Maxi-Cosi Lara² review: a lightweight, cabin approved stroller you can take anywhere

How we tested the Maxi-Cosi Lara²

• Tested over eight weeks, used most days of the week

• Used daily on a family holiday to Italy

• Used on public transport, including trains

• Used on cobbled streets and gravel paths

• Tested with a six-month-old baby

Charlotte tested the Lara² over an eight-week period with her six-month-old daughter, using it most days of the week. The bulk of testing took place during their first family trip to Italy, where the stroller was very much relied on as their main lightweight stroller while out and about.

The Lara² was used daily on public transport, including trains, as well as for sightseeing and general day-to-day exploring. It was pushed over a mix of surfaces, from smooth pavements to cobbled streets and gravel paths, giving a good sense of how it handled beyond just airport terminals and flat city streets.

After testing was complete, Charlotte scored the Lara² across eight key criteria, including performance, quality and durability, ease of use, value for money, safety and stability, ease of folding and unfolding, comfort and storage. These scores were then combined to give an overall star rating of 86 out of 100 which equates to a five-star rating.

The Maxi-Cosi Lara² has great suspension and is easy to push and steer

Maxi-Cosi Lara²: what’s in the box?

The Lara² comes well equipped, with everything you need to get going straight away. In the box you’ll find:

• Stroller frame with seat unit

• Four wheels

• Sun canopy

• Bumper bar

• Shopping basket

• Rain cover

Notably, both the rain cover and bumper bar come standard, whereas they're often optional extras on lightweight travel strollers.

The Lara² can also be turned into a travel system using the Lara² car seat adapters, which allow it to be used with Maxi-Cosi infant car seats such as the Maxi-Cosi Pebble 360 Pro. This makes it a flexible option for families who want to move their baby from car to stroller with minimal disruption. Other add-ons include a footmuff and travel bag, which could be useful for frequent travellers.

How easy is the Maxi-Cosi Lara² to assemble?

Charlotte found the stroller very straightforward to put together. "The stroller came pretty-much assembled. All there was to do was add the wheels which was super-easy," she explains. The process was intuitive, but the comprehensive instruction booklet was handy to double-check the correct way to fold and use the stroller.

She also appreciated the practicality of the wheels: "The wheels come on and off the stroller very easily, so it was very quick to pop them off to give them a clean before putting the stroller away when we arrived home."

Maxi-Cosi Lara²: how does it look?

The Lara² has a smart, modern look, with a dark-grey fabric seat and canopy trimmed in black. Charlotte found that "the material used for the seat and canopy felt like they were good quality," while the handle and bumper bar are made from a soft, foamy material that is comfortable to hold, even on longer walks.

The stroller also features some thoughtful design details. The canopy has a zip extension for extra sun coverage, and the included rain cover attaches with Velcro to keep it in place when the weather turns. These small touches make the Lara² feel practical as well as stylish.

One drawback is the limited colour choice- it’s only available in Select Grey or Essential Graphite. While both are smart and understated, the small selection could feel a bit restrictive for parents who like to make a statement.

The Maxi-Cosi Lara² has a large sun canopy and bumper bar for comfortable rides

Maxi-Cosi Lara²: what’s the storage like?

Charlotte found the Lara²’s storage surprisingly practical for a compact travel stroller. "There are two storage baskets which are fairly generous given the size of the stroller," she explains. "The smaller basket sits just below the seat and accommodates the rain cover but has room for other items. The lower basket sits by the wheels and could accommodate a small changing bag with the essentials."

She added, "Our changing bag was too bulky for the storage baskets, but we hung it off the back of the stroller and it didn’t cause the chair to feel imbalanced or tip over." While it won’t replace a full-size buggy for families carrying lots of gear, the Lara²’s dual baskets make it practical for everyday outings and travel

Is the Maxi-Cosi Lara² safe and sturdy?

Charlotte was impressed with how stable the Lara² felt, especially for such a lightweight stroller. "We were really impressed with this stability considering the light weight of the stroller," she says. The stroller handled the different terrains they walked on during their trip to Italy with ease, giving her confidence that her daughter was safe and comfortable.

The five-point harness adds an extra layer of protection and their little girl was secure in the seat. Charlotte says, "Our main disappointment was that the harness clasp was quite stiff to secure. Eventually we found through trial and error that it was made easier to secure by pressing the release button when clipping it in – this helped but ideally it wouldn’t have been necessary. That said, the harness did feel very secure and I think would be difficult for a child to release by themselves."

Between the sturdy frame, the EVA wheels with good suspension, and the secure harness, Charlotte felt the Lara² was surprisingly stable for everyday use. It gave her peace of mind on uneven streets and busy pavements.

The Maxi-Cosi Lara² is compact enough to use in train stations, airports and on public transport

How comfortable is the Maxi-Cosi Lara²?

Very. Charlotte says, "Our daughter seemed comfortable in the stroller and dozed off in it from time to time". The seat can be adjusted to a slightly reclined position by extending a strap at the back, which tilts the backrest just enough for children to rest. While a deeper or lie-flat recline would have been better for newborns or longer naps, Charlotte felt that it wasn’t a dealbreaker, as her daughter was still able to sleep comfortably during outings.

The canopy adds to comfort, too. It can be extended with a zip for extra shade on sunny days, and there’s a small fold of fabric that pulls back to reveal a mesh window -something Charlotte found really handy for checking on her daughter without waking her.

Compared with other lightweight strollers, such as the Stokke YOYO 3 or Bugaboo Butterfly 2, the Lara²’s recline is more limited, so it may not be ideal for newborns who need to lie completely flat. For babies around six months and older, though, the combination of the padded seat, large canopy, and extra suspension makes rides smooth and comfortable, even over cobbled streets or gravel paths. Charlotte found it perfectly suited for short naps and everyday strolls without feeling cumbersome.

What’s the Maxi-Cosi Lara² like to use day to day?

Charlotte found the Lara² reassuringly sturdy, even when put through its paces on holiday. “We were on and off numerous trains and it tolerated being tipped right back to get on and off, even with the nappy bag hanging off the back, and it still felt really stable,” she says. The stroller was also used on cobbled streets in old towns, as well as on hour-long walks along gravel paths with larger stones and handled both better than expected for such a lightweight buggy.

Despite being light, the Lara² never felt flimsy. It was easy to manoeuvre across different surfaces and could be pushed one-handed, which came in handy when the other hand was busy pulling a suitcase - or holding a gelato. The compact size also made it practical for travel and everyday use alike, whether navigating busy stations or narrower streets.

The brake itself is fairly basic but did the job well. Charlotte found it easy to apply, even when wearing chunky sandals. However, because the handlebar isn’t adjustable, the positioning of the brake caused a minor issue for taller pushers. Charlotte’s six-foot-tall husband found that his stride sometimes meant he accidentally kicked the brake while walking, which quickly became irritating, even though it didn’t affect the stroller’s overall stability.

The Maxi-Cosi Lara² is straightforward to fold and unfold

Maxi-Cosi Lara²: is it easy to fold and unfold?

Overall, yes - the Lara² does what you’d expect from a lightweight, cabin-approved stroller. It folds down compactly and is light enough to carry comfortably once collapsed, which is a big plus for travel.

Charlotte found the folding and unfolding process straightforward, though not quite seamless. The bumper bar needs to be flipped up before folding, which means it’s not really a one-handed manoeuvre. She also found the buttons used to collapse the stroller a little stiff at first, although her husband didn’t struggle with them as much.

One thing worth noting is that when folded, the securing clasp doesn’t automatically lock into place. This meant the clasp had to be fastened manually before carrying the stroller around, which took a bit of getting used to.

Once folded, however, the Lara² felt compact and easy to transport. It didn’t take up much room in the boot of their hire car, something Charlotte appreciated when travelling with a baby and all the extra gear that comes with it.

Is the Maxi-Cosi Lara² easy to clean?

Day to day, Charlotte found the Lara² easy enough to keep on top of. “Our daughter regurgitated a little milk onto the seat which easily cleaned off with a baby wipe,” she says, always a good sign when you’re out and about.

That said, the seat covers aren’t removable, which is worth bearing in mind. While small spills and everyday mess were easy to deal with, Charlotte felt that more stubborn stains could be harder to tackle without the option to take the fabric off and wash it properly.

On a more practical note, the lower storage basket is removable, which makes it much easier to shake out crumbs or freshen it up if it gets muddy or dirty, especially useful after travel or days out.

The Maxi-Cosi Lara² is sturdy to push even with a changing bag on the back

Is the Maxi-Cosi Lara² good value for money?

Overall, Charlotte felt the Lara² offered really solid value for money. “The key features of a travel stroller for us were weight, compactness and manoeuvrability,” she explains, and in those areas, it delivered. While there were a few small niggles during testing, they felt like reasonable trade-offs at this price point rather than dealbreakers. “It’ll definitely be joining us on our next adventure, wherever that may be!” she adds.

Priced at under £200, the Lara² is noticeably more affordable than many other lightweight strollers. For context, options like the iCandy Pip sit at around £429, so the Lara² comes in at less than half the price. It’s also cabin-approved and compatible with select Maxi-Cosi infant car seats, allowing it to function a bit like a travel system (just without a carrycot), which adds to its appeal for families who travel.

It might not have all the premium finishes or extra features of more expensive models, but if you’re looking for a compact, travel-friendly buggy that covers the essentials well and won’t blow the budget, the Lara² feels like money well spent.

 About the author

Tammy Jacks has over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, holding key roles such as Managing Editor and Health & Beauty Editor for Woman & Home magazine in South Africa, and Assistant Editor for Living and Loving - a parenting title focused on children's health and development. She has also contributed to various lifestyle publications (including magazines, journals and newspapers) and edited books for fitness influencers and health professionals.

As a researcher and writer, Tammy specialises in children's development, wellbeing and safety, particularly focusing on car seats, having written extensive guides for Mumsnet on rear-facing car seats as well as car seat regulations in the UK.

Her expertise in this area is informed by both professional knowledge and personal experience as a mother. As a keen runner and cyclist, Tammy has also reviewed numerous baby travel products with her daughter in tow, including strollers and pushchairs, child bike seats, all-terrain prams and the best running buggies on the market, thus offering valuable insights into safety, comfort and convenience for families.