Britax vs Chicco

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If you and your family like to get out and about by car or on public transport, a stroller that folds easily and converts into a travel system is the perfect solution for you.

Why Trust Us?

Because my full-time job is being mom to 2 precious daughters, and I know a thing or two about strollers. Besides personal experience, I get feedback from other moms who use these strollers every day and put all that research into our unbiased stroller buying guides

- Kyli

But with so many brands all vying for your cash, how do you know which stroller to choose? Well, we’re here to help you make an informed decision!

In this article, we take an in-depth look at the Britax B-Agile and the Chicco Viaro, two extremely popular stroller travel systems that sit within the same price bracket.

First of all, let’s introduce the two manufacturers.

Table of Contents

Britax: Safety, Reliability, Superb Quality

Britax is a British manufacturer that makes a range of children’s gear, including high chairs, car seats, and strollers.

Britax has been around since the 1930s, specializing in making safety equipment for motor vehicles. Safety has always been the Britax watchword, and their strollers are built with that maxim in mind.

As you’d expect, Britax travel strollers are compatible with their own, top-quality infant car seats.

Chicco: Knowledge, experience, and scientific expertise

Italian manufacturer, Chicco has a presence in over 120 countries around the world.

The company was formed in the 1950s and today produces a range of children’s and maternity products, including clothing, baby food, and strollers.

Chicco is very much a family-oriented affair, supporting families worldwide through numerous humanitarian endeavors, including making financial contributions to pay for cardiac care for children, and funding training schemes for local doctors in cash-strapped countries.

Britax B-Agile vs. Chicco Viaro

Now, let’s compare the Britax B Agile with the Chicco Viaro.

Britax B-Agile

Britax 2017 B-Agile 3 Stroller & B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat - Meadow
  • Your purchase includes: One B-Agile lightweight, aluminum frame stroller, one B-Safe 35 Infant car seat and car seat adapters
  • Stroller appropriate from birth, however, Britax recommends use only with an infant car seat until child has head and neck control. Do not use stroller with a child taller than 44 inches or...
  • Use infant car seat only with children who weigh between 4 and 35 pounds and whose height is 32 inches or less.

The Britax B-Agile 4 is the newest version of Britax’s popular lightweight stroller. The B-Agile 4 is easy-to-fold and collapses into a very compact parcel that fits easily into even the smallest car trunk.

The B-Agile 4 has plenty of appealing features and can be converted to a travel system.

To see a video of the Britax B-Agile 4, click on this link.

What we like:

  • One-handed fold
  • Super-compact when folded
  • Automatic folding lock
  • Lightweight
  • Travel system compatible
  • Easy, one-handed steering
Britax 2017 B-Agile 3 Stroller & B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat - Meadow

Room for improvement:

  • Non-adjustable handlebar height
  • Only available in black or red

Features that matter:

This section highlights all the features of the Britax B-Agile 4 that are most important to parents who are thinking of buying one.

Fold

One big selling point for the Britax B-Agile 4 is its easy, one-handed pull-fold mechanism. All you do is push the one-handed release button and pull on the strap that’s located at the base of the seat.

If necessary, the quick-release wheels allow you to make the B-Agile 4 into an even tinier package.

Also, there’s an auto-lock feature that keeps the Britax stroller folded once you’ve collapsed it. So, once you’ve folded the stroller, simply pick it up, throw it into your car trunk, and you’re good to go.

Seat

The Britax B-Agile 4 has a generous seat with a multi-position recline feature, including a lay-flat mode for small babies. Click-and-go adapters make it simple and hassle-free to create a travel system.

The stroller has a five-point safety harness that boasts height-adjustable shoulder straps.

Ride and handling

The B-Agile 4 has a lightweight aluminum chassis with built-in suspension for a super-smooth ride.

The padded handlebar is not adjustable, but the push is still comfortable for parents of average height.

Britax 2017 B-Agile 3 Stroller & B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat - Meadow

Wheels

The B-Agile 4 has four puncture-resistant wheels, the front ones being lockable swivel.

Canopy

The stroller’s canopy is made of plush, soft fabric, and has a zippered mesh extension for extra cover on hot, sunny days.

There’s a large pocket on the rear of the canopy that will take your purse or a few baby extras.

For days when the sun doesn’t shine on your strolls, a rain cover is included.

Storage

Underneath the stroller, there’s a large shopping basket that has plenty of room for your grocery shopping, as well as all your baby essentials.

Britax 2017 B-Agile 3 Stroller & B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat - Meadow

Accessories and extras

Although the Britax B-Agile 4 is very affordable, you do have to spend more cash to buy extras for it.

First of all, the bumper bar is not included with the stroller and must be purchased separately. You can also buy a snack tray, an apron, a diaper bag, and a footmuff. Those extras are not essential, but items such as the infant car seat are if you want to use the stroller as a travel system.

Chicco Viaro

Chicco Viaro Quick-Fold Travel System, Includes Infant Car Seat and Base, Stroller and Car Seat Combo, Baby Travel Gear | Techna/Black/Silver
  • TRAVEL-FRIENDLY -- With an aluminum frame and sleek 3-wheel design, this lightweight stroller with included infant car seat makes the Viaro an ideal baby travel system.
  • CAR SEAT AND BASE INCLUDED – Top-rated KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat with SuperCinch Force-Multiplying LATCH Tightener makes this car seat easy to install accurately, every time. Secure,...
  • ONE-HAND FOLD – A pull-strap and button tucked under the seat easily activate the compact and free-standing fold for easier maneuverability and storage.

The Chicco Viaro travel system includes the KeyFit 30, which is an infant car set that’s extremely popular with thousands of parents. The car seat snaps into the base of the stroller, snuggling baby securely.

You can use the stroller for an infant who can sit up unassisted, and it’s ideal for strolling around the city, in the shopping mall, and on other fairly flat surfaces. If you live an urban lifestyle and don’t plan on venturing out in the Great Outdoors, this super quality travel system can be the only stroller you’ll ever need.

The Chicco Viaro is lightweight and extremely portable. And most importantly if you’re on a budget, it’s reasonably priced too!

To see a video of the Chicco Viaro travel system, check out this link.

What we like:

  • Lightweight
  • Travel system compatible
  • Easy, one-handed steering
  • Reasonably priced
  • Large storage basket
  • Parent and child trays with cup holders included
  • Easy, one-hand folding
  • Affordable

Room for improvement:

  • Canopy doesn’t provide full coverage
  • No peek-a-boo window
  • Handlebar is not height adjustable
  • No suspension and very small wheels, so bumpy and wobbly over even slightly uneven ground
  • Bulky with the infant car seat attached
  • No fold-lock

Features that matter:

We’ve drilled down into the most important features that most parents look for when choosing a stroller.

Travel system

The Chicco Viaro can be used for a newborn if you add the infant car seat. The Viaro is compatible with all Fit2 and KeyFit car seats. If you want to, you can buy the stroller and the infant car seat separately or you can buy the whole thing as a set.

The travel system with a KeyFit 30 car seat will take a child from four to 30 pounds and is one of the most popular child car seats in the U.S. That’s partly because the car seat is incredibly easy to install, but it’s also simple to move from the base to the stroller.

There’s a two-position handle that allows you to carry your baby in his car seat without the need to wake him if he’s sleeping, and the car seat is lined with EPS energy-absorbing foam to protect your baby from harm in the event of a collision. The seat has a clever bubble leveling indicator to enable you to set the base at the correct angle when installing the seat in your vehicle.

To cater to very small newborn babies weighing from four to 11 pounds, there’s a removable support pillow. Also, there’s a five-point safety harness that’s specifically designed to fit a tiny baby.

If you live in a hot climate, you’ll love the KeyFit 30, as it has a removable canopy. You can use the canopy on the stroller too if you need to once the car seat is attached. That keeps your baby totally shielded from the elements. Genius!

When purchased as a set, the stroller and car seat both come in the same color and design. However, if you buy them separately, you can choose different colors to create your own customized look.

Seat

The seat on the Chicco Viaro can be used for infants of six months and over who can hold their heads up unaided. The regular stroller seat is large and it doesn’t recline to a totally flat position, so it’s not suitable for very young babies. Also, the backrest doesn’t offer sufficient support for a newborn. However, you can use an infant car seat if you want to use the stroller for a baby.

The seat capacity of the Chicco Viaro is 50 pounds, so it will comfortably accommodate a large toddler.

The seat has an infinite recline feature. Simply squeeze a buckle and the backrest can be set at any angle to suit your child. Note that on the lowest setting, the seat is not completely flat, so it’s not suitable for a newborn. Although you can lower the backrest with one hand, you do need two hands to raise it.

Chicco Viaro Quick-Fold Travel System, Includes Infant Car Seat and Base, Stroller and Car Seat Combo, Baby Travel Gear | Techna/Black/Silver

Soft, comfortable padding makes the seat and non-adjustable leg rest comfy for your passenger, and the shoulder straps of the five-point harness are nicely padded too. Although you can’t adjust the footrest, it’s made from plastic, making it easy to wipe clean. Like the B-Agile 4, you don’t get a bumper bar included with the Viaro.

Although you can’t remove the seat unit for cleaning, the padding can be taken off and hand-washed.

Canopy

The Chicco Viaro has an extendable, removable two-panel canopy that’s pretty generous, although it doesn’t extend right down to cover the passenger completely. Unfortunately, there’s no flip-out visor to help block the sun from your child’s eyes.

Like the B-Agile 4, the canopy on the Viaro doesn’t have a peek-a-boo window, so you can’t check on your child without stopping and going around to the front of the stroller. That could be a deal-breaker for some parents.

Handlebar

Like the Britax B-Agile, the Chicco Viaro doesn’t have an adjustable handlebar. The handlebar is 40-inches from the ground, which is fine for parents of average height but could be less comfortable for very tall or short people.

The handlebar has a foam cover that gives you good grip in wet weather or when you have sweaty hands on hot days. However, the foam isn’t very robust and can rip quite easily, so take care when transporting the stroller for storage or putting it into your car trunk.

Wheels

The Chicco Viaro is a three-wheeler and has a swivel front wheel. That makes the stroller a breeze to maneuver in tight spaces, such as shopping aisles. However, the wheels are very small, and the tires are made from EVA foam. That means you can’t take this stroller over uneven terrain, and it’s really only suitable for use on a flat, smooth surface.

You can use the Chicco Viaro indoors at the airport or mall, and it moves nicely over smooth sidewalks. However, despite the built-in suspension on the front wheel, the ride is not cushioned, and your child will feel every tiny bump if you take the stroller over gravel or grass. Of the two strollers we’re comparing in this guide, the Britax B-Agile performs much better over rough terrain.

Brakes

The Chicco Viaro’s rear wheels lock independently. There are two brake pedals, one for each wheel. Although the pedals are a good size and are easy to use, they’re not flip-flop-friendly. Although the brakes work well, having to engage two brakes is a little inconvenient when compared with the B-Agile’s single brake.

Storage

The Chicco Viaro has a massive underseat storage bag that comfortably takes a large diaper bag. Access to the basket is easy from the back, even with the seat reclined. To access the basket from the front, you’ll need to raise the calf rest.

Chicco Viaro Quick-Fold Travel System, Includes Infant Car Seat and Base, Stroller and Car Seat Combo, Baby Travel Gear | Techna/Black/Silver

Included with the Chicco Viaro, you get a parent tray and a child tray, both with two cup holders and a large, open storage compartment. There’s plenty of room here for mom’s water bottle and kiddos snacks and sippy cup.

Color choice

The Chicco Viaro comes in two colorways: regatta and graphite. The travel system offers you a much wider color range to choose from, although the colors available do tend to vary, depending on special editions. 

Fold, size, and weight

The Chicco Viaro is not the smallest of strollers. That said, at 25.5-inches wide, the stroller will fit easily through most standard-width doorways and down store aisles. However, the rear wheels are quite wide, making the stroller feel rather bulky.

At just 18 pounds, the Viaro is lightweight, and most parents will find it easy to lift in and out of a car trunk or carry up and down the stairs.

Chicco Viaro Quick-Fold Travel System, Includes Infant Car Seat and Base, Stroller and Car Seat Combo, Baby Travel Gear | Techna/Black/Silver

The fold is pretty easy to achieve and can be done with just one hand. You need to lift the seat padding and then pull a central handle to make the stroller fold in half. Once folded, the Viaro is somewhat bulky and fills a standard car trunk. However, you can save a little space by removing the child’s tray.

Although the stroller is self-standing once folded, there’s no auto-lock to keep it closed.

Final thoughts

The Chicco Viaro and the Britax B-Agile are both lightweight strollers that can be converted to travel systems, making either of these vehicles a good choice for families who like to get out and about with their little ones. Note that the B-Agile has a more compact fold than the Viaro, and that’s an important consideration for you if you have a smaller than average car or if you use public transport regularly.

If you’re concerned about style, you get more choice of colors with the Viaro, especially if you buy the travel system. Both of these nice quality, affordable strollers have non-adjustable handlebars, but the maneuverability is better with the Britax B-Agile, and that stroller performs better than the Viaro on uneven ground.

Of the two strollers we’ve looked at here, the B-Agile has the better canopy that provides more coverage for your passenger, and it has a rain cover too for showery days. Both strollers have excellent under-seat storage that will take your baby essentials and a little bit of shopping too.

So, we think that both of these strollers offer great value for money. Which one you choose is really a matter of personal preference.

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Alison Page