Maxi-Cosi Adorra Review: A Modular, Transitional Stroller

If you’re a parent expecting another addition and need your hands more freed up, or you’re a first-time caregiver for a little one and feel overwhelmed by the options among strollers, a modular or “travel system” model can be an excellent option.

The Maxi-Cosi Adorra is a modular style stroller. The modular style means it can transform from an infant pram facing you into a toddler/small child buggy that faces outward and sits upright.

These types of strollers will fit children of more ages than many lighter-weight versions, such as a quick-fold umbrella style. Don’t get us wrong, we love an umbrella stroller for its convenience and ease when traveling or on quick trips. The downside is that those types of strollers can only be used once a baby can safely sit up on its own for extended periods. We’ve reviewed the Maxi-Cosa Adorra Stroller for those looking for a more transitional stroller.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Modular Stroller

A modular stroller is named for the variety of “modes” you can use it with. These are also known as travel system strollers because they include car seats in many models. A modular carriage can often work as an infant stroller. It may even have a built-in car seat depending on the brand and can be adjusted up into toddler years.

Basic Strolling and Growing Phases

These are ideal for parents who do not want (or need) a jogger model and are looking for something sturdier than an umbrella stroller that can also “grow” with the child. They’re great if the brunt of your traveling will be to and from places that don’t require hiking tires.

Additionally, if you won’t be literally running with the buggy, such as with a jogging stroller, these travel systems can be an excellent fit for your lifestyle.

Number of Kids and Timing

With a modular stroller, you’ll want to factor in whether you plan to have more children, and when. These prams can be fantastic for using again when another infant comes along. But if, say, your two-year-old is still in the stroller frequently, you might want a lighter style or one that folds easier to lessen the bulk with multiple kids.

Twins or More

With twins, of course, a double stroller or a side-by-side will be necessary, and this individual style will not fit your needs unless you have plans to split parenting duties with one-on-one time. If you have a lot of extra help with multiples, a modular stroller can work well.

One caregiver can take a child out in the modular while another caregiver stays home or goes elsewhere with a different stroller.

About the Maxi-Cosi Adorra

The Maxi-Cosi brand began in The Netherlands in 1984. This infant brand started with car seats when this safety item was not yet the standard in Europe. Maxi-Cosi helped car seats become mainstream in Europe and then moved into the domain of strollers.

With its sun or light rain cover, a large storage basket, and a cupholder for you, the Maxi-Cosi Adorra can be an ideal option as a more substantial stroller in your arsenal if you have the super-lightweight umbrella stroller, too.

One of the best features of this particular stroller is its ability to move from a newborn, rear-facing pram with a head stability cushion, into an upright, forward-facing buggy for toddlers and small children. For older toddlers, this enables them to sit tall and see the road ahead.

Things We Like

• Rear-facing and forward-facing positions.
• Adjustable handle height.
• Adaptable for babies/children from birth to 50 pounds.
• Basket, cupholder, and storage pouch for the parent.
• Sun umbrella.
• Reasonable price.

Room for Improvement

• Moderately heavy stroller at roughly 28 pounds.
• Not well-maneuvered over bumps.
• Harder to fold down than some stroller styles.
• Slight difficulty with child seatbelt.
• Fabric does not withstand rain well.

Features and Benefits

With a transitional, modular stroller you get several elements—that is the gist of the design, after all. Some baby buggies are designed for jogging, others for lightweight travel. The Maxi-Cosi Adorra is crafted with the transition of the early years in mind.

Adjustable Handle Height

The padded handle on this stroller makes for a more comfortable experience on the caregiver. Taller parents will like that the handle adjusts up to 41.5 inches from the ground. For those who tried non-adjusting strollers, you likely know how frustrating this can be if you’re tall and have to slouch while pushing a stroller.

We love this feature on the Maxi-Cosi Adorra.

Rear and Front Facing

One of the prime benefits of a modular stroller is this rear to front facing adjustability. The buggy folds down in either direction, which is a plus. Infants can start in this stroller with the fully reclined position and the soft padding for their heads. As babies grow, you can adjust the seat to sit in a partially upright position, all the way to fully-upright. The child can be rear facing or front facing in either a reclined or vertical seat.

Newborn Cushion

The low-profile head cushioning of the washable seat cover helps align a newborn’s head and neck. However, it still avoids the suffocation concerns of overly-stuffed pillows. This helps many infants nap on their backs while in the stroller while maintaining a more aligned spinal position. Even once the child grows into a toddler, the entire seat is padded for comfort.

Foldable Design

As we think almost any stroller should, this model folds down for ease when traveling or for storage. Some users have a little trouble doing this with one hand, but it is meant to be a quick one-handed fold. The Maxi-Cosi Adorra does not fold completely flat, but it will be compact enough to fit it into most car trunks or a closet.

Built-In Accessories

Who doesn’t love a good cupholder? When you are just out for a stroll around the neighborhood or to the park and do not want to bring an entire diaper bag with you, the Maxi-Cosi Adorra allows you to be prepared without the bulk.

This stroller has an ample storage area under the seat—large enough to pack diapers, wipes, a blanket, and a bottle—and also has a pouch and cupholder for you. This is an excellent way to store your phone, keys, and any other small necessities without needing to keep track of a purse or handbag in addition to the stroller, a diaper bag, and the child.

Sun Protector

This modular stroller comes equipped with an expandable sun visor with a mesh peek-a-boo window for you to keep your eye on the little one. This sun shade folds back with ease and has a small extra screen for added protection if the sun is hitting the seat at an odd angle.

Color Options

While not necessary, having the choice of a handful of colors is a feature we love, nonetheless. The Maxi-Cosi Adorra comes in five different colors. Whether you want a neutral black or sand color, or like more statement-making hues such as red, you have some options with this baby carriage.

Similar Alternatives

If you like the idea of a modular stroller, but the Maxi-Cosi Adorra does not seem like the perfect fit for you, there are a few other options to consider. The Ergobaby Reversible Stroller is a bit more pricey but has some fantastic ratings and can be quite maneuverable if strolling over bumpier surfaces is a concern.

The Maxi-Cosi Zelia is a fantastic travel system stroller, complete with car seat and outstanding rating (albeit a heftier price tag). This is more of a luxury all-in-one system that works as an infant car seat and snaps into the stroller unit for all sorts of options.

Britax is a reputable name among strollers in the United States, and if you’re looking for a high-end model with a removable car seat, we like the Britax B Agile & B Safe system for its safety ratings and overall quality.

If you already have a car seat, and just need a stroller base to snap the seat into, the Baby Trend Snap N Go is an affordable option. The Snap N Go made its mark some years ago and became a reliable standard for parents looking for a more economical choice that works much like a travel system stroller.

Our Conclusion

The Maxi-Cosi Adorra is an excellent blend between the super affordable Snap N Go unit and the more expensive, full car seat travel stroller systems. If you want a more robust version than a car seat snap-in model but are not looking to spend several hundreds of dollars on a stroller, the Maxi-Cosi Adorra fits right in the middle.

The price is quite reasonable for a modular stroller. It does not have all of the proverbial bell and whistles of some of the most expensive strollers, but it’s a solid, versatile option. The main downfalls seem to be its fabric remaining fresh after exposure to rain, its maneuverability over bumps and, for some users, the ease with which it folds down. The majority of parents still found this stroller to be an exceptional piece of equipment, though.

We recommend reading the manual thoroughly and making sure small wheel brakes are not hindering the movement of the wheels. If you live and a drier climate and need a travel system stroller in a moderate price range, this could be an ideal fit.

 

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