Exclusive Joovy Groove Review

Joovy is a company who knows the value of paying attention to the needs and complaints of customer feedback. Now I had never gotten the opportunity to use a previous Groove umbrella stroller before the new and improved model came out, but I did make it a point to look at some photos of the old ones. Wow, I have to admit it looks like a completely different stroller!

Complaints in the past were about squeaky wheels and a stiff folding mechanism. Joovy addressed those problems and redesigned the whole stroller because the product I took out of the box looks quite different from the photos of the old Groove.

The canopy is different and bigger, the wheels and brakes are completely redesigned. The frame is now a high-tech modern design, sleek and gorgeous. I couldn't wait to take it out, but had to wait for the rain to stop!

As you read through this review, you will fall in love with the new and improved Joovy Groove stroller just as I have. Read on to discover what I like and what could still use some attention. But first I'm going to show you all the fantastic features.

Joovy Groove Features:

• Rear parking brakes
• Lightweight anodized aluminum frame
• All-wheel suspension with sealed ball bearings
• Compact umbrella fold with auto-locking frame and carry handle
• Front swivel wheels
• Oversized extendable sun canopy with sun visor with peek-a-boo window
• Padded 5-point adjustable safety harness
• Multi-position reclining seat
• Child's side storage pockets for snacks/drink
• 2-position leg support
• Parent cup holders
• Parent zippered storage pocket beneath cup holders
• Ergonomic foam covered handles
• Storage basket beneath seat
• Bright, non-fading 600D polyester fabric in blue, green, black and orange
• Reflectors for low light safety
• JPMA Certified

Sturdy and durable

For an umbrella stroller weighing 17 pounds, the Joovy Groove is quite substantial in its class. But when you discover all the other wonderful features it has and how well made it is, I know I didn't mind at all. Use this stroller in place of your heavier traditional stroller.

The first thing I noticed is the frame, with thick anodized aluminum, beveled for style. It is gorgeous. The folding hinges on the side are minimal and look high tech.

The seat and canopy are made of colorful 600D fabric, a highly durable, fade resistant polyester that is easy to clean. Choose from blueberry, orange, black or green. Your Groove's going to look good for years! I sprayed a bit of water on the canopy and seat to see how well this fabric handles spills. Some liquid soaked in, but most of it wiped off easily, beading up. So if you get a spill, wipe it off ASAP.

Balance: I draped a shopping bag over the handle to see how much weight an empty Groove could take before tipping backward. This stroller's tipping point is 6 pounds. You really should not hang shopping bags and heavy purses off your umbrella stroller, but lots of moms do, so just make sure it's less than 6 pounds!

Wheels and maneuvering

Large hard rubber wheels have been redesigned on the Joovy Groove, and let me tell you, it makes such a difference! They're 6½" double wheels all around and the stroller is equipped with all-wheel suspension. The front swivel wheels have a locking option, which I used at the park as you will read about next. But I did find that stepping down or pushing down on these levers was tricky to get the wheel to lock.

During my testing run, I took the Groove to a neighborhood park and pushed it over grass as well as playground mulch with a child's weight of 30 pounds in the seat. Now while this is not an all terrain stroller, the Groove goes over terrain with ease and the suspension works quite well!

On sidewalks I could push one-handed and the stroller would go pretty straight. The Joovy sails over bumps with ease and glides right over those occasional seams in the sidewalk as long as it is less than an inch high. Most strollers that don't have large air-filled tires would not go over that anyway...

Tell me about the seat

With a 55-pound weight limit on the Joovy Groove, it's important that the seat be large enough to carry a big kid! You won't be disappointed with the roomy seat on the new Groove. It's got a 13-inch width and 19-inch seatback, taller than many umbrella strollers. In addition, there's an additional 7½ inches of space between the top of the seat and the canopy - plenty of head space for your passenger. In the first picture, you can see that the child's head barely comes to the top of the seat and she's 2½ years and 25 pounds.

Inside the seating "cabin" little mesh pockets on either side hold your child's drink, snacks or small toys. It's the next best thing to a snack tray and this is the first umbrella stroller I've seen with this feature. I certainly give it a thumbs up!

I've never seen the type of recline system that is used on the Groove, but it works well! It is a 1-handed strap recline - just press the top release button on the recline mechanism and pull down to the angle you want. To adjust back to upright, simply pull the end of the strap toward you. Extremely easy to do and I like that it is one-handed!

Babies as young as six months old can ride on the Joovy Groove, but not recommended for those who are younger. This is because the seat reclines up to a 140° angle. Now, for children whose feet don't yet touch the footrest, the seat has a fantastic 2 position leg rest. Flip it out for an additional 4½ inches of space for your child's legs to rest on. Recline the seat all the way and you have a very comfortable seat for napping, as you can see from the second photo just below with our 2½-year-old model.

What is the fold like?

Folding the Joovy Groove is quite easy and is done in the classic umbrella stroller way. Pulling up on the handle, stepping down on the side lever and collapsing downward. An automatic lock on the side holds the stroller frame together. Simply unlatch it to unfold and press down on the folding lever in back behind the basket. One small issue is that the leg extender is always flipped up when you unfold the stroller.

I like the carry handle on the frame, making transport a breeze. This is not an ultra-lightweight stroller, but frankly I like the solid build and the bit of heft.

I love that sun canopy!

The sun canopy is certainly a highlight on the Groove and is one of the features that underwent a total makeover. The canopy has an extension that you can pop out like a sun visor that provides an additional 11 inches of coverage. Your child will be very well protected from the sun with this canopy!

If the sun's angle is really low, you can undo the Velcro tabs on either side of the canopy and fold it even farther down over your child. This canopy's gotcha covered - literally!

A large peek-a-boo window at the top of the canopy lets you check in on your child. It is vinyl and while I personally prefer mesh, it is just great. Lots of umbrella strollers do not have peek-a-boo windows anyway, so this is a real plus.

What are the safety features?

The Groove has a padded 5-point harness that is both snug and pleasant for your child. I like the buckle on it - not too difficult for us adults to use, but impossible for little kids to figure out! It's also quite easy to adjust the straps - no re-threading!

Brakes are important in every stroller; and they've also been redesigned on the Groove. I like the rectangular design over each rear wheel; it looks modern, and most importantly the brakes are simple to engage and release.

The Joovy Groove has lots of reflective accents all over the stroller from a little triangle on either side to reflective stripes on the canopy and shoulder padding on the straps. I like this because drivers are going to see you during low lit times like your after dinner walks.

Comfort for parents

For an umbrella stroller, the Joovy Groove has a pretty big basket beneath the seat. You can fit a medium to large diaper bag in the basket. I put in my medium-sized purse and teddy bear to show you.

However, as with umbrella strollers based on this design, you're going to have trouble accessing your things when the seat is reclined. But the good news is that you can reach in through the side to get to your stuff. Sweet!

I really like the large oval handles - they fit my hands so comfortably and at 42" from the ground, you're not going to hunch over if you're taller. I never once kicked the back of the wheels, even at a brisk walk. Even more petite adults should find that this handle height is comfy for them, as it seems an overall great height.

I appreciate the zippered pocket near the handles, which is just the right size for storing keys, cell phone and other small essentials. Cup holders above the pocket hold water bottles or extra sippy cup. I don't recommend it for hot drinks unless you have it in a sealed travel mug because your beverage sits at an angle since the holders are not supported.

How much should you pay for the Joovy Groove?

The MSRP for the Joovy Groove is $199 and you can buy this stroller straight from Joovy's website or at BuyBuyBaby.

See my video review of the Joovy Groove:

Overall Impressions

I'm extremely impressed with the newly improved Joovy Groove and rate it at 5 stars. It handles well taking bumps and cracked sidewalks with ease. Maneuverability is superb. The Groove is comfortable for both parent and child with little extras that mean a lot like the little snack pouches and tall oval handles. The overall look and feel is AWESOME! Love the color, canopy and leg support extension.

Not many negatives. Could be seen as too heavy for some, and the buckle sits a bit low on a child for my liking and you do have to flip down the leg rest each time you unfold the stroller. But these points are quite minor compared to all the wonderful features and benefits the Joovy Groove provides.

You hit this one out of the park, Joovy! Nice job!

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