Tested by:
Sophie lives in Manchester with her husband and their 4-month-old son, Jasper. They road-tested the Maxi-Cosi Zelia on walks, shopping trips, and when travelling to and from baby classes by bus. They also took the pram on a trip to the Midlands to visit relatives.
First impressions of the Maxi-Cosi Zelia stroller
The compact nature of this pushchair was apparent from the outset – the chassis, wheels, seat, footmuff and extras including bumper bar and rain cover all fit into one neat box.
I was immediately impressed by its quality – the seat liner and straps are nicely padded, as is the footmuff, with a leather-look bumper bar and handle. I also really liked the stylish colour options – ours was Nomad Black, so had a black frame with a greyish seat, but the frame also comes in chrome or grey, and seat options include red and blue.
How easy was the the Maxi-Cosi Zelia to assemble?
Very easy – the hardest part was attaching the hood and coverlet with press studs, which were a little stiff at first. In total, it took about 20 minutes.
Is it easy to fold?
The videos showing how to unfold and fold the chassis made it seem complicated as there are several steps. Although it is straightforward once you’ve practised it a few times, it can be fiddly – my husband and I would occasionally have to remind each other what the next step was. It isn’t a one-hand fold – you need to take out and flip the seat, which requires pressing buttons on either side, lift a flap in the hood to fold the seat, then fold over the handle by sliding up catches on both sides before collapsing it.
Is it easy to unfold?
It’s simple – you release the catch, stand the base up using the handle and open out the seat and change position as needed.
Is the Maxi-Cosi Zelia pushchair compact and easy to store?
The integrated seat which folds down with the chassis made for a very compact fold. When folded (75 x 64 x 36cm), it was easy to store, although it doesn’t stand up on its own. There was room to spare in the boot of our Vauxhall Astra, especially compared to our Cosatto Giggle 2 (with its folded chassis and separate carrycot).
Is it a lightweight pushchair?
Very. It weighs 9.6kg including the seat (6.2kg without) – I could transfer this into our boot one-handed once folded.
Is it easy to push?
The base of the chassis feels quite wide and looks a little unwieldy. It wasn’t a problem getting in and out of shops but it could be tricky getting past parked cars along the pavement, especially as the handle doesn’t tilt to allow extra flexibility. It was easy to manoeuvre with one hand thanks to its lightweight frame, yet still felt sturdy.
How does the Maxi-Cosi Zelia handle on uneven ground?
Having a four-month-old who fights sleep means I’m often out on walks, and the Maxi-Cosi Zelia handled nicely on a range of terrain including footpaths and bumpy back roads.
Is the seat easy to adjust?
Swapping from seated to lie-flat mode was simple – it involves tightening and loosening a cord and clasp at the base of the seat and tilting the seat position using buttons on either side. This means the base of the carrycot is flexible, so it wouldn’t be suitable as a standalone carrycot. That said, my son slept very comfortably in it whenever we were out!
Does the Maxi-Cosi Zelia have a large and easy-to-access basket?
It is great for shopping trips thanks to its very generous basket, although when the seat is in the lie-flat position it can be difficult to access the basket without disturbing the seat (and the baby). I found this out to my detriment in the supermarket when I was randomly selected to have my scan-as-you-shop shopping checked with my sleeping baby in the pram! To make the most of the basket, the seat needs to be in the upright position.
Is the brake easy to use?
The brake is operated with a foot switch on the right-hand side of the chassis – it felt reasonably solid when operated, but I did occasionally hit it by accident while pushing the pram. It was also a little stiff to apply, which was especially difficult when getting on and off the bus in a hurry.
Are the wheels removable?
Yes - it has 4 black wheels which are easy to remove if you’re short on space.
Does the hood provide enough protection?
The extendable hood is one of the things I love the most about this pram – undo the zip and it pulls forward, with an extra sun flap leaving peeking room only, which is great for naps. It also features a peekaboo window which will be useful when the seat is turned the other way (we only used the facing, lie-flat position due to my son’s age).
Is it easy to see your baby in the Maxi-Cosi Zelia?
There was plenty of room for my baby and I to see each other even with the bumper bar in lie-flat mode – I’ve found these to be obstructive in some prams (particularly the Ickle Bubba Stomp V4 Special Edition).
I was really impressed with the quality and flexibility of this pushchair, and I loved how little space it takes up once folded – even though that takes practice. At £299, it’s good value for money and a great option for parents with newborns who need a compact pram/stroller that looks good and feels solid.
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