Joolz x Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size car seat review

As such, this car seat is priced at the higher end of the market at £219 - £20 more expensive than the standard Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro. But for that, you are getting the reliability of Maxi-Cosi, with its track record in safety combined with the stylish finish of Joolz.

The Pebble Pro is i-Size compatible on the FamilyFix3 isofix base and can be used until your baby is around 12 months old. This version of the Pebble Pro can also attach to your Joolz pushchair with adapters, which are sold separately.

Tested by

Jennifer is a 30-year-old mum-of-two living in Dundee. She tested the Joolz Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size car seat with her 3-month-old daughter Olive, both on its base in the family car, a Kia Stonik, and out and about, attached to her Joolz Day+ pushchair.

What were your first impressions of the Joolz Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro?

The car seat I tested was a stylish black, and it was clear Joolz were keen that the quality look and feel its pushchairs are known for was implemented into its first car seat.

I really liked the leatherette (feels just like leather but is actually vegan) handle in the centre, an added feature from the standard Maxi-Cosi Pebble, which I found made it easy to grip while carrying.

How does the car seat arrive?

Before I even opened the box, I was slightly surprised at the weight of the package as it was lighter than I expected. I’d previously used a Silver Cross car seat which was quite a bit heavier so I knew the Joolz Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size would be a lot easier to carry.

Like a kid at Christmas, I opened up the box to find that the seat was, handily, fully assembled and ready to use.

The cardboard box itself can be converted into a toy car and played with before it is recycled. This feature went down well with reviewers on Natural Baby Shower and I can imagine would be a hit if you have a toddler or preschooler to entertain.

The car seat came with an instructions manual with pages of diagrams and lots of different languages. It was useful to an extent, but I felt I had more questions than answers after looking through it.

In the end, my husband and I figured out some of the functions through trial and error.

How do you install the Joolz Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro?

The Joolz Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro can be fixed into the car by itself or with the Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix3 isofix base (formerly known as the 3way Fix base).

The FamilyFix3, sold separately for £199, isn’t essential, but if you have the budget to spend, then it is an excellent investment. My husband installed the base into the car with such ease with its ‘Click & Go’ system that he thought he had made a mistake.

Properly connecting the car seat to the isofix base did take a couple of attempts to get right, but you’ll know when it’s fitted as the base gives off a ‘beep’ and displays three green lights on its base when everything is positioned correctly.

This light system – which shows a red light if the seat isn’t on the base properly – was a popular feature with parent reviewers who felt it gave them peace of mind that the car seat was securely installed.

Once you’ve mastered how to connect the car seat with the base, installing it takes seconds – rather than trying to fiddle about with a seat belt each time you head out.

Although it takes up the entire seat on which it is placed, the base is slim and doesn’t encroach on the middle seat of the car.

Is it easy to use without the isofix base?

Installing the car seat without the base is a simple enough process and involves feeding the seatbelt straps through the appropriate grooves. This means the car seat can easily be used by grandparents or other relatives you may want to take your baby out in their car but don’t have the FamilyFix3 isofix base.

Does the Joolz Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro fit onto a pushchair or travel system?

Yes, this Pebble Plus can be attached to a Joolz pushchair frame, making it simple to take your baby out and about, even if they’ve fallen asleep on the car journey. Adapters, which are sold separately, attach to the base of the handle which connects to the pushchair, allowing you to transfer your baby from the car and vice versa without disturbing them.

The car seat attaches with a simple click and detaches by pressing in two grey buttons, which release the seat from the adapters.

What safety features are there?

The Joolz Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro car seat has a couple of safety features aimed at offering your baby comfort and protection. The main one is its side protection system, designed to protect your baby in the event of a side impact collision. The seat has thick spongey side wings, containing integrated memory foam which will absorb the impact of a crash and offer extra support for your baby’s head.

There is additional side support for your newborn which can be removed as your baby gets older. And the car seat meets all the latest i-Size safety standards.

Although the car seat is fairly lightweight at 4.55kg, it does feel sturdy and well-made and I had no concerns whatsoever transporting my baby in it.

What age is the Joolz Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro car seat suitable for?

The Joolz Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro is suitable from birth to babies up to 75cm in height, which is approximately 12 months old, depending on the size of your child. Unlike group 0/1 car seats like the Maxi-Cosi AxissFix Plus, Silver Cross Motion or Joie i-Spin 360, which are designed to last until your child is 4, the Pebble Pro is an entirely rear-facing seat and will need replacing around your baby’s first birthday.

How comfortable is it for newborn babies?

The car seat comes with a removable baby-hugg inlay for newborn babies – which lives up to its name as it hugs even the tiniest little ones, giving them extra security and comfort around the neck and head and additional side protection.

My baby looked completely secure and her head was at no risk of wobbling around. My baby only got a week’s use out of the inlay as she was getting too big, so this is definitely a feature best used for newborns as it provides a flatter surface to support their little backs.

The inlay fits within the main seat and is secured in place by feeding the straps through the loops.

After taking out the inlay, my 13-week-old baby still looked secure and comfortable in the bigger seat with lots of padding.

Can the Joolz Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro harness be adjusted?

The height of the safety harness conveniently adjusts to fit your growing child. The adjuster can be found in the compartment at the back of the car seat and moved accordingly to suit your baby’s size. My baby was around 3 months old when testing this chair and there was plenty of room for her to grow into it. I fully expect her to still use it as she reaches 1 year old.

What are the straps like?

The straps are my favourite feature on the Pebble Pro, with a simple three-point system which is really easy to secure – ideal for fastening in a wriggly little one.

The seat also operates on a one-pull harness system making it easy to fasten the baby in the seat. Being able to adjust the harness with one hand is a big selling point and makes it less fiddly to use than many other brands.

Was there anything you didn’t like about the Joolz Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro?

My one criticism was around the shoulder support which quite often detached from the back of the seat when we were using it. Although this does not compromise safety in anyway, as the shoulder support feeds through the main strap, it can slip out of position with a gentle tug. Trying to connect the strap back to the seat is quite frustrating and difficult to do as the socket is tricky to locate beneath the padding.

How easy is the car seat to carry around?

The Joolz Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro is fairly light at 4.55kg, making it easy to carry with the handle. It isn’t the lightest baby car seat on the market – the Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix weighs in at just 3.3kg – but it is far from being the heaviest, weighing less than the Maxi-Cosi Jade (6kg), the Cybex Cloud Z (4.8kg) and the Britax Römer Baby-Safe 2 (4.8kg).

The Pebble Pro feels robust and boasts the usual high quality materials associated with the Maxi-Cosi brand. And the leather-feel Joolz-branded handle is a classy touch and makes it more comfortable to hold. Even with the added weight of the baby in the seat, the car seat still feels nimble enough to carry.

Is the Joolz Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro simple to clean?

Thankfully, I did not have any mishaps while testing the seat which meant it needed a wash. But in the event of a nappy explosion, the Pebble Pro has a removable, machine washable cover. Although my seat was black – which makes dirt appear more visible – the seat did not seem to get dirty and any small marks that did appear, were wiped off easily.

Does it have a sun hood?

Yes, there is a sun canopy which offers UPF 50+ sun protection. The sun hood is soft and stretchy and neatly tucks away into a rubbery cover at the back of the seat. Pulling out the canopy is simple and it attaches to the handlebar with two rubber loops sewn into the hood.

When I first saw this, I wasn’t sure how strong this would be and feared the loops would detach from the hood or become too loose. But they do fit firmly in place and the system is pretty secure – although you can occasionally knock the loops out of place by accident.

The biggest downside with the sub hood is that it doesn’t fully cover your baby. Not so much an issue when travelling in the car but you may need to attach a parasol in summer to protect your baby while the seat is attached to a pushchair.

What’s in the box?

• Joolz Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size car seat
• Removable baby-hugg inlay
• Removable head rest

What additional accessories can you buy for the Joolz Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro?

• Maxi- Cosi FamilyFix3 base (£199)
• Car seat adapters - these are essential if you want to use the car seat on a Joolz pushchair frame but they need to be bought separately at between £37.95 and £42.95, depending on which travel system you’re using. I found the price a bit eye-watering as they are essentially just pieces of plastic.
• Maxi-Cosi back seat car mirror (£15)
• Maxi-Cosi back seat protector (£20)
• Maxi-Cosi mosquito net (£10)
• Maxi-Cosi car seat rain cover (£20)

How does the Joolz Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size compare to similar car seats?

Where can I buy the Joolz Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro i-Size car seat?

Available to buy at Winstanleys Pramworld, Natural Baby Shower and Baby Planet.

MadeForMums verdict:

Maxi-Cosi have produced another great Pebble Pro seat, this time teaming up with Joolz for a stylish, light and durable car seat. It’s a bit pricey – but looks fantastic.

It would be best suited to new parents with a bit of cash to splash looking for a sturdy, yet fashionable car seat which can be used with their Joolz pushchair.