Evenflo Transformer Review: Is This Stroller to Wagon Worth It?

The Evenflo Transformer accomplishes something I have not seen any other stroller do. It goes from a lay-flat pramette, to a toddler seat, to a travel system with an infant car seat, to a two-child wagon that pushes like a stroller. All in all, there are 9 different modes of use for this one stroller!

I personally have tested over 150 strollers at this point, but I do not typically review many wagons. I find that most of them push awkwardly and are just heavy and bulky. So when I saw that this one from Evenflo converts from a full stroller into a wagon, I was skeptical but intrigued.

We put the Transformer to the test in everyday life at home, then took it up to a cabin over the 4th of July, with several kids of different ages riding in it. And I am excited to share my honest review of this stroller.

Now, there is no perfect stroller, and that especially goes for a product trying to be this many things at once. Every mode involves a trade-off. In this post, I’m going to walk you through the trade-offs so you can decide if they work for your family.

Disclosure—This review was made in partnership with Evenflo; however, all opinions are my own. Being able to give an honest review is very important to me, and I turn down opportunities when I am not able to do that. This post also contains affiliate links. You don’t get charged any extra, but my family receives a small commission when you shop through one of my affiliate links, and we are grateful for your support! <3

Prefer to watch? Here is my full review:

Evenflo Transformer Quick Summary

If you don’t have time to read the whole post, here are the quick hits before you buy:

• 9 modes of use: Forward and rear-facing toddler seat, forward and rear-facing pramette mode, wagon mode with push handle and pull handle, parent and world-facing with the infant car seat, and “double mode” with infant car seat and wagon mode in use at the same time.
• The push is the surprise: Lowering the frame in wagon mode spreads the wheels apart and distributes the weight, and it pushes like a stroller instead of a traditional wagon.
• Roomy seats: The stroller seat holds up to 55 pounds and fits kids up to 43 inches tall. My tall 6-year-old could fit in wagon mode (she is under the weight limit). In wagon mode, each seat holds 55 pounds, for 110 pounds total.
• A canopy that covers all: UPF 50+, adjusts to any angle, expands from three panels to four, and stays attached when you fold. It can take a few tries to get it locked in position, but we always had sun coverage when we needed it.
• Included with the travel system: Infant car seat, base, car seat adapters, parent cup holder, bumper bar, and a snack tray that converts into two.
• It is big: 30.7 pounds with the seat attached, and the fold is on the larger side.
• No storage in wagon mode: When both seats are full, there is no basket you can actually reach.
• Not a true double stroller: With two kids, your only option is the wagon with an infant car seat above it.

Price and What’s Included

There are three versions you can purchase of the Evenflo Transformer, and the price comes down almost entirely to the infant car seat.

Option 1: Upgraded Travel System – $799.99. This is the top-level package, and it is the one I have used for this review. It includes the stroller wagon, a parent cup holder, a snack tray, the LiteMax NXT infant car seat, and the car seat base. The fabrics are GREENGUARD Gold, green and gentle, which means no added flame retardants and no added chemicals. This version has SensorySoothe built into the car seat and the SensorSafe chest clip.

Option 2: Base Travel System – $679.99. This gets you the travel system without the green & gentle fabrics, SensorySoothe, or SensorSafe. The car seat is the main difference between this version and the $800 one.

Option 3: Wagon Only – $529.99. This gets you the stroller-to-wagon on its own, without the infant car seat and base. It includes the car seat adapters (if you already own a compatible Evenflo infant car seat).

The car seat adapters are included with all of the options, which is worth calling out. Adapters are usually a surprise expense that can cost between $30 and $70 or more on other strollers.

What Are the Evenflo Transformer’s 9 Modes?

Evenflo advertises nine modes of use:

• Parent-facing lay-flat pramette
• Forward-facing lay-flat pramette
• Parent-facing toddler seat
• Forward-facing toddler seat
• Parent-facing infant car seat
• Forward-facing infant car seat
• Wagon push mode
• Wagon pull mode
• Infant car seat (parent-facing only) on wagon mode

Here is the limitation that matters most. In double mode, your only option is the wagon with the infant car seat above it. You cannot run two stroller seats, and you cannot put a toddler seat below an infant car seat.

So in practice, your older child rides down in the wagon seat, and your baby rides in the infant car seat until they can sit up unassisted. Once they can, they move down into the wagon seat using the five-point harness.

If you are shopping specifically for a double stroller, that might be a dealbreaker. If you are shopping for a wagon that can also handle a newborn, it probably isn’t.

Wagon Mode Is Where the Transformer Is in Its Prime

Anytime a stroller does a lot of things, there is one mode where it’s really in its prime. For the Transformer, that is wagon mode.

We took this all over the park and through the woods with our kids, and it impressed me. My kids could climb in and out on their own; they each had their own snack trays, a great canopy, a 5-point harness for my baby, and a 3-point harness for my 4-year-old, and I could still push it with the smooth ride of a stroller.

The Two Harnesses Are Smart

The converted seat gives one child a five-point harness. The other side has a three-point harness hidden behind a zipper in the back of the seat.

For younger babies and toddlers, the reminder of a five-point harness is good. For older toddlers, the three-point harness is great, and being able to mix the two was so nice.

Each seat holds up to 55 pounds, for 110 pounds total. 

Storage Is A Wagon Downside

There is no storage basket in wagon mode. That is my biggest complaint about this stroller.

Here is how we made it work. The snack trays hold their snacks and their cups, and I tucked smaller things underneath the seats where their feet were not. For anything more than that, I would wear a diaper backpack, because you do not have storage when both seats are in use.

The Pull Handle

One last party trick: you can pull the handlebar up and pull it behind you like a traditional wagon. We didn’t use this feature much, but it is there if you want it.

How to Convert to Wagon Mode

Tip the seat back toward pramette mode, loosen the recline strap at the back, release the buckle under the calf support, and remove the bumper bar. Then lower the frame by pulling the two buttons on the sides.

Lowering the frame is the step people will skip, and it is the most important one. It moves the wheels farther apart and distributes the weight much better, and that is what makes the push so good. Always place it in this position when using it as a wagon.

The seat attaches with a zipper and Velcro. Unzip the seat fabric all the way around and remove the seat and flip it around, then bend the bottom portion down, zipper it into place in the wagon, and secure the velcro into a small pocket on the back. So the converted stroller seat becomes one of the two wagon seats, which is a clever use of the same parts, and no tools are needed. The other side has a zipper with a three-point harness tucked away for a second child. 

Pramette Mode: Use It From Birth Right Out of the Box

I love a stroller you can use from birth right out of the box, without buying a separate bassinet. And the Evenflo Transformers Newborn set-up is super unique.

The Transformer’s pramette is one of the biggest I have ever seen, and the seat is rated up to 55 pounds. This is a great option for families with a child who has a disability or babies who need more space than a standard bassinet allows.

I also love the moveable canopy for this mode. When you are walking with your baby lying flat, the sun is your worst nightmare, and being able to move the canopy to different angles as the sun moves is a big deal. It also has an extension for added airflow. We took my friend’s baby out for a walk in it, and adjusting the canopy based on where the sun was hitting her made the whole walk easier.

Toddler Seat Mode

Converting from the pramette to a toddler seat is easy. Lift the handle on the back into the upright position, tighten the straps on the back, and connect the two buckles underneath the seat. It’s not the most upright seat, but I did find that pushing the fabric back gives you a slightly more upright seat.

To switch between parent-facing and world-facing, press the two buttons on the sides and turn the seat around.

The seat is large, holds up to 55 pounds, and fits kids up to 43 inches tall. It has a no-rethread harness (that can be a little tricky to adjust) and easy-to-use buckles, which matter when you are switching between kids of different sizes like I am. Just like in pramette/bassinet mode, this stroller offers a bigger seat than most!

The calf support is not adjustable and stays in that one position. The seat is deep enough that babies who are newly sitting up will be comfortable, and older kids can rest their legs over the front on the lower footrest.

The snack tray comes with two cups you can pop out to wash or to use in wagon mode, and the bumper bar connects easily.

Infant Car Seat and Travel System Compatibility

The Transformer works with Evenflo’s LiteMax infant car seat line, and the travel system packages include the LiteMax NXT along with the base and the adapters. It does not work with other brands, and it does not work with every car seat in Evenflo’s lineup. So if you already have a Nuna Pipa and want car seat compatibility, this is not going to work for you. The LiteMax NXT holds babies from 3 to 30 pounds. Here is the full list of compatible car seats.

The car seat sits high on the frame with this stroller. I tried to move it down, but that is the only position it can be in. For quick errands or when your baby is brand new, having them up that close to you is a selling point rather than a problem, but it took me a minute to get used to. You also cannot fold the stroller with the car seat adapters attached.

SensorySoothe and SensorSafe

The $799.99 version comes with the technology Evenflo has become known for. SensorySoothe is built into the car seat handle and gives you lights, sounds, and songs that you can customize through the app. You can even run it as a plain sound machine, which is unique for an infant car seat.

The SensorSafe chest clip is the other piece. It sends you notifications for things like a child being left in the vehicle or the vehicle getting too hot.

If you go with the $679.99 travel system, you don’t get either one. That is the main difference between the two options.

From Top to Bottom: Parent Features

Handlebar

The handlebar is adjustable, has a nice leatherette material, and offers a decent range of adjustment. There is no bar down below, so neither my husband (he is 6 feet) nor I kicked it once. Even taller parents should be comfortable pushing this (and if not, you could always pull it!).

Canopy

The canopy might be one of my favorite features. It is UPF 50+, expands from three panels to four, has a mesh panel for ventilation, and includes pop-out visors.

What sets it apart is that it moves to any angle you need. In toddler mode, it doubles as a peekaboo window when you pull it fully back. In wagon mode, it comes up taller, and I could position it around one child’s seat so I could still see her, or run it across both kids and extend it. Normally a mesh panel lets in a lot of sun along with the airflow, but being able to move this one based on where the sun was made that a non-issue.

Best of all, it stays attached when you fold. A lot of wagons make you take the canopy off every single time, and not having to deal with that was one of the nicest surprises here.

Basket and Storage

The basket holds up to 20 pounds. In toddler seat mode, it is a great size and easy to use. There is a bar down the middle, but it can double as a divider to help keep your basket organized. In pramette mode, it is harder to get to, but that is true across most strollers with a bassinet or pramette. In wagon mode, as I covered above, it is not really accessible.

You also get a parent cup holder, which I use every single time.

Brake

There are two brakes, one on each rear wheel. I usually don’t love it when strollers have a two-step brake, but I got used to it. I will say not having a bar makes it better for taller parents.

Folding, Unfolding, and Ease of Use

Here is the catch. This is not a compact stroller. It weighs 30.7 pounds with the seat attached, and the fold is on the larger side.

To fold in stroller mode, fold the seat forward, bring the handlebar down to the lowest position, and push the two buttons on the sides. It comes together from there. You can fold it with the snack tray attached, which is convenient, and removing the seat first makes the fold smaller for your car.

Folded, it measures about 35.75 inches high by 24.5 inches wide by 20 inches deep. We fit it in our car without an issue, especially since you can pack things on top of it, but if your trunk is tight, it might be tricky.

My tip: unlock the brakes and push the folded stroller instead of carrying it from your garage to the car. That is how I move it from my garage to my car, and it really saves your back.

To open it, put the brakes back on and push those same triggers on the sides. It comes back out and clicks. Then pull the handlebar out, pull the seat up, and you are ready to go.

You can technically fold it in wagon mode, but it requires disassembly: taking the seat off, taking the snack trays off, and repositioning everything. I found it much simpler to remove the seat, fold the seat in half, put it in the trunk, and fold the frame separately.

The trade-off for all of that bulk is real though. You are getting a pramette, a toddler stroller, a travel system, and a wagon in one product, and wagons in general are bigger and heavier. This one just happens to also be a stroller.

Maneuverability and Push

The push is what surprised me most about this stroller. Evenflo put all-terrain wheels and all-wheel suspension on it, and it handled the park and the woods really well.

In wagon mode, dropping the frame is what makes the difference. The wheels move farther apart, the weight distributes better, and it pushes far more like a stroller than any wagon I have used. Having the push of a stroller while my kids get the benefits of a wagon is the whole reason I am reviewing a wagon at all.

What About Kids Kicking Each Other?

From a footwell standpoint, my kids occasionally kicked each other. I have found that is true with most wagons, even the expensive ones like Wonderfold and Veer. Kids kick each other. It comes with the wagon territory, and honestly, it is a great training opportunity.

Evenflo Transformer Specifications

Who Is the Evenflo Transformer Best For?

There is no perfect stroller, and there is definitely no perfect stroller wagon. With the Transformer, you have to accept a big stroller in exchange for a lot of versatility. Whether that is a good trade depends entirely on your family.

Pros:

• Pushes like a stroller, which is rare for a wagon
• Roomy seats that hold up to 55 pounds each
• Pramette mode works from birth with no separate bassinet purchase
• Great for families who need a bigger pramette or stroller seat
• Adjustable UPF 50+ canopy that doesn’t need to be removed when you fold
• Infant car seat, base, and adapters all included with the travel system
• Adjustable handlebar with no lower bar to kick

Cons:

• Large fold that takes up a lot of trunk space
• 30.7 pounds with the seat attached
• No accessible storage in wagon mode with two kids
• Not a true double stroller
• Only works with select Evenflo car seats
• Calf support is not adjustable

Grandparents were the first people I thought of when we were up at the cabin. If you have grandkids across multiple ages and stages coming over on different days of the week, one product that goes from pramette to toddler seat to wagon is genuinely useful, and you are not storing three separate things in the garage.

Beyond that, this is for families who want wagon mode but also want the versatility of a real stroller. If you want a wagon for the park, the cabin, or the zoo, but you also want a seat that works from birth and holds a bigger kid up to 55 pounds, the Transformer covers all of it. The included car seat and adapters, the adjustable handlebar, the decent-size basket, and that push make it a legitimate option.

Who is it not best for? If you need a lightweight stroller you will be lifting in and out of a trunk all day, or a compact fold for a small car or apartment storage, this isn’t it. If you need two traditional stroller seats side by side, look at a true double instead. And if you already own an infant car seat from another brand, the compatibility rules this one out before anything else does.

Yes, it is bigger, and it will take up more room in your trunk. But that is true for most wagons. The real question is not whether the Transformer is a good stroller wagon. It is whether a wagon is the right option for your family in the first place.

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