iCandy Orange 4 vs Bugaboo Donkey 6 — Which Family Pushchair?

This page contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It does not affect our verdict. Full disclosure policy →

Published: August 2026 · Both models reviewed hands-on · Specs verified against icandybaby.com and bugaboo.com August 2026

The fundamental difference: tandem vs side-by-side

This is the comparison that matters before anything else. The Orange 4 is a tandem pushchair — one child sits in front of the other. The Donkey 6 is a side-by-side — both children sit next to each other. This isn’t a detail; it’s the entire character of the pushchair, and it affects everything from doorway clearance to sibling dynamics to how the pushchair handles.

Weight and daily practicality

The Orange 4 weighs 12.3kg. The Donkey 6 weighs 15.3kg. That 3kg difference sounds modest on paper but is meaningful when you’re loading into a car boot daily. Both are heavy pushchairs — there is no way around that — but the Orange 4 is the lighter tool for the same job.

The honest caveat applies to both: if lifting heavy items regularly is a physical constraint, neither of these is straightforward. But if you’re choosing between them on weight grounds, the Orange 4 wins that comparison clearly.

The ride-on board question

The Orange 4 has a built-in ride-on board rated to 20kg. The Donkey 6 does not include one. For families with a toddler who is sometimes too tired to walk but doesn’t need a full seat, the Orange 4’s board is a practical advantage — particularly in single configuration where a toddler can stand and ride while the baby is in the main seat.

The honest caveat: in full double configuration on the Orange 4, legroom for a standing toddler on the ride-on board becomes severely restricted — to the point where the board is effectively unusable in that setup. If full simultaneous double seating is your primary need, the ride-on board advantage largely disappears in practice.

Double conversion: how each works

We converted the Donkey 6 ourselves in-store: three clips, press a button, slide to expand the frame by 14cm, swap the side bag for a second seat. Once you’ve done it once, it’s one of the most straightforward double-conversion mechanisms we’ve used — under one minute, no tools, and once locked in it feels like a single-piece chassis rather than something that’s been extended. That mechanism is why the Donkey 6 earns its price — it has been tested and refined over multiple generations and holds up well in long-term use.

The Orange 4’s double configuration requires a separate tandem seat — children sit inline, one in front of the other. It’s a different conversion logic: you’re adding a seat rather than expanding the frame. For families who need to switch between single and double mode regularly, the Donkey 6’s one-minute expansion is the more seamless solution in daily use.

Storage and basket

The Donkey 6 has the more flexible storage arrangement: 15kg underseat basket plus a side bag that doubles as a changing bag. The Orange 4 has a 64-litre / 10kg basket with a drainage vent — which is a large single-basket capacity. Comparing them directly is non-trivial since one measures in litres and the other in kilograms plus a bag, but the Donkey 6’s dual-zone setup gives more options for families who carry a lot across different configurations.

Suspension and terrain

The Orange 4’s suspension is noticeably improved over previous Orange iterations — a real and meaningful upgrade on a model that previously drew criticism in this area. The Donkey 6 is a capable all-terrain pushchair, easier to steer than its size suggests, and handles kerbs and varied surfaces well. Both are capable on real-world terrain. Neither is the right answer if you need something lightweight for rough ground — the Bugaboo Fox 5 or our all-terrain guide is a better starting point for that conversation.

Frequently asked questions

---

Not sure which is right for your family? Get in touch — happy to help.