Joie Signature Versiti pushchair review

The Joie Signature Versiti is a premium, adaptable pushchair that can easily transform from a single to a double buggy with the addition of a second seat, carrycot or car seat.

Part of the brand’s premium ‘Signature’ range, the pushchair features luxurious touches — such as durable woven fabrics on the softly padded seats — designed to provide your children with a comfortable ride, while the adjustable-height handlebar, four-wheel suspension and extra-large foam-filled tyres are intended to make it equally comfortable for parents to push.

The Joie Signature Versiti RRPs at £500, and to use it as a double pushchair you will also need to purchase either the Versiti Sibling Seat (£150), or the Ramble XL carrycot (£150), — making your total outlay much higher than the cost of the brand’s other double pushchair options: the tandem Estrella (£300); the lightweight Evalite Duo (£240); or the lightweight tandem Aire Twin (£175).

We put the buggy to the test in single and double mode, with both the sibling seat and the carrycot, across everyday settings, including nursery runs, weekly food shops and weekend outings.

How easy is the Joie Signature Versiti to assemble?

The Joie Signature Versiti was very easy to set up. The chassis came almost fully assembled and I just needed to add the wheels — but this was no problem, as all four wheels simply clicked into place and could be added in a matter of seconds.

The seats and additional shopping basket were equally easy to pop on by clicking them onto adapters on either side of the chassis.

The instruction manual is mainly made up of visual instructions. I felt it would benefit from more detailed written instructions, as it wasn't always immediately clear what to do from the illustrations.

The upper seat can be set at three different heights. To raise or lower it, you push in buttons on either side of the chassis and simply slide it up or down — a mechanism that was very smooth.

The instructions show all of the 25 possible configurations of the seats and carry basket on the chassis — although you would have to purchase a separate carrycot, sibling seat or car seat in order to use many of them.

How easy is the Joie Signature Versiti to convert from single to double?

Adding the second seat (or carrycot) was very simple, as it just clicked onto a set of adaptors positioned on each side of the chassis and immediately felt very secure in place.

What seat configurations work best for a newborn and toddler?

What was less clear from the instructions, however, was which of the different seating arrangements would be suitable for carrying a newborn and a toddler without the addition of a carrycot.

When I had the upper seat in the fully reclined position facing the parent — as would be my preference for carrying a newborn — I found that the headrest clashed with the hood of the sibling seat in the lower position.

I did eventually find a configuration where my newborn could sit world-facing in the upper seat in the reclined position, with the lower seat world-facing too.

This problem is resolved, however, if you purchase the carrycot, as this can be placed in the upper (or lower) position parent-facing, while also having a second seat fitted.

If you have twins, the buggy can be used with two carrycots or car seats. But for a newborn and older sibling, I found the combination of carrycot in the higher position and toddler seat in the lower position worked best.

How comfortable are the seats and carrycot?

The cushioned seats are spacious and feature padded straps, so I had no concerns about the five-point harnesses digging in or being uncomfortable for either child. The adjustable leg rest is also padded for extra comfort.

Each seat can be lowered into four recline positions including lie-flat — which is best for newborns. To recline the seat you simply push a button on the back of the headrest and tilt it back to the required position. However, the available recline positions sometimes became limited depending on the configuration of the seats.

The extendable hoods keep children well shaded and I found them useful for naps on the go. They feature a small mesh section with a cover that can be lifted to allow more airflow or to check on snoozing children.

With the upper seat elevated to the highest position, both children can get a good view when both seats are world facing.

The carrycot is very spacious and even in a puffy snowsuit at five months old, my baby had plenty of room to wriggle. Joie says the carrycot is approved for overnight sleeping, making it a good option for trips away from home.

Are there any compromises in double mode?

The only niggle is that with the carrycot in the top position, the lower seat is parent-facing, which meant my older child did not have much of a view out. His seat also couldn't be positioned fully upright as it was too close to the carrycot, so he did feel a bit restricted and at times couldn’t resist the urge to grab the carrycot in front of him, inadvertently giving his baby brother a bit of a shake.

Also, in this configuration, the feet of the child in the lower seat are in the basket, which reduces the amount of storage space and makes it unwise to store anything there that won't withstand a bit of trampling.

How does it push with one child vs two?

When I first set this pushchair up, I was a bit taken aback by just how large and long it is. I expected it would be really heavy to push and tough to manoeuvre, but I was very pleasantly surprised to find that the large tyres and four-wheel suspension did the trick of making it feel unexpectedly lightweight and easy to steer around corners or when passing people on narrow pavements, in both single and double mode.

I even managed to push it one-handed for short bursts. That said, this buggy is large, so getting it through a narrow hallway is challenging, and although tipping it down the step outside our front door was easy, tipping it up to get back into the house was a struggle.

How do you fold the Joie Signature Versiti?

To fold the Joie Signature Versiti in single mode:

• Make sure the seat is at the lowest height position, the handlebar is at its lowest and the hood is folded.
• Push the button on the back of the seat’s headrest and fold the seat forward as far as it will go.
• Pull up on the strap under the seat to fold the seat down to the basket.
• Slide the lever on the handlebar and push in the button. Then with a slight push from you, the pram will begin collapsing in on itself and folding up.

To fold the Joie Signature Versiti in double mode:

• Ensure the lower seat is facing outwards and slightly reclined. Then follow the steps above.

Once the seats are in the correct position, the fold mechanism is pleasingly smooth and intuitive.

How compact is the Joie Signature Versiti fold?

When folded this pram measures 33 x 66 x 82cm, which is much larger than a compact pram, but impressively neat considering the size of this pushchair. The Versiti is freestanding when folded in single mode, but not in double mode.

The carrycot can also be folded flat, which is useful if you will be packing it in your car boot — but be aware, this is a large pram and it will take up a lot of boot space.

What storage does the Joie Signature Versiti have?

The potential for storage on this buggy is very impressive. The shopping basket is huge and there are additional pockets at the foot of the carrycot and backs of the seats for storing muslins, dummies or other small items you need to access quickly — not to mention the additional carry basket that can be added when in single buggy mode.

The only caveat is that when in double mode, you do lose some of the storage space. Plus, when the lower seat is in parent-facing mode, you will have your toddler’s legs and shoes in amongst your bags.

What are the brake, handlebar and canopy like?

I was very impressed by the brake, which Joie has named the ShoeSaver™ braking system as you don’t need to push up on it with the toe of your shoe to release it. It engages quickly and securely when you step on the lever, with a red indicator appearing to show when it is engaged. To release the brake, you simply press on the lever again, the indicator switches to green, and you’re ready to roll.

The handlebar has five different height settings, making it comfortable to push no matter your stature.

The UPF 50+ and water-repellent canopies worked well for shielding my children from the sun — although if you have a baby lying in the fully reclined seat then their feet will be exposed to the sun, so I would recommend using the carrycot instead.

The rain covers fit snugly and kept the kids dry, although as they were snug, it took a while to get used to attaching them.

How stylish and premium does it feel?

The materials and finishes on the pram felt high-end. The seats and harness padding are very soft and neatly stitched, making the buggy look premium.

How practical is the Joie Signature Versiti for everyday use?

I would use this pram for long days out, but not so much for quick errands as it is bulky, making it difficult to get onto buses or to fit in the car boot if you also need to pack in a food shop or luggage.

Going up a single step is tricky, as this buggy is long and heavy when loaded up, making it not the best choice when navigating buses or trains that aren’t fully accessible. It is fine for narrow pavements – better than a tandem double – but negotiating narrow corners can be a tad tricky.

What’s in the box?

Versiti single-to-double pram box:

• Pram chassis
• Wheels
• Seat unit
• Carry basket
• Rain cover
• Adapters

Versiti sibling seat box:

• Sibling seat
• Rain cover

Ramble XL carrycot box:

• Carrycot
• Rain cover
• Mattress

Are accessories available?

The Versiti is compatible with the following Joie car seats: i-Gemm™ 3, i-Level™ Pro, i-Snug™ 2, sprint™ and calmi™ R129; as well as the ramble™ and ramble™ XL carry cot, and can also be paired with other brands’ infant carriers using a Maxi-Cosi style attachment.

Sustainability Features

Joie states on its website “Our family-owned factory makes every effort to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing, while donating millions each year to worthy causes that support children, families, and communities around the globe.” The packaging is mainly cardboard but does also include plastic bags and foam to protect the pram.

Is it worth the money?

Considering how the price compares with other premium single-to-double pushchairs, I would say it is worth the money.

If you are a family who goes on lots of long countryside walks and you plan to have two children in relatively quick succession, then it is a good investment, as the multiple configurations will grow with your family.

However, if you have a larger age gap between your children and your older child will be of an age where they want to walk a lot of the time, then this is a big buggy to cart about with just one child in it. So you may want to consider using a buggy board instead.

Where can I buy the Joie Signature Versiti?

It is available from Mamas&Papas, John Lewis, Natural Baby Shower, Argos and Joie

MadeForMums verdict:

The Joie Signature Versiti is a good option if you want a hard-working buggy that will carry a lot of weight — whether that's two children or one child and a large shop. It has great features such as the ‘ShoeSaver’ break, easy to recline seats and multiple seating configurations.

The biggest compromise is that it is a big unit to cart around or store at home. If you are looking for a lightweight buggy for short trips out, or will be regularly using public transport, you may want to consider a smaller model.

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