Stroller brand review: Maxi Cosi
Stroller brand review: Maxi Cosi. Dorel brought its European subsidiaries Maxi Cosi and Quinny to the U.S. a few of years ago to bolster the brand’s efforts in the upper end of the stroller market.
The models. Maxi Cosi imports six models from their European offerings to the US, but most of the focus is on these two strollers: the Lara and the Zelia.
The Lara ( ) is an “ultra compact stroller,” a category that is now all the rage—the Lara weighs 14 lbs. and a compact Z-type fold. The basket is rather shallow and there is a cup holder:
Fans of this stroller like the “double decker” storage—in addition to the storage basket, there is a second storage compartment at the back of the seat. The reclining seat and adjustable leg rest are also nice features . . . many strollers in this category are more bare-bones.
Detractors say the seat on the Lara is too small, especially for older kiddos (two year olds, for example). The recline mechanism also comes in for some criticism, as does the lack of a height adjustable handle bar.
The bigger Zelia (21 lbs., is a multi-function stroller where the seat can face forward or back toward the parent. The Zelia includes the Maxi-Cosi Mico 30, which makes it a pretty good value since that infant seat sell for about $200 on its own.
Parent feedback on the Zelia stroller has been mixed—for every parent that applauds its sleek design and overall aesthetics, there are others that knock the quality. Example: canopy buttons that snap off, a wheel that breaks, etc. The overall ride of this stroller is more akin to a low-end stroller than what Maxi Cosi is known for.
Our view. Maxi Cosi has been adrift for the last several years, reflecting the turmoil at parent company (Dorel) and their troubles in the juvenile market overall. As Dorel’s European subsidiary, Maxi Cosi is supposed to be the premium brand offering in both strollers and car seats in the US. But what exactly are they trying to do with the Zelia? We understand bundling it with the infant seat for an affordable travel system—but did Maxi Cosi cut too many corners on the stroller to bring it in at this price?
Judging from parent feedback, it appears the answer is yes. The flimsy canopy shade, basic storage basket and cheap cup holder give this stroller an off-the-shelf, made-in-China feel. Instead of innovating, Maxi Cosi feels like it just copies whatever is popular at the moment—and then doesn’t even do it that well.
As a brand, Maxi Cosi has struggled in the US with strollers and the Zelia continues that trend. The company just can’t quite get it right, introducing and then quickly discontinuing several stroller models in the last several years.
Baby Bargains Resale Rank: Poor. Rating: C+
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