Cybex Gazelle S pushchair review

The stroller seat can be used from birth in a lie-flat position which means you don’t have to purchase an additional carrycot if finances are tight. What’s more, the stroller has 24 seat configurations for its seat units, carrycots or any Cybex infant car seat, making it an extremely versatile stroller

Tested by

Mum of two Sophie lives in London with her husband, their 5-year-old daughter Ada and 10-month-old daughter Lily. She tested the Cybex Gazelle S stroller with Lily on walks around the park, bumpy hilly ground and cobbled streets. She tested the pushchair in duo mode with the help of Ada, who is relatively light for her age, weighing 19kg.

What were your first impressions of the Cybex Gazelle S?

Upon unboxing the Cybex Gazelle S I noticed that the chassis – which weighs 12.6kg – felt heavy. However, the frame can house two toddlers (each weighing up to 22kg) plus a child on a buggy board, and it has additional storage capacity of up to 23kg, so it understandably needs to be strong and robust.

My first thought was “this looks wide for something marketed as a city stroller!” At 65cm it is a lot bigger than other city pushchairs, which can measure as little as 44cm wide. However, it easily fits through my 81cm wide front door and measures 2cm less than the UPPABaby Vista 2015 model which I used with my first daughter. The width was not a problem for us but it's certainly worth checking your front door measurements before you invest.

What’s in the box?

• Integrated sliding adaptors (with 3 different seat heights and multiple seating configurations)
• Chunky wheels
• Removable shopping basket with carry handle
• Lie-flat seat and rain cover

I was also sent a second pushchair seat (purchased separately for £234.95) so that I could test the stroller in duo mode.

How easy is it to build?

The travel system came in one big box and was easy to assemble by simply clicking the back and front wheels into place and attaching the hood to the stroller seat. A detachable shopping basket is included in the price, which simply requires 4 plastic inserts to be slid into place.

All the instructions are picture-led, and there’s also a page illustrating the 24 different seating configurations which is colour coded for ease of use. It details the suitable weight options for each combination to ensure you’re using the pram correctly and safely. This page is also printed on the base of the shopping basket so you have it to hand at all times. There are also informative Cybex branded tutorials available on YouTube.

How do you fold the Gazelle S?

• Lock the front wheels
• Press down the button on the handlebar and slide it left
• Slide down the release trigger on the left-hand side of the handlebar
• Apply downward pressure onto the handlebar and the chassis will release and fold down

Although the picture-led instructions in the booklet provided were simple to follow, I struggled to fold the chassis at first and assumed I was doing something incorrectly. I watched a Cybex online tutorial video which didn’t differ from the instruction booklet. After a few more forceful attempts, I realised that you need to apply quite a lot of pressure onto the handlebar for the stroller to fold.

The Gazelle S can also fold with seats attached. If folding with one seat, you need to have the seat world-facing and use the recline lever to fold the seat forwards, then fold the chassis as usual. Once the Gazelle S is folded the auto lock clip on the left-hand side of the frame holds the buggy closed. The pushchair can even be folded with both seats in place – just make sure the seat on top is parent facing and the seat underneath is facing outwards. To unfold the Gazelle S, you need to unclip the auto lock and pull the handle-bar up to flip the pushchair back into place.

How compact is the buggy when folded?

Interestingly, even though the chassis appears large and wide when upright, when folded the pram is actually quite compact measuring only W65 x H86 x D35cm with just one seat.

Does it fit in the boot of your car?

We drive a Skoda Octavia which has a large boot space measuring H57 x W106 x D95cm. The Gazelle S measures W65 x H86 x D35cm when folded so it easily fitted inside our boot, only taking up half of the floor space. It took up slightly more room when folded with 2 seats, if I had 2 bassinets I think I would have struggled to fit anything extra inside the boot.

What is the seat unit like on the Gazelle S?

The seat unit is ready for use from birth, so you don’t necessarily have to purchase the bassinet/carrycot. It feels robust, roomy and comfortable and can be adjusted to a lie-flat position using the one-handed recline button on the back of the seat. Lily is quite tall for her age, but she appeared comfortable seated in it and it doesn’t feel like she’ll outgrow it anytime soon. It also has an adjustable leg rest which provides good length when flat, but can also be tucked in as and when your child grows.

The 3-point harness system is easy to use and adjust, but it is integrated into the seat cover. This means I couldn’t attached my universal footmuff to it. Cybex does have a footmuff, but at £89.95, it is considerably more expensive than universal versions.

What’s the under-seat storage like?

The under-seat storage is spacious holding up to 13kg. I could easily fit a large food shop inside. I think the only time storage would be limited is when using a carry cot in the lower adaptor position.

How useful is the extra storage basket?

I love the extra storage basket, which can hold up to 10kg in weight. It makes a really clever addition to this pushchair. Unfortunately, it can only sit at the top of the frame, so you can only use it when the pushchair is in single mode. I used it when quickly popping in and out of shops and found it useful for storing my wallet and phone, which I’m forever misplacing when out and about.

It also comes with a carry handle which is helpful when full as you can simply slide it out of the chassis and pop it in your car and/or carry it straight into your house when you arrive home.

How do you adapt the Gazelle S from a single to a double pushchair?

The Gazelle S has integrated adaptors built into the frame so you only have to buy a seat or cot if you want to convert it into a double pushchair. I love that the adaptors are integrated so there’s no chance of losing them or forgetting to put them in the car!

You can cleverly slide the upper adaptors up and down the frame depending on what height you want to place the seat or cot. The bottom adaptor at the base of the frame can be twisted round when needed and then twisted back again to sit flush with the frame when not in use.

How good is the Gazelle S to push and steer?

When used in single mode on the top or middle adaptor position, I found the pram simple and easy to manoeuvre. The front wheels swivel round corners with ease and the inbuilt wheel and chassis suspension provides a comfortable stroll for your baby.

When I put the seat on the lower adaptor position with the basket on top, the stroller felt long, bottom heavy and slightly more cumbersome to move around and more difficult to manoeuvre up and down kerbs and in and out of shops.

When used in duo mode, the pushchair was easier to use than I anticipated. It was heavier and a little more difficult than when in single mode, but I was pushing two children around so I think that’s to be expected!

Would the Cybex Gazelle S be suitable for public transport?

It was more difficult to get the pushchair on and off the bus and train when used with the seat on the lower adaptor position in comparison to the seat being at the middle or top position. Luckily, when I tested the stroller on the bus I was the only passenger with a pram.

However, if there had been another pram or wheelchair user on the bus, I’m not sure there would have been space for the Gazelle S on it as well (especially if the other pushchair was large, too). I think you need to be prepared to fold it down or allow time in your schedule to wait for the next bus in case there isn’t enough space.

What are the chassis and handle like?

On initial inspection this pushchair feels heavy and bulky but it's designed for so many configurations it needs to be sturdy. In regards to its looks, I tested the deep black frame which offers a smart, stylish finish.

It was easy to adjust the handlebar using a simple palm button that allows the handle to move from 100cm to 110cm in height. The handlebar on the model I tested was foam, which didn’t feel very good quality and I would worry that it would wear away over time. If you choose the more expensive taupe frame it has a handle made from a brown leather-like material which I think would probably last longer.

What’s the Gazelle S’s hood like?

I really like the hood on the Gazelle S stroller seat. It extends with a zip right down to the bumper bar of the seat unit and has a nifty viewing/ventilation mesh window to peek through when your baby is sleeping. It’s also made from a UPF50+ protective fabric offering your child great sun protection.

What are the wheels and brakes like?

The wheels appear strong and suitable for lengthy strolls. The front wheels are slightly smaller than the rear wheels and swivel with ease making steering around corners a breeze. Each wheel has a spring suspension for added comfort. The larger rear wheels have excellent chassis suspension and made strolling over our local green hilly common a doddle.

Situated at the side of the right rear wheel, the brake pedal is really easy to use. It’s a simple flick to engage and flick again to release action. There is also a handy colour coded indicator which shows red when the brake is on and green when it is released.

What are the additional accessories you can buy?

The system doesn’t come with a carrycot, so you do need to purchase this separately if you decide you want one and, if you want to attach your compatible infant carrier onto the frame, you will need to buy car seat adaptors. Here's a full list of available accessories.

• Carrycot (£219.95)
• Car seat adapters (£34.95)
• Cup holder (£24.95)
• Footmuff (£89.95)
• Kid board (£69.95)
• Snack tray (£30)
• Snogga footmuff (£69.95)
• Summer seat liner (£44.95)

Now you’ve tested it, what would you have wanted to know before purchasing the pushchair?

I'd want to be aware of just how wide the pushchair was. Naively, I assumed it would be relatively narrow because it is marketed as a city stroller. Even in its most compact folding mode, it still takes up quite a lot of room and, although it fitted fine on a London bus, if another mum had appeared with a similar sized pushchair I think we would have struggled to fit both in the designated area.

Is this pushchair worth the money?

It’s a great design with endless options for seat configuration. I think it’s worth the money if you’re planning to convert it into sibling mode. If you’re only going to use it as a mono pushchair, I think there are more compact single pushchairs on the market for city living.

Where can I buy the Cybex Gazelle S?

It's available from John Lewis, Natural Baby Shower and Mamas and Papas.

MadeForMums verdict:

A clever buggy that's ideal for those with 2 children under 4. It has a stylish design and finish and the level of flexibility is unchallenged in the market. With great storage and multiple configurations, it's an adaptable, practical pushchair. The downside of this level of adaptability is the wide frame, and some limited manoeuvrability in certain modes. Overall, it’s a good multifunctional stroller that will grow with your family as and when your needs change.

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