Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico Review

All stroller reviews
Review by: Annabel

Introduction



The Peg Perego P3 (and its predecessor the Pliko) has been around for many years now. It is a full featured stroller that folds umbrella style and offers a host of features for children of all ages. Just a few of these features include a large padded seat, one hand recline, extendable handlebars and large hood which provides terrific sun protection.

Seat design and function


Seat fully upright.







Seat fully reclined.



Footrest raised.



Grey backrest adjust lever.





The P3 has a great seat both for young babies and older children. For babies the seat reclines back to just short of horizontal, and the footrest comes up to enclose the end of the seat. For older children the seat sits nice and upright, and with the floating harness children are able to sit independently of the backrest.

The backrest has a one hand adjust which is so much easier than the usual twin levers found on umbrella strollers. The seat reclines to 4 positions.

The seat is nicely padded and made of water repellent fabric that is quick and easy to remove and clean.

Seat dimensions:
35cm or 13.8 inches wide
50cm or 19.7 inches high
22cm or 8.7 inches deep


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Child safety harness


Harness hooked into loop on back of seat.



Harness unhooked.



The P3 has the characteristic Peg Perego 'floating' harness. This means that although the harness comes together at five points, only the waist and crotch straps are attached to the seat. A child is therefore free to lean forward to reach the front bumper and to sit independently from the backrest.

The floating harness is slightly more fiddly to put on a child, although a spot is provided to temporarily attach the back of the harness.

Personally I like the floating harness, and so does my 2 year old. It gives her room to move and restrains her well. She is not an escape artist though, so it has not been tested to full capacity!

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Hood or Canopy


Hood fully extended with seat reclined.



Hood fully extended with seat upright.



Hood reversed.



See through sun mesh on back of hood.



The P3 has a fantastic hood. When the seat is upright it comes forward and touches the front bumper so that the child is completely shaded. When the seat is fully reclined the hood still comes up nice and high, and if necessary the hood can be taken off and reversed. The mesh viewing window in the back allows visual access to the child whilst still providing sun protection.

The Mint and Rose P3 are called the Freestyle and have a slightly different hood. There is a zip in the rear which provides for ventilation in summer and also allows the hood to be adjusted to any angle. The viewing windows are however in the sides of the hood instead of the back and visibility of the child is not as easy.

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Handle design and function


Handles in lowest position.



Handles in highest position.





The P3 handles are comfortable to hold and can be extended for extra height.

Lowest position: 103cm or 40.6 inches
Highest position: 105cm or 41.3 inches

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Storage




No rear access to basket with seat reclined.



The basket on the P3 is a reasonable size for a stroller with an umbrella fold. Access from the back is restricted completely when the seat is reclined and the stroller frame makes it difficult to insert large items from the rear. Access is however good from the side.

All but a few small items need to be removed from the basket in order to fold the stroller.

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Wheels and Brakes

Rear wheels.


Front swivel wheels.


The P3 has four sets of double wheels. The front two sets swivel, and can be easily locked if required. The wheels perform excellently on smooth surfaces, and although this stroller is not designed for off road use, the wheels perform relatively well on the pavement.


Linked rear brakes when engaged.


The 2006 P3 has linked rear brakes which are applied by stepping on the lever over either of the back wheels. I find that they don't always enable the first time, but once they are on they hold the stroller relatively well. They come off very easily by kicking the lever back up.

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Fold mechanism


Fold buttons


Pull handle up to fold.


Stands when folded.


The P3 folds umbrella style which means when folded it is long and narrow.

To fold the P3 you first release a catch on both handles to unlock the frame (these can be released one at a time). You then pull the handle located above the cross bar on the back frame up towards you. The front wheels come towards the back and the stroller easily locks closed in the standing position.

One significant advantage of this folding mechanism is that one does not need to bend over to fold the stroller, or to pick it up. Another advantage is that the stroller stands when folded. This can be very handy when using and storing the stroller.

The P3 is not a particularly small stroller when folded, despite its umbrella fold.

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Manoeuvrability

The P3 does not have the best steering in the world, although on the whole it does manoeuvre very well. There is a small amount of give in the frame which makes one handed steering difficult with anything but a young child on board. When using two hands, however the steering is great, and this stroller is easy to manoeuvre around tight spaces.

The double wheels and suspension on the rear wheels mean that this stroller holds its own outside.

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Size

Despite the umbrella fold the P3 is really a mid sized stroller. It is small enough to be able to negotiate most shops, however at 8.7kg (19.2 lbs) it is certainly not something you would want to carry up too many stairs. It offers a good compromise between something large and sturdy enough to comfortably cater for a newborn, but small enough to last through the toddler years.

Unfolded dimensions
103 or 40.6 inches high
54 or 21.3 inches wide
88 or 34.6 inches long

Folded dimensions
105 or 41.3 inches long
33cm or 13 inches wide
40cm or 15.7inches high

Weight
8.7kg or 19.2 lbs





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Accessories


Cup holder.



The P3 Classico comes with a cupholder only. In Europe the P3 Completo model is available with the footmuff and raincover included. These can be purchased separately elsewhere. In the United States the P3 comes with a child tray as standard. A plain bumper bar can be purchased in the US, as can child trays to add to the European models that do not come with them. A matching nappy bag can be purchased.

Toddler Seat


Rear toddler step.



The P3 does not have a toddler seat, however it does have a built in rear step on which a toddler can stand.

It seems that Peg Perego are advising customers in some countries that the rear platform is not intended to be used as a step. The front page of the instruction manual I received from Europe however, pictures a child riding on the step.

Regardless of whether or not Peg Perego sanction the use of this step in your particular country, it is a wonderful feature that should be built in to more strollers. The step is perfect for an independent or older child who occasionally needs a ride back to the car after a long day out. The stroller handles almost better with a child on the step than without, and can be used for extended periods if needed.

My 4 1/2 year old is now passed riding in strollers, but I will take the P3 on any outing where we may have to walk for a long period, even if it is outdoors where I would normally be using something with all terrain wheels. The difference between a tired child dragging behind and having the facility to quickly push them home is in my opinion easily the difference between a happy or very stressful end to the day.

One downside to the toddler step is that shorter children may not be able to see over the hood. In the Freestyle models (Rose and Mint) a zip in the hood can be undone to move the hood forward and free up space for the rider on the step. For other P3 models the hood can be quickly removed if needed, and I have been able to fit my hood in the basket under the seat. The other thing to note is the step cannot be used when the seat is reclined.



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Summary and Rating

Pros

  • Umbrella fold makes for a compact fold
  • Toddler step on rear fantastic for older child
  • One hand seat recline
  • Seat suitable for babies through to 4 years
  • Hood provides excellent weather protection
  • Stroller stands when folded
  • Do not need to bend down to fold the stroller
  • Reasonably large basket for this type of stroller
  • Some see floating harness as a positive

Cons

  • Steering not as good as on other umbrella strollers
  • Some see floating harness as a negative
  • Relatively heavy for a compact stroller
  • Stroller does not always lock open when first unfolding

Conclusion

The Peg Perego P3 is an umbrella fold stroller with the comfort and features of a pram. It is ideal for people who want one stroller that will see their child through from newborn to 4 year old, and the Peg Perego quality means the that the P3 can be used over and over again, as new family members are born.

Rating

star star star star half star



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