Doona Liki Trike S5 Review (2026): The

Why you should trust this review

I bought the Liki Trike S5 and used it for eight months with my toddler. Doona did not provide the trike and had no input on this review. A folding trike makes a big promise, that it can replace both a stroller and a tricycle, and the only way to test that honestly is to actually use it for both jobs over months, through the daily reality of getting it in and out of a car, folding it one-handed while holding a child, and pushing it across real surfaces. That is what I did.

Over those eight months it came along on park outings, city sidewalk walks, errands, and the constant fold-and-stow cycle that defines life with a small child. Everything below reflects that lived use rather than a showroom fold.

How we evaluated

I timed the fold and unfold repeatedly to see whether the headline three-second fold holds up in real, one-handed, child-on-hip conditions. I checked the folded package against a sedan trunk and a hatchback to confirm the car-fit claims. I worked through all five riding configurations as my toddler grew, from full push-trike mode to free pedaling, judging how quickly each conversion goes and how secure it feels. I rolled it across smooth pavement, rougher sidewalks, and cobblestones to test ride quality, and I lugged it up and down to gauge the real-world weight.

The fold: genuinely fast and trunk-friendly

The folding mechanism is the trike’s signature feature, and it lives up to the billing. The fold genuinely takes only a few seconds, and crucially it works one-handed, which is the difference between a feature that helps and one that does not when you are also holding a child. Folded, the trike collapses to a compact upright package that slid into a sedan trunk with room to spare and fit a hatchback without folding the rear seats. That is the practical magic of this product: you can roll up to the park, fold it, and stow it without the wrestling match that full-size strollers and rigid trikes demand. Over eight months the mechanism stayed smooth and never stuck, which is reassuring for a part you operate dozens of times a week.

Five configurations that grow with the child

The five riding stages are what let this trike replace a stroller early and a tricycle later. In the youngest mode it is effectively a stroller-trike with full parental control, the child strapped in while you steer and push. As the toddler grows you progressively unlock more independence, through guided pedaling to fully free pedaling where the child steers and pedals alone. Across eight months my toddler moved up through those stages, and the trike grew right along, which means it earns its keep over a long span rather than being outgrown in a season. The conversions between stages are quick, mostly a matter of adjusting the harness and the pedal or steering setup, and each mode felt secure once set.

Build quality and the everyday feel

The build is genuinely premium, which is part of what you pay for. The aluminum frame feels solid, the leatherette seat is padded and wipes clean, the bearings are sealed, and the whole thing has a quality heft and finish that cheaper trikes lack. At a light total weight it is actually easier to lift than many full strollers, which matters a lot when you are hoisting it into a trunk or carrying it up steps. The three-point harness held my toddler securely, and the telescoping push handle extends for the parent. The overall impression after eight months is of a well-made object that has held up to daily use without rattles or wear, which helps justify the outlay.

The honest tradeoffs: price, handle, and ride

Three things keep this from being a perfect product. First, the price is steep, clearly a premium over a basic folding trike, and you are paying for the engineering and build. Whether the convenience is worth it depends on how much you will actually use the fold-and-go feature. Second, the push handle ergonomics get awkward for taller parents. Even fully extended, the handle sat a bit low for comfortable pushing on longer walks, and tall parents will notice a slight stoop. Third, there is no suspension and the foam wheels are not air-filled, so on cobblestones and rough surfaces the ride is jittery and you feel every bump transmitted up the frame. On smooth pavement it rolls fine, but it is not a plush ride. The tiny storage bag, which barely fits a small bottle, rounds out the minor gripes.

Who should buy the Doona Liki Trike S5?

Buy it if you want one product that genuinely does the job of both a compact stroller and a ride-on tricycle, if you frequently load and unload from a car and value a fast one-handed fold, and if you want a premium build that will last through several riding stages.

Skip it if the premium price is hard to justify for your use, if you are a tall parent who will be uncomfortable with the low handle on long walks, or if you mostly travel rough surfaces like cobblestones where the lack of suspension makes for a harsh ride.

The verdict

The Doona Liki Trike S5 delivers on its central promise, and eight months of real use proved it. It folds in seconds with one hand, fits in a sedan trunk, weighs little enough to carry easily, and grows through five stages from push-trike to free pedaling as a toddler develops. The build is genuinely premium and held up across daily use. The honest catches are the steep price, a push handle that sits low for tall parents, and the firm, suspension-free ride on rough ground. If the fold-and-go versatility matches how you actually live, and you accept the cost and the ride, this is the one folding trike worth buying. For us, the convenience earned its place.