Britain’s biggest buggy survey makes Maclaren the smartest choice

The results are out – in the battle of the buggies, the Maclaren Techno XLR has been officially announced as Britain’s best buy. The independent survey, carried out by Which? magazine, scrutinised 21 different buggies and measured everything from safety, agility, durability and comfort for children of different ages. It also measured parents’ general satisfaction.

The Maclaren Techno XLR, left other buggies trailing in its wake with an overall satisfaction rating of 77%.

The survey is proof that Maclaren, the British company that developed the first ever buggy is still leading the field. Owen Maclaren, a test pilot and engineer who helped to develop the Spitfire, built the first buggy in 1965 after seeing his daughter struggle with a large unwieldy pram. Today, the company he founded is still setting the standard.

The survey’s results were reached after parents with children aged from 6 to 36 months put the 21 buggies through their paces on pavements, bumpy ground, stairs and several other obstacles. The survey also judged the buggies on how easy they were to push, steer, fold, carry, adjust and even clean – after liberal amounts of fruit puree and beef stew were smeared on them!

The buggies were then wheeled for approximately 17.5 miles (28 km) along a bumpy treadmill in a lab and were tested for safety and durability. Going well beyond the British Standards for safety, technicians examined what might happen in an accident. They looked at brakes, locking mechanisms and the overall quality of construction.

Buggies have undoubtedly become a bit of a status symbol but what has emerged from the Which? survey is that many of the Maclaren Techno XLR’s much more expensive rivals performed rather poorly. It seems that people who proudly push their toddler round in an expensive designer buggy are likely to be taking their toddlers for a ride – but not a particularly enjoyable one.

When it comes to buying a new buggy, the smartest choice is definitely a Maclaren.

Techno XLR

Roomy, full-featured travel system coordinates with baby carrier and rocker. An adapted Techno chassis to which a Recaro Young Profi Plus car seat can be attached in the UK/EU.

NEW for 2008!
Child safe, quick release new Buckle design
Coordinated new Hubcap design
Customised luggage tag

SRP:
£300.00 (complete with car seat)

Age suitability:
From birth and tested to 15kg/33lbs UK/EU

New colours available:
Charcoal/Burnt Orange, Coffee Brown/Powder Pink, Coffee Brown/Soft Blue, Navy/Soft Blue.

Basic weight:
7.4kg/16.3lb (without hood, shopping basket or raincover)

Composite / Total weight:
8kg/17.6lb

Maclaren sales enquiries: 01327 841 310 or www.maclarenbaby.com