In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Chicco Bravo LE Combo Review

Difficult to push and turn heavy option with only average ease of car seat attachment
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Chicco Bravo LE Combo Review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $300 List
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Manufacturer:   Chicco
By Juliet Spurrier, MD & BabyGearLab Team  ⋅  Oct 14, 2019
56
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#14 of 17
  • Ease Of Attaching Car Seat - 30% 6.0
  • Ease Of Use - 30% 8.0
  • Weight/Folded Size - 25% 3.0
  • Quality - 10% 5.0
  • Maneuverability - 5% 3.0

Our Verdict

The Chicco Bravo LE standard stroller did not score high enough overall in our tests to be a real contender for a car seat and stroller combination. While the stroller is made to work with the Keyfit infant car seats, the attachment is a little harder because the canopy blocks the attachment, giving it the feel of being an afterthought, not a thoughtful design. The Bravo has a large storage bin, a good size canopy, and other storage options, but none were that impressive during testing, and we would have gladly sacrificed some of them for a stroller that was easier to push.
REASONS TO BUY
Parent console
Can use stroller canopy with car seat
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavier
Poor maneuverability

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Overall Score Sort Icon
56
76
65
59
56
Star Rating
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Bottom Line Hard to maneuver, heavier stroller with average car seat attachmentGreat frame stroller with parent console and easy carrier attachmentHard to push and turn stroller with poor car seat attachmentBudget-friendly, multi-seater with easy car seat connections for up to two infant carriersRelatively universal with multiple strap installation that has too much room for errors
Rating Categories Chicco Bravo LE Combo Chicco KeyFit Caddy Graco SnugRider Elite Evenflo Pivot Xpand... Baby Trend Snap-N-G...
Ease Of Attaching Car Seat (30%)
6.0
9.0
6.0
8.0
3.0
Ease Of Use (30%)
8.0
7.0
6.0
7.0
6.0
Weight/Folded Size (25%)
3.0
9.0
9.0
2.0
9.0
Quality (10%)
5.0
3.0
4.0
6.0
4.0
Maneuverability (5%)
3.0
4.0
4.0
5.0
4.0
Specs Chicco Bravo LE Combo Chicco KeyFit Caddy Graco SnugRider Elite Evenflo Pivot Xpand... Baby Trend Snap-N-G...
Weight 23.9 lbs 11.7 lbs 13.3 lbs 24.3 lbs 10.9 lbs
Folded Dimensions 22"W x 13.6"H x 37.6"L 19.8"W x 11.5"H x 33.5"L 19.7"W x 10.3"H x 31.9"L 26.7"W x 19.23"H x 32.7"L 19.5"W x 11.75"H x 37.8"L
Capacity Limits Minimum: Birth

Maximum: 50 lbs
Minimum: Birth

Maximum: Max allowable weight/height for the car seat.
Minimum: Birth

Maximum: Max allowable weight/height for the car seat.
Minimum: Infant - Toddler

When stroller seat is in infant mode: birth - 6 months


Maximum: 55 lbs/38"
Minimum: Birth
Maximum: 45 lbs
Included Car Seat Compatibility Chicco
KeyFit, KeyFit 30, Fit2
Chicco
KeyFit, KeyFit 30, Fit2
Graco
all SnugRide Classic Connect seats, all SnugRide Click Connect seats, Infant SafeSeat
Evenflo SafeMax, LiteMax Claims to fit most seats
Click-in Car Seat Adapters Chicco
KeyFit, KeyFit 30, Fit2
Chicco
KeyFit, KeyFit 30, Fit2
Graco
all SnugRide Classic Connect seats, all SnugRide Click Connect seats, Infant SafeSeat
Chicco KeyFit, KeyFit 30
Evenflo SafeMax, LiteMax
Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30, 35, SnugRide SnugLock 30, 35
Peg Perego Primo Viaggio
None
Strap-in Car Seat Adapters None None None None Claims to fit most seats
One-handed Fold Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Locking Fold None Auto Auto Auto Manual
Self-standing Fold Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Handlebar Height - Min/Max 37.1"/42.2" 36"/42" 37.25"/41" 33"/44.7" 39.75"
Sandal-friendly Brake Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Storage Basket Size Large Large Large Extra large Large
Included Accessories None None None None None
Setup Time 9:45 8:28 5:59 5:15 5:09

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Chicco (kee-ko) company was founded in 1958 by Pietro Catelli. It is now part of the Artsana Group and one of the largest baby brands in Europe, offering a variety of baby-centric products including items for strolling, car travel, food preparation, and more. Chicco products are sold all over the world in more than 120 countries.

Performance Comparison



chicco bravo le combo - the chicco bravo le combo only works with chicco brand infant car...
The CHicco Bravo LE Combo only works with Chicco brand infant car seats.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Attaching Car Seat


The Bravo is slightly above average for car seat attachment; it is not that impressive for a product that should work great with its native seat. The Bravo is compatible with the Chicco Keyfit and the Chicco Keyfit 30 infant car seat. The Chicco Keyfit 30 is the only carrier we tested with the Bravo.

chicco bravo le combo - you can install the keyfit 30 on the bravo frame with or without the...
You can install the Keyfit 30 on the Bravo frame with or without the canopy attached.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The Keyfit 30 installs without the seat and canopy as shown on the Chicco Website, or it can be installed using the seat and canopy attached as described in the Bravo manual. We tested it with the seat and canopy in place. However, this method is slightly more complicated because the canopy creates a barrier.

To ensure a connection is tight and secure, we had to juggle the carrier under and up to push the canopy out of the way. The foot of the car seat will get in the way of the canopy; removing the seat and canopy will prevent this and lower the weight. But, if you remove the canopy and seat, you will only have the car seat canopy for protection. You will need to apply pressure to the carrier to ensure a full attachment with both methods, and we suggest giving the carrier handle a good tug to check the connection.

The canopy and toddler seat can be removed from the Bravo to make...
The canopy and toddler seat can be removed from the Bravo to make car seat attachment easier without any obstructions.
You can remove the toddler seat from the Bravo and keep the canopy...
You can remove the toddler seat from the Bravo and keep the canopy to work in conjunction with the canopy on the car seat carrier to create a cocoon to protect baby from the elements.
The photos show the Bravo with the canopy removed from the frame (above left) and the canopy still attached to the frame to work in conjunction with the car seat canopy (above right).

Weight and Folded Size


The Bravo is neither light nor small. We think this metric is essential as new mothers may be unable to lift more than a certain weight. The Chicco Bravo weighs 23.9 lbs, making it one of the heaviest in the group. The folded Bravo is also one of the largest in the group at 11,250 cubic inches. This larger size makes it tougher to transport, lift, carry, or fit in a trunk. No matter what type of stroller you want, there is a smaller and lighter option than the Bravo.

Maneuverability


The Bravo earned the lowest score in the group for maneuverability. This stroller is hard to push and turn. It manages smaller spaces okay, but it is slow going and won't be a quick mover should you need to get out of someone's way. It requires two hands to push, struggles on rougher terrain and didn't turn well on grass and gravel. It wouldn't go over most bumps or the grate in our course.

The wheels are foam filled plastic and don't maneuver as nicely as rubber and aren't comfortable for passengers moving over bumpy ground. The four-wheel shocks might help negate some of the sting.

The adjustable handlebar is a smaller foam covered bar that isn't as comfortable as most of the competition. No matter where we positioned the handlebar, some of our taller testers continually kicked the back of the stroller.

chicco bravo le combo - the bravo has a large storage bin, but only 10 pounds of maximum...
The Bravo has a large storage bin, but only 10 pounds of maximum storage allowance.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


This Chicco is fairly easy to use. This score is the highest ease of use score in this review.

Fold and Unfold


Folding the Bravo is very easy with one hand, two steps and it self-stands. This stroller doesn't have a locking mechanism, but it has a carry handle. The handlebar will get worn and dirty using the self-stand, but it rolls when folded. The unfolding process requires two hands and is a little awkward at first, but after a few tries, it gets easier.

Brakes


The brakes are double-action, which means you have to depress the brake pedal on both sides to set. We worry parents may potentially set one and skip the other. The pedals are easy to use, but we had trouble getting them set every time (see below).

Potential Brake Safety Issue
During our tests, the cogs of the brake skipped across the wheel without engaging. We thought the brakes engaged because we heard the click and felt the pedal shift down, but they weren't, and the stroller started rolling with little effort, which is a safety concern and something parents should be aware of.

chicco bravo le combo - the canopy on the bravo is fairly large and works well with the...
The canopy on the Bravo is fairly large and works well with the Keyfit 30 car seat. However, it does cause somewhat of an obstruction when installing the seat increasing the difficulty of attachment.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Sunshade


The canopy on the Bravo is large and rated at 50+UPF. The canopy features added ventilation and a mesh peek-a-boo window that is on the smaller side, though still useful.

Storage


The Bravo has a big storage bin that accommodated our extra-large diaper bag. It has easy access from the rear, which decreases when the toddler seat reclines for use with the infant carrier. The maximum allowable weight is 10 lbs, which is average for the group.

chicco bravo le combo - the zippered pocket on the bravo parent console is so small it holds...
The zippered pocket on the Bravo parent console is so small it holds almost nothing.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The Bravo has a parent console with two shallow cup holders and a zippered pocket. This area has a weight limit of 3 lbs, the cup holders aren't the best at holding cups, and the zippered pocket is only large enough for lip gloss.

chicco bravo le combo - the child's tray on the bravo is nice touch not all of the strollers...
The child's tray on the Bravo is nice touch not all of the strollers have.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

This Chicco also comes with a child's tray with 2 cup holders and a depressed area in the middle good for snacks. The tray is essential to car seat installation, so it isn't useful when the carrier attaches to the seat.

chicco bravo le combo - the bravo is harder to set up than much of the competition.
The Bravo is harder to set up than much of the competition.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Setup


The Bravo took 9:45 minutes to assemble and has an average manual. The Bravo doesn't have a lot of parts, but the illustrations and descriptions are so simplistic they are challenging to understand. The rear wheels require the use of a washer that is tough to add, and the manual doesn't offer instructions on how to assemble the canopy. The pictures in the manual show the canopy already attached, but it did not come that way in our box.

chicco bravo le combo - the bravo scored below average in our tests for quality.
The Bravo scored below average in our tests for quality.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Quality


The Bravo is unimpressive when it comes to quality. This stroller has a clean looking frame, but it has considerable flex when pushing. Ours was easy to scratch and ding and after just a few days of testing had a significant scratch. The storage bin is a thinner material with strips of mesh running down the sides. The canopy is a sturdy canvas with a loosely woven mesh we couldn't snag. The fabric fits the frame well without creating a rumpled or tight appearance. The design and the materials of the wheels are also unimpressive, with old-style bushings and press on hubcap.

We were disappointed with the overall fit and finish of this product. With flimsy feeling fabric, flexing frame, and plastic wheels, it didn't offer much that stood out in comparison to the other options in this review.

Manufacturer Video



Juliet Spurrier, MD & BabyGearLab Team