The right stroller is an essential piece of baby equipment, so choosing the right one is a big decision and one you need to get right or it could end up costing you significantly more in the near future.
You need to consider a lot of factors before making your purchase. These factors can be your budget, lifestyle, and plans you have for any future children.
Once you have decided on a brand, you would think that the decisions would be easier after that but each brand has several different model options within their range. Each with their own unique features.
UPPAbaby is one of these brands and they have created two fantastic strollers: the Cruz and the Vista. Both come with different features, functions, and accessories.
| Title | Price | Prime | Buy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | UPPAbaby Vista V2 Stroller - Jake (Black/Carbon/Black Leather) | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | Cruz V2 Stroller - Hazel (Olive/Silver/Saddle Leather) | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
To help you make the tough decision between the two, let’s talk about the main differences first:
- The Vista is perfect for families with multiply children of different ages or children of the same ages – whichever your family is the Vista has the combination that will work for you.
- The Vista comes with a bassinet included in the original package price. This bassinet is also safe for overnight sleeping if needed. The Cruz doesn’t come with a bassinet but it can be purchased separately.
- The Vista is slightly heavier and wider than the Cruz but this is to be expected for a stroller that is designed for multiple children.
So now you know the main differences, let’s take a closer look at each stroller.
UPPAbaby Vista V2 Stroller
In this article
Features of the Vista V2
The Vista comes with many great features but they do come at a price as it costs more than the Cruz. However, you do get a lot more stroller for your money. That extra cash allows for the added advantages of the Vista.
One of the main ones is the bassinet that is included in the price. But if you do not have plans for any more children in the near future then the Cruz will suit you just perfectly and save you some money for other baby essentials.
Seating Options
The seating options that the Vista offers is second to none. It gives you the ability to put two babies into the stroller while allowing for a toddler to be placed on a ride-along board. This would need to be purchased separately.
Even without the ride-along board, there are a number of seating options that would work for a growing family.
The only issue is that once you start adding another seat the price of this stroller goes up again, making an already expensive stroller even more costly.
You would need to purchase an adapter and a rumble seat separately to use the many seating options available on the Vista model. You could also add a UPPAbaby Mesa car seat which would give you more flexibility with your seating options.
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The seats come with various configurations from forward-facing to parent-facing for use with children of varying ages. The bassinet comes with a perforated mattress pad, allowing for more breathability ensuring a safe sleeping area for your baby.
The rear of the canopy can be unzipped to create additional airflow and the extended shade offers further protection from UV rays up to 50+ protection from UPF.
The seats offer one-handed multi recline which allows your baby to lie comfortably for naps or to sit upright to take in the world around them.
They come with a five-point adjustable harness with padded shoulder straps. The seat harness can also be easily adjusted so as to ensure the perfect fit each and every time.
Car Seat Options
With the Vista, you can choose to add a Mesa car seat and you would not require any further adapters to use this.
However, if you wanted to use a car seat from a different manufacturer such as Maxi-Cosi, Peg-Perego, and Cybex then this is totally possible. Though, you would need to purchase the correct adapters for your chosen car seat.
Safety Features
The Vista comes with a range of safety features. Its tires and wheels come with shock-absorbing, all-wheel suspension. Each wheel has independent shocks that ensure that your baby has a smooth and comfortable ride no matter what the terrain is like.
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The stroller has rear foot brakes for convenient stopping and going. Although not a safety feature, it is a very handy and cool feature.
The handle comes with a telescopic adjustable feature, making it varying heights so that it can accommodate parents of differing heights easily.
Size and Weight
You may not think that the size and weight of your stroller are important especially if you are going to be using your own vehicle for the vast majority of the time.
As a parent, I can say that there is nothing worse than struggling to lift a very heavy stroller into the trunk of your vehicle, especially after having a baby when your body is not quite back to normal.
Stroller Dimensions:
36″Length – 25.7″ Width – 39.5″ Height
Folded Dimensions:
17.3″ Length – 25.7″ Width – 39.5″ Height
Weight:
The Vista weighs around 26.6 pounds which is not particularly heavy for a stroller that comes with the features that the Vista does. The basket has a weight limit of 30 pounds.
This is useful for carrying a diaper bag and all the many other things that you need when out and about with a baby or babies. Both car seats can accommodate a baby up to 50 pounds per seat and the bassinet holds a baby up to the weight of 30 pounds.
Color Availability
The Vista is available in six different color options, although the basket always remains black no matter what color option you choose. Also, some of the front seat covers remain black depending on which color option you choose.
Being able to choose the color allows you to personalize your stroller and even show a little bit of personality. However, some color options are going to be quite difficult to keep clean so you will need to keep those wipes handy for any little spills.
Vista Pros
- Easy to push one-handed
- Can accommodate a growing family
- Can be changed into a fantastic travel system
- Great safety features
- 6 recline positions
Vista Cons
- Quite expensive
- The need and cost of purchasing additional items to accommodate a growing family
- You need to remove seats before folding
- A bit on the heavy side
Cruz V2
Features of the Cruz V2
Cruz V2 is the lighter, smaller brother of the Vista but still comes with some fantastic features. The price may be the deciding feature for many parents as it is a good few hundred dollars cheaper than the Vista.
It does not include the bassinet, that would need to be purchased separately and at that point, you are close to the cost of the Vista anyway.
Seating Options
The Cruz is only built to take one child and does not have the option of adding an additional seat. It comes with the toddler seat but this is only suitable for 3 months.
If you did want to use it for a newborn then you would need to purchase the bassinet which is sold separately. If you did have an older toddler, you could use a ride-along board.
The seat is fully reversible and can be used either forward-facing or parent-facing right up to its maximum weight. The seat is able to be forward-facing or parent-facing, depending on your preference and the age of your baby.
A zip-out fabric extension on the hood provides further protection up to 50+ UPF along with privacy at nap time. It also comes with top mesh panels that allow for increased airflow and also offers a quick way to check-in on your baby while on the go.
The seats offer one-handed multi recline, allowing your baby to lie comfortably for naps, or to sit upright to take in the world around them.
They come with a five-point adjustable harness with padded shoulder straps. The seat harness can also be easily adjusted so as to ensure the perfect fit each and every time.
Car Seat Options
This stroller does not come with a car seat. If you wanted to use it as a travel system, you would need to purchase one separately. UPPAbaby does have their own car seat called the Mesa Infant Car Seat and this can be used without the need for any adaptors.
However, if you choose to purchase another brand of car seats, you will need to purchase adapters in order for it to fit the Cruz frame.
Safety Features
The Cruz has some great safety features included. Its tires and wheels come with shock-absorbing, all-wheel suspension. Each wheel has independent shocks that ensure that your baby has a smooth and comfortable ride, no matter what the terrain is like.
The stroller has rear foot brakes for convenient stopping and going. Although not a safety feature, it is a very handy and cool feature.
The handle comes with a telescopic adjustable feature, making it varying heights so that it can accommodate parents of differing heights easily.
Size and Weight
This may not be something that you would consider when choosing a stroller but it is very important that your stroller is not too heavy and that you will be able to lift it.
Stroller Dimensions:
37″L x 22.3″W x 40.5″H
Folded Dimensions:
17″L x 22.3″W x 36″H
Weight:
The Cruz weighs in at around 21.5 pounds which is about average for a stroller in this class.
The basket has a weight limit of 30 pounds. It’s useful for carrying a diaper bag and all the many other things that you need when out and about with a baby or babies.
A car seat can accommodate a baby up to 35 pounds depending on what make and model you use and the bassinet holds a baby up to the weight of 30 pounds. Both of these items would need to be purchased separately.
Color Availability
Cruz is available in six different color options. Although, the basket always remains black no matter what color option you choose. Along with the front seat covers that remain black on all color options except the blue, where it is blue the same as the hood.
Being able to choose the color allows you to personalize your stroller and even show a little bit of personality. However, some color options are going to be quite difficult to keep clean so you will need to keep those wipes handy for any little spills.
Cruz Pros
- Easy to push one-handed
- Lightweight
- The smaller folded size makes it easier to store
- Can be turned into a great travel system with the addition of a car seat, again sold separately.
- Full wheel suspension
- 5 recline positions
Cruz Cons
- Not suitable from birth
- If you want to use it from birth you would need to purchase a bassinet separately which then increases the cost to almost that of the Vista.
The Winner
If you have no intention of having any more children, the Cruz V2 would be the best option for you and also save you a few hundred dollars. It would be great for families where space is at a premium.
However, for me, the winner would have to be the UPPAbaby Vista as it offers greater versatility for your future as a parent, whether that includes more children or not.
It does cost a little more than the Cruz but considering what is included, I feel that it is well worth the extra spend.
The thing to remember that the winner between these two amazing strollers is going to come down to what you are looking for as a family. As each family has individual circumstances, it will be down to you to decide what is best for you.
