Silver Cross has quietly reworked one of its most loved prams. We put the Cove 2's new fold, elevation system and ride quality to the test, and lined it up directly against the original Cove to see exactly what's changed.
Quick Summary: The Cove 2 keeps the same core footprint as the original Cove but is noticeably lighter, and refines the details: a simplified two-setting (50mm) elevation system, a new reversible bamboo/waffle jersey carrycot mattress, enhanced seat padding, a rebranded one-hand Genius Fold with carry strap, panoramic carrycot ventilation, and a redesigned cup holder. Suitable birth to 22kg, compatible with the Glide Plus 360 car seat and universal adapters. Bundle priced at £1,045, available in five colourways.
Silver Cross has been building prams in Britain for well over a century, and the Cove range has become one of the brand's most loved modern designs. The Cove 2 takes that same elegant silhouette and quietly upgrades a good deal of what's underneath it, from a reworked elevation system to a new reversible mattress, without losing the timeless look that made the original Cove such a hit with parents who wanted something a little more special.
If you've been drawn to the Cove's classic proportions but wondered whether the newer model is worth the extra attention, this review covers everything you need to know: the fold, the ride, the comfort features, exactly what's changed since the original Cove, what's included in the bundle, and who we think it genuinely suits.
GeniusFold and Everyday Practicality
The headline update on the Cove 2 is the one-hand GeniusFold, and it lives up to the name. The sleep-safe carrycot folds compactly onto the chassis with a single hand, and an integrated carry strap means you're not wrestling with an awkward shape when you're trying to get it into the boot. The seat unit folds just as neatly onto the chassis for everyday journeys, so whichever mode you're using, packing the pram away doesn't need to be a two-person job.
Folded, the Cove 2 measures 66.5cm in length, 59cm in width and 40cm in height, a sensible footprint for most car boots and hallway corners, though it's always worth measuring your own space first given the pram's generous unfolded dimensions of 82.5cm length, 59cm width and up to 109cm height. The chassis alone weighs approximately 7.9kg, rising to around 12.7kg with the seat unit fitted, making it one of the lighter full-size, all-terrain prams around despite its substantial, beautifully engineered feel. It's still not something you'll be swinging one-handed up a flight of stairs every day, but it's a genuinely manageable weight for lifts, stairs or a regular car boot lift.
The chassis itself is built around a lightweight yet rigid aluminium frame, finished to match the fabric colourway rather than left as bare metal, which is a small detail but one that adds to the overall sense of a considered, coordinated design rather than a chassis with accessories bolted on afterwards.
Comfort, Climate and the Elevation System
This is where the Cove 2 quietly does its best work. The integrated elevation system offers two height settings covering 50mm of adjustment, which sounds modest on paper but makes a genuine difference in practice. Raising the carrycot, seat unit or car seat brings baby closer to your eyeline and within easier reach, which matters far more than the numbers suggest during those early weeks of constant checking, soothing and chatting.
The reversible carrycot mattress is another thoughtful feature, with temperature-regulating bamboo on one side and a soft, breathable waffle jersey on the other, so you can flip it depending on the season or your baby's preference. A zip makes it easy to remove for washing, which any parent will tell you is worth its weight in gold at 3am. Panoramic ventilation panels keep air moving through the carrycot, while the seat unit benefits from enhanced padding that adds a noticeably plusher feel without making the seat bulky or difficult to fold.
Overhead, a large UPF50+ sun canopy extends and adjusts in height to shield baby from glare and sun, and the calf support and recline positions work together with the hood to create a genuinely restful space whether baby is napping on a summer afternoon or sheltering from a sudden shower.
Growing With Your Baby, Birth to Four Years
The Cove 2 is designed to be the only pushchair you need for a good stretch of parenthood, suitable from birth right through to 22kg, roughly four years of age. The reversible seat unit lets you have your baby facing you in the early months, then turn them outward to take in the world as they grow in confidence, and the one-hand recline backrest means naps can happen wherever you are without a fiddly two-handed adjustment.
Adjustable calf support and an extendable, height adjustable hood help the seat keep pace with a growing toddler rather than feeling like something they've outgrown by eighteen months, and the 5 point harness with colour matched webbing keeps things secure without looking like an afterthought.
For the newborn stage and beyond, the Cove 2 is fully compatible with Silver Cross's own Glide Plus 360 infant car seat, as well as a wide range of other car seats via the included universal adapters. That means you can build a genuine travel system around it and move a sleeping baby from car to pushchair without disturbing them, which is one of those small conveniences that makes a real difference on tired days.
Ride Quality and Handling
Out on the road, the Cove 2 benefits from supersized RideTech wheels, puncture proof so you won't be caught out by a stray thorn or bit of grit, paired with smooth, bump absorbing four-wheel suspension. Linked brakes make stopping simple with a single foot action rather than fumbling for two separate levers, and the pram handles the transition from pavement to gravel path with more composure than you'd expect from something this elegant.
The one-hand steering makes it easy to manoeuvre around shops, cafes and busy pavements without feeling like you're wrestling a shopping trolley, and the adjustable handlebar is a genuinely useful touch, letting both taller and shorter parents find a comfortable pushing position rather than one height trying to suit everyone in the household.
We'd still describe this as a pram built for city streets, coastal strolls and countryside paths rather than serious off-road use, but for the vast majority of everyday journeys, including the school run in the rain, it copes admirably.
Cove 2 vs the Original Cove: What's Actually Changed
The Cove 2 keeps the same core footprint and folded dimensions as the original Cove, so if you loved the shape and proportions of the first model, that hasn't been lost in the update - though the Cove 2 is noticeably lighter across the board. What has changed is a genuine list of thoughtful refinements rather than a superficial rebrand.
The elevation system has been reworked. The original Cove offered three adjustable height settings, while the Cove 2 moves to a simplified two setting system covering 50mm of travel. It's a smaller number of settings, but the adjustment itself feels more purposeful and easier to use one handed, rather than fiddling to find the right notch among three.
Comfort has had the biggest upgrade. The original Cove's carrycot used a bamboo lined interior with mesh ventilation, comfortable but fixed. The Cove 2 introduces a genuinely reversible mattress, with temperature regulating bamboo on one side and breathable waffle jersey on the other, plus a removable zip cover for washing, something the original didn't offer. The seat unit also gains enhanced padding on the Cove 2, giving a noticeably softer feel for toddlers who spend longer stretches sitting up and exploring.
The fold has been rebranded and refined too. The original Cove folded easily in either direction with the seat attached, which was already convenient, but the Cove 2's one-hand GeniusFold system, complete with an integrated carry strap on the carrycot, feels like a proper step forward for anyone folding the pram solo with a baby on one arm.
Finally, there are smaller but likeable touches: a newly designed, sleeker cup holder, and panoramic ventilation panels on the carrycot for better airflow than the original's mesh alone provided. None of these changes reinvent the Cove, but taken together they add up to a pram that feels noticeably more polished to actually live with day to day.
What's Included and Colour Options
The Cove 2 bundle is a genuinely comprehensive package. Alongside the chassis, seat unit and sleep-safe carrycot, you'll also get universal car seat adapters, a colour-coordinated footmuff, a matching changing bag, a rain cover and the newly designed Silver Cross cup holder. It's the kind of bundle that means you're not immediately reaching for your wallet again to buy the accessories you'll need in the first few weeks.
The water-repellent, anti-crease jersey fabrics come with colour-matched harness and webbing for a coordinated finish throughout, and the Cove 2 is available in a lovely range of colourways, including Champagne, Chocolate, Maple, Pewter and Onyx, so there's a shade to suit most tastes and a pram that will still look elegant in a few years' time.
Who the Cove 2 Suits, and Our Verdict
The Silver Cross Cove 2 is a lovely choice for parents who want a pram that will genuinely see them through from newborn to nursery without needing to be replaced, and who care as much about how it looks in the hallway as how it performs on the school run. If a smart, heritage-inspired design with real substance behind the styling appeals to you, this is one of the most complete packages currently available, and the updates over the original Cove are meaningful rather than cosmetic.
It's still a substantial, full-size pram rather than an ultra-compact one, so if a small car boot or several flights of stairs are part of your daily routine, it's worth trying it in person first, which you're welcome to do at our showroom. But for families who want a pushchair that will grow with them for years, with genuine attention paid to comfort, ventilation and ease of use - and without the weight penalty of the original - the Cove 2 is a thoroughly considered evolution of an already much loved design.
