Joie Signature Aeria pushchair review

The Aeria is Joie’s first pram with a height-adjustable seat unit, meaning your baby can ride close to you. Its clever chassis combines 4 modes in one – a carrycot, an infant carrier and a world-facing or parent-facing seat unit. You do have to purchase the carrycot and infant carrier separately but you can use the seat unit provided for newborns and toddlers thanks to its lie-down recline feature.

Priced at £450, Joie claims the pram will last from birth to 22kg, or 4 years old, whichever one comes first – so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth. What's more, the pram’s compact, easy fold free-standing feature is a godsend for busy parents on the go. It comes in two colours 'Eclipse' black or 'Pine' green.

What were your first impressions of the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair?

I was relieved when I first opened the box to see that it was pretty much assembled already. We had received the Eclipse black design; style-wise, the pram looked sleek, compact and comfortable. The padded insert looked really cosy and supportive and I couldn’t wait to pop my baby in it.

How easy was it to build the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair?

The instructions were picture-led and easy to digest as they were not text-heavy. It took me 15 minutes to read the instructions, slot in the wheels, zip on the hood, and attach the handlebar. There is also a handy manufacturer’s video online to follow if needed.

The Aeria pram is very user-friendly and I found it fairly obvious which buttons did what. I loved how quick and easy it was to put together and my partner was shocked I didn’t ask for his help!

How does the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair compare to previous models?

The Aeria Signature pushchair is the first of its kind and a brand new model to Joie’s deluxe Signature range. The Signature range also features the Finiti and Versatrax strollers, which are similar both in function and design to the Aeria, apart from the gliding height-adjustable seat, but both are slightly cheaper in price.

Much like its predecessors, the Aeria is a predominantly urban, full-featured stroller, better suited to everyday use compared to the Joie Signature Tourist, which is more lightweight and ideal for travel.

Does the Joie Aeria Signature come with a carrycot or car seat?

Unfortunately, the Joie Aeria Signature pram doesn’t come with a carrycot or car seat, so you have to buy those separately. It is compatible with the Joie Ramble (£130) and Ramble XL carrycot (£150) and car seats (gemm™, i-Gemm™ 3, i-Level Recline™, i-Snug™ 2) along with the included adapters.

We tested it with Joie’s innovative lie-flat car cot Calmi R129, which is priced at £240. I’ve not seen anything like it on the market before, but love the fact that Eva can sleep comfortably and safely in the car (it’s 180°, lie flat) which is much better for her spinal development.

What did you make of the Joie Calmi R129 carrycot?

With its plush padding and thick shoulder pads, the Calmi R129 carrycot looks like a luxurious, well-made product. I also love the secret pockets where you can stash your phone and lippy.

The hood is UPF 50+, water repellent and includes a mesh peekaboo window, although a pull-out sun visor would be handy. What’s more, you don’t have to faff around with the straps because it has a one-pull motion which easily tightens the harness.

My daughter Eva normally fusses a lot in traditional car seats but she sleeps really well in this. While the Calmi car cot is fab for on-the-go snoozes, it’s not for overnight sleeping. It’s a spacious product with lots of room for your baby to grow but it shouldn’t be used past 6 months. Eva found it super comfy and she feels really close to me when I adjust the Joi Aeria's chassis to its highest level while strolling along with it.

The Calmi carrycot is available in 3 colours — Oyster, Eclipse and Pine — so you can match it with your Aeria pushchair design if desired. I’ve got the Calmi in the Oyster colour and have received lots of compliments from other mums who have stopped me in the street to say how lovely it is.

How easy is the Calmi R129 carrycot to put on and take off the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair?

The Calmi carrycot is really easy to pop on and off the chassis thanks to its easily accessible release buttons, so I can smoothly move my baby from the Aeria pram to the car without disturbing her. It’s also really lightweight – weighing just 3.6kg (around 8lbs) – which is good for me as I have zero upper body strength.

As it’s part of Joie’s Signature range, you can use it with a Signature pushchair — Aeria, Finiti, the Versatrax or another brand’s pram using Maxi-Cosi adapters. Handily, the Aeria comes with adapters which are compatible with the Calmi, so I didn’t have to buy them separately. If in doubt, Joie has also made this video which shows you how to remove and install the Calmi carrycot onto the Aeria chassis.

How does the Calmi R129 carrycot fit in your car?

The Calmi lies sideways on the backseat, with the baby’s feet nearest the door, so their head will be positioned at the safest point in the car and has to be installed using an ISOFIX base for safety reasons. We paired it with Joie’s spinning i-base Encore, which retails at £190, but you can also use the Calmi with Joie’s i-Base Ix.

However, the Calmi R129 carrycot's only downside is it is quite big and takes up a lot of room in the car. As it lies sideways, we can’t use it if we are travelling with our toddler at the same time because it takes up so much space that there is no room for his standard-size car seat (we drive an Audi A3).

I also tried it in my mother-in-law’s car, who drives a spacious Volvo V60 estate, and it also goes into the other passenger seat. This is a major drawback if you have 2 or more children as you’d struggle to get another passenger in the back comfortably, and definitely wouldn’t be able to fit another car seat if you have young children. So it’s perfect for parents with one baby or those with a 7-seater — but I can’t imagine many families have the latter.

How easy is it to fold the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair?

As seen in this manufacturer’s video, the Joie Aeria Signature pram is easy to fold in one motion, but it does take a bit of practice to do it smoothly. Unfortunately, if the front wheels are twisted and touching the back wheels it won’t fold properly, so you have to make sure the front wheels are in the right position, which can be a bit fiddly if you’re out and about and trying to do it quickly.

You can fold it with the seat attached but it shouldn’t be facing rearwards. To fold, you pull the folding buttons on each side of the chassis and pull up, then rotate the handlebar downwards until you hear it click. The pram springs back up easily enough but I find resting a foot on the edge of the basket helps steady it.

When folded, how compact is the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair?

Considering it’s a 4-in-1 pram, the Aeria stroller is nice and compact when folded (H44cm x W67.3cm x L80cm) but it is quite heavy to carry around, weighing in at 11.6kg.

Its freestanding feature makes it easy to slot into spaces, which comes in handy when you’re in a cramped coffee shop getting your much-needed caffeine hit! It fits neatly into our Audi A3 car boot with lots of space left over, however my mum struggled to get it in her Kia Picanto car boot. With that in mind, I'd say it’s more suitable for those with bigger cars.

How good is the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair to push and steer?

Despite it being quite heavy to carry when folded, the Aeria pram feels really lightweight when you’re pushing it along – even with my heavy toddler in tow! It glides along the pavement and is really smooth to manoeuvre. More importantly, it’s really sturdy, which is a godsend when you live in a seaside town which tends to be quite windy!

Its wheel suspension means it’s great at mounting kerbs and quickly dodging people on busy pavements. Over the course of 2 weeks, I’ve taken it to grassy parks, muddy lanes, busy shopping centres, bumpy, cobbled streets and even a wet, sandy beach. It performed well on all terrains, but I believe it is more suited for city living.

I can steer it one-handed and get out of tight squeezes easily, even when my heavy toddler is in it. The pram is quite wide so sometimes it can be tricky to fit through narrow shop doorways but this isn’t a major issue.

How does the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair fare on public transport?

As the Aeria pushchair frame is quite wide, it can be a bit of a squeeze getting on a busy bus, especially as it takes up quite a lot of room in the pram area if you don’t fold it down. You need two hands to fold the Aeria, so if your baby is too small to stand, you’d need someone to hold them. Obviously, it’s fine if you’re travelling alone with a toddler and they can stand while you fold it, but parents of younger babies may struggle on public transport.

What’s the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair chassis like?

The Aeria pushchair aluminium chassis comes in a matt black or silver and, while it appears strong, it does scratch easily. I didn’t find this to be a huge issue as it’s not that noticeable and is easy to clean. One of the unique features of the Aeria buggy frame is that it is height-adjustable, allowing the seat to be fixed in 4 different positions, which gives parents easy access to their child from an early age.

How do you rate the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair handle?

I love the tan, matte leatherette finish, but it’s not all style and no substance. The handlebar has 4 adjustable positions which is great as I’m 5ft 6in, and my partner and dad are 6ft. We have all used the pram and quickly adjusted it to suit us. It’s also comfortable to hold and non-slip.

What do you think of the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair seat unit?

The Aeria seat unit is suitable from birth (when used in the lie-flat position) to 4 years old (22kg). The leg rest has 2 adjustable positions and there are 5 recline positions for the backrest. The SoftTouch 5-point harness, which features well-padded covers, and magnetic buckle also makes life easier – especially when my toddler is squirming around.

As the seat is height adjustable, the Aeria's USP, it’s great for interaction. My son likes to sit world-facing but Eva loves being close to me and I can quickly soothe her when she’s upset. The seat is easily adjustable when Eva is in it but I can’t pull it up when my heavy toddler is seated, so you need to adjust it to the height you want before your toddler gets in it.

How comfortable did your child find the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair seat unit?

For me, it's one of the most comfortable I’ve seen thanks to all its padding. It looks plush and my daughter and son both sleep well in it when reclined, and the huge canopy creates a lovely cosy, cocoon for them. To accommodate my toddler, who weighs around 16kg, I removed the inside liner to make more room for him.

However, despite Joie’s claims that the Aeria pushchair seat can accommodate a child up to 22kg, I’m not sure it would last that long. My son is nearly 3 and when I recline the seat the tip of his head nearly touches the bottom of the hood. If your child is quite tall like mine, I don’t think they’d sit comfortably in it at 4 years old.

What’s more, the seat is also harder to recline with my toddler in and it doesn’t help that he can adjust it from inside the pram when he’s playing up. However, this isn’t a problem when my daughter is using the seat and it reclines really easily.

What’s the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair hood like?

The Aeria pushchair extendable hood is one of my favourite features and a life-saver for on-the-go naps. There’s a secret zip which, when undone, brings the canopy down really low, blocking the sun and wind out. With its large peekaboo mesh window at the back of the hood, it’s well ventilated too.

There are also 2 mesh windows on either side of the extended part of the hood and one peekaboo window at the back. The canopy is water repellant, UPF 50+, and quiet when you pull it up and down so it doesn’t wake your baby up when adjusting it.

How do you rate the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair's wheels?

The Aeria pushchair boasts of all-wheel suspension, meaning it absorbs the jolts making it great at mounting kerbs and bumpy pavements. The front wheels are slightly smaller at 18cm, compared with the rear wheels, which are 24.5cm in diameter.

Although I think the pram is more geared for urban living, it doesn't struggle on gravel or bumpier surfaces. The PunctureProof™ foam-filled rubber tyres mean you can glide over every bump in the road without going flat. If you were to venture off-road, the Aeria pram wheels swivel easily in and out of tight places, can be locked if needed and are easy to clean.

How do you rate the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair brakes?

The Aeria pushchair has a one-touch, push-down-lift-up pedal brake mechanism and is easy to find at the rear of the pushchair. It’s simple to use and holds well – regardless of your footwear. I’ve tested it in sandals, trainers and even heels!

What did you make of the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair storage basket?

Another highlight of the Aeria pushchair is its huge storage basket. It has a capacity of 4.5kg and is easily accessible, even in the recline position or when you’re using a carrycot. My son loves the space too and often stuffs it to the brim with his toys before we go out.

Incredibly, nothing has fallen out yet! The storage is brilliant and the basket has moveable dividers which help keep stuff organised, making things easier to find. The secret compartment is handy for popping your keys or phone in and makes for a secure ride.

What’s in the box?

• Joie Aeria Signature seat unit
• Chassis
• 2 x Adapters (which pair with Ramble carrycot, i-Gemm 2, i-Level, and i-Snug infant carriers)
• Rain cover
• Bumper bar
• Hood
• Instructions

Are there any additional accessories you can buy?

To use the Joie Aeria Signature Pushchair as a travel system, you will need to purchase one of the below car seats, base and carrycot (if needed):

• Calmi™ R129 car carrycot £200
• i-Level™ Recline car seat £150
• i-Snug™ 2 car seat £105
• i-Gemm™ 3 car seat £160
• i-Base™ Encore £190
• Ramble XL carrycot £150

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

After testing the Aeria pushchair I would have wanted to know that you can steer one-handed and whether there are any non-essential accessories available such as a cup holder or footmuff as they don’t seem to be listed online. It’s also important to note that in order for the Aeria pushchair to work as a travel system, a carrycot and car seat/base must be purchased separately.

Who would the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair be most useful for?

Thanks to its all-wheel suspension and its nifty ability to take on tight corners, I’d recommend the Aeria pushchair to busy parents who live in urban areas and are after a buggy that looks luxurious and won’t break the bank. For families who are looking for an all-in travel system on a budget, the Aeria might not be the best option due to the fact you need to spend more on a car seat and base, which isn’t included in the original price.

Is the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair worth the money?

The Aeria pram definitely feels like a luxurious product and its clever features, such as its height-adjustable seat, make it an attractive buy. However, with an RRP of £450, it’s not a budget buy, especially when you need to factor in the additional cost of a car seat and/or carrycot.

That said, it is a far more affordable option compared to other height-adjustable pushchairs, like the Stokke Xplory X, which has an RRP of £1,159. The Joie Aeria sits firmly in the mid-price range for a pushchair that can be used from newborn through the pre-schooler years.

Where can I buy the Joie Aeria Signature pushchair?

It is available from Baby Birds, Baby Monitors Direct and UK Baby Centre.

MadeForMums verdict

The Joie Aeria Signature pushchair is perfect for urban families who want a practical pram but don’t want to compromise on style. If you want to invest in a premium product that grows with your baby then the Aeria is a great option.

With its all-wheel suspension, it really is a dream to steer and is great for popping to the shops and manoeuvring busy pavements. It’s a lot cheaper than other premium prams on the market so it is great for parents who want to invest in a luxurious pushchair without breaking the bank. As everything comes in the box, you don’t need to buy any extras to get going and it can easily be made into a travel system by purchasing a compatible car seat separately.

However, it does have some drawbacks, as you can’t fold it using one hand, and it’s quite heavy to carry, making it better suited to those who drive, rather than those parents who rely on public transport. After trialling it for 2 weeks, I believe it’s a great investment for those who are planning on having more kids, as it’s really well-made and will definitely stand the test of time.