UPPAbaby has become a popular brand for the fashion-conscious with colours and design features aimed at the modern parent. It’s a bestselling brand in the US. So with celebrities like Reece Witherspoon and Sarah Jessica Parker snapped pushing their UPPAbabies it’s a fierce competitor for Bugaboo and iCandy.
The UPPAbaby Cruz is the follow-up to the fashionable Vista. It’s great for city dwellers looking for a high-quality, chic and easy to use pushchair. It offers many of the great features people love about the Vista but at a lower price point and less extras included. It is suitable from birth with a carrycot or infant snug. It can be used up until to approx 3 years old (15kg).
What’s in the box?
- Chassis
- Seat unit (attached and folded with chassis)
- Wheels
- Hood
- Raincover
- Insect net
Extras you might want to buy?
- Infant snug seat £32.99
- Carrycot £134.99 (available in Jake black only)
- Maxi Cosi/Be Safe Izi Go car seat adapters £32.99
- Bumper bar £22.99
- Foormuff £79.99
- Parent organiser £19.99
- Snack tray £34.99
- Cup holder £19.99
- Ride-on board £75.99
- Travel bag £79.99
Why choose the Cruz over the Vista?
If you’re looking for a nippy, city stroller with the UPPAbaby crudentials then the Cruz delivers. It’s 2kg lighter than the Vista, 7.5cm narrower but more importantly £230 cheaper. You don’t get extras included with the Cruz. No bumper bar, carrycot, car seat adaptors, the sunshade or insect net. All of these can be bought for the Cruz at your own leisure.
Many Vista accessories fit the Cruz – bar the rumble seat. So you won’t have the option to change the Cruz into a tandem for the next baby later on. What you do get are the best Vista features - the huge canopy, generous shopping basket, comfortable, adjustable handlebar and user-friendly fashionable design. With its hard, thinner wheels the Cruz is less likely to perform as well on all-terrain excursions than the chunky, wheeled Vista. The silver lining? The Cruz is least likely to knock everyone’s chairs as you wheel your way to your seat in a restaurant!
Is it easy to assemble?
Prepared for a struggle, I was delighted to find how easy the Cruz was to assemble. The full-colour instruction booklet was really well-written, with crystal clear pictures.
What’s the seat like?
The seat can face forwards or backwards, and has five recline positions, including a lie-flat setting. The one-handed recline behind the head means you've got it under control - no risk of a sudden drop, which you can get with models that pivot from the centre. ?
Can it convert into a double buggy?
The Cruz doesn’t have the option for a second rider like the Vista.
Is it easy to fold?
Folding requires a knack, which is explained to you in the booklet, but once learned, the one-handed fold is smooth and easy. It can fold with the seat attached but only forward facing which isn’t ideal when out with your parent-facing newborn. The ability to free-stand the chair on its end is particularly helpful. Note the handle has to be as far extended out as possible to work. No more lying the pushchair on the wet ground while I wrestle my girls into their car seats!
Is it easy to unfold?
Unfolding is a doddle – simply hold it up by the handle, unhook the safety catch and the Cruz drops down and locks into place. It fit comfortably in my junk-filled car boot, although it was a bit of a squeeze to include the carrycot as well. The Cruz folds long in comparison to its Bugaboo and iCandy rivals and even the Vista but it does win on weight. So providing your boot can accommodate its 95cm length, it’s the one you want for loading in and out of the car.
What car seats is it compatible with?
With adaptors you can use the Maxi Cosi Cabriofix and Pebble and BeSafe Infant Carriers
Will the UPPAbaby turn heads?
The Cruz displays the trademark chic look that the Vista is coveted for. It comes in 5 colours as opposed to the Vista’s 8. Nonetheless, a great selection that look modern and smart. I liked the sleek lines of the Cruz, and bold yellow/dark grey colourway. all look. The other colours available are:
- Tyler (light blue)
- Denny (red)
- Jake (black)
- Maeve (lilac)
- Sydney (yellow)
Is it a comfortable ride for baby?
It feels like quality has been built into every aspect, from the sturdy wheels to the spongy seat padding, which felt inch-deep. My nine-month-old normally grizzles after an hour strapped in, but was still smiling after a two-hour trek around the shops. The Cruz is suitable from birth with the use of the carrycot. Or for those curious newborns who just won’t tolerate the carrycot, the UPPAbaby Infant SnugSeat is available to buy. From customer reviews, it’s often viewed as a lifesaver. But be aware its soy fibre material, as described by UPPAbaby might not to be everyone’s taste for their new arrival.
What’s so special about the footrest?
The footrest is on hinges and can be set in 4 positions. The horizontal is great for little ones, and pointed downwards ideal for older children. However, my little girl's legs dangled past the footrest and ended up resting on the shopping basket, which might cause wear to the material over time.
Does it push well?
The Cruz is compact with a very small turning circle, ideal for narrow aisles. Keeping an eye on my baby was easy, with the largest peep-through window I have ever seen, which fixes down sleekly and securely with in-built magnets.
Does the handlebar adjust for all heights?
Tall parents are also considered - my 6ft partner reckoned the highest handle setting would suit anyone up to 6ft 6". Conversely, at 5ft 4", I felt that if I was a few inches shorter, even the lowest handle would hoik my forearms up at an awkward angle.
Any other needs to know about the handlebar?
The straight line of the frame means it's quite hard to balance a changing bag strap on the handle without it slipping, but with such an enormous shopping basket it's not a big problem.
What’s the carrycot like?
The carrycot is only available in the Jake black but it screams quality. It boasts a wooden base, complete with ventilation holes. The same can be found in the plush, thick mattress which is included. The white lining is velvety soft, and all the fabrics are removable for washing. At nine months, my baby still fits in the carrycot comfortably, and it comes in handy at naptime when visiting friends.
Can the Cruz handle tougher terrain?
Carrying my 12kg toddler on rough terrain gave the Cruz a sterner test, but the front-and-back suspension gave a smooth ride. I attempted a little jog with no complaints from my passenger about the bumps.
What’s the shopping basket like?
The shopping basket is a big draw. It holds three or four large bags of groceries, and includes inside pockets to keep essentials handy. Although it's a bit trickier to access with the carrycot in situ.
The raincover and hood...
The rain cover has a massive ventilation panel at the front, and there's an extendable SPF50+ sunshade hidden in the hood. Bigger toddlers are well catered for, as the hood slides up to provide extra headroom. It’s worth mentioning that this buggy also comes with an insect net – another nice touch.
MadeForMums verdict:
The Cruz is a great choice for parents who like the features of the Vista but want something a bit smaller and easier on the pocket. Overall, I'd say this is an excellent pushchair, well worth investing in for a first child, safe in the knowledge that it will comfortably see them through to toddlerhood, and has the quality to last for any future additions.
