Joie Versatrax, Joie Mytrax, Joie Chrome stroller systems comparison: Which from-birth Joie system is the best?
TL;DR: The Joie Mytrax will last you the most given its non-reversible seat & will tackle some terrain, but not seeing your baby after the carrycot and the noisy front wheels might bother you. The Versatrax is reversible but features a much shorter canopy, a bit stiffer ride, and a bulkier fold. The Chrome is the oldest design - it may look the best, and the canopy is nice, but the foam wheels are not suitable for terrain, the seat is the shortest, and the folded size is the largest.
If considering a newborn-friendly full-size stroller system from the Joie brand, the three most popular that you're most probably looking at are the Joie Mytrax, Joie Versatrax, and the Joie Chrome/Joie Chrome DLX. Which is the best for all-terrain use, which is the most compact, and which wins in the price-performance and value for money aspect?
The Joie Mytrax
I will start with the Joie Mytrax since this is the most "simple" model if considering the features. The Mytrax is designed primarily as a pushchair - meaning a world-facing seat that cannot be reversed and a strong focus on older toddlers. As such, the Mytrax is on the heavier side - there are many forward-facing strollers lighter than the Mytrax.
The Mytrax, however, features a beautifully padded seat that is roomy enough even for older toddlers (but yes, not the largest seat in the category). To add to the comfy seat, a nice and large canopy is a great asset of the Mytrax, plus the fold, even if not the smallest you'll find, is the most compact out of the three compared Joie pushchairs we're talking about here.
The weak points of the Mytrax would be, apart from the non-reversibility of the seat unit, a shorter backrest, front wheels that are not as tight in the joints meaning they can get noisy on bumps (this is possible to solve by sealing rubbers put in the joints of the wheels), and the fact that you need to pull the seat fabrics down before attaching the adapters-needing bassinet. Yes, you can put it on with the seat upholstery still on, but it looks strange to most moms wanting a stylish pram. The same goes for the travel system option.
You can even opt for the [[joie-mytrax-flex-signature|Joie Mytrax Flex]] that is even more luxurious, with beautiful fabrics and a dual suspension system that even featured a suspended seat with springs under it so that your little one won't feel the bumps and holes that often. The Mytrax Flex is, on the other hand, heavier, even if not by too much.
If searching for something relatively lightweight and compact to be able to travel with it by car quite often, out of the three, the Mytrax will suit you the best thanks to the simplest fold and functionality. As a non-reversible model, it will also be the most affordable and the least prone to frame damages and weakening. Mainly second-time moms will appreciate these features on a stroller in my experience.
The Joie Versatrax
The Joie Versatrax pushchair is actually based on the Mytrax and responding to the need of Mytrax-positive mommies asking for a reversible seat. Well, they got what they wanted (almost). The Versatrax stroller is still lightweight enough (under 12 kg is OK), and compact enough as well, thanks to the folding seat unit that can stay on the chassis in any direction when folding it down.
The not-as-tight front wheels are present on the Versatrax as well - not too many complaints about them, but if you'd want to silence your pushchair, sealing rubbers are the answer... Apart from that, the easy click on and off seat unit that is positioned quite high (= bonding as well as a nice view), the reversibility and the reasonable seat size (for a parent & world-facing pushchair), and the awesome storage basket size are huge advantages for an affordable reversible almost all-terrain.
I say almost all-terrain because the suspension is not so soft, and mums report that Versatrax is anyways best used around town than in harsh terrain conditions. Other niggles encompass a short canopy and an open seat mainly in the lie-flat position, a shorter leg rest, and, as a reversible pushchair, less space under the canopy, so a simple short usage time.
The Versatrax carrycot simply clicks on the frame, and the car seat needs adapters.
The Versatrax will be your best bet is needing something truly full-featured, meaning if you really want a reversible seat unit. It is not perfect, but the disadvantages are rather easily solved (a universal sun shade, quality cozy toes...) - and for a reversible pram/stroller system, you'll hardly find a better value for money. Just don't be too demanding at this price range.
The Joie Chrome
The Joie Chrome is available the longest and even available in the more luxurious Joie Chrome DLX marl fabrics version. It is meant as a luxuriously-looking from-birth pram, and yes, it really looks very stylish with the nice padding and design similar to a Nuna Mixx line. And! It is quite affordable. The accessible basket and the large hood are also features that are very nice on the Chrome, along with the most upright seat of the three.
A problem with the Chrome is that the EVA foam wheels are even less all-terrain than the foam-filled rubber tires on the Mytrax and Versatrax. They can get quite noisy on bumpy terrain, the suspension is not soft at all, meaning a stiff ride, and small stones stuck in the wheels' foam layer. Mums also complain about the not-so-sturdy to wobbly frame - and the seat of the Chrome/Chrome DLX is the shortest. That means that
The carrycot size is the smallest out of the three models, and it usually lasts about four to five months at best. On the other hand, the folded size of the Chrome is the largest (but it does fold with the seat attached, which is nice).
The Joie Chrome is a model that you'll be most happy with if you aren't pushing your baby over terrain; you'll have your baby in winter or spring, so not planning to use the carrycot next winter; and the look of your pram is very important to you. It is, however, my least favorite functionality and longevity-wise, probably because of the oldest design that was overcome by the newer, updated models.