The Quinny Zapp Xtra is travel system compatible, and can be teamed with one of two Maxi-Cosi car seats, the Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix car seat or Maxi-Cosi Pebble car seat.
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What we love
The Quinny Zapp Xtra can recline to a horizontal position, so 2-year-old Jack was able to have a comfortable sleep while we were on the move. The Zapp Xtra also boasts a nice wide seat compared to most buggies of this size, so Jack’s shoulders weren’t squashed.
The seat is reversible, and while Jack preferred to be facing forward so he could point out things, the rear facing option would be ideal for a young baby.
The seat harness has three positions, meaning it’s comfy for my toddler, but also able to be adjusted to work for a newborn.
Despite having to take the seat off to fold the buggy, it was easy to fit the Zapp Xtra into my car footwell. The seat unit doesn’t fold, but it does squash flat to a 10cm x 95cm x 42cm wide unit so it’s also easy to fit in the boot of most family-sized cars. Taking the buggy seat on and off the chassis is very simple. There's a lever on the back of the seat that’s easy to operate one-handed.
Once you’re used to the 1, 2, 3 Quinny system, the chassis is easy to fold. This 1, 2, 3 folding system is marked on the buggy, which is a handy feature when baby brain strikes!
The shopping basket is a good addition and is big enough for a pack of nappies and two pints of milk. The nice, large hood offers good sun protection, and the included raincover is easy to fit.
What to watch out for
I have used the original Quinny Zapp and first purchased it with an international flight in mind. The original Zapp folds up so small that it fits in most overhead lockers as hand luggage (check with individual airlines though!). I was disappointed to find this great selling point - a very compact folded size - isn't found on the new Zapp Xtra.
To fold the Zapp Xtra you have to remove the seat from the chassis, so you end up with two separate parts. That said, the Zapp Xtra chassis does fold pretty small.
The two separate handles aren’t height adjustable so my husband (6’ tall) and my mother-in-law (5’4”) didn’t find the buggy as comfortable to push as I did (I’m 5’8”). Manoeuvring the buggy one-handed was difficult for me as the front wheel kept getting jammed in pavement cracks, but this wheel is lockable, which would overcome the problem.
Although there’s a decent sized shopping basket, there’s nowhere else to put stuff - with the raincover in the bottom, there's not much room left. Also, it’s best not to hang bags off the Zapp Xtra's handles – it tips easily because it's so light! To be fair, Quinny doesn’t advise hanging stuff from the handles, but let's be honest, most of us have done it!
Quinny market the Zapp Xtra as a 'quick use' buggy and this is definitely the case, providing you’re not going to try taking it off the pavement. It was a very bumpy ride for Jack on the gravel paths in my local park, and the jarring in my arms made them very tired. The Zapp Xtra isn’t designed for this, but if you're looking for one buggy that’ll work in most situations– for example, that can take the odd walk not in town - then the Zapp Xtra might not be for you.
The seat is nice and wide, but it is shallow - when Jack was sitting in the 'upright' position it looked as though only the crotch strap was holding him in as there's not a lot of bum space. Jack’s an average 2-year-old in size, so if your child’s large, this is a consideration.
When the seat was fully reclined, I’d bang my shins on the end of the seat unit as I walked. This is avoidable if you're walking slowly, but if you were in a hurry it would be annoying.
Who is the Quinny Zapp Xtra buggy best for?
Urban mums after a compact option for city trips.
Compact and lightweight, the Quinny Zapp Xtra has some nice additions to the original, but does now need to be taken apart before folding. It’s stylish and travel system compatible, so spot on for car users. Just keep it on the pavement.
