Get the Best of Both Worlds: The Ultimate Maxi Cosi Zelia Max 5 in 1 Travel System Reviews

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If you are searching for the perfect infant car seat, chances are you will need a stroller to go along with it. However, those can be pretty expensive, considering all the fancy features they can offer.

Enter the Maxi-Cosi Zelia Max-5-in-1 travel system! It seems as though parents have gone crazy over travel systems in the past few years, and honestly, who can blame them? However, they are a great solution to combine a car seat and a stroller, save up on space and money, and not compromise the functionality.

And, if you find them on sale, consider yourself to be the luckiest parent in the world!

I bet you read many Maxi Cosi Zelia Max 5-in-1 travel system reviews, but this is the only one you will need! I'll guide you through all the pros and cons of this travel system so we can conclude whether it's worth the investment or not.

The Maxi-Cosi Zelia 5-in-1 modular travel system comes with a versatile and customizable design all parents will appreciate! The stroller and car seat offer up to five modes of usage with absolutely no tools required.

It's packed with parent-friendly features such as easy assembly, a one-click LATCH system, a machine-washable cover, and many more! With its 360 swivel front wheels, this car seat stroller combo is also suitable for city-dwelling parents as it can keep up with their urban lifestyle.

Price: Under $600

Quick Notes:

All in all, the Maxi-Cosi modular travel system is excellent for daily walks as well as travels! The car seat clicks in right away, and there is no funny business regarding installations. The stroller frame is lightweight yet sturdy, giving parents a sound mind during longer walks.

Due to the high price, the travel system does need a few things improved. Yet it's a suitable choice for those who want to get the best out of their infant car seat and stroller. With up to 5 modes of configuration, you will love every single bit of the Maxi Cosi Max Zelia 5-in-1 travel system.

Maxi Cosi Zelia Max 5-in-1 Travel System Reviews: The Unboxing

The Maxi-Cosi 5-in-1 modular travel system comes in a huge box! You will get an infant car seat with the base, stroller frame, and stroller seat, along with the cupholder and stroller wheels. Upon arrival, every portion of the travel system was packed nicely with a styrofoam protector, so none of the parts got scratched during transport.

In the package, you will also get a car seat adapted. You will need to click on the infant seat on the stroller system. The infant seat is also compatible with all Maxi Cosi strollers and some other recognizable brands on the market!

You will notice that all parts need to be assembled, but believe me, it's much easier than it looks. The entire assembly process does not require you to use any tools, so you can even do it by yourself without the help of a partner.

Compared to other strollers on the market, Zelia is lightweight and easy to lift. Lightweight is key if you live in a building with no elevator or often pack the stroller in your trunk! However, at 21 pounds of weight, some parents found it unstable, especially on uneven terrain.

Since I mentioned the car trunk, it's best to know that the Zelia stroller will take up a significant amount of space. Even when fully folded, it's not exactly compact for smaller vehicles.

Nonetheless, it's great for urban living as the large storage basket will allow you to fit lots of necessities! For example, I fit a diaper bag and my tote and still have room for toys!

1. Maxi-Cosi infant car seat

The Maxi-Cosi Zelia 5-in-1 modular travel system has the well-known rear-facing Mico XP infant car seat. Many parents love that it's lightweight and easy to transfer from car to stroller and vice versa.

The weight range of the car seat is from 5 to 30 pounds which is pretty low. So in the best-case scenario, your kid will be able to use the car seat for at least two years.

It includes a curved carry handle and a narrow design, making it suitable for three across installations. One of the most worthy features of the infant seat is that it's perfect for smaller babies. In addition, it includes a Cozi-Dozi infant insert that offers snug support.

As your child grows, you can adjust the height of the shoulder straps in one of the three available positions. However, it does not include a no-rethread harness, so you may struggle a bit with it.

One of the key features of the rear-facing Mico XP infant seat is that it allows for baseless installations! If you decide to install with the base, you can use latch connectors for a secure fit.

It's why I love it for city walks. Once you get tired, you can hail a cab or an Uber and easily install the car seat without dragging a car seat base each time you take a walk.

However, the thick padding is not great for bigger babies, so keep that in mind.

2. Maxi-Cosi Zelia Max stroller

As for the stroller seat, it has a 50-pound weight limit. Although it's nicely built, many parents commented that the stroller seat is a bit smaller, so it's likely that the child will outgrow it quicker.

Nonetheless, it folds with ease, making a big difference when you are in a rush. In addition, car seats are easily attached to the stroller base, so you don't have to mess with challenging installations.

It features large, swivel front wheels, which can be locked for extra safety. The stroller seat includes an expandable canopy with a flip-out visor for additional coverage. With the help of the zipper extender, you can secure the canopy in place without it falling forward when it's not in use.

Many parents prefer the hand brake, but this travel system includes a toe tap brake on the rear right wheel. Because the wheels are made from plastic, I advise you to avoid uneven terrain. Not that the stroller can't handle it, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

There is always a possibility you can accidentally hit the brake during your walk, so it's something you need to be careful about.

Lastly, I was thrilled that my partner and I could use the stroller since the handle is height adjustable!

3. Up to 5 modes of use

If you had asked me what's the one feature worth splurging on, I would say it's the multiple configurations Maxi-Cosi offers! So let's see what they are!

The Maxi-Cosi Zelia 5-in-1 modular travel system does come at a higher price tag, but it offers ultimate comfort. For starters, you can use the stroller as a toddler seat or pull it down to create a bassinet mode. In addition, you will get three seats in one when you think about it, so it's a fantastic deal to use from day one!

Now, as far as stroller seat modes go, here is what you can use. You can set up the carriage mode to be world facing or parent facing, and you can do the same with the toddler and infant seats!

4. Stylish design for city parents

Not only is the Maxi-Cosi Zelia 5-in-1 modular travel system highly functional with the large storage basket, but it's also stylish for city walks!

The stroller travel system is available in three colors: tetra blue, tetra graphite, and tetra teal. In addition, the handle and bumper bar are covered with vegan leather, giving off an expensive and sleek touch.

5. Is there room for improvement?

As much as I want to say that this is a perfect travel system, sadly, it isn't. Despite the high price, the Maxi-Cosi Zelia 5-in-1 modular travel system has a lot to improve if we label it as "perfect."

It does not include a child tray for starters, and it has only one parent cup holder! I am someone who loves to enjoy their morning coffee while strolling with my kid.

However, it's practically impossible to do so with the Maxi-Cosi travel system! The plastic on the cup holder is a bit flimsy, and I never dared to store my hot beverage in there.

On the bright side, I did find an alternative child tray that works on any stroller. It's the J.L. Childress Food 'N Fun Stroller Snack Tray, and it's an absolute lifesaver! If I can't have my morning caffeine boost, at least my kiddo can enjoy their snacks and juice!

Another thing is the size of the entire travel system. Although the car seat is lightweight and compact, the stroller is nowhere near compact! Also, trying to get it in the car trunk was a challenge.

Final thoughts? I would only recommend it to those with bigger vehicles!

Also, the swivel wheels are plastic and not so sturdy when you go over uneven terrain.

6. Alternative option

If you are looking for a similar budget-friendly pick but don't want to compromise quality, your best choice is the Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System.

It offers up to 6 modes of usage, plus it has a parent cup holder, child tray, and lots of other user-friendly accessories. The car seat on the Evenflo modular travel system has a slightly bigger weight limit if you want to extend the rear-riding mode.

Additionally, it's packed with features that Maxi-Cosi lacks, such as a one-hand folding system, blanket boot, and removable trays.

FAQs

What does the Maxi-Cosi Zelia come with?

You can get the Zelia Max 5-in-1 modular travel system that comes with a Mico XP infant car seat and a baby car seat base.

It has five modes of usage: forward-facing riding, parent-facing carriage, parent-facing stroller, and forward-facing stroller riding.

How safe is the Maxi-Cosi Zelia 5-in-1 travel system?

The Maxi-Cosi Zelia 5-in-1 travel system follows and exceeds all Federal US Safety Standards. It's packed with safety features such as lockable front swivel wheels, toe-tap brakes.

In addition, it comes with a Mico XP infant car seat which includes Air-Protect side impact protection and an anti-rebound bar.

How much does the Maxi-Cosi Zelia car seat weight?

The Maxi-Cosi Zelia is a 2-in-1 stroller, and it weighs 21 lbs. It can be used as a regular stroller seat for toddlers or a stroller carriage for newborns.

How long can you use Maxi-Cosi Zelia stroller?

The Maxi-Cosi Zelia stroller can be used from birth to at least three and a half years.

What is the difference between Zelia and Zelia Max?

The only difference between Zelia and Zelia Max is the car seat included in the travel system. Zelia comes with a regular Mico 30 infant car seat, while the Zelia Max includes the Mico 30 XP car seat.

It's better to opt for a Zelia Max as its car seat is packed with safety features such as an anti-rebound bar and Air-Protect side impact protection for extra support.

Final Words

The Maxi-Cosi Zelia Max 5-in-1 travel system is a versatile, customizable and stylish modular combo you can use for your city walks! It can be used from baby's day one until they are 3,5 years old!

Thanks to the baseless installations and lightweight design, it's made for families on the go. My final verdict is that this modular system is worth it! It does have key features that need improvement, but other than that, it's a must-have for daily walks!

So, what do you think? Is it worth investing in, or are you going to stick to a budget-friendly alternative?

Nonetheless, Amazon offers amazing deals, so you might as well get the chance of purchasing this travel system on sale!