Mutsy Nexo pushchair review

Dutch brand Mutsy has been developing buggies and pushchairs for more than 80 years. It launched its first stroller in 1937, its first modular system in 1997 and the Igo with its ultralight travel cot in 2013.

Now the Nexo joins the family, and has already scooped gold in the MadeForMums Awards 2018 compact buggy category.

According to the brand, the Nexo’s main selling point is that it “offers the luxury of an adjustable pushchair with the convenience and compactness of a buggy”. The Nexo tries to own its very own niche: It’s not about being super compact or ultra-light such as the popular Babyzen Yoyo or the GB Qbit, nor does it want to offer everything the more bulky travel systems have.

It tries to be something in between - promising the versatility and comfort for newborn to toddler, with the small weight and ease of a more small-scale buggy. Indeed, I found that its clever design really does make is extremely flexible, in a relatively compact package.

At £279 it is priced slightly higher than some of its competitors in the lightweight stroller market. The Silver Cross Avia, for example, costs £225, while strollers such as the Ickle Bubba Aurora or the Mee-Go Feather are much cheaper at around £145.

However, some of those competitors have to compromise in areas like car seat compatibility, and when it’s compared to compacts like the Bugaboo Bee5 (£549) or new iCandy Raspberry (£550), it does offer good value.

You can buy the Mutsy Nexo from Peppermint, Amazon, and Uber Kids.

First impressions?

On first impressions, the Mutsy Nexo seemed stylish and well made. I liked the quality of the fabric (which comes in six understated colourways, with faux leather trim) and the compact design.

How does it compare to other compact buggies you’ve used?

What I liked about the Mutsy Nexo is that it is relatively compact, but feels sturdy and robust. It is solid, with no give in the chassis - the frame’s tubes are actually quite substantial. It’s not as dainty as some other - more lightweight - buggies such as the Babyzen Yoyo or Baby Jogger City Tour.

The seat and hood are more generous, for example, and it has added design elements such as an adjustable footrest, a very handy seat back recline mechanism, and an adjustable handlebar.

Just how compact is it when folded and unfolded?

The Nexo folds into a nice compact package of 65cm x 51cm x 43cm. The fold is very intuitive - it basically folds in on itself like a concertina - and feels very neat when folded down. If you’re very tight for space, it’s worth removing the wheels to make it even smaller, but it fits into our boot no problem with wheels still attached - with plenty of room for additional luggage.

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Is it lightweight?

The Nexo weighs 9.5kg with the seat unit, so it’s not among the lightest on the market. The Silver Cross Avia, for example, is a featherweight 5.5kg, the Cosatto Busy is 8.2kg, and even the comparatively substantial Bugaboo Bee5 is 8.9kg, so the Nexo is pushing the limits a bit on what is technically considered ‘lightweight’.

I did manage to lift the Nexo with my two-year-old strapped it - a necessity for me when traipsing around town - but with not quite as much ease as I do with other buggies. And it definitely feels lightweight compared to a full-size travel system.

How easy is it to push?

The Nexo is a joy to push. Two- or one-handed, it rolls along nicely and the steering and manoeuvring remains true. The handle bar is adjustable, which is great for me and my husband, as we are both tall.

The lovely, bouncy suspension means that it navigates many terrains without undue worry about dips and bumps in the road.

How does it ride on different surfaces?

I’m not one for jogging along sand dunes or hiking along muddy paths with my buggies, but even in city living, we need to tackle a variety of surfaces. The Nexo drives really well on most of them. For a compact stroller, the wheels are a decent size - they feel well made and robust, but nimble enough for city strolling, kerbs and parks. I had no problems, even on waterlogged grass.

We had to slow down a little bit on the cobbles during a Hampton Court Palace day trip, but again the wheels and suspension helped us out, and our little one went happily to sleep.

How is it on public transport?

It is great using the Nexo on public transport, as it’s so easy to manoeuvre and tuck into tight spaces. The adjustable handle bar helps a lot, particularly on buses, as it allows you to squeeze past other buggies and tuck into awkward spaces.

Travelling around town is also a doddle as the Nexo is lightweight enough to be lifted up stairs, and sturdy enough to tackle escalators and be bumped up and down various hurdles. It also has a larger than usual - for the lightweight stroller category - basket that is easily accessible, which is fantastic for reaching snacks and entertainment for little ones on the go.

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What do you think of the wheels and suspension?

I really liked the wheels and suspension. The wheels performed very well. They are solid and not flimsy at all, so combined with the suspension they make for a very smooth ride. The wheels are also lockable, which is handy, if you like this option.

Overall, the wheels and suspension were comparable with my full size Baby Jogger Versa travel system, and made for very easy pushing and a super comfortable ride for my little one.

How easy is it to store?

Thanks to its nifty fold the Nexo is great to store away. The folding mechanism is so easy that I often fold it down even if there is no need to, and slot it neatly into a corner of the room. It’s also great that it can be folded with the bumper bar in place, which saves much faff.

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Is the frame strong and durable?

The frame feels very strong and durable, which is one of the best features of the Nexo. With many lightweight buggies, such as the Babyzen Yoyo or the GB Qbit, I have found the frame very slight, and I wouldn’t want to use the buggy as a main, every-day solution for fear of straining it too much. I would have no such worries with the Nexo.

Initially, I hesitated when tipping the buggy backward to mount a kerb or a large step (to get onto a bus, say). The Nexo’s concertina design meant that I instinctively felt it might collapse on itself. However, it always remained firmly in place and didn’t budge, so I learnt to trust its sturdiness.

What do you think of the fold system?

I really like the fold system. You have to fold the Nexo with both hands, but it is very quick and easy. You release the handlebar, then push two additional handlebar buttons to fold the seat back forward.

Then release two levers on both sides of the buggy to lower the seat onto the shopping basket. A safety latch clicks into place. The best thing is the unfold, as you just pull it open at the handle - no buttons required!

What do you think of the handle?

I like the fact that the handlebar is adjustable, making it 101cm when fully extended.

However, I do find its shape a bit awkward to hold. It is quite chunky and squared off, at an odd angle, so it doesn’t sit entirely natural in my grip - my other half remarked on this too. But we thought this was but a small comfort concession, if that.

What do you think of the size of the seat unit?

The seat unit is a good size. Its depth and width compare to my full-sized Baby Jogger Versa travel system - I measured them at around 24cm deep and 31cm wide.

However, the height of the seatback is a bit shorter, so tall kids will probably grow beyond that a bit sooner than hoped. Overall, however, I really appreciated the depth of the seat. My two-year-old felt properly comfortable in it, with room to lounge, and no chances of slipping off.

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How many recline positions are there?

The seat has a gradual recline, from near upright to near horizontal. The seatback is adjustable with a very snazzy mechanism that allows you to easily adjust it with one hand - without looking or crouching.

I didn’t realise how much I appreciated this function until I started using it. I hate faffing around with seat toggles, while holding up the seat back with my second hand, so this was a revelation.

How comfortable does it feel for your little one?

My two-year-old loved the buggy, and found it very comfortable, so much so that he insisted on climbing into it whenever it was parked in reach at home.

He slept brilliantly, and I felt he was nicely cocooned and protected in it. The addition of the bumper bar and the generous hood helped, as did the combination of generous room in the seat and nice quality fabric.

What about the harness, is it comfortable, easy to use?

The harness has five points and comes with a couple of shoulder pads. You have to slot the shoulder fastenings into the waist fastenings to close the harness, which I always find a bit fiddly, and clicking it into place also requires a degree of jiggling. So I reckon the fastening could be improved a bit. It does feel secure though.

Can the Nexo be used from newborn?

Yes, Mutsy states that the Nexo can be used from newborn as the seat can recline to a quasi flat position.

If you want the comfort of a carrycot or cocoon, or indeed a completely flat surface, this is not the buggy for you.

However, you can buy a very comfy looking footmuff that will provide added cosiness. Compared to umbrella strollers such as the Maclaren Techno XT, the seat is similar, size-wise, and feels comfortable enough for even small babies.

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How is interacting with your little one when in the buggy?

One of the main drawbacks of the Nexo is that there is no peekaboo window in the hood. I found it easy enough to interact with my two-year-old, however it would be difficult keeping an eye on a sleeping newborn without having to stop and check. This is a real shame, as I imagine putting in a viewing window would be simple enough.

The buggy is also only world-facing. It is quite important to some parents to have the parent-facing option too, so this might be a deal-breaker for some.

What do you think of the hood?

The hood is very generous, and can be extended further via a zip, so it provides great shade when needed, even when the seat is fully reclined. It also extends with satisfying clicks and holds its shape well - which scores extra points with me. My two-year-old usually hates having the hood in place, but he loved the Nexo’s - he probably thought it made his own little den.

Tell us about the brakes.

The brakes are activated by foot - you have to engage them by stepping onto a lever next to the right-hand wheel. It is very easy to engage, as the lever is a good size, which also allows you to release the brake very easily. Again, it is very intuitive, and once engaged the buggy feels securely held in place.

Does it fit in the boot of your car?

Yes. It fits very neatly into our car’s boot, and leaves plenty of room for other paraphernalia. It takes even less space with wheels removed, so it would suit those with much smaller cars than our BMW X3.

Is it travel system compatible?

Yes, it can be adapted to be used with a variety of carseats, from Safe2Go, Maxi Cosi, Kiddy, Cybex and Besafe. They can be mounted directly onto the chassis with the correct attachments, which adds a great level of versatility to the Nexo.

What age children is it best for?

The Nexo is perfectly usable from newborn as the seat can recline near flat, and can be used up to 15kg. The upper weight limit is a bit of a drawback for us, as we have above-average weight kids. The Babyzen Yoyo or the Bugaboo Bee 5, for example, have weight limits of 17kg, while the Silver Cross Avia can be used to 20kg. You might struggle using this as your ‘forever buggy’ if you have large kids.

How easily can you access the basket and is it big enough to store everything you need?

Thanks to the Nexo’s concertina fold mechanism and clever design, with the seat sitting quite high off the ground, there is great access to the basket. As far as lightweight buggies’ baskets go, this was one of my favourites. It is quite deep and holds a lot (5 kg/litres), and I definitely piled things high. The basket is also solid and holds its shape well.

What’s in the box?

• Chassis
• Wheels
• Seat
• Hood
• Bumper bar
• Rain cover

Is it easy/hard to build the product?

I found the Nexo really easy to build and straight-forward to put together even without instructions. The instructions themselves were clear and easy to follow.

What would you have wanted to know before you purchased the item?

I do think it’s worth considering the 15kg weight limit for this buggy, combined with the height of the seat back. Many similarly light buggies on the market allow for heavier and taller toddlers and kids, so this could potentially restrict the years of use you get out of it.

Who would the product be most useful for?

The Nexo is a great option for those worried about space, but who don’t want to compromise on comfort. It is a stylish and compact alternative to an umbrella-fold stroller or a more complex and bulky travel system. It is well worth considering for those who want a solid product that will cope with everyday use, as well as travel.

Is there anything unique about this product?

The combination of compactness and a simple fold with a generous and comfortable seat and super-easy manoeuvrability is pretty attractive, and difficult to find.

Is the Nexo good value for money?

At £279, the Nexo is quite an investment, especially since you have to pay extra for the footmuff (£62.50), a cupholder (£14.50). It is at the dearer end of the lightweight stroller category, and some might argue that it’s neither super lightweight enough to compete with the likes of the overhead cabin luggage brigade or versatile enough to tackle full-on travel systems. I think it’s not worth considering the Nexo as a second, lightweight ‘travel’ buggy, as it’s just not light enough or folds small enough to warrant that price tag for that purpose.

However, if its durability lives up to its promise, it is a buggy that can fulfil quite a few needs as a ‘one-and-only’ buggy from birth. It can do the everyday heavy lifting while also making travel easier and saving space. So the price for this intended use is justified in my opinion.

MadeForMums verdict:

I really liked using the Mutsy Nexo, and often chose it over other buggies tested, mainly for its great maneuvrability, basket and compact shape. Mutsy is a brand not as well known in the UK as some of the more established British manufacturers, but it is clear that it values quality and has some clever design ideas. I would definitely recommend the Nexo to those looking for a robust, yet compact stroller that gives you and your little one a smooth ride.

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