Bugaboo Dragonfly pushchair review

As a mid-size product with plenty of features, this pushchair is the perfect everyday choice for city dwellers who like to go off road from time to time. Equipped with an ergonomic toddler seat and a carrycot (which you can purchase separately) the Dragonfly also features a (relatively) easy action, one-hand fold to help you squeeze into tight spots.

Tested by

India van Spall has been an arts and culture journalist for over ten years. She lives with her partner, dog and three-month-old son Sunny in Dulwich, London. The Bugaboo Dragonfly has been tested throughout the capital city, on public transport, gravelled paths and parks.

First impressions

This definitely feels like a high-end product. The box was neatly packaged and separated into four easy-to-assemble parts. It looks every bit as stylish as I expected with a sleek black finish. As I take the main frame of the pram out of the box I instantly notice how heavy the chassis it is to carry, especially in comparison to its compact, city competitors.

How easy is it to build?

As you open the box there is a large piece of cardboard with a QR code displayed. After giving that a scan, it takes you straight to Bugaboo’s YouTube page where you can watch a how-to tutorial. Building the pram took me about 30-40 minutes. I had to do a lot of rewinding and rewatching as the guy in the video makes it look a lot more straightforward, especially for someone who’s not a natural at DIY.

The part which I struggled the most with was the hood. The video makes it look as though you can just clip it onto the carrycot but the reality, for me at least, was more fiddly. You have to ensure that it twists and locks into place and on a 30 degree day I was losing patience. It wasn’t until my partner took a look with me later that evening that we were able to get it to function as it should.

Bugaboo Butterfly vs Bugaboo Dragonfly: how does it compare?

Bugaboo’s latest release prides itself on being compact and lightweight, with a one-hand easy action fold, and size-wise it sits somewhere between the superlight Butterfly stroller and the stylish all-terrain Bugaboo Fox pushchair.

While it is certainly light and relatively small for a full-feature everyday pushchair, it's not as travel-friendly as the Butterfly. The Dragonfly is more of a city-friendly mid-size pushchair rather than a travel stroller, and as such has a reversible seat and can be used from birth (whereas the forward-facing Butterfly is suitable from 6 months).

In comparison to models like the Fox 5, the Dragonfly is 2.5kg lighter at 7.9kg, and more suited to urban and city living. Although living in a small ground floor flat, I would argue that this style is still on the larger side for our minimal storage space.

Bugaboo Bee vs Bugaboo Dragonfly: how does it compare?

There are definite similarities between the Bugaboo Bee 6 and the Dragonfly. Both will be favoured by citydwellers, can be used from birth up to around 4 years, and can be used with the brand's ride-on accessory. However the Dragonfly can fold with the bassinet attached (very handy), and a more generous underseat basket (10kg limit vs the Butterfly's 4kg). It's also taller, longer, and lighter.

What do you think of the carrycot?

The carrycot is excellent quality and generously sized, meaning Sunny was able to stretch his arms out with ease. The bassinet can fit a baby up to 9kg or until they can sit unaided. In Bugaboo’s latest push to reach net zero in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, the carrycot is made from an eco-friendly, water-repellent fabric coating. Inside is a plush, fleece lining on top of a breathable cotton mattress.

I was concerned about Sunny overheating but the carrycot features an extendable UPF 50+ canopy hood, with a pop-out visor for added protection in all weathers. It also includes a mesh panel window at the back to allow fresh air to circulate.

How easy is the carrycot to add on/take off the pushchair?

There is a grey button on each side of the carrycot, which can be pressed in tandem to remove it from the base. To reattach, it simply clicks back into place. It is straightforward to do however with the carrycot being a generous size, it is a bit cumbersome to navigate with a baby also inside.

Both my partner and I struggled to fold the carrycot down to be completely flat as the mechanism appeared to be jammed. If we pushed too hard we were worried about breaking it completely. Again, the video instructions made this look a lot easier than it was in reality.

How do you fold the the Bugaboo Dragonfly pushchair?

Admittedly, I’m not a natural when it comes to coordination, so it took me a good few attempts and rewinds of the instruction video to get the hang of how to fold this pram down. Once I got the hang of it, it was fairly straightforward.

• For the toddler seat you just have to take off the rotating carry handle but you can keep the seat attached and upright
• Then you can slide the button on the handlebar to the right and lift upwards
• There is a knack with the button, you have to hold it down quite firmly for the whole thing to engage and fold down
• Unfolding feels even simpler, you just lift the handlebar up and push out. Then all that’s left is to elevate the seat.

Overall, folding and unfolding the toddler seat down wasn’t a problem, but when it came to the carrycot, that was a different story.

In the video the carrycot collapses with ease. For us, not so much. We took the carrycot off the chassis, turned it upside down, tried to pull down the wire framing to release and one side seemed to give but the other was jammed and stuck. If we pulled any more rigorously I worried we would have broken it. So when it came to folding the pram down with the carrycot attached, it didn’t work. Perhaps because this is a new product it is a bit stiff, but regardless it shouldn’t have taken us up to an hour of attempts to make this happen.

Folded buggy

Once folded with the toddler seat attached, the pram measures at 36x52x90cm and with the carrycot it is 32x52x90cm. It stands securely on its own and stores neatly in the cupboard. There is a detachable carry strap which makes the frame easier to carry, though I still found it quite heavy and uncomfortable to hold for longer periods of time.

We tested putting the chassis with the carrycot into the car. We have a Peugeot 308 which has a fairly sizeable boot but as we struggled to fold the carrycot down, the pram did take up the vast majority of the space.

How good is it to push and steer?

The Dragonfly is marketed as a pushchair that can handle all terrains, with its larger wheels for smooth rides, full suspension and an extendable handlebar for responsive steering. It is definitely a sturdy ride that pushes very smoothly on pavements and trips through the park. I would often grab a hot drink and without a cup holder, steering one handed was never an issue.

On uneven surfaces like cobbles or gravel it feels juddery and is harder to steer, that being said, Sunny was completely unphased and slept soundly throughout. Ultimately, it glides silently and is easy to manoeuvre up and down small pavements, with larger curbs I tend to take my time.

How well does it work on public transport?

We took the Dragonfly for a spin on the bus a couple of times. I was fortunate that both times there were no other prams or wheelchairs in the designated area, as, with the carrycot, it took up over half of the allotted space. I initially tried to get on at the front of the bus but the pram was too wide to fit in between the front seats, so I had to get off and get on again from the middle.

While the bus was in motion, the brake pedal did a fantastic job at keeping the pram stable and secure. I only stood by the pram as an extra precaution. I managed to get off the bus smoothly in spite of the bus parking far away from the curb.

What’s the chassis like?

This pram is undoubtedly stylish and the finish makes it look expensive. It’s crafted from a high quality bio-based material and cast in a matt black. The infinity loop design makes the Dragonfly look almost futuristic. At 7.9-9.9kg it is one of the lighter Bugaboo prams on the market. After a couple of weeks, I noticed a little wear and tear on the wheels and underside, however it was easily wipeable, proving that these premium materials are built to stand the test of time.

How high is the Bugaboo Dragonfly's handle?

The handle grip is really comfortable and soft to hold. It’s made from a 100% vegetarian leather, which as a veggie I appreciate! The handle is adjustable and ranges from 98cm to 105cm. I tend to have it on the lowest setting as I am on the shorter side, but I can see how this feature would benefit a wide spectrum of people.

The handle also has a grey plastic dial which you can slide to the left or right and then lift the handlebar to fold the pram down.

What’s the hood like?

The hood is substantial and unzips to suit different weather conditions. On a sunny day the hood can extend to entirely cover your baby and stays in place securely. Having a peephole window for ventilation, was a welcome addition.

Do the wheels have built-in suspension?

The Dragonfly’s built in suspension ensures comfort and a smoother ride for both parents and babies. The front wheels measure in at seven inches whereas the back wheels have a larger eight and a half inch circumference.

Made from the same mass-balanced bio-based material as the chassis, the pushchair’s footprint has been reduced by 21% to 62.82 kg CO2. Designed for urban terrains, these wheels are sturdy and built to last.

How effective are the brakes?

I was really impressed by the brakes on this pram. There is a very evident grey pedal on the left side which when pressed holds the entire frame very securely, even while moving on public transport. The pedal is not so large that I would kick it while walking or that it was obstructive in any way.

My only flag was that sometimes after pressing to release the brake if I pushed forwards too soon it would stay locked for a second before releasing.

How do you rate the basket?

The underseat basket is really spacious, split into two sections, with a compartment at the front for smaller items. Carrying a weight of up to 10kg, it’s brilliant for holding shopping, nappies or a change of clothes. I had no issue with items falling out as the main netted compartment slopes downwards, making it secure.

What’s in the box?

• Chassis
• Carrycot (buy separately)
• Carry strap
• Rotating carry handle
• Sun canopy (with peek-a boo and pop-out visor)
• Parasol+ attachment clip
• Toddler seat

What are the additional accessories that you can buy?

• Cup holder
• Travel bag
• Bassinet stand
• Seat liner
• Parent organiser
• Comfort wheeled board
• Breezy canopies
• Phone holder
• Footmuff
• Newborn inlay
• Changing clutch
• Changing backpack
• Changing bag
• Mosquito net

Can the pushchair be used with a car seat to create a travel system?

Yes, the Dragonfly includes a car seat adaptor to create a travel system. It is compatible with the following brands and models: Nuna, Clek, Bugaboo Turtle One or Turtle Air, Cybex and the Maxi-Cosi.

Now you’ve tested it, what would you have wanted to know before purchasing the pushchair?

Despite this product being marketed as a city pushchair, I would argue that for certain families who have a smaller flat like us, or are up several floors, this might not be the most practical choice due to the fact that the frame is on the larger side. It would be worth double checking the measurements before you purchase to ensure that it fits suitably in your car and storage space.

If possible, I would also get someone in the store to show you exactly how to fold and unfold this product, as the video didn’t give clear enough instructions for us.

Who would this pushchair be most useful for?

As a mid-size product I would say the Dragonfly best suits small families living in suburban areas. Its ability to be compact means this product is practical for those who have less storage space, though I would say that this pram isn’t necessarily practical for all families who live in the city. In London, having something smaller that can fit with ease on public transport and be more nimble against crowds is preferable.

Is this pushchair worth the money?

The price point for both the bassinet and the seat comes in at £945, undercutting other Bugaboo models and the price excluding the carrycot is £695 making this product more affordable within the luxury range. Even though this is on the pricey end, for families who want to trade in on a pram that is both sustainable and durable then this could be a worthy investment.

MadeForMums verdict:

For those who prioritise style, comfort and sustainability, the Bugaboo Dragonfly is a smart choice. With a high-end price tag, it’s worth giving this product a test spin prior to committing to ensure this one-hand pram suits all of your needs. Seeing how much larger this frame is in comparison to my neighbour’s and friend’s, I would say this is best placed in a city home with more space or for those who often venture in suburban areas.