Pietro Catelli began Chicco (kee-ko) company in 1958, and it's now one of the biggest baby-centric brands in Europe, selling products in over 120 countries. As part of the Artsana Group, a lifestyle company, Chicco offers a variety of gear that includes products for feeding, strolling, car travel, medical supplies, and more.
The chart below shows a comparison of the overall scores for the products we tested in this review including the Chicco Liteway Plus (in blue).
The details in the subsections below include information on how the Liteway compared to the competition during testing.
The Liteway earned a 7 of 10 for ease of car seat attachment and is better than the average of 5.5 for the group, but not good enough to compete with the 10 earned by the Doona that is a car seat and stroller in one.
The Liteway, which is only compatible with the Chicco Keyfit infant car seats, was tested with the Chicco Keyfit 30. This an award-winning seat from our best infant car seat review. The Liteway is designed specifically to accommodate Chicco seats.
Installing the car seat requires folding the toddler seat all the way forward; this is unlike any other stroller in this review. This process renders the canopy unusable which is a shame because it is still attached and contributing to the weight, but it doesn't serve a purpose that makes the weight acceptable. Getting the carrier to attach to the stroller isn't difficult, but it is more effort than it should with a native brand carrier. You need to apply pressure to hear the click, but we didn't have any trouble installing it wrong or thinking it was connected when it wasn't. We feel this stroller car seat combination is the least stable of all the Chicco options in our tests.
This Chicco scored a disappointing 5 out of 10 in the weight and folded size metric. Given that new moms may have limitations on the amount of weight they can carry, we feel a lighter stroller is better. The Liteway is ironically not that light or small.`
The Liteway weighs 19.6 lbs, which means it should be embarrassed to call itself a lightweight option. With several full-size strollers coming in lighter, we aren't entirely sure what Chicco is thinking. The full-size UPPAbaby Cruz Combo scored well and weighs only 15.3 lbs, making it the lightest full-size option in this review and significantly lighter than the Liteway.
When folded the Liteway measures over 9,000 cubic inches, which is once again larger than some higher scoring products. The UPPAbaby Cruz Combo, a full-size stroller, is smaller with a folded size of 7,860.
The Liteway earned a 5 of 10 for maneuverability. The average is closer to 6, with a high of 9.
The Liteway is easier to maneuver than the other Chicco products in this review. It feels more stable and responsive than the frame options and only struggles marginally in the grass and gravel. The smaller plastic wheels and dual front wheel design get caught on objects, and dropping down from curbs was trying because the brake pedals drag on the step and the handlebar height causes awkward bending.
The wheels are small and foam filled plastic with wheels that spin freely and don't wobble. The plastic is dense and feels nicer than some, but rubber would perform and look better. The Liteway has all-around suspension, but the hard plastic wheels mean there is no way to disguise bumpy roads.
The handles are two-sided and curve up from either side of the frame (common on umbrella products). They are covered in dense foam and angled inward toward each other for an ergonomic feel. They are only average for comfort, and the two-part design means it is hard to push with one hand.
The Liteway earned a 3 of 10 for ease of use.
This stroller folds like a traditional umbrella product by collapsing in on itself. You can fold it with one hand, but you will need two to unfold. It has an auto-lock and a carry strap, but it doesn't self-stand. It rolls like luggage after it locks but you'll still need to lift it to put it in a car.
The brakes are double action requiring the use of 2 pedals to engage. If parents forget or forgo a pedal, then the Liteway is not properly parked and the baby could potentially be injured. We prefer single action brakes for this reason. The brakes are easy to set and release, and they are friendly to sandal feet.
The storage bin is a tough one to use with an elaborate crossbar at the back access is limited to the rear and sides. The bin is small, and we barely crammed our medium diaper bag inside, but with a 5 lb weight limit your diaper bag is likely to weigh more than the bin allows.
The side cup holder is flimsy, and while safer than one located above the baby's head, it isn't the best and it gets in the way when the Liteway is folded.
While the canopy stays on the frame no matter what, the attachment of the car seat prevents you from using it completely. You can partially extend it to meet up with the carrier canopy.
The Liteway earned a 6 of 10 for ease of setup taking almost 9 minutes from start to finish. The directions aren't as clear as some of the other Chicco strollers but it is still easier than some of the competition that took over 10 minutes.
The Liteway earned a 5 of 10 for quality, just 2 points over the low of 3 for the Chicco Keyfit Caddy.
The frame on the Liteway feels sturdy and has a nice finish, but the exposed fasteners and components give it a cluttered look and detract from the overall fit and finish. The fabric is a slick feeling canvas that seems like it will clean easily and wear well over time. The Peek-a-boo window in the canopy is a tinted vinyl, and while neither the canopy nor the window is impressive, they feel durable. Overall, this is a basic stroller that would look nicer if there were less or hidden junction points and exposed components.
