We Tested Out an Ultra-Luxe Stroller with an Electric Motor and It Did Not Disappoint
Value: 16/20
Functionality: 20/20
Quality/Ease of Use: 17/20
Aesthetics: 18/20
Durability: 19/20
TOTAL: 90/100
Here at PureWow, we’re serious about strollers. We know that it’s often the most expensive and frequently used item on any mama-to-be’s registry, and that there are a lot of options out there which can make the shopping experience seriously confusing. That’s why we’ve tested one going up a four-story Brooklyn apartment, swooned over an astrology-themed collection and even found the Tesla of strollers. And while all of these options score high on features like aesthetics and durability, there’s no denying the fact that pushing a tiny human around can get pretty tiresome, pretty fast (especially when you add an overflowing diaper bag, a pile of groceries, a giant coffee and other parenting must-haves into the mix). If only there was a stroller that did the hard work for us… oh wait, but there is.
Introducing the Cybex e-PRIAM, the brand’s first electrical stroller that is designed to glide up and down steep hills with ease, and adapt to rough terrain (think: sand at the beach, cobblestones downtown and gravel in your friend’s driveway). But does this smart stroller really live up to its claims? We asked Jess, mom to an 8-month-old baby girl, to take it for a test drive to find out.
The facts
The e-PRIAM is a 3-in-1 system that can fit a stroller seat (included in the price), a LUX Carry Cot and an infant car seat (both sold separately). The recommended age is from birth (with the carry cot or infant car seat) and up to a maximum weight capacity of 55 pounds. The stroller seat can be both forward-facing or parent-facing.
The stroller is on the heavier side (it weighs 33.7 pounds with the stroller seat), but it’s worth noting that the sturdy wheels and electric motor make pushing it a walk in the park (even if said park is covered in dirt and sand). The machine-washable (“and super comfy,” according to Jess) fabrics come in five different colors, plus six additional patterns if you want to go for one of the funky fashion collections, and there’s also the choice to customize the frame. So yeah, you’ve got options.
Also included: a UPF 50+ sun canopy with a peek-a-boo window (“super big and useful”), a rain cover, a cup holder (“a little flimsy”), car seat adapters and a large storage basket with a weight capacity of 11 pounds and magnetic closures.
The stroller can be folded with one hand (“this really works but it’s hard to hold the stroller with just one hand since it’s so heavy”) and the chic faux leather handle is adjustable to accommodate different configurations.
The set-up
OK, considering that the Cybex e-PRIAM is one of the more high-tech options on the market, it’s perhaps no surprise that putting it together is a little trickier than your standard stroller.
“It was pretty difficult to put the stroller together just looking at the picture instructions (there were no words, just photos),” Jess says, revealing that she had to look up videos on YouTube to bail her out. “It took about 45 minutes for me to put it together by myself, mostly due to the alignment of the zippers for the seat and the foot support being a little difficult to figure out.” But once you’re set up and ready to go, Jess happily reports that the stroller is very easy to use.
The smart features
Enough about the boring stuff. What we really want to know is if this electric stroller lives up to the hype. Spoiler alert: It totally does.
“The e-stroller is an amazing feature,” raves Jess. “It works really well and provides much-needed assistance when walking up a hill without feeling like you have to use your energy to push the stroller up. The same goes for walking down a hill—you don’t feel like you’re being pulled down by the stroller but can walk with ease both up and down.” Speaking of going down, Jess’s favorite feature is that the stroller prevents you from going too fast down a hill. “It automatically moves very slowly if you accidently let go of the stroller when walking down a hill—it doesn’t completely stop but moves slowly enough that you don’t need to worry about it flying away.” There is also a strap you can wear around your wrist to stay connected to the stroller if you choose.
So how does the stroller work, exactly? The e-PRIAM has a battery that when fully charged (this takes about six hours) will run for approximately 28 miles in “fair conditions” and 12.4 miles in “difficult conditions.” How long your battery will last obviously depends on how often you rely on the motor, but Jess tells us that she has been using hers for over a month without needing to charge it yet. You can leave the battery on the stroller or remove it when not in use, although Jess warns that it’s pretty heavy. To turn on the e-stroller feature, deactivate the footbrake and tap a switch hidden in the rear axle. A row of LEDs let you know that the e-PRIAM is activated and ready to go. Once activated, sensors in the handlebar detect pressure to help you go up or down a hill as necessary. It’s basically the stroller equivalent of an e-bike.
As for the claims that the stroller can help you tackle rough terrain, Jess tells us that the e-PRIAM delivers. “The beach feature is really nice,” she says. And Cybex promises that you can even power through snowy streets with it, something Jess is eager to test come winter. The smart technology here works in the same way as above, with the motor able to sense uneven terrain and counterbalance it to make the ride feel smooth—a great feature to have on hand when you’re dealing with a sleeping baby.
The bottom line
“I would recommend this to friends and family who go for lots of walks on various terrains,” says Jess. “I would also recommend it for grandparents because it gives the extra support and functionality to assist with walking, helping to ease the work of pushing the stroller!”
Of course, this is one of the more expensive strollers on the market so you’ll want to do your research before making a decision. Is the Cybex e-PRIAM is right for your family? Here are some quick pros and cons from our tester at a glance:
Pros
The electronic feature that assists while walking up and down hills is really amazing, and the safety of the stroller is incredible!
The seat fabric is high-end and very comfortable, with options to face the seat inward or outward.
Connectors come with the stroller so you could use an infant car seat with it.
Cons
The battery is very heavy if you disconnect it.
The stroller is quite heavy to lift and fold.
The cup holder is flimsy.
It’s a big investment.
The PureWow100 is a scale our editors use to vet new products and services, so you know what’s worth the spend—and what’s total hype. Learn more about our process here.
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