Well Worth Consideration

We have been searching tirelessly for reviews on the Maclaren MX3 and yet still come up empty handed. After much debate and procrastination sufficient time had passed that one actually appeared in a high street store, John Lewis. So we went to see it first hand. Based on what we saw there we thought it was worth a punt. This review is based on our very newly acquired MX3, and so entails build quality, feel and ease of use rather than longevity of the product.
The MX3 is the new generation of the discontinued Mac 3. The Mac 3 has had its fair share of bad reviews which made us nervous about the MX3 continuing in the same vein. Fortunately, it would seem that the designers at Maclaren threw the Mac 3 out with the bath water and started again - being careful not to make the same mistakes again. There are major structural improvements and design elements that now makes the MX3 a good 3 wheeler. The Maclaren website is here http://www.maclarenbaby.com/national/uk_xl/2006_collection/buggies/product.php?m=mx3

Purchase Costs
Let's cut to the punch right off. We only paid £134 for the MX3 (RRP200) as it was on special. I know the retailer was clearing various stocks at the time, so we may well have lucked out on that one. We also bought the carry cot option which was a further £70. Although the buggy does from birth happily, we felt that it would be better to have the baby able to see us pushing them rather than facing forward (although there is a window in the buggy seat hood that would probably allow this anyway).

Assembly
The assembly instruction books it comes with are basic, which requires you to try to think what they are trying to show you. They seem to show operation of the features and assembly at the same time. That being said, it doesn’t take a genius to work it out as everything can only go one way.
We unwrapped the parts like kids at Christmas and began assembly - and in a couple of minutes, it was ready to roll. Of course, this is a once off assembly as collapsing is much quicker.
Collapsing the buggy is a simple case of pressing a lock button and drawing back the two release catches. Then just let gravity do the work as you push the handle bars to the ground and the buggy folds in half like a knee joint. - that’s it. Unfolding is just the reverse and the catches have a satisfying click as the frame locks in place. Both operations are easier with the wheel brake on. A good point is that you can have the rain cover in the basket and collapse the buggy no problem. I have seen some buggies where the rain cover takes up most basket and won’t fold with it stored there.

Features and Build Quality
A few of the things we like are detailed below (can’t think of any we didn’t like actually):

Tyres - These 10 inch wheels are NOT pneumatic. On the plus side, you don’t have to worry about punctures and carrying a pump. Apparently, on the negative side, this means that the baby will have a slightly rougher ride. I can’t see this being much of a problem as the tyres are made of a firm but slightly soft rubber that will absorb your general pavement bumps. There is sufficient padding in the buggy to absorb the rest. The tyre rubber is about 1.5 inches thick, so there should be a lot of miles in them (unlike the problematic Mac 3). I am told the buggy is not a serious off roader, but will be fine for walks in the park/beach/old railway walks/country dirt tracks or jogging. So if you want to take your baby up Ben Nevis, perhaps you should look at a rucksack style harness or a buggy with shock absorbers and great big chunky tyres (and a motor!).
On another point, the tyres are quite fat, which should make them ride easier off road (eg on a beach) than slimmer tyres I have seen on other buggies (like the Jane).
The front wheel swivels continuously 360 degrees to give the buggy feather light control and the manoeuvrability required whilst shopping. It also easily locks in place for more rigid control on those jogging or off roading sessions.

Velcro - this has been generously used on the buggy for ease and neatness of "flappy bits". All structural components are locked in place with sturdy fixings, but it’s the bits like the adjustable strap that changes the angle of the seat back that has Velcro to stop the excess waving about like a backpacker at Heathrow. The UV Visor that flips down from the hood to offer some protection has a Velcro catch to help keep it in place. The hood back/sides Velcro to the side of the backrest to help reduce draughts.

Rain Hood/s - this is supplied with the product (separate one with the cot). The cover is elasticated and covers from the very front foot rest(wheel cover) over the hood and down to the bottom of the hood and back along a straight line just above the basket back to the front wheel cover. Putting the cover on is quickly and easily done, being held in place by efficient and friendly Velcro. Last thing you want is 40 poppers to click when you are getting wet.
The elasticated cot cover goes completely over the cot and covers from its base upward (no Velcro required).
These fold to the size of a folded T-shirt and take up very little room in the buggy basket.

Gadgets:
The little things impress too.
The hood has a top UV viewing pane, so you can see what your child is doing without having to stoop around the hood. Additionally, this pane has a zippable cover which when opened has a toggle to keep it neatly rolled up and open.
On the back of the hood there is a mesh pocket and another enclosed one. The basket underneath is of a reasonable size, but can be a little difficult to get to. Perhaps I have yet to work out the knack.
Soft grip, adjustable handle has a release button on each side and then swivels instantly to a sweeping 10 inch height range for your pushing comfort.
Carry cot has handles that tuck into zippable pocket to keep them out the way until required. The cot also has a breather vent that zips closed should you wish to stop any wintery draughts. The mattress supplied is both breathable and washable.
The MX3 does not have car seat option. We personally don’t see that as an issue after reading the various stories of the heavy weight and cumbersome nature of these. Additionally, they are accepted as not particularly good for your child's back and head when used for over 2 hours - (which limits you if you have just driven somewhere nice to go for a walk, pub lunch and the drive home again).

Materials
The fabrics used have a rugged, durable feel to them. Many components are removable for washing or cleaning. The accents have reflective material to improve night visibility to motorists. Brilliantly these subtle accent areas don’t turn your buggy into a hi-vis vest look-a-like during the daytime - after all looks count too !
Chassis tubing is thick and sturdy yet light weight. The buggy no longer has a single stress point like the Mac 3. Better design has made the chassis solid. This robust feeling pervades even down to the zippers which are chunky. The few poppers on the seat are sturdy (easier to pop once lightly lubricated).

Size & Weight
The MX3 has an average weight of 9.8kg (21.6lbs). This only comes into play when you load it into the car, but is light enough to make that task manageable. Once it’s on its wheels and in use, it is feather light.
I have read many reviews where people complain about 3 wheelers in high street shops being difficult. I guess you won’t get around this no matter which 3 wheeler you choose. According to The Disability Discrimination Act (1995) the minimum door width in the UK is 29.5 inches (75cm). The buggy is only 24 which is about 4 or 5 inches wider than a normal small 4 wheeler.

Conclusion
Overall, we feel that Maclaren have vastly improved their 3 wheeler. The look of the buggy and cot is attractive yet safety conscious. Weight and folding dimensions are reasonable considering the trade-off with the quality of the product. When you have the buggy in front of you, there is a feeling of "Wow, that's striking !". Operation is simple and quick.

For the money, in our opinion, there isn’t really much to compete with it in 3-wheeler-ville.