Ergobaby Metro 3 pushchair review

The Ergobaby Metro 3 is a compact-fold stroller designed for city living and travel, combining travel-friendly portability with comfort from birth to around 4 years. An upgrade to the Metro+ model, it features a smoother one-hand fold, wider front wheels to create space for a larger basket, an adjustable handlebar and a near-flat recline with integrated newborn nest.

The Metro 3 retails at £369.90, with a deluxe version available for an additional £90, adding features such as a magnetic buckle, carry strap and leatherette handlebar.

How easy is the Ergobaby Metro 3 to set up?

The Metro 3 was very straightforward to set up and took about ten minutes.

It arrived folded in the box, protected by cardboard, foam padding and plastic tags that need cutting off. A separate rain cover was included. It took a moment to work out how it unfolded, and the unfold was a little clicky and stiff, but watching a video demonstration on the Ergobaby website helped.

The straps arrive on the smallest setting (for newborns), but were easily unpoppered and adjusted for my toddler – no threading through the back is needed to adjust the seat, which is a plus.

How easy is the fold on the Ergobaby Metro 3?

The fold is impressively easy, once you get the knack:

• Apply the brake and ensure the canopy is folded back
• There are two push buttons under the handlebar, one small and one large – push these in together (smallest first) to unlock the frame
• Fold the handlebar, pushing forward. It is cleverly designed so the frame concertinas on itself without intervention, so that it is left freestanding upright
• There is a soft handle on the edge of the seat, which is now at the top, facing upwards; pull this up (as if to carry it), and the pushchair will further collapse into the full compact fold.

Once familiar with the mechanism, the fold can genuinely be done one-handed.

Unfolding is slightly more cumbersome.

• Press the handlebar buttons in and, holding tightly, pull upwards towards you
• Pull the frame out slightly to click it in place. Placing a foot on the brake bar in front of you helps, but it is quite stiff and heavy, so is not as quick as the fold and takes a bit of getting used to.

Is the Ergobaby Metro3 suitable for travel?

Folded, the pushchair measures 56 x 44 x 23cm. This is said to fit in overhead compartments on most airlines, though it is not IATA-approved. The folded dimensions are slightly larger than that of the Stokke YOYO3 model, for example, which folds to 52 x 44 x 18cm, and over 1.5kg heavier: 7.8kg compared to the 6.2kg of the Yoyo3.

This extra weight was noticeable when carrying the folded stroller to and from the car and I wouldn’t want to carry it any great distance. Carry straps aren't available as an accessory, but do come with the deluxe model, which would likely make carrying easier.

For everyday use, however, the Metro 3 looks compact and is easy to store both at home (it looks discreet in the corner of a hall, or would fit in most understairs cupboards), in cafes, and in the boot of a car, especially as it is freestanding when folded (without having to lock it, as is the case with other compact-folding strollers). There was plenty of room for other luggage when stored both upright and flat in our Ford Focus on trips away.

What is the Ergobaby Metro 3 like to push and manoeuvre?

For a compact fold pushchair, the Metro 3 has reasonably large back wheels which cope well with city living. There is suspension, but it is less suited for rougher terrain, being quite bumpy on uneven pavements, paths, and across fields.

Generally, though, it feels light to manoeuvre, which can be done with one hand on smoother ground; for example, it was speedy on shop floors.

My toddler is almost two and quite heavy for his age, so I considered this manoeuvrability a plus, though I would watch out for sharp turns as it can cause the buggy to tip – this is because of the narrow set of the wheels, which is needed in the design to achieve the compact fold and is a common trade-off with this type of pushchair.

Is the Ergobaby Metro 3 comfortable for children?

My toddler could climb into the pushchair easily, and was comfortable in the seat, which is visibly padded and feels soft to touch.

The leg rest is a nice touch, but not essential, and I had it folded down for most trips, except when he napped. It can simply be pulled up and stays in place, and there is a button each side to release it down again (these have to be pressed at the same time). I found that my toddler kicked his legs and feet happily against it, which meant that it could get quite muddy, but it does wipe and hoover easily.

The newborn ‘nest’ is cleverly zipped away within this footrest, and can be unfolded and poppers done up to cocoon your little one in. Note, though, this isn’t a replacement for a bassinet or carrycot, as the recline isn’t fully flat and your newborn would still need to be secured with the harness.

Generally, though, the near-flat recline is a real plus, especially if your toddler, like mine, falls asleep on the go and you would like to extend the nap! It can be easily and smoothly released with a lever at the back of the pushchair. To incline again, push the back of the chair upwards, and pull the strap.

The hood has good coverage, and can be extended further by unzipping an extra panel – this is also good for naps, providing good coverage under the low autumn sun. It can also be completely removed by unzipping from the back.

How much storage does the Ergobaby Metro 3 have?

For a compact-folding pushchair, the Metro 3 had a much more spacious basket than I was expecting.

Living in the centre of a city, I am used to travelling light so this was not a problem for me – there was plenty of room for small bags and coats after the school day, as well as some shopping.

The basket was generally easy to access, but because of the folding design, there is quite a low bar under the seat which restricts access. Also, when the seat is fully reclined, it is easier to pack from the side than the back. The storage pocket was useful for carrying a few essentials – wipes, plasters, etc. – and it could store the rain cover too.

What features does the Ergobaby Metro 3 pushchair include?

There are two heights on the padded handlebar. I am 5ft 3in, so I had it tilted towards me on the lower setting, which was very comfortable to push. My husband, who is 5ft 11in, had it set straight at the full height of 109cm, which suited him. Again, other compact-folding models do not have the option to adjust this, so this is definitely a plus. This was also very easily done, with simple side buttons to tilt, so it was quick to swap between the two of us.

The harness, padded at the shoulders, can be adjusted, e.g. for newborns, by doing up the poppers and tightening the straps. It is a five-point harness, but the two waist straps on the left and right can stay attached to the shoulder straps to save time. It was small and strong enough that my toddler was unable to undo it himself – always a plus.

I was also impressed with the brake, which was a good size. It does not get under your feet when walking, goes down easily, and shows a red strip when it is secured, which is reassuring.

How easy is it to clean?

The seat pad can be removed fairly easily and is machine washable, if needed, though it wipes clean well. I did notice that the black handlebar fabric, while comfortable, scuffed easily, as did the black frame.

What is the build quality like on the Ergobaby Metro 3?

The Metro 3 has a more modern feel than the previous model, which I prefer, possibly because of the softer, curved lines of the frame.

It feels sturdy, an upside of the slightly heavier weight, as do the larger non-puncture wheels. The black frame comes as standard, though different colours are available for the hood, if you prefer. And if you want the luxe look, the brown leatherette handlebars and new support bar for your little one are available if you buy the deluxe version, for an extra £90.

Other available accessories, which can be bought separately, include a storage bag, support bar, footmuff, cupholder, snack tray, and adapters for Nuna, Cybex, or Maxi-Cosi car seats.

What’s in the box?

• One Metro 3 compact stroller (black)
• One rain cover (worth £39.50)
• Instructions

Is it worth the money?

The Metro 3 stroller is at the higher end of the market for similar compact-folding city strollers, retailing at £369.90 – more expensive than the Metro+ but with enough practical improvements to justify the price difference, in my view.

I would certainly recommend this for families living in urban areas and it is robust enough to cope with trips to the country (just stay away from overly tricky terrain). The sturdiness of the frame and wheels, the weight, plus the quality of the materials, give me confidence that it would last well past toddler years (its stated age-range is 0-4 years).

Where can I buy the Ergobaby Metro 3?

It is available from Amazon, Boots, Kiddies Kingdom and Natural Baby Shower

MadeForMums Verdict

I would recommend the Ergobaby Metro 3 for young families living in urban areas, cities and market towns because of its slender, modern design and smooth manoeuvrability through narrow spaces.

Its practical one-handed fold makes it a great option for single-parent families, those with limited home storage, and those who travel frequently, as it is easily collapsed and can be stored in tight spaces at home, and on both public transport, including some airline overhead lockers, and small cars.

While at the higher end of the market, it is suitable from birth, with the pop-out nest and ability to adapt for a car seat, and is robust enough to last through toddlerhood and into the pre-school years.

Read more:

• Best compact-folding buggies – tried and tested
• Cabin-approved strollers
• Stokkx YOYO3 review
• iCandy Pip stroller review