
I did find it a bit more difficult to take up and down kerbs when the shopping basket was full though.
How did you find the Salsa 4 on public transport?
I personally found it quite difficult to get on and off the bus with the Salsa 4. To get it down onto the pavement, you have to have a really firm hold of the handle bars and lean too far forward for my liking.
How effective are the ABC Design Salsa 4’s wheels?
The large wheels are brilliant – they make pushing the stroller simple and make it nice and sturdy, which gives you extra reassurance especially when pushing a newborn. The wheels are also super easy to remove with their quick-release feature.
Does the frame seem strong and long-lasting?
The frame is expertly designed, and feels really strong and durable.
What do you think of the handlebar on the Salsa 4?
The handlebar is leatherette, which has a smooth feel to touch. The handle height is adjustable from 100 to 109cm, which is really useful if you and your partner are different heights.
Do the brakes feel effective?
The brake is below by the right wheel. You can turn it on by pressing your foot down and release it with a flick up. It’s quite small and so my foot slipped off a few times, but it worked well aside from that.
What’s the ABC Design Salsa 4's basket like?
The basket is a really decent size, but unfortunately the chassis bar runs across it, making it a bit of a tug-and-pull-game trying to get bags in or out.
How did you like the look of the Salsa 4?
Overall this is a luxury unit with plush, thickly-woven fabric. The material is also water repellent and SPF 50 which means it is ready for all weathers which is really handy.
The leatherette details on the handlebar and bumper bar are nice, and the cup holder can be easily clicked on the side bar. As well as being stylish, it also has a stable and robust feel, which parents will love.
What’s in the box?
- Chassis
- Wheels
- Seat unit
- Carrycot
- Bumper bar
- Raincover
- Cupholder
- Car seat adapters
- Mosquito net
ABC offers plenty of accessories for its pushchairs and strollers, including the following:
- Changing bag
- Organiser
- Comfort seat liner
- Footmuff
- Reflective kit
- Sunny parasol
- Blanket
- Car seat
Is it easy to build the Salsa 4?
Yes. My partner put the unit together easily in just 10 mins. He found the instructions useful and simple to follow.
Is the ABC Design Salsa 4 good value?
It is a bit pricey but I think the Salsa 4 is worth it considering what you get with the pushchair. I would recommend it more for mums who drive, rather than those who take public transport.
Where can I buy the ABC Design Salsa 4?
It's available from Baby Planet.
This is a sturdy stroller and Arya was comfortable in it, but for no longer than an hour. The straps seemed to become uncomfortable for her after a while and if I loosened them a little Arya’s lower back would instantly arch. I wouldn’t recommend the stroller for babies who are heavy and tall for their age like Arya as even with the 3-level strap adjusted they didn’t seem to be right for her.
That said, I really liked a number of features - the hood gave spot on protection, the large wheels made it very easy to push and the extendable handlebar is really handy.
I also found the 5-point harness system is nice and nifty and it’s also compatible with plenty of big-brand car seats as well as ABC’s own brand.
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