Top buggy brands Maclaren pushchairs
Maclaren is an iconic British brand (no connection with McLaren F1 cars), known the world over for its lightweight and portable buggies.
Generations of parents and children are familiar with its products, and today's Maclaren buggies share many of the same key features as the first ones made, including the famous ‘umbrella’ fold.
This type of fold involves pushing up a catch at the back of the buggy to collapse it. On collapse, the pushchair remains the same length but its width reduces - like folding an umbrella.
This popular feature, along with limited-edition fabrics from designers including Cath Kidston, makes Maclaren pushchairs a hit with parents and celebrities alike - including Nicole Richie, Salma Hayek, Jools Oliver, Katie Price and Emma Bunton. While the brand doesn’t have the caché of, say, Bugaboo, it’s is a popular choice because Maclaren pushchairs are funky and practical (and, in many cases, inexpensive).
What is a typical Maclaren pushchair like?
Special edition Cath Kidston Maclaren Quest
Maclaren offers six single and two double buggies in its collection, with additional limited editions and fabric options available in the ‘Object of Design’ collection.
The models all look remarkably similar, but as you move through the range the seats become more padded and adjustable, and the wheels are more robust. The top-of-the-range Grand Tour LX even comes with onboard lights and a ‘strollometer’ to measure how far you walk!
Maclaren also makes a range of pushchair accessories including carry bags, sun parasols, reversible seat liners, a range of different foot muffs, wheel bags, seat liners, raincovers, mosquito nets and head rests/shoulder pad packs.
How much does a Maclaren pushchair cost?
Expect to pay:
- Around £85 for the Maclaren Volo
- Around £135 for the Maclaren Triumph
- Around £165 for the Maclaren Quest Sport
- Around £195 for the Maclaren Twin Triumph
- Around £225 for the Maclaren Techno XT
- Around £290 for the Maclaren Techno XLR Travel System
- Around £295 for the Maclaren Twin Techno
- Around £590 for the Maclaren Ground Tour LX
Special editions in the Objects of Design collection – which includes a pushchair with a Beatles-inspired Yellow Submarine trim - cost more.
If you’re prepared to buy second hand, we checked prices on eBay in December 2011. We found different Techno XT pushchairs selling at between £16 and £200 (depending on the condition and accessories included) – the average cost was £78.
Read our advice guide on buying second-hand baby products before you buy.
Maclaren XLR
How we review Maclaren pushchairs
Our experts in the test lab put each Maclaren pushchair through more than 30 tests to check its strength, durability and safety in line with British Standards.
We assess how easy the pushchair is to push, adjust for children of different ages and fold up. We check whether it’s possible to use it unfolded on an escalator and bus, and whether it will fit in the boot of a small family car. We even find out how easy it is to remove food stains from the pushchair fabric.
The final part of our tests involves a panel of parents (and their babies) who rate the ease of using the many features of the pushchair and push it around a course of everyday obstacles to see how easy and convenient it is to manoeuvre on pavements, rough and bumpy ground, up and down stairs and around tight corners.
You can find out more about how we test pushchairs and read ‘customer views’ from parents who already own each pushchair in our full pushchair reviews.
Maclaren Volo review
Which? members can check out our full Maclaren Volo review to see whether this budget pushchair impressed parents and lab experts enough in our tests to be named a Best Buy.
Maclaren Triumph review
Read our full Maclaren Triumph review to see how we rated this lightweight toddler buggy, and to find out what parents think of it.
You can also check out our review of the Maclaren Twin Triumph to see whether this lightweight, side-by-side twin is worth considering.
Maclaren XT
Maclaren Quest Sport review
We put this buggy to the test in our tough usability, safety and durability lab tests. Find out how easy it is to use, and what real parents think of it in our full Maclaren Quest Sport review.
Maclaren Techno XT review
We found this pushchair lightweight and easy to manoeuvre in our tests. Find out how this pushchair scores overall for ease of use and comfort in our full Maclaren Techno XT review.
You can also check out our review of the Maclaren Twin Techno to see whether this bestselling side-by-side double is a pushchair worth considering for your twins.
Maclaren Techno XLR review
You need to buy a separate Recaro car seat to use this pushchair as a travel system. Read our full Maclaren Techno XLR review to find out how this pushchair performed in our tests and find out what owners of this pushchair think of it.
Maclaren Grand Tour LX review
Our full review of the gadget-laden Maclaren Grand Tour LX pushchair includes a video so you can see it in action.
Which? Maclaren verdict
Pros of Maclaren pushchairs:
- One-handed folding is a feature of Maclaren pushchairs.
- Most of its pushchairs are lightweight.
- You can often buy co-ordinating accessories for the pushchair and other items of baby equipment such as rockers and slings that match.
- It’s possible to upgrade to a free lifetime warranty by registering your buggy with Maclaren.
Maclaren Volo
Cons of Maclaren pushchairs:
- One-handed fold is technically possible, but it isn’t always effortless.
- Not all the range has a seat that reclines flat to make it suitable for infants.
- The most common Maclaren recline mechanism – a sliding bar that supports the seat – requires two hands to operate; you need to crouch down to use it, too.
- Most Maclaren buggies have small, hard wheels, can rattle on gravel paths and are not really suitable for going off-road.
Find out how Maclaren pushchairs compare to others in our pushchair reviews.
Where to buy Maclaren pushchairs
You can buy many Maclaren products from a wide range of online retailers including Kiddicare and Boots, and you can search for a list of retailers in your area on the Maclaren website.
Check out our advice on the best websites for buying baby products.
Pushchairs in the Object of Design collection are harder to track down, but some may be available in department stores such as John Lewis or independent shops.
Maclaren pushchair warranties
Maclaren offers a year-long basic warranty for all its pushchairs. This covers any manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year, for buggies used in normal conditions and in compliance with the operating instructions. No registration is required to activate this basic warranty, but you’ll need proof of purchase to make a claim.
Maclaren pushchairs are practical and easy to use
Maclaren also offers a Sovereign Lifetime Warranty which guarantees the buggy against manufacturing faults and defects for life. To qualify, buggies must be registered online within 45 days of purchase. The Sovereign Lifetime Warranty only applies to the original owner.
Maclaren safety alert
Maclaren hit the headlines after a number of children caught their fingers in the folding hinge mechanism. This hinge design is common in umbrella strollers, but when the brand was launched in the United States, and enjoyed a huge volume of new sales, there were a number of finger accidents that brought the issue to the attention of US safety regulators. You can read more on our Maclaren safety alert Q&A page.
Maclaren has altered the design of its folding hinges on current models and also provides free hinge covers to all Maclaren owners who request them. The covers can be ordered via the Maclaren website or from its customer service department on 01327 841320.
Contact Maclaren
Website: http://uk.maclarenbaby.com
Phone number: 01327 841 300
Email: customerserviceinfo@maclaren.com
Address: Maclaren UK, Station Works, Long Buckby, Northamptonshire NN6 7PF
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