Koochi Speedstar Pushchair review

Think bold yellows, striking pinks and reds and black and white American city prints.

We went for the colour 'San Francisco' as it's a place close to my heart, with lots of pastel colours in the design too. It felt like the less flamboyant one out of the bunch.

The Speedstar is being sold on being a lightweight buggy, but how light is it?

Weighing in at just 7kg, it’s a standard lightweight stroller and is comparable in weight to other buggies like the Bugaboo Bee 3 (8.7kg), Graco Evo Mini (7.4kg), Silver Cross Pop (7.2kg), Joie Nitro (7.6kg), Billie Faiers My Babiie MB01 Stroller (7.9kg) or Maclaren Techno XT (7.1kg).

But it is not as light as the new wave of super-lightweights like the Mountain Buggy Nano (5.9kg), Recaro Easylife (5.7kg), Babyzen Yoyo (6.4g), Maclaren Globetrotter (4.9kg) Mothercare XSS Pockit (3.4kg), Joie Aire Lite (4.6kg) or the soon-to-be-released Ickle Bubba Aurora (5.5kg).

Saying all of that (and more importantly) the Koochi Speedstar feels very light to push, fold up and down and lift in and out of the car.

It has the feel of a lightweight stroller; it’s really nippy and turns smoothly. And yet, the weight feels evenly distributed, making it feel really sturdy.

Is the frame strong?

Yes. It may not be chunky or heavy, but it’s a really tough stroller and feels strong and accurate when you are pushing it.

How does it compare to other lightweight buggies you used in quality, movement and foldablility?

After using a Maclaren Globetrotter on holiday last year, I was certainly more impressed with the Koochi Speedstar.

It’s built better, and design-wise is easier to fold and unfold and definitely less fiddly.

The Maclaren felt like a temporary stroller, whereas I can see me using this day-to-day and not feeling worried that my daughter is uncomfortable.

It also folds up neater than the Maclaren.

Of course the design is more interesting too, making it stand out from other buggies on the market.

Pricewise, they are pretty much the same, but the Koochi Speedstar comes with extras like footmuff and large changing bag.

How does it push when out and about?

The Koochi Speedstar not only feels light and zippy to push on pavements and up and down curbs, but it works quite well on rough terrain like stony paths and grass too.

The front and rear suspension did a great job of cushioning the blows, but I wouldn’t do it too often - it will feel very much like hard work after a while.

Where the Koochi Speedstar really comes into its own is when travelling on public transport, on days out and leaving in the car for quick shopping trips.

It’s ideal for whizzing in and out of high street crowds and it just feels quite small - like you wouldn’t get stuck in a shop doorways; a common problem with our original pram.

When pushing, it’s good for my husband, who’s 6ft 2 and comfortable for me too, and I’m 5ft 2.

The rubber grip and finger grooves go quite far down the frame making it comfortable at varying heights.

It means that you can hold on further down the handle because you are a little smaller, or just hold the handles as normal if you’re a bit taller.

I didn’t find it too tall, and my husband didn’t have to hunch over either.

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How comfortable does it feel for your baby?

My first instinct was that the seat was quite hard, so I automatically put the foot muff on, which is attached via the straps.

And when I put my daughter in the buggy she seemed extremely comfortable and super happy in it. You can unzip the top layer, which covers their feet to leave just the liner, which is great in warmer months.

For parents, you’ll be a huge fan of the wipe-clean finish on the seat unit. It’s easy to clean so there’s no need to worry about sticky fingers, crumbs or juice spillage.

Does the seat unit on the Koochi Speedstar recline?

Yes, it has three positions. I enjoyed interacting with Lacie, as the recline and small hood meant I could see her easily, especially when it’s totally folded in.

The seat is large and plenty spacious enough for a toddler and the other bonus is that the seat can lay completely flat, which is fantastic for when your little ‘un drops off and wants to indulge in a nap.

I did however find the strap recline quite fiddly: you’ll need two hands to push the seat back up, and I found it difficult when Lacie was sitting in it.

What about the hood?

Some would say that the hood is too small, but it still kept the sun out of her eyes, and if we got caught in the rain, then the rain cover was plenty big enough and really easy to use.

It fastens with poppers, which are much stronger and less fiddly than Velcro, and can be put on in seconds.

What is the fold system of the Koochi Speedstar like?

Folding the Koochi Speedstar is simple. I always get nervous that I won’t be able to fold a buggy without the help of my husband or mum: an airport worker had to help me once!

But this folds in two simple steps: you simply pull the handle in the centre of the chassis, above the shopping basket, then push your foot down on the small lever on the right hand side, just above the wheels.

It folds over itself easily and then the automatic locking system clicks into place, securing the frame, so it’s ready to lift.

I loved the large carry handle, and the lightweight chassis, which made the Koochi Speedstar easy to transport.

To re-open, you just unhook the locking catch, pull the handles towards you and push your foot downwards on the pedal in the centre of the chassis until everything slots into place with a reassuring click.

How compact is it when folded?

When folded it measures a compact 106cm x 39cm x 21cm and fitted into my Vauxhall Corsa with ease.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s snug, width-wise but it fits!

Can you fold it with one hand?

You can, but it’s easier with two. You have to place pressure on the handles to encourage it to fold, making it slightly tricky to do with one hand.

What are the basket and storage pockets like?

The shopping basket is relatively large - more than adequate for holding your rain cover, changing bag and a few small bags of shopping.

It is also relatively easy to access from either the side or the rear but it’s made out of netting so I wouldn’t put anything too heavy or sharp in there.

It’s such a pain when things get caught in the netting and you have to stop and fiddle.

Would you recommend it for use from birth?

No. Although it has a lie-flat seat and is reasonably well padded, it feels too big to carry a newborn without some form of extra support.

I personally also feel that prams that face you are better for small babies and there is no option to do this with the Koochi Speedstar.

That said, the footmuff is padded and fleecey, which also makes it really cosy. It’s definitely a great alternative if you needed to swap your newborn’s pram for a buggy for a short break or day out.

Who’s the Koochi Speedstar best for?

Someone looking to move their baby from a comfy pram into a buggy, without them missing out on the luxury of comfort.

Lacie, my 14-month-old loves her pram (it’s a Cosatto, believe it or not) but it’s also annoying when I have to take it apart to put it in my car and it feels too big if I want to hit London and travel on the bus or train.

We were looking for a stroller that still seemed comfortable and luxurious, so she wouldn’t think we was downgrading her! And we found it in the Speedstar.

Do you have to buy a lot of additional extras?

No, you don’t need to buy anything else with this pushchair. Coming with a host of extras, the Koochi Speedstar really does offer it all in one package.

MadeForMums verdict:

A fun and functional buggy that’s perfect for parents whizzing about town, but still want their little one to sit in luxury.

It boosts excellent manoeuvrability when pushing and comes with lots of other extra, giving you more bang for your buck.

It was a pleasure to push and at 14 months, my daughter certainly looked comfy and seemed happy.

I personally wouldn’t recommend it be used with a newborn and the designs are an acquired taste, but these are small issues that can easily looked past.

If you like this pushchair, check these out...

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• Full review of Jane Crosswalk
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