Leclerc Magic Fold Plus pushchair review

Tested by

Laura works in sustainability and lives in London. She tested the pram with her 2 daughters, Iris, 4 months, and Edie, 21 months, in the local neighbourhood.

What were your first impressions?

The first impression of the Magic Fold Plus is one of compact elegance – the Leclerc looks smart and robust, with leatherette bumper and handlebars, a matt black, scratch-resistant aluminium frame and quilting detail on the seat. Extra marks for minimal packaging.

How easy is the Leclerc Magic Fold Plus to build?

The stroller arrives pre-assembled – only requiring you to unfold it and click the front and rear wheels into place. While most features are relatively intuitive, the instructions are limited, and fail to explain key steps, such as how to attach the bassinet or remove the stroller hood. The company does however have a 24hr WhatsApp help service and a rep answered my questions promptly.

What do you think of the carrycot?

Although not included in the stroller package you can buy a Leclerc bassinet (£269) to use from birth up to 6 months (9kg), which I tested with my 4-month-old. For a compact stroller, the bassinet is big – equivalent to that found on a standard pram – and would likely last the full 6 months.

Once detached, the slight curve on the base of the bassinet means that you can rock your baby or pull-out four feet to create a static crib. The bassinet easily collapses down by pulling two levers underneath it and folding back the hood. Though flattened, at L:84cmx H:30cmxW:45cm it remains too large to store under a sofa or bed.

The hood is generously sized and unzips to reveal a large ventilation window. However, there is no sunshade and I had to drape a muslin over the front of the pram on a sunny day. It also doesn’t come with a raincover, which is a bit frustrating.

What is the Leclerc carrycot mattress like?

The carrycot has a good-quality, breathable mattress, which can be unzipped and removed for hand-washing. Given the padding would take a long time to dry, I would prefer removable, machine washable covers though.

The top third of the mattress can be elevated to prop your baby up, which is great for entertaining older occupants who want to see the world go by.

Is the Leclerc carrycot suitable for overnight sleeping?

Yes, it is suitable for overnight sleeping. Inside your baby feels reassuringly cocooned thanks to the padding and materials, while the ample size gives them space to stretch out.

How easy is the Leclerc carrycot to add on and take off the Magic Fold Plus pushchair?

Rather than removing and replacing the stroller seat with the bassinet, you recline the seat flat and click the bassinet above it using the adaptors provided. This neat all-in-one system means we didn’t have to store the seat when using the bassinet – a bonus for the space constrained.

The adaptors flex outwards so fitting the bassinet is a two-handed job – requiring you to secure one side at a time. However, the fact that you can click out each side independently does make it easier when it comes to taking off the bassinet – and I was able to do this with my baby asleep inside.

When the bassinet is fitted over the reclined seat, the seat hood folds back against the handlebar. While it is still easy to manoeuvre the pram from beneath the folded hood – you can also detach the hood completely. This is fiddly, requiring a screwdriver to prise open a release mechanism before unclipping the fabric, but worth doing if you plan to use the bassinet attachment a lot.

How do you fold the Leclerc Magic Fold Plus?

The Leclerc’s USP is its trademarked ‘Magic Fold’ system, which enables the stroller to be collapsed with ‘one touch.’ This involves sliding a ‘thumb trigger’ on the handlebar to the left, while simultaneously squeezing a central button under the handlebar and lifting the stroller slightly. It took me a couple of goes to get the hang of the movement, but once mastered, it is genuinely one-handed and very satisfying to see it concertina down into a compact folded position.

One of our MadeForMums Awards 2021 Home Testers, Charlie, agreed, adding: “It works perfectly every time and can even be done whilst holding a child.”

What size is the Leclerc Magic Fold Plus once folded?

Once folded, the stroller measures a very compact H:56cmxW:47cmxD:24cm – similar to the Micralite ProFold at H51.5xW44xD24cm and Joolz Aer at H:53.5cmxW:45cmxD:21.5cm – and is freestanding for easy storage.

Folded it fits easily in the boot of our Skoda Fabia Estate, leaving plenty of room for other luggage. The website says it fits in most airline’s cabin storage.

How much does the Magic Fold Plus weigh?

At 6.6kg it is definitely lightweight, making it perfect for tackling stairs or lifting into cars or cupboards. You can carry it using the bumper bar or put it in the included transport bag which has a shoulder strap.

What is the Magic Fold Plus like to push and steer?

Thanks to relatively large wheels, the stroller drives beautifully and is easy to steer one-handed. Even with the bassinet attached it feels zippy and can pirouette in and out of small spaces.

The only negative is that the position of the adaptors means that the bassinet is perched relatively high up on the stroller chassis. Given its weight and the size of the hood, this means that the stroller becomes quite ‘front heavy’. While it is still easy to manoeuvre, I found that hitting bumps at a certain angle (i.e. a low kerb) caused the stroller to tip forward. I think making the adaptors more rigid and placing the connection higher on the bassinet – so it sits lower in the chassis - could improve the weighting.

I also tried the stroller, without the bassinet, with my 21-month year old. This is where the Leclerc really comes into its own – able to hop up and down kerbs and even manage cobbles with ease.

Do you like the stroller’s handlebar?

Yes. The leatherette handlebar looks chic and long-lasting. It doesn’t extend but was at a comfortable height for both me (166cms) and my husband (183cms).

The handlebar is also square shaped and the width of the stroller, so I found it more comfortable than some narrower handlebars where your hands sit unnaturally close.

What do you think of the Leclerc Magic Fold Plus’ seat unit?

The seat is spacious, looks comfortable and is wipe-clean. The quilting detail looks stylish and is available in a range of colours fabrics. With a simple lever mechanism, it reclines all the way back and has an adjustable calf rest for added length and support.

Amazingly, my toddler who never sleeps in strollers, napped for a blissful hour. The straps are adjustable, but the 5-point buckle mechanism is relatively difficult to clip together – particularly with a wriggling occupant. The only other complaint was that the stroller rain over – although providing good coverage – was quite flimsy and ripped along the Velcro the first time I used it.

What’s the hood like?

The hood provides good coverage and offers SPF50+ protection. It has a peep window you can use to check on your child – which is great given the unit is forward-facing only.

Did you like the wheels on the Magic Fold Plus?

The Leclerc’s wheels are relatively large and have individual suspension so can tackle rough ground. It managed cobbles and grass without much juddering and usefully the wheels didn’t collect much mud, although it performs best in urban environments.

How good are the brakes?

Exactly as you’d expect; there’s a large flip-flop-friendly brake, positioned centrally between the wheels. A colour indicator to tell when it is engaged would be a welcome addition though.

What is the storage basket like on the Leclerc Magic Fold Plus?

Although not huge, the basket is roomy enough to take a nappy bag or light shopping (max weight 3kg) and is easy to access from both the front and the back.

What’s in the box?

• Magic Fold Plus pushchair, including sun canopy
• Raincover
• Cupholder
• Bumper bar
• Travel bag with shoulder straps

What are the additional accessories that you can buy?

The Leclerc has a comprehensive range of accessories such as footmuffs (of different togs), nappy and organiser bags that strap to the handles, and wind and mosquito covers, meaning you could personalise it to suit your needs.

Cleverly, you can create a double buggy by attaching two strollers together with adaptors – and it will still fold down in the same way.

The carrycot also needs to be bought separately.

Who would this pushchair be most useful for?

The stroller would be great for someone short on space, who doesn’t want to compromise on style or function. One of our MadeForMums Awards 2021 Home Testers also points out that the one-touch Magic Fold system (and its light weight) make it perfect for use on public transport or when travelling.

Given that two strollers can clip together to create a folding double buggy – it also might be useful for someone planning another child!

Is the Leclerc Magic Fold Plus worth the money?

According to the Leclerc website, the complete newborn kit, including the stroller and bassinet, comes to £579. This makes it roughly the same price as the bestselling BABYZEN YOYO2 (£565 – including newborn attachment), sitting at the premium end of the market. However, I do think the Leclerc represents good value for money: It looks smart and robust; the materials are good quality; the suspension and drivability feel great and the innovative one-touch fold and open mechanism makes it very easy to collapse and store.

Included in the price are the raincover, cupholder, bumper bar and transport bag – which are usually sold as added extras by other brands. The stroller also comes with a 24-month warranty.

How does the Leclerc Magic Fold Plus compare to similar strollers?

Where can I buy the Leclerc Magic Fold Plus?

Available at Leclerc, Baby Planet and Pram Centre.

MadeForMums verdict:

A lightweight, incredibly compact pushchair that more than delivers on the style front. But what really makes this stroller so user-friendly is the one-touch ‘Magic Fold’, making it easy to collapse and put up in seconds, even with a baby in one arm. Great for zipping around town or for travelling, it also performs surprisingly well on trickier terrain.