Best Baby Strollers

The Quinny Buzz, introduced in 2006, was supposed to be Quinny’s entry in the new urban pushchair market, competing against models like the Bugaboo Chameleon (Quinny seems to have borrowed Bugaboo’s look), Stokke Xplory, and Silver Cross Dazzle. This is a tough playing ground, and Quinny has struggled to come up with some innovative features to set the Buzz apart from the rest of the pack.

Like most expensive “urban” strollers, the Quinny Buzz has slick design and is very comfortable to push. The Buzz comes in safe colours that won’t go out of style, and Quinny’s 3-wheeled design on the Buzz’s chassis is quite striking. The Quinny Buzz has a reversible pushchair seat so you can face your baby which ever direction you prefer or move her when the sun gets in her eyes. Unlike some other trendy models, the Quinny is almost reasonably priced at about £270, but it lacks many of the accessories of the Bugaboo and other models. If you purchase the Quinny Buzz along with the Dreami carrycot and Maxi Cosi car seat, you’ll end up paying around £500, still less that you would pay for the Bugaboo Gecko alone.

The Quinny Buzz’s most celebrated gimmick is its ability to unfold on its own using a “gas spring technique.” When folded down for storage or transport, the Quinny Buzz is quite compact and easily fits in most car boots. The Quinny Buzz’s wheels can also be removed to make it fit in even smaller spaces.

Unfortunately, the Quinny Buzz’s unfolding trick is also is major downfall. Numerous parents complain that the Buzz has sprung open unexpectedly and trapped their fingers in the chassis. More than one mum wondered what would happen if it were a child’s finger caught by the Quinny Buzz. Once a finger is trapped in the Buzz, it is impossible to close it on your own as it takes two hands to fold down. One poor mum was trapped in the parking lot in total agony until a kind passerby helped her escape. Even the best pushchair in the world simply isn’t acceptable if it could seriously injure a child the way the Quinny Buzz could.

If Quinny were to recall the Buzz and fix the finger-snapping problem, I could recommend this pushchair to anyone who wants the look of a modern buggy without the huge price tag. But until Quinny takes the sting out of the Buzz, I advise parents to stay away.

Quinny is a Dutch brand long popular in Europe and gaining fans in the US. Like their rival Bugaboo, Quinny makes strollers that are minimalist, eye catching, and father friendly. Both companies market to high-end consumers; that’s why you see so many movie stars, politicians, and social elite pushing Bugaboos and Quinnys. If you simply must have the stroller of the stars, you’ll want to consider the Bugaboo Gecko or the Quinny Buzz. This side by side comparison should help you decide.

Design
Let’s face it, design is the real reason you are considering buying a Quinny Buzz or a Bugaboo Gecko. You could find plenty of strollers with similar features for a lot less money, but none of them would look as cool as a Gecko or a Buzz.

Cosmetically, both strollers are nice to look at. The Bugaboo Gecko is older by a few years, and it shows in its slightly boxier design. The Quinny Buzz has a shallower seat that looks a little more modern, but the Gecko’s seat looks more comfortable. The handle on both strollers looks about the same. The real difference between the Buzz and the Gecko is in their chassis. Based solely on looks, the Quinny Buzz has a sleeker chassis with a sporty three-wheel design. However, the Bugaboo Gecko’s four-wheeled chassis is more versatile and can be used in more places. Both the Quinny Buzz and the Bugaboo Gecko feature larger, air-filled rear wheels that give a smooth, effortless ride.

Both the Bugaboo Gecko and the Quinny Buzz come with pointless storage systems that are too small to be practical even if they do look cool.

Function
If you are going to use your stroller primarily in the city, both the Bugaboo Gecko and Quinny Buzz will perform beyond your expectations. The Quinny Buzz is smaller and features a compact fold that opens by itself with a little nudge from you. The Buzz’s narrower wheelbase comes in handy when using public transportation or navigating crowded streets and shops.

If you plan to take your baby off the beaten path, the Bugaboo Gecko is a much better choice. The Buzz doesn’t handle snow, sand, or rough road well. The Bugaboo Gecko by comparison can go virtually anywhere thanks to the chassis’ ability to transform into an all-terrain vehicle.

Value
Both the Bugaboo Gecko and the Quinny Buzz are expensive. The base model of the Bugaboo Gecko comes with chassis, stroller seat, bassinette, weather covers, and a 2-year warranty for about $680. The Quinny Buzz comes with weather covers, car seat adaptors, and a sunshade for around $500. The purchase of the Quinny Dreami bassinette brings the cost up to $690, making both the Quinny Buzz and the Bugaboo Gecko equal in cost.