Expert Review
Chicco Cortina Travel System

Enlarge Image




Stores Selling: 8
$289.00 - $330.00


Expert Rating:  4  (what's this?)

Expert Review

Chicco Cortina Travel System

Date Published: 7/31/07

The Chicco Cortina Travel System covers many baby gear bases: It's a stroller, infant car seat and car seat base. It doesn't have the same innovative features as Chicco's pricier top-of-the-line Ct0.1 Travel System, but it also costs about $100 less.

The stroller that comes with the Chicco Cortina Travel System has several flashy features, including a multi-position "memory recline." This means that the stroller seat remembers the last position it was in before the stroller was folded. Though not a necessity, this is a neat extra. We also like the stroller's handy extras, such as a three-position leg rest and an easy-to-use one-hand folding mechanism. The stroller features rear brakes, and while we would have liked to see larger wheels on this unit, it does have an all-wheel suspension that offers a comfortable ride. A few other extras set this stroller apart: It has a reversible canopy that we love for its sun-shading and wind-breaking effectiveness, a parent and child cup holders and a storage basket that can actually be reached when the seat is fully reclined.

Chicco's KeyFit Infant Car Seat locks into the Cortina stroller and has safety appeal, including an interior lined with energy-absorbing foam for greater protection during side impacts. It can hold infants up to 22 pounds, rather than the standard 18 to 20 pounds. And, unlike some infant car seats, it can be used with smaller or premature infants weighing as little as four pounds and has a full-body newborn insert for fitted support. The five-point harness has one-hand adjustment, thanks to the pull of a central strap. Our testers like the luxury of the car seat's plush Italian fabric-covered lining, but we worry it will be difficult to keep clean or to remove for cleaning. Still, we are impressed by the car seat's bells and whistles, like the more-generous-than-average canopy and easy one-hand removal from both the Cortina stroller and KeyFit base.

The Chicco Cortina Travel System also comes with a base that can be installed into a vehicle. The Chicco KeyFit Infant Car Seat simply snaps into the base, and can be removed with one hand. This base has several innovative features we like: two bubble levels on both the left and right side of the base to verify correct positioning, a spring-assist leveling mechanism that can be adjusted from either side of a vehicle, and a smooth underside that won't damage a vehicle's seats. And since separate seat belt locking clips are so easy to lose, we like the built-in auto belt lock-offs that secure seat belts in place.


Pros: Comes with stroller, infant car seat and car seat base that presents an attractive package and offers top-of-the-line performance
Cons: The fabric, though high quality, is hard to keep clean

Warranty
1 year, limited



Expert Rating Scale

 
   Value
   Is it appropriately priced?
   Performance
   How well does it work?
   Ease of Use
   How easy is it to operate?
   Features
   What's included?
   Overall
   What does Consumer Guide® think?




Compare prices on Chicco Cortina KeyFit 30 - Atmosphere Travel System Stroller
Chicco Cortina KeyFit 30 - Atmosphere Travel System Stroller
The coordinating Cortina Stroller offers just as many pluses, including a fully-reclining seat that "remembers" your last preference and a height-adjustable handle. Other noteworthy features: a reversible, water-repellent canopy, three-position leg rest, and dual parent/child trays. ...
> Price range: $289.00 - $330.00

 

 

Compare Prices
Store Name Price Buy It








  Looking for More?


Explanations

Expert Reviews
Safety 1st Acella Sport Travel System 01929
Chicco Ct0.1 Travel System

Prices
Peg Perego Pliko P3 - Oltremare Travel System Stroller
Graco Stylus - Morocco Travel System Stroller
Chicco Cortina KeyFit30 Travel System - Miro Stroller
Eddie Bauer Endeavor Travel System - Vanderbilt Stroller
Cosco Juvenile Sprint Travel System 01938FZN - FunZone Stroller



Price Range


Brand


Overall Weight


Convenience Features


Harness Points




Narrow Your Search







ATTENTION! We recently updated our privacy policy. The changes are effective as of Thursday, October 30, 2008.

To see the new policy, click [here]. Questions? See the policy for the contact information.

Magic Debugger

release: 8.4.3-qa1
content_id: 265871
type: review
category: l4-cp-travel-systems

brws title: Chicco Cortina Travel System Review: Powered by ConsumerGuide and HowStuffWorks

meta d: The Chicco Cortina Travel System is an economical, convenient option for parents. Get the details in the full review from Consumer Guide.

url: http://shopproducts.howstuffworks.com/Cosco-Juvenile-Sprint-Travel-System-01938FZN-FunZone-Stroller/productId=85488974