Cybex MIOS review

In terms of where it sits in the market, the Cybex MIOS pushchair sits at the premium end in terms of budget, coming it at £729.90 – you'll need to buy the carrycot sparely for £299.95 and the Cloud Z i-Size car seat for £249.95, which adds up to a travel system with a price tag of £1,279.80. This is similar in price to the luxurious Inglesina Aptica travel system, £1,279, although size-wise, the MIOS is far more compact and nippy.

Tested by

Maryam is mum to two young children including a 3-month-old baby girl and her 5-year-old sister. She lives in the city close to the coast and tested the Cybex MIOS with her husband and parents in both suburban streets and on more rugged terrain.

What age is the Cybex MIOS city stroller suitable for?

Cybex suggests that the MIOS is suitable from birth to approximately 22kg (which is around 4 years old) or from 6 months when using the toddler seat.

If using the MIOS with the attachable MIOS Lux carrycot, this can be used until your baby is 9kg in weight (around 6 months old).

What were your first impressions of the Cybex MIOS city stroller?

My first impressions of the Cybex MIOS stroller were positive. It looked chic and stylish and I wasn’t surprised to find the luxury touch of the leather handlebar given Cybex’s reputation for quality and comfort.

Does the Cybex MIOS pushchair require assembly?

When I unboxed the MIOS, I was initially impressed with how instantly the frame folded out and how easily I slotted the wheels into place, so thought the rest would be as simple – I was wrong.

Pulling the seat onto the frame was a two-person job and I begrudgingly had to enlist my husband to help stretch the firm and unyielding fabric over the frame. Once in place, however, I was placated by how stable it felt.

It took about 40 minutes to finally assemble due to some confusion around the instructions. I would have much preferred if the diagrams came with some captions or text to help the purchaser with assembly. Indeed, the only text on the instructions is the word ‘Click!’ to indicate parts of the construction that should make a sound.

Can the Cybex MIOS be used as a travel system?

Yes. The Cybex MIOS comes with four travel options. You can opt for the stroller seat unit, the infant car seat, the LUX carrycot and the LITE Cot (an addition for the stroller seat designed to carry your baby in lie-flat comfort), or opt to use a combination of all four. It's also compatible with the brand’s Cloud Z i-Size car seat.

It’s worth bearing in mind that all parts are sold separately and can add up to be quite costly with the MIOS frame starting at £469.95, the MIOS Seat Pack starting at £169.95 and the LUX carrycot starting at £249.95 depending on the colour, placing this product well into the premium category of travel systems.

How does the Cybex MIOS compare with other similarly priced travel systems?

Our previous travel system was the Aston Martin for Silvercross, which although comes with an eye-watering price tag of £3000 has stood the test of time with our eldest and also looks so stylish. For running about we currently use the BabyZen YoYo which has unrivalled folding and travelling capabilities, but wouldn’t be described as the sturdiest in its category.

I’ve long been a fan of the Cybex brand from when we had the Cybex Sirona car seat. This innovative company was one of the first to introduce the swivel car seat, saving parents' backs all the world over, but their products don’t come cheap.

How lightweight is the Cybex MIOS pushchair?

Weighing in at 9.9kg the Cybex MIOS city stroller is remarkably light and this is reflected by how easy it is to manoeuvre. It feels super lightweight and compact.

How easy is the Cybex MIOS pushchair to push and steer?

Pushing and steering the MIOS was a pleasure. I was able to hold hands with my 5-year-old and manoeuvre the stroller with absolute ease, including mounting and dismounting high kerbs. The compact 50cm width and super lightweight nature of the buggy (9.9kg) meant it was easy to travel on public transport without needing to repeatedly apologise profusely to other commuters. As my mother declared when running back to the house with our 3-month-old daughter and MIOS in tow; “It’s perfect for a nan on the run from the rain!”.

How does the Cybex MIOS pushchair handle varied terrain?

On smooth surfaces, paths and pavements, the Cybex MIOS is a dream to push one-handed including mounting kerbs. It also was easy to use on more rugged terrain, including the loose stone paths of a nature walk in our neighbourhood.

How do you fold the Cybex MIOS pushchair?

The pushchair is so easy to fold, it can be done one-handed!

To fold when using the carrycot you simply:

• Put the brake on
• Remove the carrycot by squeezing the memory buttons on either side and lift

To fold it with the toddler seat:

• Put the brake on
• Remove the seat using the memory button
• Press the button on the handlebar and push forward folding the frame in half

To unfold it:

• Press the button located in the middle of the handlebar and unfold it back out
• Clip the Carry Cot/toddler seat back onto the frame

How compact is the Cybex MIOS pushchair when folded?

When folded the Cybex MIOS measures 65 x 55 x 30cm. I drive a Range Rover Sport and when in the boot of the car, the frame doesn’t take up much room but the carrycot was bulky (measuring 83 x 41 x 30cm) and I needed to remove my daughter’s scooter and helmet for it to be placed in comfortably.

The seat pack is also space-consuming, so don’t expect to be able to fit much else in your car boot when travelling with the MIOS system. In my husband’s Jeep Compass, there was even less room in the boot once the MIOS was inside.

What is the carrycot like on the Cybex MIOS?

The Cybex MIOS can be used from newborn with the MIOS Lux carrycot. The mattress is made of memory foam with a 100% cotton lining and breathability was excellent. My baby was snuggled in ultimate comfort – in fact, she grinned every time she was placed inside it, knowing she was about to go for a smooth ride and fell asleep pretty much instantly.

How easy is it to remove the carrycot from the Cybex MIOS chassis?

The carrycot is easily removed from the frame with a simple click and comes with handy memory buttons so you can do one side at a time. The carrying handle is so strong that the cot reassuringly doesn’t tilt or sway and swing baby inside when moving it off the frame.

Does the Cybex MIOS Lux carrycot have a hood?

Yes. The canopy has UPF50 sun protection plus an integrated sun visor for that additional protection to prevent the sun from shining in your baby’s eyes.

It also comes with a front pocket designed to hold accessories needed quickly and handily but is incredibly tight and I couldn’t fit my iPhone 10 or keys in there without having to leave that front pocket unzipped. This is however ideal for storing cash if you need to keep some ice cream coins at hand.

What I particularly liked was the mesh windows so I could peek in on my baby without lifting the visor back and could also give the gift of improved air circulation. Annoyingly, however, when you pull back the canopy, it snaps loudly into place, easily disturbing a sleeping child. I learned that the hard way.

What is the seat unit like on the Cybex MIOS pushchair?

The seat unit is plush and comfortable and comes in a choice of colours. We had the Soho Grey. The mesh net encasing the leg rest is ideal for toddlers spitting out the dummy, literally, and could work as an easy catch-all.

Whilst I would not look forward to the difficulty of putting the seat back on the frame, it is also reassuring to know that it is straightforward enough to remove and can be thrown into the washing machine on a 30 degree wash.

Is the Cybex MIOS pushchair seat world-facing only?

No. You can have your child parent facing or forward facing/world facing. Given that my daughter is only 3 months old, we prefer parent facing but can simply lift out and click back into place facing the opposite direction when she is ready.

To reverse the seat:

• Press the memory buttons on either side of the chassis
• Lift the seat out
• Switch it round
• Click it back into place on the chassis

How many recline positions does the Cybex MIOS pushchair seat have?

The seat has 3 recline positions. What I Ioved most was how far and easily the pushchair seat reclines and my baby could be rested all the way back to a lie-flat sleeping position. The leg rest also comes with 3 different positions to choose from depending on the length of your child.

Is the Cybex MIOS pushchair harness easy to use?

The 5-point harness is secure and the padded inlay and plush headrest not only add to comfort but also the aesthetic and luxury feel. There is also the added bonus of a one-pull harness to secure a fidgety child in seconds.

How effective is the pushchair hood?

I absolutely adored the XXL UPF5O Sun Canopy, one of the best I’ve seen on any stroller with a variety of positions to protect my child from the elements and a handy flip open window to have a peek. We have a summer trip booked for St Lucia, so I am especially pleased with the mesh fabric at the back of the seat to prevent heat build-up and keep my baby cool.

Does the seat come with a bumper bar?

Yes, with the same leather finish as on the handlebar.

Does the Cybex MIOS pushchair come with a raincover?

Yes, both the pushchair and the carrycot come with their own separate raincovers. The peekaboo window at the front means your child can also get fresh air or be checked on with the cover in place. The rain cover doesn’t cover the whole frame, but on the plus side, this makes it smaller to store.

Is the Cybex MIOS pushchair strong and durable?

Absolutely. The frame, for how lightweight and how easily it folds, is remarkably strong. For something I can flip closed with one hand, it is extremely durable and can easily do a hill climb with a 3-month-old added to the weight.

Do the brakes feel effective?

Yes but one complaint I did have, and this could be down to my long stride, was that on a couple of occasions I accidentally activated the break. It is sizable and located directly in front of your feet when pushing. I would have preferred its location to be off centre and more to the side so that coming into contact with it while walking is entirely deliberate. The brakes are strong though, as I found out on both deliberate and accidental occasions.

Can you adjust the height of the Cybex MIOS pushchair handlebar?

No, unfortunately when using the pushchair the frame is at its full extension. My husband is 5’11 and I am 5’8 so we are both tall but both felt comfortable. My husband would have preferred more extendable options beyond the fully extended one we both used. My mother who is 5 feet, used the shorter handlebar option by folding it down when using the carrycot.

What are the wheels like on the Cybex MIOS pushchair?

The wheels, which are easily slotted onto the frame, can be set to swivel at the front or not depending on what terrain you are navigating and also personal preference. I always prefer having the swivel on for swift corner taking.

What is the basket like on the Cybex MIOS pushchair?

The sizable basket is handy and stores plenty in my opinion. Library books for my 5-year-old, travel changing mat, muslins and a quick supermarket run for eggs, milk and berries – it doesn’t stop there, I was also able to throw in the raincover ‘just in case’ as I hurriedly left the house. It’s a great basket and designed well so nothing fell out.

I also liked the mesh sides of the basket, which made it really easy to locate items in a hurry.

Fellow MFM parent tester Michelle however disagreed, saying that the “MIOS basket is relatively small and shallow and not that easy to access due to the position of the legs on the base.”

Is the Cybex MIOS pushchair good value?

The Cybex MIOS is designed for the discerning parent who’s done their research and knows that they’re getting value for money when purchasing from the brand, but it is a significant price tag which only grows as you configure the travel system to your own preferences.

However, if you’re a parent who wants to navigate the hills of a National Trust with your family then still take to the city streets with ease while still looking good and don’t mind paying extra for it, then the Cybex MIOS is certainly for you.

What’s in the box?

• Chassis
• Wheels

What additional accessories can you buy?

• 2-in-1 Cup Holder
• Tote Bag
• Winter Footmuff
• Snack Tray
• Parasol

Where can I buy the Cybex MIOS pushchair?

It is available at Natural Baby Shower and Mamas and Papas.

How does the Cybex MIOS compare to other similar products on the market?

MadeForMums verdict:

If it is within your budget, the Cybex MIOS is a stylish and comfortable 4-in-1 travel system which handles well on a variety of terrains. Though on the pricier side, you are paying a premium for a premium product which will last the test of time.