Review of the Peg Perego Pliko Stroller

I bought this stroller in 2003 and that is the same year that it was manufactured in. The year matters as the company makes changes each time a new version is released. This stroller is similar to the P3's that are made today.

I spent a lot of time researching and looking for the perfect stroller and when I realized that simply didn't exist I decided on the Peg Perego Pliko Matic. It is as close to perfect as I could imagine and has served are family well for the last 3 ½ years. I recommend it to anyone who's looking for a durable, easy to use stroller and would gladly buy it again if needed.

This stroller is lightweight, maneuvers great and folds up the size of an umbrella stroller. These were the top selling points for me. Now for some more details.

Opening and closing the stroller is fairly easy to do. It takes a little getting used to and at first it drove me crazy but now I actually prefer it to other strollers I've owned. To open it you pull up on two levers on each side (at the same time) and it pops open. Make sure to open it all the way and it clicks into place. Closing it is a little tricky but just takes practice. First you pull up on the black levers on either side under the handles and flip the stroller upward a bit to unlock it from the frame. Then you use one hand to pull up on the folding handle until it's completely closed and locked. It seems complicated but it is nice because the stroller stays upright and comes toward you unlike others that fall to the ground and get dirty and scuffed up, requiring you to bend down and pick them up. The folded dimensions are rather small and it would easily fit in any trunk with ample room left over for other stuff. Pretty neat for a stroller that has many of the same aspects of a full sized one.

The weight of the stroller is pretty light overall. It weighs in at 16 pounds which is less than popular brands such as the Graco Quattro which is 28 pounds. Because of how well it steers and drives smoothly you don't notice the weight at all anyway. Once the Peg Perego Pliko is folded it's very easy to toss in your trunk. There is a carrying handle that can be grabbed as you lift it up into your vehicle. In my experience this is where weight matters, especially if you have to get the stroller in and out of your car by yourself with kids waiting in the car.

The handles are awesome. They are somewhat similar to an umbrella stroller but they are thicker and are ergonomically shaped so they point inwards slightly. This is much more comfortable then a straight across bar handle that other strollers have. Another plus is that they are adjustable. If you are tall you can push a button and increase their size and if you are shorter you can use them in the smaller setting. Adjustable handles are perfect for husbands and wives of different heights. This model came with an attached cup holder on one of the sides but sadly it broke off when I tossed it in my trunk one day and I've yet to replace it. I do believe that Peg Perego sells additional ones for around $6 or so but I honestly didn't miss it. For some people a cup holder is a biggie and if so this stroller comes with one that holds average sized bottles and cans.

Recline, this seat reclines in 4 positions. From upright to slightly reclined, to even more reclined and finally completely flat. That's right you can use this stroller with a newborn who requires a horizontal place. The front folds upright so that it makes a little bassinet type thing and you can be sure your newborn won't slip out. Of course they should be buckled but the added security doesn't hurt.

The harness is great in this stroller. It is a 5 point and can be switched to 3 point style if you desire. The five-point comes over the shoulders and the thighs and easily snaps in the center. It is a free moving harness though and by that I mean it's not permanently attached to the back of the seat. This gives you the safety of a 5 point harness but allows your baby to move forward with freedom. It does have a plastic hook if you want to attach it to the back of the seat so this can be done as well.

The wheels are 16 inch but are really easy to cruise over different elements. We've taken this stroller to the beach (sand is never easy but it was doable) drove it on the sidewalk, the street, gravel, bumpy dirt roads and of course the smooth floor of the mall. You can either lock the wheels in a forward position or you can put them in full swivel mode and turn and go side to side easily. The wheel base is a convenient size at 20 inches compared to the popular Graco Quattro which has is 24 inches. A smaller wheel base means that getting around isles and crowded places is much easier.

Durability is awesome in my experience. This stroller has gone thru 2 kids and almost 4 years and is still in excellent condition. It's been tossed underneath several airplanes without a protective case and still came out in one piece. I haven't had anything break (other than the cup holder) and its still looks really nice. I just took it apart and washed the cover on gentle and it came out looking brand new. I am not the most careful or gentle person so this stroller has taken some what of a beating and still manages to perform just as the day I bought it.

The Basket, this is the only downfall I can think of. It's not as big or strong as I would like it to be but I believe the newer models have better storage. It is made of black mesh and a plastic liner and it hooks underneath the stroller on four pegs. It's a little hard to access and it won't fit more than the average sized diaper bag but it does its job and I can't complain since this stroller has so many other wonderful features. What I did was buy a Peg Perego diaper bag with hooks that attach to the handles on the stroller. I found this on clearance so I got a good deal, otherwise their diaper bags are overpriced in my opinion.

The footboard is very useful. It can be used to go over bumps and up curbs and as a bonus is big enough for a toddler to stand on. Similar to the sit and stand strollers, your older child can stand on the back and hold on to the handle bars. My 3 year old loves this feature when he gets tired of walking somewhere he can simply hop on. The newer models have an even longer footboard so I imagine it's even easier for a child with bigger feet to stay on.

The fabric is aesthetically pleasing as all of the peg perego strollers use the finest Italian fabrics. The one I bought is called Black Sable and is a combination of black and silver, quite attractive for any gender. It wipes up clean and washes well and my baby stayed cool in the summer when riding in this stroller.

The canopy is pretty decent and can be removed if you don't need it, such as when you are shopping indoors. It almost completely covers your child when the stroller is in the upright position and is very easy to adjust.

Travel system, this stroller can be used with the peg perego primo viagio car seat. The back has to be reclined all the way but then there are two anchors that flip up on the seat so you can easily attach the infant seat. It's pretty sturdy when attached and seems more stable then travel systems that have the car seat clip onto a plastic tray in the front only. The car seat is rather pricey compared to many others but overall I was happy with it and I used it until my son was about 8 months.

My overall opinion on this stroller is that it is awesome and well worth the money. That may be the only thing that deters people from giving it a try is the cost is about $270 more or less depending on which accessories you get. But like other high end brands (Maclaren and Inglesia) you get what you pay for. Compared to cheaper brands Graco or an Evenflo the Peg Perego Pliko matic is much better quality and functions a whole lot better.