I trialled the 4-wheeler Britax B-Smart, and the features list is extensive, as it needs to be in the competitive world of buggies. We all have high expectations of our buggies, and the B-Smart certainly has a go at meeting these.
The B-Smart is suitable for use from birth and boasts a seat that can be used rear facing or forward facing. It has a lightweight aluminum chassis, puncture-resistant tyres (that’s non-inflatable to you and me), useful pockets where you need them (in the shopping basket) and an apron attached to a bar that pivots to easily let you strap in your baby without a fuss.
What we love
When the Britax B-Smart arrived, assembly was so simple and fast - Freya, 3 months at the time of testing, watched on happily for the 5 minutes it took to put everything together.
The one-touch on/off break is the easiest I’ve ever used and the height adjustable handle accommodates both my husband’s 6’2” height and my 5’3” frame.
The Britax B-Smart unfolds one handed and the chassis easily clicks together. This is really helpful when you’re in hurry, or when getting the buggy out of the car in torrential rain, as I seem to be constantly!
Britax B-Smart hood is really well thought out – it’s very large and provides a good deal of coverage when in a shower. The best bit is the zip around the middle, which extends the hood further, adding a sunshade to the list of useful features. When the sun did come out (only occasionally mind, this is Britain) it was simple to shield Freya’s eyes.
Another top point about the Britax B-Smart is how well it caters for all sizes of baby. For 3-month-old Freya we had the seat in the lie-flat position, the buggy in parent facing mode, the apron and bar attached and the hood up most of the time. In the interests of testing, I put my 4-year-old Bertie in the B-Smart. In this instance, we had the B-Smart in forward facing mode, without the bar and apron and there was plenty of room. Unlike some buggies around, the B-Smart looks as though it might be big enough to last - the seat is both wide and deep, and once the apron is taken off, there’s no limit on leg length.
What to watch out for
There really aren’t any major flaws you can point to with the B-Smart. Just much smaller niggles, which you may find easy to live with.
The 5-point harness padding was rather stiff and for a small baby always seemed to sit in the wrong place, digging in to Freya’s cheeks. However, it’s easy to remove.
You can fold the B-Smart with the seat attached, but only when it’s in forward facing mode. Also, it doesn’t fold up that small, so I found I had to remove the wheels to get it in the boot of my car.
The shopping basket is a little low at the back and I worried that things might fall out but I haven’t lost anything yet. The non-inflatable tyres weren’t as easy to push as air-filled ones but again not enough to make me complain.
The B-Smart is suitable from birth without purchasing the optional carrycot, but the roomy seat and not 100% flat recline position would make me think twice about putting a tiny newborn in the buggy. Freya's a big 3-month-old so she looked just fine.
There’s no raincover included and in the UK this is an essential. I feel it could’ve been included at this price.
Who is the Britax B-Smart buggy best for?
Urban parents after a durable buggy that delivers on what it promises.
The Britax B-Smart is versatile, with its forward and rear facing mode, choice of three or four wheels and travel system compatibility. It can accommodate a child equally as well as a baby, and has thoughtful features, such as a large hood and one-handed unfolding. Just make sure you buy the raincover.
