The seat is easy to use, due to its clever concertina style base. You fit one side, then stretch it out to the other. The seat reclines completely, and you pad it with the newborn liner and fit the apron over the top to create a pramette style set-up. When your baby’s older, you convert this into a buggy seat just by sitting the base up.
What we love
The Graco Fusio buggy is simple to put together. Folding it down is easy enough once you’ve got the hang of technique. To fold, you pull two clips just beneath the handles, which trigger the release of the frame, then pull up on the plastic handle behind the basket. When folded, the Fusio is freestanding, which is great.
Unfolding the Fusio is simple - you release the two triggers either side of the frame and shake it out, then push the foot bar down until it locks.
Esme, 2, is tall for her age and the majority of footmuffs we’ve tested have come up small. However, this one is roomy and big enough for her. She’s comfortable whilst still being snug.
I really like how the Fusio buggy seat sits up straight. Some other Graco products can’t boast such an upright seatback. Also, the footrest automatically adjusts itself in relation to where the seat is, giving your child continual support – when the seat is reclined flat, the footrest is flat too.
The basket offers plenty of storage. When I put my handbag over the handle, the clip on the side used for the fold/unfold mechanism prevents it sliding down the frame – a neat feature, thought I don’t know if it’s intentional!
The switch to lock the front wheels is on the body of the buggy rather than the wheels, so you don’t have go far to activate it. There’s colour-coding to make it easy - red when locked, green when free.
The brake is also colour-coded and the step on/step off system is simple and effective.
In pramette mode, Astrid, 6 months, is comfy in the padded liner and 5-point safety harness. Height-wise, there’s some growing room, but not much. However, Astrid is long and lean for her age.
What to watch out for
When Astrid’s in the pramette set-up, she’s right up against the sides. There’s room above and below her, but when it comes to lifting her out, there isn’t much room for an adult to slide their hands around her. It’s possible that a bigger baby may find it tight. As there’s only a footmuff over Astrid, there’s not much protection, especially around her legs and feet.
The Fusio takes up a fair amount of space in my car boot. I have a Citroen Picasso, and it’s by no means small.
The Fusio doesn’t cope well if it strays from the pavement. The wheels just aren’t that capable and pushing it with my 14kg toddler on board soon feels heavy.
I haven’t noticed the shock-absorbing spring suspension nor that the Fusio is particularly light. As it weighs only 9kg, I ought to. The Fusio gives the impression that it’s compact – and indeed the seat is narrow – but the framework isn’t that compact at all.
The handles rotate but they don’t extend. I’m tall and feel they come up short.
Who is the Graco Fusio buggy best for?
Budget-watching new mums who don’t venture off-pavement.
Suitable from birth and with a reversible seat direction, the Fusio sounds appealing. However, it’s not very compact and doesn’t feel as light as it should. While it doesn’t handle that well, the easily reversible seat and clever self-adjusting footrest are noteworthy features that help the Fusio’s appeal.
First reviewed 02/06/2011. Updated 15/03/2012
