Ergobaby Metro Compact City Stroller review

The Ergobaby Metro is marketed as fitting into a city lifestyle, and of giving “ultimate freedom” – jumping on and off public transport and negotiating busy sidewalks and shopping centres. It also prides itself on the idea of a one-hand fold, and on being able to be easily picked up and taken anywhere. It weighs only 6.3kg and is 52 x44 x23 cm when it’s folded up, so it can easily be popped into a small car boot as well, should you need to.

The Ergobaby Metro Compact City Stroller is one of the more costly options in the stroller market, coming in at almost £299, compared to others that you can pick up for around £150.

Tested by:

Rhiannon has just had her first child, Blake, after caesarean section, and has been trialling the pram in London, on and off public transport and around the city. She's been testing the pram with the newborn bassinet.

First impressions?

As we were putting the stroller together, I have to admit our first impressions weren’t great – it took us a lot longer than the YouTube videos made it seem to first assemble, then fold down. At one point we sat there pressing everything we could think of for almost an hour trying to figure out the fold! BUT, once we had the knack (press harder than you think is ok!) it was simple. And since we’ve been using the stroller it’s been a total dream and delivers on flexibility and fitting into city life.

How does the Ergobaby Metro Compact City Stroller compare to other compact buggies you’ve used, tried or seen?

Compared to ones I’ve seen it delivers on everything you want – easy to manoeuvre and light, as well as compact when folded away. I also think some of the more compact stroller models on the market can have garish colours, or look quite flimsy, whereas the Ergobaby Metro is stylish and looks attractive, sturdy and compact, rather than lightweight.

Using the newborn bassinet kit, how suitable did you find the Ergobaby Metro for a young baby?

The pram can be used from newborn with the newborn kit (for an additional £129). Without the kit, it is suitable from 6 months, up to (an above the 15kg average) 18kg.

How easy is it to assemble the Ergobaby Metro from the box?

Not easy. Assembling the pram was a particularly fraught afternoon for me and my mum. Despite watching numerous YouTube videos that made it look like the most simple thing in the world to put together, I didn’t find it easy.

We struggled and it took us several hours to first assemble the stroller, then take off the seat and attach the bassinet instead. Every mum knows the feeling – you’re watching a 90 second Youtube video, but in reality, you’ve taken closer to 90 minutes.

How easy is it to fold and unfold?

I’ve yet to manage the famed one-handed close; despite the YouTube videos that show a woman happily balancing a baby in one hand and popping it down with the other. In fact, you have to be quite forceful to get it down, but if you can only quickly collapse it half way while juggling a screaming child nearby, it’s small enough to quickly chuck in a car boot until you’ve got more time and attention.

I quite often just got it half way down and found that to be enough. Or used two hands to do the final push - and reduce it to its very compact folded state.

So how compact is the Ergobaby Metro when folded?

The Ergobaby Metro is 52 x 44 x 23cm when folded. The newborn kit is 70cm when unfolded.

How much does the Ergobaby Metro weigh?

The Ergobaby Metro weighs 6.3kg, so is very lightweight. I felt comfortable pushing it around early after a caesarean and even lifting it after some healing.

How easy is it to push?

Very. You can easily manoeuvre around a busy Westfield shopping mall and on the London tube and buses. Having had a caesarean, it was really lovely to feel like I could push Blake around easily in this stroller from an early stage. Blake loves the stroller, he fits in snuggly inside, and it couldn’t be easier to whizz around in.

How does the Ergobaby Metro Compact City Stroller ride on different surfaces?

The stroller never felt anything other than sturdy, I never felt like the baby wasn’t safe in there. We popped it on and off kerbs easily and it was great in parks, on pavements and any road surfaces it encountered. When going over cobbles or lumps and bumps, it does move, but the baby seemed totally unbothered by that. Blake was very happy in there.

It seemed very secure, there was a clear place where Blake’s head was supposed to go and they give lots of instructions about baby’s positioning. It’s also great if you ever need to do one of those late night walks to calm down a crying baby; just pop them in quickly and you’re away. A couple of minutes pushing in there seemed to cure some pretty big meltdowns!

Ergobaby says the Metro is the only stroller currently certified Back Healthy for baby and parent - did you find it particularly comfortable to use?

There was no explanation of what it meant, but as mum to a newborn, it seemed reassuring! Even though it’s small in size, it’s also been comfortable for my 6ft 3in husband to push around too.

How is it on public transport?

It’s great on public transport – you can get on and off easily, squeeze into lifts and the smallest spaces, even at the busiest times, with minimal dirty looks from fellow commuters!

Having used a larger pram as well, this stroller really is a dream for city living, you can easily jump on and off kerbs, public transport, lifts, and zoom around busy commuters easily. If I was ever getting a bus anywhere, I would always take this pram as opposed to a larger one.

What do you think of the wheels and the suspension?

The wheels made the stroller so flexible and easy to get around – I wouldn’t say the suspension was incredible, you can still feel lumps and bumps, but there are more advantages to it being lightweight than disadvantages.

How easy is it to store?

Very easy – both in the car and in the flat. It’s great for anyone who hasn’t got an outside space or area to keep their stroller. It doesn’t take up too much space in baby’s bedroom or a corridor unfolded, or even in a cupboard if you’ve got the energy to be lifting it up and down all the time!

Does the Ergobaby Metro Compact City Stroller's frame strong and durable?

It seems to be so far – there have been no marks or problems, and I can’t imagine there would be. I feel like the baby is safe and secure.

What do you think of the handlebar?

It’s really comfortable to hold, and for a small stroller it’s in a really good position to ensure people of different heights can push it with no problems.

What do you think of the size of the Ergobaby Metro Compact City Stroller's seat unit?

The space for the baby in the bassinet is great. Blake is very long, but there’s still plenty of room for him in the stroller, and should be until he’s six months.

How comfortable does it feel for your little one?

The bassinet seems to be totally comfortable and secure – there’s been very little wriggling or fussing.

How is interacting with your little one when in the Ergobaby Metro Compact City Stroller?

Really simple – because it’s not a huge unit, you feel like you’re really close to the baby and can see everything you need to.

What do you think of the hood?

The sunshade is great - it would more than protect the baby from any sunlight and also helps against the wind and rain too.

How effective are the brakes?

The brakes are good and really easy to pop on and off with our foot. On a bus or tube, I’d still need to keep a hand on the stroller when we were moving, it does move a couple of centimetres when the brakes are on.

Does the Ergobaby Metro Compact City Stroller fit in the boot of your car?

Yes, really easily, even if you only manage to quickly fold it halfway.

How easily can you access the basket and is it big enough to store everything you need?

The storage area below the pram is small, but I think compared to the rest of the market, is reasonable. I kept the rain cover in there, and there wasn’t loads of room for much else other than a drink or a few bits of shopping. But, as I said, I wouldn’t sacrifice the light weight and flexibility for loads more storage.

What’s in the box?

The stroller, the weather cover, the hood and instructions. The bassinet and weather cover are in a separate box for the newborn kit.

What accessories you can buy for the Ergobaby Metro Compact City Stroller?

You need to buy a separate newborn kit (£129.90) if you want have a bassinet to use from birth. A backpack-style carry bag is also available.

Is it easy to build the pushchair?

We struggled quite a lot to be honest – and my mum and I aren’t bad at that kind of thing. It took the written instructions, plus videos, to get it sorted and figure out the folding. In the end it took us a few hours to get all set up. Having also trialled a different (more expensive) pram, which took a lot less time to assemble, I’d say this one was quite tricky.

What would you have wanted to know before you purchased the item?

That building and folding it isn’t as easy as the videos make it look! It’s worth the work, but I’d recommend doing it before the baby comes along!

Who would the product be most useful for?

Anyone who lives in the city and is likely to mostly be walking around and using public transport.

Is there anything unique about this product?

I think for the market, it’s particularly stylish and premium.

What impressed you most about the Ergobaby Metro?

How easy it was to manoeuvre around – I was nervous after a C-section of getting out and transporting the baby, especially alone. But this made it really simple.

How much does the Ergobaby Metro Compact City Stroller cost and is it good value?

The stroller is £299, which I think is a good price. To make it newborn suitable is an extra £129, so you’re looking really at £428, which is quite high – but then with most of these type of products you’d need to buy the bassinet on top. I think if you’re looking for a nice, premium buggy to zoom around the city in, I’d really recommend it and don’t think you could do any better.

MadeForMums verdict:

The Ergobaby Metro Compact City Stroller is a real case of a product doing exactly what it says on the tin. It’s ergonomic and carefully designed to be comfortable and safe for baby. It is perfect for an urban lifestyle and it’s also super compact.

I would definitely recommend this stroller to a friend who lived in a city and was looking for a pram to easily nip around in, especially if they were on a tight budget – I don’t think you need a larger pram if you have one of these. We tested the stroller for four weeks and it became our favourite bit of kit.

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