In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
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The Baby Jogger City Mini earned a high score for weight and folded size and scored well for maneuverability. While the City Mini is a little harder to use than some of the competition thanks to a poorly placed peek-a-boo window and storage that's somewhat blocked, it still managed an impressive score considering its budget-friendly price and the stiff competition. The City Mini is a nice little stroller that performed above average here and in our Umbrella Stroller Review where it also wins an award.
REASONS TO BUY
Small and lightweight
Price
Easy to push and turn
REASONS TO AVOID
Harder to use
Average quality
Update
The City Mini has been replaced with the Baby Jogger City Mini 2. We now link to the newer model stroller and you can read more about the changes below. We will be updating this review soon with more details after testing the new City Mini 2.
Our Analysis and Test Results
City Mini vs. City Mini 2
The new City Mini 2 (below left) looks very similar to the old version (below right) with a few minor alterations. The City Mini 2 has a large and slightly different canopy, adjustable leg support (as opposed to stationary), larger storage and a more compact lighter design. Unfortunately, it still sports the dual front wheel design, we've found, is historically more challenging to push.
The new Baby Jogger City Mini 2
Hands on Review
Baby Jogger started in 1984 by parents who had a desire to jog with their babies, but they couldn't find viable strollers on the market for this activity. To solve the problem, they decided to create the first jogging stroller. From the beginning, Baby Jogger has built several different kinds of strollers for a variety of activities. Baby Jogger was purchased by Newell Rubbermaid in 2015, and together the companies have continued to design popular strollers.
Performance Comparison
The Baby Jogger City Mini is a good lightweight stroller and a nice full-size everyday option scoring well in both categories of gear.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The City Mini has below the average ease of use which could impact your daily experience depending on your expectations.
The City Mini has one of the easiest folds in the group with a one-handed pull loop.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Fold and Unfold
The City Mini has a one-handed fold with one step, pulling up on the handle located on the seat. This stroller has an automatic lock and a carry strap, but it doesn't self-stand once folded. The fabric tends to get in the way of this fold, but it isn't as tricky as some of the others. Unfolding is a little harder with two steps, but it is still very easy.
The center brake pedal on the City Mini is easy to set and release, and is sandal foot friendly.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Brakes
The brake pedal on the City Mini is located in the middle of the axle and is easy to set and release. The pedal placement prevents any interference from the wheels, and the pedal itself is sandal foot friendly because it is press to set and press again to release.
The City Mini storage bin has easy access from the back and sides, but the shape of the bin and curved bar across the back prevent larger items from fitting inside.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Storage
The storage bin on this stroller is medium in size and sort of hard to access thanks to the lower seat and a frame bar across the back making it a tight fit for our medium-sized diaper bag. The maximum bin capacity is 10 lbs. The City Mini also offers a wide, narrow mesh pocket on the back of the seat where you can probably fit a phone, keys and maybe a small water bottle.
The Mini has 2 large peek-a-boo windows that are easy to use when they aren't throwing off glare.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Sunshade
The City Mini boasts a large sunshade with two vinyl windows that cover to the knee. The windows often have a glare on them that make it hard to see through, and mesh might have been a better choice for this reason. The canopy is UV 50+, and the window closures are Velcro.
The Mini harness is easy to use, but changing the shoulder strap height can be tricky with no visibility in the back and a small access pocket that will give large hands trouble.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Harness
This 5-point harness is easy to put on, but the buckle is only average compared to the competition. While the harness is easy to adjust, the shoulder straps are challenging because you have to rethread the straps through two layers and you can't see what you are doing. You have to slide your hand down a slim pocket on the seat back, and it can be difficult for larger hands to fit. The harness has three height options and an adjustable crotch strap.
The City Mini has a comfortable seat with deep recline and a padded leg rest which makes it a good choice for comfort on longer trips.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Seat
The City Mini does not have an adjustable leg rest, but it is padded adequately for comfort. It has a wide footrest that is covered with a durable material for better wear over time. The seat back on the Mini reclines fairly easily one-handed, but it is two-handed for raising. The recline operates with two side straps that meet in the middle with a plastic pull that keeps tension and keeps the back upright. The recline angle is deep enough for cozy napping.
Car Seat Compatibility
The Baby Jogger City Mini is not compatible with any seat as it comes straight out of the box, but it will work with some car seat carriers if you purchase the right adapter.
This Baby Jogger City Mini multi-adapter works with some seats made by Peg Perego, Chicco, and Graco.
Other Car Seat Adapters — Baby Jogger sells additional adapters for car seats made by Baby Jogger, Britax, BOB, Maxi Cosi, Cybex, Nuna, and Graco.
Ease of Setup
The City Mini took us 4:29 minutes assemble from unpacking to ready to stroll. This stroller doesn't require any tools and the manual is better than average for the group and easy to follow.
The 3 leg design of the Baby Jogger City Mini helped make it easy to push and turn on most terrains. If it had rubber tires or a single front wheel instead of a double wheel it probably would have scored higher.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Maneuverability
The City Mini is pretty easy to push and turn for the price. Despite the dual front wheel design on the City Mini, it still manages to push and turn with ease. Perhaps this is a result of the trike design as opposed to four legs found on some of the competition.
This stroller is responsive enough to navigate tight places without bumping anything, and it continues to push and turn easily on rougher terrain if the front wheels don't get tugged off course by small irregularities in the road. We experienced a minor vibration in the handlebar that seemed to be a result of a slight wobble that makes the Mini feel like it is swaying somewhat. This stroller can even be pushed one-handed for the most part.
The City Mini has a three wheel design that helped it out maneuver the four wheel competition, with a single dual wheel leg in front.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The City Mini only has front-wheel suspension, but it has nice padding on a sling seat. It offers a deep recline and a large canopy, so it is cozy for passengers. The handlebar is rubber covered, which isn't as nice as foam, and stationary. The height and "cushion" the rubber provides is comfortable for pushers even over longer distances.
The City Mini is 17.5 lbs, and 8,300 cubic inches when folded. This makes it a small full-size stroller and a relatively large lightweight option. It is important to measure your trunk space or test the stroller in the smallest location it will need to fit before deciding to keep it.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Weight and Folded Size
The City Mini weighs 17.5 lbs and is one of the lightest strollers in the group.
The City Mini is a compact stroller measuring 8,300 cubic inches, making it a good choice for families with smaller cars or limited space. The City Mini's lighter weight and smaller size helped earn a spot in our Best Umbrella Stroller Review.
The Baby Jogger City Mini scored slightly above average for quality, with materials and a design that is nice, but lacks any wow factor.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
The Baby Jogger City Mini is about the quality you'd expect for such a reasonably priced stroller. This score is similar to other Baby Joggers in this review, and they are virtually the same when it comes to the materials and design, with only a few minor differences.
The City Mini has nice materials and connections that are well-constructed and smooth. The Mini has a simple and sturdy frame with little flex and slick fabric that wraps around the frame evenly. While the material is easy to clean we don't think it is very breathable. The overall fit and finish aren't as sleek as some of the competition, but it is functional and without errors. The wheels are foam filled plastic that won't puncture, but they can grow deformed over time and could leave you with a stroller that feels like a bad grocery cart.
