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First published: June 2026 · Last reviewed: August 2026 · Next scheduled review: February 2027 · Specs verified against bugaboo.com August 2026
Our verdict in one sentence
The right tool for growing families who need true single-to-double flexibility on one chassis — but at 15.3kg and from £1,245, it demands a clear commitment to the features you’re paying for.
Should you buy it? If a second child is a firm plan — or already here — and you want one chassis that grows with your family, yes. If you’re buying speculatively on the off-chance, don’t. At £1,245 and 15.3kg, the Donkey 6 rewards commitment and punishes indecision.
Verdict at a glance
Best for
Growing families
Conversion
9.5/10 ★★★★★
Weight
15.3kg
Value
Premium
Age range
Birth – 22kg
Our score
8.5/10
Compare the Donkey 6 against
Bugaboo Donkey 6
15.3kg · From £1,245 · Single-to-double flagship · From birth to 22kg
✓ Verified UK Retailers | Full Manufacturer Warranty
Why trust this review?
Tested by: Mark — hands-on in store, including the single-to-double conversion mechanism tested personally.
Evidence basis: In-store assessment of fold, conversion, steering and build quality. Long-term owner evidence from MadeForMums cross-referenced and attributed. Specs verified against bugaboo.com August 2026.
Conflict of interest: This review contains affiliate links. This does not affect our verdict.
✅ What I liked
- Single-to-double conversion — as easy as claimed, tested in store
- Frame feels solid when expanded — no flex or wobble
- Easier to steer than the size suggests
- Outstanding storage — large underseat basket plus side bag
- 74cm double width fits standard UK doorways
- Premium Bugaboo build quality throughout
⚠️ What to watch
- 15.3kg in single mode — a serious daily lift. To put that into perspective, it’s roughly twice the weight of a typical travel pushchair.
- From £1,245 — firmly premium territory
- Folded size is still sizeable — measure your boot
- Seat must be removed before folding
- Double mode — narrow shopping aisles become noticeable
⭐ Best for…
- Growing families — second child planned or already here
- Outdoor families — all-terrain capability, easier to steer than the size suggests
- Parents who carry a lot — outstanding storage throughout
- Twins — twin configuration available from birth
🚫 Not ideal for…
- Public transport and small boots — heavy and bulky
- Speculative buyers — expensive if a second child isn’t a firm plan
- Tight physical limits — 15.3kg is a daily workout
Is the Bugaboo Donkey 6 right for you?
A good choice if:
- You’re planning a second child within a few years, or already have two close in age
- You want genuine all-terrain capability, not just a city pushchair
- You have the budget, the boot space, and are comfortable lifting a heavy pushchair daily
- You want one pushchair that grows from single to double without buying two separate ones
Think carefully if:
- The price is a stretch — this is firmly premium territory
- Lifting heavy items regularly is a physical constraint — 15.3kg is the honest number
- You only need a single with no realistic plans to convert
- You have a small car — measure your boot before committing
💡 What surprised me most
I expected the expansion mechanism to feel flimsy — a frame that widens by 14cm sounds like it might wobble. It doesn’t. Once locked into place the Donkey 6 in double mode feels like a single-piece chassis rather than something that’s been extended. The engineering is impressive for what it does.
The Bugaboo Donkey 6 is one of the most distinctive pushchairs on the market because it converts from a single into a side-by-side double in under a minute. It’s designed for growing families who want one chassis that adapts as their family expands. That flexibility comes at a price: it’s one of the heaviest and most expensive pushchairs currently on sale. Reality check first — the Donkey 6 is expensive, heavy at 15.3kg, and the folded size won’t suit every car. Any one of those three could rule it out. If none of them do, it’s excellent.
The single-to-double conversion — how it actually works
This is the Donkey’s real strength, and having tested it in store myself, it’s as straightforward as Bugaboo claims. Three clips, press a button, slide to expand the frame — it widens by 14cm. Then swap the side bag for a second seat. No tools, no separate adaptors for the basic conversion, under a minute once you know what you’re doing.
💡 Where this pushchair comes alive
At 74cm wide in double mode, the Donkey 6 fits standard UK internal doorways — just, and possibly needing a slight wiggle to get through cleanly. If your home has particularly narrow hallways, it’s worth measuring before you commit. For most standard UK homes it gets through without serious drama, but “most” is not “all.”
All-terrain performance and steering
The Donkey 6 is a properly capable all-terrain pushchair — and easier to steer than its size might suggest. Long-term testing from MadeForMums, who used it for several weeks with a newborn and toddler, found it felt lighter to push than expected, handled tight circles and one-handed steering well, and managed kerbs without difficulty.
Double mode is harder to manage than single — that’s an expected trade-off rather than a flaw. The storage is outstanding: a large underseat basket plus a side bag that doubles as a changing bag. For families who walk a lot and carry plenty, that’s a real practical advantage. The trade-off in double mode is width — tight shopping aisles become noticeably more cramped.
Common complaints — what owners actually say
The complaints owners mention most often:
- Heavy to lift — 15.3kg into a car boot every day is the most consistent long-term complaint
- Wide in supermarket aisles — double mode at 74cm catches tight spaces regularly
- Accessories are expensive — the Bugaboo ecosystem is premium-priced throughout
- Seat removal before folding — one extra step that some owners find frustrating over time
Notably: very few owners criticise the conversion system itself. The clip-press-slide mechanism holds up well in long-term use — which is the core thing the Donkey 6 needs to get right.
🚫 Skip the Donkey 6 if…
- You’re buying speculatively “in case” a second child arrives — that’s an expensive bet
- Weight is a genuine physical constraint — this is not a manageable pushchair for everyone
- You use public transport regularly — 15.3kg on a bus is a different proposition entirely
- Your car boot is tight — measure before you commit
MyPushchair scorecard
← Swipe to see full specs on mobile
| Single-to-double conversion | 9.5/10 (tested in store — works exactly as claimed) |
| Build quality | 9.5/10 (premium Bugaboo engineering throughout) |
| All-terrain performance | 9/10 (capable outdoors — easier to steer than the size suggests) |
| Ease of use | 8/10 (seat removal before folding is one extra step; conversion itself is straightforward) |
| Portability | 5/10 (15.3kg — the honest reality; not a pushchair you’ll carry lightly) |
| Value | 7.5/10 (strong if you use both modes; hard to justify if you don’t) |
| Overall | 8.5/10 |
Donkey 5 vs Donkey 6 — is it worth upgrading?
← Swipe to see full specs on mobile
| Feature | Donkey 5 | Donkey 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Fabrics | Standard polyester | Upgraded premium fabrics |
| Wheels | Standard all-terrain | Updated wheel design |
| Conversion mechanism | Same clip-press-slide system | Same — unchanged because it didn’t need it |
| Dimensions | Same width single/double | Same |
| Price | Now discounted as older model | From £1,245 |
If your Donkey 5 is in good condition, probably not worth upgrading — the conversion mechanism is the same, the dimensions are the same, and the core proposition hasn’t fundamentally changed. If you’re buying new, the Donkey 6 is the one to buy. A secondhand Donkey 5 remains a capable pushchair and the price difference may well be worth it.
Key specifications
← Swipe to see full specs on mobile
| Weight (single) | 15.3kg |
| Width — single mode | 60cm |
| Width — double mode | 74cm — fits standard UK doorways, may need a slight wiggle |
| Suitable from | Birth (with bassinet) up to approx. 22kg per seat |
| Conversion | Single to double — three clips, press, slide. Under one minute, no tools needed |
| Basket capacity | Up to 15kg underseat, plus side bag (capacity reduces in double mode) |
| Twins compatible | Yes — twin configuration available with two bassinets from birth |
| Fold | Seat must be removed first — one extra step vs a standard pushchair |
| Price | From £1,245 single, £1,560 double — check current price below |
How does it compare with the alternatives?
| If you need… | Consider… |
|---|---|
| One chassis that grows with your family | Bugaboo Donkey 6 |
| Lightweight city use in a Bugaboo | Bugaboo Dragonfly |
| The best single all-terrain pushchair | Bugaboo Fox 5 |
| A capable all-terrain double at lower cost | Out n About Nipper Double |
| A premium all-terrain single at lower cost | Mamas & Papas Ocarro 2 |
Frequently asked questions
Open three clips, press a button, and slide to expand the frame — it widens by 14cm. Then swap the side bag for a second seat. No tools needed, under a minute once you’ve done it a couple of times.
Yes — at 74cm wide it fits standard UK internal doorways, though it may need a slight wiggle. Worth measuring your own doorways if they’re on the narrower side before committing.
15.3kg in single mode — heavier still in double. This is a genuine consideration. If lifting heavy items into a car boot regularly is a physical constraint, factor that in honestly before buying.
Yes — Bugaboo offer a twin configuration with two bassinets from birth and two seats as they grow, making the Donkey 6 suitable for twins as well as siblings of different ages.
If you use the single-to-double flexibility, it can work out better value than buying two separate pushchairs over the years. If you buy speculatively and the second child never arrives — or arrives much later with very different needs — you’ll have paid for flexibility you didn’t use. Be honest with yourself before committing.
Also worth reading
- Bugaboo Fox 5 vs Bugaboo Donkey 6 — which Bugaboo for your family?
- iCandy Peach 8 vs Bugaboo Donkey 6
- Best Double Pushchairs — For Two Under Two
- Best All-Terrain Pushchairs
- Best Pushchairs for Small Cars
- Bugaboo Fox 5 Review — if single all-terrain capability is the priority
- Bugaboo hub — all Bugaboo models reviewed and compared
Where to buy the Bugaboo Donkey 6 in the UK
Also available on Amazon →
✓ Verified UK Retailers | Full Manufacturer Warranty Available
About the reviewer
Mark founded MyPushchair.co.uk in 2006 after struggling to find honest, straightforward pushchair advice as a new dad. With more than 30 years in the family travel and leisure industry — and after returning to relaunch the UK’s original independent pushchair review site — he continues to test products with one aim: helping parents buy the right pushchair the first time. Janette contributes a female perspective to every hands-on assessment.
Mark Hartshorne · Founder, MyPushchair.co.uk · Read the full story →
Considering the Bugaboo Donkey 6 and want a second opinion? Get in touch — happy to help.