The Emmaljunga Mondial would make any contemporary Mary Poppins proud, combining sturdy, vintage looks with modern practicality, meaning you get all the benefits of a traditional pram but the convenience of a travel system.
The Emmaljunga Mondial Duo Combi retails for £615, and the Emmaljunga First Class 0+ car seat is £121. The travel system adaptor (required to attach the car seat to the pram chassis) is £23.
What we love
Heirloom quality, the Emmaljunga Mondial Duo Combi looks like it will be still going strong for your grandchildren. As well as the build quality, the quality of the fabrics is extremely impressive. Emmaljunga states its fabrics have a UV protection of 50+. We didn't enjoy any sunshine during our time testing this travel system, but we can verify that the fabric is water repellent when an unexpected shower hits! I later discovered the included raincover is housed in a small nifty pack-away bag Velcro-ed to the chrome chassis.
The carrycot mattress is extremely comfortable – Benny took to it right away – and the carrycot is spacious enough to last the typical newborn for his or her first few months, making it unnecessary to invest in a Moses basket or crib. Benny, at 4 months and 14lb, still had plenty of growing room.
Off road, crossing our local meadow, Benny had a superbly cushioned ride thanks to the Mondial's great suspension.
I was also impressed that the brake can’t be accidentally disengaged, at the large amount of storage space in the chassis tray for shopping and that both the car seat and seat unit can be parent facing, which is great for bonding.
Well made and well thought out, I was absolutely reassured about the safety of the First Class 0+ Base car seat and I was immediately attracted to the plush velvet padded lining. This is a Mercedes Benz of car seats. The First Class 0+ carry handle moves easily at the touch of a centrally placed button, and the straps and head supports are easy to adjust. Because it can be fitted safely without a separate base, the First Class 0+ is easy to move between cars.
The folded chassis would fit into any car without hogging the whole boot. However, fitting the carrycot into the car too requires more space.
Attaching the car seat to the chassis with the travel system adaptor is very easy - it just clips straight on.
What to watch out for
A rainy dustbin day proved perfect for testing the Mondial Duo Combi’s handling and I was disappointed with the effort needed to manoeuvre it around wheelie bins strewn across the pavement. However, puddles were less of a problem as the Mondial Duo Combi’s large wheels rode straight through them. Off road, crossing that meadow, I struggled with weaving between cowpats. The Mondial will cope on uneven ground but its forte is not as an all terrain vehicle.
Because of its size, the Mondial Duo Combi is not a pram I'd want to take on the bus.
Benny wasn't in the mood to give the Emmaljunga First Class 0+ car seat a fair trial, not liking the angle of the seat, despite my adjustments to give him an optimum fit. He objected most strongly to the head supports, a safety feature, which impeded his usual desire to look about. However, both these features make it an excellent seat for a newborn, the head supports providing both comfort and safety.
Who is the Emmaljunga Mondial Duo Combi travel system best for?
Parents after a quality, spacious pram with bags of traditional style and an upmarket car seat.
Vintage-looking yet completely up-to-date in terms of safety and practicality, the Emmaljunga Mondial Duo Combi travel system is worth investing in if you want your newborn to have the real pram experience. The ability to use the pram base with a car seat may be useful, but depending on your lifestyle there may be situations when it's too cumbersome.
