If you’re on the hunt for a top-end stroller and money’s no object, you might be drawn to the Mima or Bugaboo range. Both these manufacturers are renowned for designing and creating strollers of the highest quality. Packed with all the features you need for comfortable, convenient strolling, Mima and Bugaboo strollers do give you plenty of bang for your buck, although you do pay top-dollar for what you get.
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
In this comparison buyer’s guide, we take a closer look at the Mima Xari and Bugaboo Fox, two strollers with a similar profile and price point, but with notable differences that could make or break the deal for you.
Before we dive into the stroller reviews, let’s take a moment to get acquainted with the manufacturers.
Table of Contents
Mima: An irresistible combination of the luxurious and practical
Mima is a European company that produces luxury strollers and high chairs. Mima launched just seven years ago and has since gained a loyal following of parents who want looks as well as the performance from their kiddo’s transport.
Mima’s chic, eye-catching products will undoubtedly turn heads at the park or when you’re strolling around town. The stroller’s looks are contemporary and modern, and all the materials Mima uses to create their products are of the very highest quality.
So, although Mima’s strollers are not for those on a tight budget, you absolutely get what you pay for if you can stretch your finances to one of these babies.
Bugaboo: Beautifully designed, built to last you a lifetime
Bugaboo is based in Holland and is a well-established manufacturer of kids’ luggage systems, as well as strollers. Bugaboo first appeared in the kids’ gear industry in 1999.
With outlets across 50 countries worldwide, Bugaboo works tirelessly to design and create high-end strollers that are perfect for everyday use but which will last your family from birth right through to toddlerhood.
Bugaboo has an A-list celebrity following, including Victoria Beckham, Kate Middleton, and Sienna Miller.
Mima Xari vs. Bugaboo Fox
Now let’s take a look at two comparable strollers from Mima and Bugaboo.
Both these vehicles are designed for use around town, on shopping trips to the mall, for strolling along flat pathways in the park and running errands.
Mima Xari
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The Mima Xari screams “luxury!” This high-end, single stroller unashamedly targets parents who enjoy a lavish lifestyle and want a statement stroller that turns heads.
If you do invest your dollars in the Xari, you’ll enjoy a feature-packed stroller that’s designed to make your life run more smoothly. Check out the simple-to-operate safety harness system, all-in-one fold, one-handed recline, and parent-facing seat option! An inbuilt carrycot feature inside the seat pod means that you can use the Xari for a newborn, and the built-in storage
You can see Mima’s promotional video for the Xari stroller, at this link.
What we like:
- Super-simple to operate safety harness system
- Cleverly designed all-in-one fold
- Forward and rear-facing dual-position seat
- Plenty of included extras, such as a shopping basket cover, seat liner, and carrycot mattress
Room for improvement:
- The armadillo-like hood looks cool but doesn’t provide good sun and wind coverage for your passenger
- The seat’s molded shape is fine for tiny babies but isn’t great for the comfort of toddlers, especially tall kids
- Very expensive and definitely not suitable for parents with a tight budget
Mima Xari: Features that matter
Now, here’s a run-down of the features that are deemed the most important to parents.
Colorways
If you choose a Mimi Xari, you want to make a statement when you’re out and about with your little one on board. The Xari can be customized to suit the look you want. Choose a seating pod in a range of colors, including:
- Camel
- White
- Grey
- Royal blue
- Yellow (limited edition)
- Argento
You can choose chassis colors too, including matte black, aluminum, and rose gold. The starter pack that you get with the stroller frame comes in a range of 12 gorgeous colorways.
Chassis
The chassis of the Xari is unique and, thus far, it hasn’t been copied by any other stroller manufacturer.
The shape of the chassis is curved yet angular too. The wheel axles extend outward from the stroller’s central barrel, which gives a gentle rocking motion as you push. What a perfect way to soothe your baby to sleep!
Ride and storage
The Xari has rubber tires that give your passenger a lovely smooth ride. The wheels pop off easily for times when you need more space for the stroller in your car trunk, or you need to maximize available storage space at home.
The stroller’s front wheels swivel for smooth steering, and they’re lockable for times when you’re moving over uneven pavements or gravel paths in the park. The Xari has been designed with a minuscule turning circle, too, making maneuvering the stroller a breeze.
The Xari has a single brake that you’ll find in the center of the rear wheels. The brake is easy to operate via a neat pedal.
No products found.Storage
Despite the Xari’s two storage baskets, the amount of storage you get for your money is a tad disappointing. The front basket will take small items, such as wipes, dummies, bibs, etc., while the roomier rear basket will hold a diaper bag or a blanket. On the plus side, both baskets come with colors that are coordinated with your chosen seat cover.
So, the bottom line is that, while the Xari will happily accommodate baby essentials, don’t expect to get a week’s groceries onboard too!
Handlebar
The Xari has an extremely smart leather-covered handlebar that coordinates with your chosen seat color. The cover can be removed for cleaning via a zip fastening.
You can adjust the handlebar through three height settings via neat, round buttons on the side of the handlebar.
Seat and carrycot
The Xari has an egg-shaped seat that’s very comfy. The safety harness has easy-sliding adjusters and a neat, egg-shaped buckle to complement the seat design. Super-soft webbing ensures that the harness won’t rub your child’s skin, which is an important consideration for summertime when your little one is wearing T-shirts.
You can recline the seat smoothly via a cleverly concealed lever at the rear.
If you have a newborn, you’ll love the seat’s capability to transform magically into a carrycot. Also, you can slide the chair brackets on the frame for times when you want to bring the carrycot closer to you.
Finally, you can set the seat on the stroller chassis in a forward or rear-facing position, according to your baby’s mood.
Canopy
One major head-turner with the Mima is its canopy. The canopy is comprised of three armor plates that you can extend individually to provide a reasonable amount of coverage.
Although the canopy looks great, there are a couple of drawbacks that we’ll point out for you here. First of all, the shade coverage that the canopy provides isn’t great. That could be a real issue for you if you live in a region where the summers are hot and sunny. Also, the hood retraction mechanism can be jerky in comparison with that of other strollers.
Fold
The Xari’s fold is a simple process that you can achieve with just one hand. Once the stroller is folded, it’s quite compact and will fit into most car trunks without a problem. However, the stroller isn’t self-standing, which is a pity.
To see a video of the Mima Xari, click this link.
Bugaboo Fox 2018
- Seamless Maneuverability: For a smoother, more comfortable ride for both parent and baby, the Fox Complete full-size stroller features durable all-terrain wheels and advanced suspension! The...
- Intuitive, One-Piece Fold: Tired of fumbling with awkward strollers? So were we! The Fox Complete easy-fold stroller effortlessly collapses into one piece and has a self-standing option, so...
- Car Seat Compatible: The Bugaboo Fox is compatible with the Bugaboo Turtle Infant Car Seat without the use of adapters. When used with separate adapters, it is compatible with top car seat...
The stylish Bugaboo Fox is a gold award-winning luxury stroller and is claimed to be Bugaboo’s lightest, easiest push to date.
Like the Mima Xari, you can customize the Fox by choosing your preferred fabric color, and there’s a sumptuous carrycot too. However, users report that changing the seat unit to the carrycot is a very time-consuming process that can take up to an hour!
The Bugaboo Fox is the latest in the manufacturer’s line of animal-inspired named strollers that includes the Cameleon, Bee, Donkey, and Buffalo. The Fox combines the best of all Bugaboo’s previous stroller models into one superb, luxury product.
What we like:
- Front suspension and all-terrain wheels give a super-smooth ride
- Can be used from birth
- Huge storage basket
- Two-wheel mode for go-anywhere travel
- Customizable look to suit your own style and taste
- Extendable canopy
- Forward and parent-facing options
Room for improvement:
- Heavy
- Expensive
- Two-handed fold
- No peek-a-boo window on the canopy
- Canopy block’s passenger’s view when fully extended
To see a video of the Bugaboo Fox, click this link.
Features that matter:
Fold
The Fox has a two-handed fold, but it can be folded in any configuration, and it’s also self-standing, which is handy if you’re short of space at home.
The folding process itself is easy and quick, with no drama via buttons and release tabs on either side of the stroller’s handlebar. Once folded, the Fox has a handy auto-lock feature.
Seat
You can use the Fox for a newborn, provided you use the carrycot. From aged six months, you can put your child in the Fox’s seat unit. It’s worth noting here that changing the carrycot over to the seat mode is a time-consuming process that can be a pain, especially if you’re in a rush to go somewhere.
Like all Bugaboo’s seats, the Fox’s seat is huge, extremely well-padded, and super-comfy. Three seat recline positions, including almost flat, make for comfortable riding and napping.
The seat fabrics are all detachable and can be machine-washed too. All other parts of the stroller, including the foam seat insert, can be cleaned using a damp cloth.
Storage
The Fox has a large, mesh storage basket that covers the whole underside of the stroller! As well as your baby’s essential stuff, you could easily fit a load of groceries in the basket too. Raised mesh lips around the outside of the basket keep your things safely in place, and you get two additional inner storage pockets too that will carry smaller items, such as a phone, wipes, etc.
Handling and ride quality
According to Bugaboo, their new Fox stroller gives the best drive performance ever!
The stroller has a brand-new, all-wheel suspension system and central joint suspension, too, assuring you of a bump-free ride for your child and a smooth push for you also. The stroller’s front swivel wheels are lockable for when you’re negotiating uneven ground, and serious joggers can convert the Fox by purchasing the Bugaboo Runner Frame and using the Fox seat.
In a city setting, the Fox is in its element, gliding smoothly along sidewalks and through malls, and negotiating curbs easily too. The Fox fits comfortably into narrow spaces and is very slick to handle.
Travel system compatibility
If you plan on using your stroller as a travel system, you’ll be pleased to learn that the Fox is compatible with a range of car seat adapters, including:
Canopy
The Fox has a much bigger canopy than the Mima Xari. The canopy is made from UPF 50+ fabric and is fully extendable thanks to a clever zippered opening in the rear. When fully extended, the canopy provides almost complete coverage for your tiny passenger.
Wheels
The Fox tires are the typical all-terrain standard wheels and perform well over dry off-road trails and tracks. However, the small mudguards can cause mud to accumulate the clog the wheels, and that can cause issues with the push.
Brakes
The Fox has easy-to-use brakes that are reassuringly secure once engaged, and there’s a red indicator to show you when the brakes are on.
Accessories
Included with the Fox, you get a carrycot, carry handle, and a handy rain cover. If you want to customize the stroller, you can purchase a range of accessories separately, including:
- Footmuff
- Changing bag
- Wool seat liner
- Phone holder
- Cupholder
- Snack tray
- Upgraded canopy
- Handlebar grips
- Toddler seat
- Wheel board
As you can see, purchasing a range of accessories for your new Fox stroller would substantially push the price up.
Final thoughts
Both the Mima Xari and the Bugaboo Fox are luxury, high-end strollers that sit at the top end of the price point.
These two models are most at home in an urban setting, although the Fox is better equipped to cope with a little modest off-road action than the Xari. If you enjoy shopping and you like to use your stroller to carry your purchases, the Bugaboo Fox is definitely the way to go, as it has a much larger storage basket than the Mima.
Both strollers give good ride quality for a single passenger but can’t convert to a double stroller. That said, both the Xari and the Fox can accommodate a toddler ride-along board that you must purchase separately.
One big plus point in favor of the Fox is the huge, extendable SPF 50+ canopy that gives complete coverage and sun protection for your passenger. The Mima’s canopy is undoubtedly unusual and eye-catching, but doesn’t provide much coverage for your child and cannot be extended.
So, when it comes to style and looks, the Mima has it all. However, if you want better functionality for your money, you should seriously consider investing in the Bugaboo Fox
