Chicco Bravo Trio Travel System Review

• Adaptable design: Because the stroller converts easily from an infant car seat carrier to a traditional stroller, the system can accommodate children from 4 to 60 pounds. Many traditional strollers (including most jogging and umbrella strollers) are unsafe for newborns, and infant car seat carriers are suitable for only kids from birth until they’re about a year old (though some may outgrow them sooner).
• Car-seat compatible: Because the stroller can accept the Chicco KeyFit 30 car seat, you can transfer the car seat (and your child) directly to the stroller without waking him or her or fussing with extra straps. The car seat locks into the stroller frame or into the included plastic car seat base, which you leave mounted in the back seat.
• Easily collapsible: With the car seat removed, the Bravo can collapse with a single pull of a lever. That one-handed operation means you can do that even if you’re holding your baby and car seat in your other hand. The stroller also stands upright even when collapsed, making it easier to store at home or stash in the corner of a restaurant.

We ran the Chicco Bravo Stroller and the Chicco KeyFit 30 car seat through CR’s lab tests and used them in real-world situations. Here’s what we found:

Our stroller engineers put the Chicco Bravo through our standard battery of tests, where it earned stellar marks for being easy to use, fold, and move through our maneuverability course. I can attest to that after using it for more than four years in the suburbs, on rural walking trails, and in the heart of New York City. Time and again, the stroller proved adept at everything from uneven city pavement to smooth suburban supermarket aisles. The large wheels tackle occasional sticks and tree roots on outdoor trails, though serious hikers and joggers may want to consider a three-wheeled jogging stroller with larger rubber wheels. The Bravo is refreshingly easy to collapse and fold; you just pull a lever beneath the seat. Because it collapses in half when folded, it’s harder to knock over than a lot of other models, which tend to topple if you just graze against them.  

While the Bravo may not have been the flashiest stroller parked outside New York City restaurants (it definitely lacks the cachet of a Bugaboo or UppaBaby), I often found myself grateful for its thoughtful design. And as stellar as the stroller is on its own, the real magic comes from its effortless integration of the KeyFit 30 car seat. 

That was particularly true when it came time to transfer my sleeping youngster from the back of my car to the stroller for a quick run to the store. The built-in cup holders and feeding tray were a must once my son was old enough to feed himself. And I appreciated the small storage compartment near the base, tucked under the seat, which is big enough to stash a small diaper bag plus a few extra essentials like sunblock and snacks.

The car seat—which provided a secure fit in the vehicles we test and high levels of protection in simulated frontal crashes—was equally easy to use. Out and about, I particularly appreciated the effortless locking mechanism that allows the seat to move from car to carrier by simply lifting a latch.

Consumer Reports has full test results for the Chicco Bravo stroller and Chicco KeyFit 30 car seat, as well as ratings for more than 90 strollers and travel systems and more than 120 car seats. 

It’s suitable for urban and suburban parents who favor real-world practicality over trendy brand names or gimmicky features (like motorized self-folding mechanisms or oversized shock absorbers). At only 22 inches wide and 23 pounds without the seat, this system is also helpful for parents searching for something relatively light and nimble. While you can buy the stroller separately, you’ll get more out of it as part of the system bundled with the equally impressive KeyFit 30 car seat, which weighs 9 pounds without its base. Between the two, you’ll be able to transport your little one comfortably almost anywhere. Parents with two youngsters who are close in age should consider the Chicco BravoFor2 LE Double, which adds a rear-facing toddler seat and standing platform for older kids.

This system isn’t for joggers who want to bring their little ones along on a run, nor is it for avid hikers, who may favor a jogging stroller with off-roading features like oversized rubber wheels. And if you live in a walk-up building, the size and weight of the stroller (while in line with the competition) may prove to be too much, and you may want to consider an umbrella stroller for everyday strolls.

Our test engineers put every stroller through a course designed to gauge maneuverability and handling on multiple surfaces. We also look for helpful, easy-to-use features and smart design, including things like integrated cup holders, parent trays, and ample storage, and we assess how easily the stroller can be collapsed for storage. And we do critical safety checks on parts including the harness, looking for a secure fit while making sure that none of them pose a risk to small fingers, particularly when the stroller is being collapsed. 

For car seats, we assess the ease of securing them in a variety of vehicle types, using a seat belt and the LATCH connectors with their installed base. We also evaluate how easy it is to use the seat and make key adjustments to it and the harness. And we compare each seat’s ability to protect children in a crash by comparing it with the competition, using child-sized test dummies during simulated front-end collisions at 35 mph.