Cybex Gazelle S 2023 pushchair review

This model also features an extra shopping basket that you can clip into the top of the buggy frame, which seemed incredibly practical.

Taking the brand new pushchair out of the box, it was mostly easy to put together, with the exception of the basket which was unnecessarily difficult to build.

How big is the carrycot?

The carrycot is on the smaller side, which made my daughter feel snug and cosy but could be an issue for larger babies. This might also mean that I’ll have to transition her to the toddler seat earlier than I would otherwise.

The carrycot has a solid bar integrated into the front of the hood for security. If you want to lower it down so your baby can see, you need to lean over it and use both hands to push in two buttons (one on each side) to unclip the hood arch from its position. This can get very burdensome, especially if the carrycot is in the front bottom position – the only one that allows for the buggy to also carry a toddler.

When all is in place though, and you are using the buggy in single mode with the carrycot clipped on at the top bracket, your baby is positioned perfectly to see your face and shielded enough from sunlight and distractions to fall asleep.

The mattress seems breathable and comfortable enough for longer sleeps. Cybex also says that the Gazelle S carrycot is safe for overnight sleeping.

Unclipping the carrycot from the buggy frame is not as difficult as detaching the toddler seat. You push a button in on each side, one after the other, and then lift the cot out with one hand – much easier than other double buggies I’ve tried.

Were you impressed by the toddler seat on the Cybex Gazelle S?

On the toddler seat, the buttons are positioned quite awkwardly. Both have to be pushed down at the same time before it can be lifted out. This makes unclipping the seat quite strenuous.

Other than that, the seat is comfortable and my toddler enjoys discovering the world in it. Oddly the hood is attached to the seat frame by sliding clips, which means it can easily fall off when you grab it to store it away somewhere. It also makes the hood quite wonky – not what you expect from a brand that prides itself on style. Once reclined, the seat works well for naps and you can check up on your child through a peephole.

The seats and bassinet come with their own rain covers. Each has lots of air holes and a window. However, the velcro straps closing the window don’t go all the way around the openings so can let in water and the covers attach quite loosely, again letting water seep in.

What do you think of the buggy in double mode?

The main issue with this buggy in double mode is that your toddler has to sit facing you and your baby has to go behind the toddler on the bottom bracket. This means you cannot see your baby, your baby can’t see you and your toddler will probably get bored of just seeing you. The frame is too short by a couple of inches to put the carrycot at the top.

Although this is not unusual for tandem prams, the “practically endless set-up possibilities” Cybex says this buggy offers suddenly seem very limited. Most newborns need to see the face of their main carer in order to feel safe, while other babies will simply get bored of seeing the back of a toddler seat.

So you end up pushing around a buggy that feels very long and tricky to lift up any kerb. An easy way this could have been avoided is to make the bottom bracket movable too. The bassinet could be moved up slightly meaning it would not stick out as much. But the bracket is fixed, so there is no flexibility.

There are pushchairs that convert from single to double where your toddler is world-facing and your baby can see you – a much better set up, in my opinion.

For us, the only usable configuration has been to clip the car seat on at the top bracket and clip my toddler in at the bottom facing the world.

I’m hoping it will be much easier to use this as a double toddler pushchair once my daughter is a bit older. But strangely the extra toddler seat only clips on to the top bracket. Since it’s the same colour as the original seat the buggy came with, it’s easily confused with the other one. So if you grab the wrong toddler seat by mistake you have to put your baby on the bottom where they – again – can’t see you.

Did you like the fold of the Cybex Gazelle S?

Once you have developed a knack for it, it’s easy to fold down, and even easier to fold up again. I would not describe this buggy as compact when folded down though. Admittedly it folds down smaller than say the Bugaboo Fox, but its huge wheels still make it quite a bulky bit of luggage – obviously, a double pushchair frame holds twice the weight, so it's never going to be compact. One big advantage it has over other buggies though is that it folds down with the toddler seat still attached. You can lie the folded buggy down in your car boot or stand it up in a cupboard in your house.

How good is it to push and steer?

When the surface is smooth, the steering is smooth. But as soon as you veer into uneven terrain, it becomes a bumpy ride, raising the question: What are these big wide-set wheels for?

There are springs visible in the front wheels and this pushchair supposedly features advanced suspension. However, the suspension does not absorb much, so going off-piste is best avoided if your baby wakes easily from bumps.

Manoeuvring this pushchair can be difficult. Attempting to get it up a kerb or on to a train in double mode with the carrycot at the bottom is rather difficult too, as the cot makes it very long. It is much easier to push around and manoeuvre in my preferred configuration, with the car seat at the top and world-facing toddler at the bottom.

Is the chassis on the Cybex Gazelle S sturdy?

The matt frame is strong and sturdy but scratches easily. The design is stylish but the back wheels seem to be set a little wider than they need to be. This may be for balance, but it’s almost like the designer of this pushchair wanted it to look like an all-terrain buggy but did not have the time to actually equip it with the features.

The handle is a little awkward as the button for pushing it down is right in the middle, meaning that if you’re steering one-handed you might accidentally shorten your handlebar height.

Did you like the brakes?

The brake is obvious and easy to put on and off. There is no danger of kicking it when pushing the pushchair and it holds well.

What is the shopping basket like on the Cybex Gazelle S?

The basket is big, sturdy and easy to access in most configurations. This buggy even comes with a second shopping basket that you can clip on and off the frame. However, the basket only clips on to the top bracket so there is nowhere to attach it if using the buggy in single mode with your baby in the top bracket either in the car seat or carrycot. I did try putting the basket into the bottom bracket but it tipped over going over a bump.

In certain double configurations there would be more than enough room to clip the basket on to the buggy frame if only there was a third bracket, which seems like a lost opportunity.

What do you think of the Cloud T i-size car seat?

This infant car seat has the closest to a lie-flat position while driving that I have come across. It’s been upgraded from its predecessor (the Cloud Z) to feature a “near lie-flat” recline while driving, and still offers a lie-flat position when out of the car.

The lie-flat position is practical when using it on the buggy for longer periods as part of a travel system, but not so practical when attempting to convert your baby from lying nearly flat to lying flat when asleep – my two babies have each woken up from the jerk the conversion causes.

The near lie-flat position in the car is brilliant, although it does make it more difficult to position a mirror low enough for you to see your baby’s face.

You’d also think that if you’re using a car seat of the same brand you would not need adaptors to clip it on. But you do – and one of my adaptors broke after minimal use over three weeks.

Fellow users of the Cloud Z – the predecessor of this model, will be thankful that one annoying bit of fabric around the buckle has been removed, meaning there is no danger it will get caught when trying to strap your baby in.

The new base for this car seat, the Base T, also has a major improvement on its predecessor: the turning mechanism is no longer a button that you need to press down and slide at the same time. This seemed to only ever work on the third or fourth attempt. You can now swivel the seat by operating one big lever – and not much can go wrong here.

What’s in the box?

• Gazelle S pushchair with toddler seat and basket and rain cover
• Gazelle S Cot with rain cover
• Gazelle S Seat Unit with rain cover
• Cybex car seat adaptors
• Snogga 2-foot muff
• Cloud T i-size car seat
• Car seat Base T

What additional accessories can you buy?

• Gazelle S Kid Board
• 2-in-1 Cup Holder
• Summer Seat Liner
• Newborn Nest
• Gold Footmuff

What would you have wanted to know before purchasing the pushchair?

Now I’ve tested it, I feel it would have been useful to know that while it might look like an all-terrain buggy its suspension does not absorb bumps effectively and it's best used on pavements, smooth paths and shopping malls. I wish I had taken a closer look at the configurations and realised that the only possible set-up to transport the carrycot and toddler seat are not really suitable for my baby or toddler.

Who would this pushchair be most useful for?

Parents going on short journeys with their toddler and newborn baby in the car seat or parents of one child who are going on a big shopping trip.

Is this pushchair worth the money?

For a single buggy, I would say the £719.95 is worth it if your priority is storage and you’re not planning on going off-road. However, once you pay another £249.95 for the carrycot, £44.95 for car seat adaptors and an extra £299.95 for a second toddler seat to convert this into a double buggy, you’re spending well over £1,000 at which point I would rather opt for a more practical double buggy with better suspension and a wider variety of configurations.

How does it compare to similar pushchairs?

Where can I buy the Cybex Gazelle S pushchair?

It's available from John Lewis, Cybex and Natural Baby Shower

MadeForMums verdict

This is a sturdy, versatile and good-looking pushchair with an easy fold and plenty of storage. The extra shopping basket, and compatibility with the Cloud car seats (for additional configurations) mean it can be used in many ways. However, the lack of configurations using the carrycot, coupled with the need for adapters and different seat units, makes it overly complicated as your child grows. It's best for urban-dwelling families who need the flexibility of a single-to-double, but will more frequently be using it in single mode, or with two seats.