Nuna ARRA Flex car seat review

The seat is suitable for babies from newborn to toddler thanks to 10 headrest heights and 3 recline settings, including a lie-flat recline that allows for safe and comfortable car journeys exceeding 2 hours.

How easy is the Nuna ARRA Flex car seat to install?

The ARRA Flex can be installed using the car’s seatbelt or an ISOFIX base (sold separately). We tested both methods on both short and long journeys, finding the base combo far superior.

It took us a while to figure out how to install the car seat using the belt path method, but if you’ve done this before, it may be more intuitive. The belt goes around the back of the seat, with the lap belt crossing the top. We found it easier to leave the belt clipped in rather than rethreading it each time, but this made it more difficult to slot the baby in place.

When combined with Nuna’s BASE Curv, however, the ARRA Flex was a breeze to set up – a 5-minute job. The base has multi-adjustable ISOFIX positions, simply slotting into the car’s ISOFIX points in one click.

What are the key safety features of the Nuna ARRA Flex car seat and BASE Curv combo?

When it comes to safety, it’s hard to fault the ARRA Flex. The seat has side-impact protection using energy-absorbent foam, and the headrest feels robust for bumpy journeys. The high-strength handle will transfer impact into the shell, protecting baby's head. I felt confident that my boy was safe.

The base itself has built-in side-impact protection, too, plus a stability leg to absorb impact.

How convenient is the Nuna BASE Curv to use?

The 360° swivel functionality is very nifty, allowing the seat to slide in any direction at the click of a button (one on each side) – handy for both harnessing the baby and lifting the seat in and out of the car.

The seat lifts off the base easily via the quick-release button at the back. When re-attaching, we sometimes struggled to line up the seat with the base, but once we found the correct position, clipping in and out was simple.

Transferring the base from one car to another would be straightforward, but it’s a fairly chunky piece of kit to lug across (7kg).

How robust and durable is the Nuna BASE Curv?

The base feels sturdy and fits neatly on the seat of our car. It’s made of wipeable plastic so any spillages would be easy to clean. We thought the stability leg bounced a little when travelling on a bumpy road, but this didn’t seem to bother our son.

The base can adjust to fit a range of Nuna car seats, meaning it can be used until the child is 4 and, thanks to its solid design, I think it would stand the test of time.

How does the Nuna ARRA Flex compare to similar infant car seats?

The 157° recline setting is what sets this seat apart, because it reduces the risk of breathing difficulties when sitting in a scrunched position for too long. This makes it safe to travel on journeys exceeding 2 hours – although, realistically, our little one could never sit for longer without a break!

The other standout feature of the ARRA Flex is its lightweight design (3.9kg, not including canopy and insert). Previously, we used a Cybex Cloud T car seat, which at 4.5kg felt very heavy to cart around in comparison. As a weedy, 5ft tall mum, I could comfortably lift the ARRA Flex with baby strapped in place, no problem.

How comfortable is the Nuna ARRA Flex seat for your baby?

Our little one gets bored on car journeys, but he seemed comfortable in this seat for a good hour or so. There are 3 recline positions, but our boy favoured the most upright angle, allowing him to look around more.

The memory foam headrest has 10 positions to accommodate growth, and there’s a Merino wool insert that feels soft and breathable, though we didn’t put it to the test as our 7-month-old had already outgrown it.

When it comes to napping, the full recline position is useful, as is the sunshade for keeping light out. Despite this, our son didn’t nap easily in the seat, but he fights sleep wherever he is!

Does the Nuna ARRA Flex car seat recline?

Yes: the seat has 3 recline settings, from upright to lie flat. These work in both car seat and travel system modes. We found the full recline very convenient when doing long car journeys.

Reclining the seat is as simple as pulling a lever at the back of the seat. Ours was a little stiff, and we found it tricky to recline while travelling because we couldn’t get a good grip of the lever without standing over it.

How robust does the car seat feel?

The Nuna ARRA Flex's shell feels durable and solid, as does the memory foam headrest. The leather handle is sturdy and easy to grip, and the lining is soft to the touch. Padded covers for the seatbelt and clip move up and down easily and avoid any chance of the belt cutting into baby’s skin when clipped in.

One criticism of the lining is that it has a gap where the headrest sits, so that it can move up and down easily, which might tear or allow the odd crumb to drop through.

The seat is covered by a 2-year warranty, starting from the day it was purchased.

How well does the Nuna ARRA Flex fit in your car?

Our car is a medium-sized SUV, and it’s only just big enough to accommodate the car seat, particularly when used with the base. The main issue was space for reclining – our front seat needed to be pulled completely forward in order for the infant car seat to fully recline.

The base takes up space, too. We have just the one child, so space in the back isn’t an issue for us, but if you’ve got another car seat installed, you’re unlikely to have room in the middle seat for a third person.

How easy is it to clean the Nuna ARRA Flex car seat?

The seat’s shell and base are wipeable, while the soft goods are washable in cold water (under 30°C). None of it is suitable for dry cleaning. Refitting the lining might be difficult because it’s a snug fit over the shell.

Is the Nuna ARRA Flex car seat big enough for a growing child?

The 3 recline positions make this a good seat for use from newborn to toddler age (up to 13kg or 87cm), and the 10 headrest positions make it suitable for children of varying heights. While my son fit comfortably at 7 months, I wonder whether the headrest’s bulky size might feel restrictive when he’s bigger.

A nice feature is that the harness doesn’t need rethreading as baby grows, with a button to adjust the belt that’s easily accessible when baby is strapped in.

How practical is the Nuna ARRA Flex car seat for parents?

When using the seat and base combo, I found it very simple and convenient to travel by myself with my son. The seat’s lightweight design made it easy to transport, and the base’s swivel feature was very useful for getting the baby in and out of the car.

Yet without an ISOFIX base, the seat can’t swivel, so I found it fiddly to slot our son in place. The car’s seatbelt crosses the top of the seat, so unless you re-thread it each time, you need to tuck your baby’s legs underneath, which is tricky to do without a rotate function.

If you own a Nuna push chair, the seat can be easily transferred from car to chair, and the recline settings are compatible with both travel systems.

What’s in the box?

• Nuna ARRA Flex car seat
• Sunshade

You can buy the Nuna BASE Curv ISOFIX base separately for £240.

Is the Nuna ARRA Flex car seat worth the money?

The seat’s premium features come at a price, but if safety, comfort and long journeys are primary concerns, it might be worth the splurge.

Despite the hefty additional cost, I’d say it’s worth buying the base alongside the seat, as it makes it far easier to get baby in and out of the car, and it feels much more secure when baby is strapped in. Plus, it’s compatible with car seats up until baby is 4 years old, so you’ll get your money’s worth. Combined, the 2 come to almost £500, so it's certainly a considered purchase, but one I think really makes life with a little baby easier.

How sustainable is the Nuna ARRA Flex car seat?

This car seat feels like a sustainable piece of kit, with features to last a few years. Although the materials are new, the insert is made of environmentally friendly Merino wool. Packaging was largely recyclable, with minimal single-use plastic.

Where can I buy the Nuna ARRA Flex car seat?

It's available at Nuna, Mamas & Papas and John Lewis.

MadeForMums verdict

Overall, I’m impressed by the Nuna ARRA Flex. My son seemed happy in it, and the good safety features are reassuring for us as parents. The recline feature is the selling point for me, as it takes the stress out of having to plan rest stops at set times. For our family, these features, along with the fact that the car seat can adapt as our baby grows, make it a good option. I would recommend it to others who are regularly taking long journeys, but perhaps, due to the high price point, not to those who aren’t.