Short version: the Silver Cross Cove 2 is a premium single pram, and for us it earned its price. It handled every surface we tried it on. The one-hand fold works with the carrycot still attached, and it will see you through from newborn to around four. The catch is the money. At around $1,499 it is a big outlay, and because it is single only, parents planning babies close together should look at a single-to-double instead.
Choosing a pram is one of those baby purchases you can spend far too much time thinking about. You want something that looks nice, obviously, but once you’re actually using it every day, things like how it steers, how easily it folds and whether it can handle a patch of grass without becoming hard work suddenly matter a lot more.
We spent some time testing the Silver Cross Cove 2 in Onyx to see how it handled normal family life, as well as a few less-than-perfect surfaces. Here’s what we thought.
Silver Cross provided the Cove 2 free of charge for this review. They had no input into it and didn’t see it before publication. As with everything we review, the verdict is ours.
What’s included
| Spec | Silver Cross Cove 2 |
|---|---|
| Product | Silver Cross Cove 2 with Carrycot |
| Price | Around $1,499 at the time of review |
| Suitable from | Birth to 22kg (roughly 4 years) |
| Wheels | All-terrain RideTech™ wheels with 4-wheel suspension |
| Fold | One-hand Genius™ Fold, self-standing, folds with the seat or carrycot attached |
| Weight | 7.9kg chassis only, 12.7kg with seat, 12.8kg with carrycot |
| Included | Chassis and reversible seat, folding carrycot, cup holder, rain cover, universal car seat adaptors |
| Warranty | 3-year guarantee (with registration) |
Our first impressions
The Cove 2 definitely looks the part. We tested the Onyx colour, which has a clean, understated finish that feels timeless.
The fabrics also feel nice without seeming too precious, which is important because, realistically, prams get covered in crumbs, sticky fingers and whatever else your child happens to be holding that day.
It feels sturdy too. Nothing about it feels flimsy or like you need to be overly careful with it, which gives you a bit more confidence that it will cope with being thrown in and out of the car for the next few years.
The fabrics are water-repellent with a UPF50+ finish, and the outer fabrics can be removed and washed. That last part might not sound exciting before you have kids, but after the first yoghurt pouch or half-chewed rusk ends up smeared across the seat, it suddenly becomes very important.
The wheels were what impressed us most
This was probably the biggest surprise.
We tried the Cove 2 on sand, dirt, gravel, bitumen and grass, and it handled all of them well. The all-terrain RideTech™ wheels and four-wheel suspension made rougher ground feel noticeably smoother, and it never became particularly heavy or awkward to steer.
We were especially impressed with how easy it was to push one-handed. Anyone who has tried steering a pram while holding a coffee, toddler hand or phone will know how useful that is.
Sand and thicker grass are normally the surfaces where you notice a pram struggling, but the Cove 2 kept moving without needing too much effort from us. It also stayed fairly smooth for my little one, rather than bouncing around every time we hit uneven ground.
What it’s like to use day to day
A pram can have all the clever features in the world, but if it annoys you every time you put it in the car, you’re probably going to end up hating it. Thankfully, the Cove 2’s design is easy to use and easy to live with.
Our favourite feature was the one-hand Genius™ Fold. You can collapse it with either the seat or the carrycot still attached, and it stands upright once folded, which is handy when you’re putting it away at home or loading up the car.
A few other things we appreciated were the fact that the handlebar adjusts easily, which is useful if there’s a height difference between parents. The storage basket is also very generous, holding up to 10kg, and you can reach it from both the front and back. We had no trouble fitting the usual collection of nappies, bags, jackets, drink bottles and random things you somehow accumulate every time you leave the house with a baby.
From newborn to toddler
The Cove 2 is designed to take you from birth through to around four years old.
For newborns, it comes with a folding carrycot. The mattress is reversible, with temperature-regulating bamboo on one side and waffle jersey on the other, and there’s a large ventilation panel around the carrycot. For parents in Australia, that extra airflow is something we like, especially when you’re out walking on warmer days.
Once your baby is ready to move into the main seat, it can face either towards you or outwards. Switching directions is simple, and the seat also has a one-hand recline, adjustable calf support and extendable UPF50+ hood.
We liked that there’s plenty of adjustment as your child grows, rather than the seat feeling designed mostly for the baby stage.
The Cove 2 is also car-seat compatible using the adaptors included in the box. If you’ve ever finally managed to get a baby asleep in the car five minutes before arriving somewhere, you’ll understand why being able to move the capsule straight onto the pram can be very handy. If you are still choosing a capsule, our best baby capsules in Australia guide covers the ones we rate.
A few things to consider
At around $1,499, this is a premium pram, so it’s a real investment. For us the quality, the all-terrain ability and the fact that it covers you from newborn to about four years help justify the price, but it’s still a lot to spend up front. It’s also a single pram, so if you’re planning babies close together, a convertible single-to-double might suit you better. Our best prams in Australia roundup covers those options, and if you fly or travel often, our best travel prams guide looks at lighter, more compact picks.
What we liked
- Looks high-end but feels tough enough for daily use
- Handled sand, dirt, gravel, bitumen and grass without any issues
- Light, easy steering, even one-handed
- One-hand fold that works with the seat or carrycot on
- Comfortable, breathable carrycot that suits hot days
- Reversible, adjustable seat that keeps up as your child grows
- Height-adjustable handlebar and a big 10kg basket
- Works as a full travel system with a car seat
Frequently asked questions
Is the Silver Cross Cove 2 suitable from birth?
Yes. It’s suitable from birth to 22kg, which is around four years. Newborns ride in the folding carrycot until about six months, then you move them to the reversible reclining seat.
Is the Cove 2 good on different surfaces?
That was our experience. The all-terrain RideTech™ wheels and four-wheel suspension coped easily with sand, dirt, gravel, bitumen and grass, and steering stayed light throughout.
Does the Cove 2 fold with the seat attached?
Yes. The one-hand Genius™ Fold works with either the seat or the carrycot attached, and it stands on its own once folded.
Can I use the Cove 2 with a car seat?
Yes. It comes with universal car seat adaptors, so you can use it as a complete travel system.
How much does the Silver Cross Cove 2 cost?
It’s around $1,499 at the time of writing. Prices and availability change, so check the Silver Cross website for the latest.
Final thoughts
The Cove 2 is a lovely pram that has the substance to match how it looks. It feels premium and hard-wearing at the same time, it rolls over pretty much anything, and the everyday details like the one-hand fold, adjustable handlebar and big basket make it easier to live with. It isn’t cheap, but if you want a single pram that will take you from the newborn haze through to the toddler years, on footpaths, at the beach and everywhere in between, it’s well worth a look.
You can see the full range and colours on the Silver Cross website.
