Because the comfort cushion and cover are not removable, they need to be washed with water, soap and a sponge. Regardless of this, the buggy still looked great. Final verdict? One element that bothered our tester and her six-foot partner though was the adjustment in the handles. She found the handles only raised in height by a couple of inches so the positioning for both adults wasn’t exactly where she would like it. A little more range in this area, like the Nuna, would make all the difference. And what about the fold? The sunshade is included as standard and is UV 50+-protected. Our tester found it very useful and a great size, covering the baby completely in a protective cocoon to safeguard them from the elements. The included apron will help to keep out any wind too. The Maxi-Cosi Zelia arrived in the smallest box of all on test with everything necessary for immediate assembly.

Our tester and her seven-month-old put it through rigorous spillage tests, including spilled milk and bits of dried baby food, and all wiped off easily. The two-in-one seat is a major selling point for any new parent and its lightweight frame means this pushchair is easy to handle while also standing up to the rigours of everyday family life. She felt it easily fit her two-year-old with plenty of room for growing too. She particularly liked its upright positioning which made it more of a chair than a reclining pushchair seat and allowed her child to engage with the world around him. But, while the large storage basket made this pushchair a good shopping companion, the wide frame did make some smaller shops a challenge. While this can be done one-handed, our tester was concerned that, with the additional weight of a baby leaning into the seat, parents with older children might struggle to adjust it smoothly. She also noted that, as with all buggies that use a strap for recline adjustment, altering the seat position could sometimes be a little stiff and jerky.

Asia pacific

Despite not being overly original in design, this pushchair is clearly good quality. The material itself feels strong and hard-wearing, and our tester felt that it looked more expensive than its very reasonable price point. The recline is really easy to change on the go and there are three positions to choose from – simply pinch together the clip to move the seat to a different angle.

The Maxi-Cosi Zelia has a flip-style mechanism that makes it easy to fold and unfold, but you do need two hands. The Zelia handles the everyday bumps (kerbs, uneven pavement etc) really well and is ideal for walking to the shops and around town. Her concern was that, with a tantruming toddler, it would be harder to get them in or out of the pushchair. She found it helped to fully loosen a strap, put the baby’s arm in, then tighten before doing the same with the other side.While the Zelia is attractive, its design doesn't stand out from the crowd unlike the distinctive Stokke Xplory or brightly-patterned Bugaboo Fox that were also tested (although the Stokke did not make our final five). The storage basket is possibly the biggest we tested and easily takes three to four shopping bags and a changing bag with extra room for a few impulse buys too.