Nuna vs. UPPAbaby Strollers: Which One Is Right For You (and Baby…and Baby)?

Having a baby completely rocked my world. Up was down, down was up. But you know what was idiot-proof? The car seat-to-stroller transition. The baby industrial complex calls this the “travel system.” But it really boils down to getting from point A (my house) to point B (baby’s first pediatrician visit). We had the Nuna PIPA Rx infant car seat, which snaps easily into the base in your car and then again into the adapter in the Nuna MIXX Next. Yes, an adapter is necessary even though it’s the same brand, but it’s lightweight enough to keep it in the trunk of your car, or even in the basket below. That said, I have forgotten the attachment when I needed it, so that’s been a tiny bit annoying. 

We also love, love love the bassinet. It’s sleek, so even if I looked like the walking dead, at least my newborn had a chic ride. And it’s multipurpose—we would snap it into the stroller for walks (no adapter needed) and bring it inside for naps or a place to put the baby down for a bit. 

The Nuna MIXX Next does not convert into a double stroller, so there is no equivalent to the UPPAbaby’s Rumbleseat. You could, however, purchase a non-Nuna buggy board if you wanted to outfit the stroller for two kids, but it’s built with one child in mind. 

The Ride

The Nuna MIXX Next rides GREAT.  One time, after we’d been using our travel Yoyo (which we love, by the way) on vacation and switched back to the Nuna upon returning home, we realized just how good the Nuna maneuvers on basically any type of terrain.

Features

When we first got the Nuna, I was all about the luxe leather handles. Those are still great—and adjustable to boot!— but after years of use, the features that make my life easier are the very large canopy for sun protection, the five-position flat recline seat and the rubber tires and suspension that can take on sidewalks that look as if they’ve been through an earthquake. 

One thing I have found tedious about the Nuna MIXX Next, though is that buckling the harness can be tricky. If another caretaker is new to the mechanism, I’ll have to run down and explain just how to buckle the baby in, so I wish it were more intuitive.

One of the reasons we opted for the Nuna MIXX Next over the UPPAbaby was that it was robust enough for the cracked Brooklyn sidewalks, but compact enough for folding and lifting up our four-story walk-up and sitting upright, and of out of the way, on our landing. As for storage, the big basket below the seat has proved adequate for a diaper bag plus a bag or two of groceries. It’s not a behemoth amount of storage, but we’re not ones to pack everything we’d ever need for the day under there either.

Accessories

We purchased a little generic storage caddy to hang from the handle as well as a cup holder, but both I could probably live without—they’re nothing special. I wish the stroller came with a proprietary cup holder and a caddy, but I’ve found most of the Nuna accessories to be just OK and pretty expensive. 

Overall Thoughts

We love the Nuna MIXX Next. Even though we have two kids now, we still use separate strollers since our kids aren’t together during the day. And then when we do haul them around together, we’ll use a side-by-side double stroller since we knew the only way we’d get our toddler strapped in would be if she could see the baby.

Fast Facts

• Type: single stroller
• Stroller Weight: 28.3 lbs (without arm bar and insert - arm bar and insert approx. 0.7 lb)
• Size When Open: 36" x 25.7" x 39.5"
• Size When Folded: 27.5” x 23.6” x 19”
• Age/Weight Limits: birth to 50 lbs

We loved the car seat and how easy it was to slot into the stroller and our car. We had the base installed in our car, but also often used the car seat on the go (Ubers, etc.). No adaptors are needed.

As for the bassinet attachment, neither one of my kids liked being flat in the bassinet, so we ended up ditching the bassinet and using the car seat as our main infant stroller add-on. I think they liked being a little upright for their tummies and being able to see what was going on around them!

The Ride

The UPPAbaby is super durable and can handle pretty much any terrain. With one kid in it I had no issues navigating around a small grocery store, but with two kids, this was admittedly difficult (heavy and awkward on corners). Still, my kids loved their seats and took many cozy naps on our strolls. The only downside with the seats is if you do a double toddler set up, which we did at one point, then a big kid on the bottom seat may eventually drag their feet across the ground, so I had to keep reminding my son to lift up his feet and rest them on the seat rather than let them hang down. But the option of having three kids in the stroller by adding a RumbleSeat ($220) and a PiggyBack Ride-Along Board ($135) is pretty great. 

Features

I love how sturdy it is and that the baby feels very safe and secure since the city streets where I live are a disaster (seriously, they’re all coming up from tree roots and construction and who knows what else), but the UPPAbaby can glide over them easily. 

As a parent, of course I love the storage basket. I’ve fit diaper bags and groceries underneath, balance bikes, backpacks and scooters too (I mean awkwardly, but it’s a total lifesaver when you’re pushing a baby and your toddler decides they don’t want to scoot anymore!). I also appreciate the good canopy and adjustable handles. Ours also came with a rain cover (very useful for an unexpected downpour) and a mosquito net (probably smart but we never used). 

One of the best features of the UPPAbaby is how sturdy it is (we’ve taken it on international flights, pushed it across forest terrain and cobbled streets—all without issue)…But this does mean that it’s on the heavier side. Still easy enough to fold up and put in the car, but now that I’m expecting my third, it’s not something I would lift and do myself! 

We folded it up on a daily basis and it was fine—once you get the hang of it it’s easy enough to do (and actually even though it’s heavier than our traveler stroller the Yoyo, I always found the UPPAbaby easier to fold! With the Yoyo, you have to align the wheels just so and reach down to fold; the UPPAbaby is simpler).  You can’t fold it up when set up as a double (or you can, but you need to remove a seat first). 

Accessories

I wish the stroller had come with a cup holder or little bag/purse to hang off the handle. I wound up buying one separately, and that’s where I put my keys, phone, wallet, pacifier, etc. There is a small pocket at the back of the toddler seat which is a nice (and slightly hidden) spot for keys and cash. I also bought a generic ride-along board to clip on so that my toddler could ride on the back while I pushed my baby. It was a little hard to navigate (the ride-along board juts out a bit so you have to push from a further distance than usual), but my son loved being able to scoot and “push” his sister. 

Overall Thoughts

The UPPAbaby has been the workhorse we’ve needed. Though it can be outfitted to grow with your family—and it certainly works!—it can be clunky and cumbersome when all is said and done. That said, the storage, the easy folding (as a single) and the Mesa infant car seat compatibility made life easier as our family grew.

Fast Facts

• Type: convertible tandem double stroller
• Stroller Weight: 27 lbs (frame & seat), 35 lbs with RumbleSeat
• Size When Open: 36" x 25.7" x 39.5"
• Size When Folded: 25.7" x 33.8" x 33.8" (with seat)
• Age/Weight Limits: birth to 50 lbs for main seat, up to 35 lbs for RumbleSeat

Decisions decisions! Both are great, but which stroller is right for you? Here’s what I’ve garnered after poring over my review and Alexia’s: The UPPAbaby Vista V2 excels in flexibility, allowing you to convert it into a double or even triple stroller with additional accessories. It’s incredibly durable and has a large storage basket, making it perfect for growing families who need a versatile solution. However, its size and weight can make it cumbersome to transport, especially when configured as a double.

On the other hand, the Nuna MIXX Next shines in portability and ease of use for single-child families. It’s compact yet sturdy enough for urban environments, with an incredibly smooth ride thanks to its high-quality suspension and rubber tires. While it doesn’t convert into a double stroller, the Nuna MIXX Next is sleek, stylish and designed for everyday convenience.

Bottom line: if you're looking for a stroller that grows with your family and offers extensive storage, the UPPAbaby Vista V2 is the better choice. However, if you prioritize compactness, aesthetics, and a smooth ride, especially in urban environments, the Nuna MIXX Next may be the perfect fit.