The Hauck Manhattan is a pram and pushchair that features a carrycot that converts into the pushchair seat, making the idea of a separate carrycot redundant. Ideal for anyone short on storage space.
Weighing 11kg (with wheels and seat unit), the Hauck Manhattan is a light (ish), smooth-to-push buggy. The aluminium frame makes it easy to manoeuvre up and down kerbs and it’s a doddle to push with one hand. The seat can be forward or parent facing.
To convert into a travel system, the Manhattan requires the Hauck Carseat 0+ (£95), which comes with ISOFIX Base. This is a first stage car seat suitable from birth to around 13kg. Despite having this capacity, Hauck don’t seem to be promoting this aspect of the Manhattan.
What we love
The Manhattan pushchair is a bargain. At £249.99 it undercuts many all-in-one pram/pushchairs. What’s particularly noticeable is that despite the price, it has all the features that you need: lockable swivel front wheels, removable bumper bar, height adjustable handle (three heights) and a removable, washable, sun canopy.
What’s more there are some nifty elements too, like the red/green notches on the footbrake so you know if the brake is on or off and the one-handed back recline that’s effortless to use. And, all the covers are removable and washable so there is no excuse for a food-encrusted pushchair.
The mattress for the carrycot is reassuringly thick so your newborn will be snug, although it is a little shallow.
In pushchair mode Minnie, 10 months, was able to sit up and look around and then take a nap reclined almost flat.
When sitting upright there are eight (yes eight!) footrest positions for you to play around with.
Available in four colours - black-orange, brown-blue, charcoal-purple, grey-lime - the Manhattan comes with apron but no footmuff and no raincover. These can be bought separately.
What to watch out for
Whilst there’s a lot of good stuff to say about this buggy, there’s one fundamental problem: the folding system is a nightmare. I spent 20 minutes trying to fold this buggy down before giving up.
The instructions are very clear and I followed the two-step process diligently but I could not fold the frame flat. My partner, a physics teacher who takes a more measured and scientific approach to such conundrums, eventually got it to work after a 15-minute battle and a hefty, Geoff Capes style shove of the folding mechanism.
Another annoyance is the removable bumper bar cover that’s too long, which makes it hard to click the bar into place.
Also, with the release mechanism for the seat, there’s nowhere for your fingers to grip when taking the seat unit off.
In some places you’ll find the Manhattan is called “Hauck Manhattan Sport and Drive Pushchair”, or on Hauck’s UK site, it’s described as a “Pushchair and Sports Pushchair in one”. Don’t follow the name “Sport”. This cannot be used as a jogging stroller.
Who is the Hauck Manhattan best for?
Budget-conscious parents who don’t often need to fold away their buggy.
The Hauck Manhattan buggy is a savvy buy for parents who want a simple, stylish mode of transport. With a wealth of useful features this is a low budget pushchair with a high-end spec. It’s just a big shame the folding mechanism is so difficult to operate.
