Bugaboo's iconic convertible single to double pushchair has had an upgrade. We've been testing the Donkey³ to bring you our thoughts.
Quick Summary: If you want the cream of the crop then the Donkey³ delivers. The exceptional build quality and superb engineering of the chassis and seat unit make for a practical pushchair for parents and a comfortable ride for baby too.
Whats good?
- Versatile (can be single or double) so great for growing families and twins
- Excellent quality with an extra smooth push
- Nice deep seats
- Only 74cm wide as a double pushchair but lots of storage space
- Customisable
Whats not so good?
- High price tag
Things we love…
It’s hard to know where to start with the Donkey³ because there is SO much that we love! The Donkey is often overlooked and seen as being too big and bulky but we absolutely implore you to go and give one a push before you make a judgement.
Having used the previous versions of the Donkey, we were keen to put the Donkey³ with its new and improved updates through its paces. The first thing we need to shout about is the versatility of this pushchair. You can buy the Donkey³ and use it as a mono (single) pram with a super handy side bag. The bag zips up and can be lifted off the frame and carried around like a tote bag. We love this feature as your shopping and valuables are kept close and there is no need to bend down into the pushchair basket to retrieve items that you need easy access to. Plus you still have the whole of the huge under-seat basket to store changing bags, coats and wellies.
Then as your family grows you can simply unclip the frame of the Donkey³ and pull the chassis from its streamlined 60cm to a neat 74cm and you are able to push your newborn and toddler around side by side and you can also push twins.
The newly designed wheels pushed as light as a feather. They are noticeably smarter and trimmer than on previous models of the Donkey and they performed brilliantly on our dog walks as well as on the pavement for school runs.
As well as practical for parents to use we found the Donkey³ very comfortable for our passengers too. Our toddler tester nestled really comfortably into the seats and the easy adjust harnesses were simple to use and comfortably secured baby in the seat. We loved the fact that the seats could be parent or world facing and there seemed to be endless possibilities to the seating options on the Donkey³.
The super sun hoods extend using a zip and cover baby all the way down to the rotating easy open bumper bar. We also love the new viewing windows in the Donkey³ hoods so you can peep in on baby.
Things to look out for…
The Donkey³ has so much to offer that we really don’t have many negatives to note other than your pockets might feel the pinch with the initial outlay of over £1000 for just the basic mono version of the pram. However we like to think of the Donkey³ as an investment for the future. It literally grows with your family and you get the seat unit and carrycot in the box, so you just need to purchase a second frame to make you ready and set up for your second baby!
Our Verdict
If you want the cream of the crop then the Donkey³ delivers. The exceptional build quality and superb engineering of the chassis and seat unit make for a practical pushchair for parents and a comfortable ride for baby too. The great design of the Donkey³ makes it an amazing single pushchair as well as an incredible double pushchair too, all in the click of a few buttons. Even though the cost may seem high, over time buying this convertible single to double pushchair has the ability to save you money as your family grows and there is no need to buy additional double pushchairs. After using the Donkey³ for a few weeks we can safely say that it is the king of the castle and highly recommend a test drive whether you are expecting your first baby, twins or your second or third child. We don’t think you will be disappointed!
