UPPAbaby Cruz V3 Review

One of my favorite things about the Cruz V3 is that you can use it from birth without buying a separate bassinet or infant insert. I love it when strollers come this way for parents. It makes the initial setup easier, and you still have that nice recline as your child gets older.

The rain shield and bug shield are included, too. I live in a very dry climate, so I don’t have much need for a rain cover, but I like that it comes with a stroller at this price point. UPPAbaby also has a lot of useful accessories, including a snack tray and rider board, that you can add when you need them.

The higher seat is one of the changes I’m happiest about on the Cruz V3. The lower seat position was one of my biggest downsides on the V2, and now your child sits closer to you. I also found the Cruz more upright in its most upright position than the Vista.

Being able to move the canopy up and give your child more head clearance is a beautiful thing about UPPAbaby strollers. My tall almost-four-year-old was still comfortable in the Cruz when I compared it with the TRIV LX. That does not mean every older child will fit, but it has worked well for my family.

The one-handed adjustable footrest is really nice. The lower fixed footrest has been less useful for my kids than I expected.

The newborn recline is one of the biggest reasons I recommend the Cruz V3. You get the infant insert and the Newborn Cocoon setup without buying anything else. I also love the extra sun shield that attaches around the bumper bar. When a baby is lying back, the sun can come straight into the stroller, so that extra coverage is useful.

There are a couple of trade-offs. The sun shield does not tuck away as securely as I’d like. I noticed it sagging toward my toddler’s head, so I had to play with it to keep it tucked up.

Setting up the Newborn Cocoon also takes several Velcro steps and snaps. Fitting and removing the infant insert means threading the harness through it. Once I had it set up, I would be more inclined to leave it that way. It can fold with the setup in place, but it gets bulky. I found the TRIV LX’s newborn setup simpler.

For a travel system, UPPAbaby’s infant car seats attach directly. The Cruz also gives you options from other car-seat brands with the appropriate adapters. That flexibility is a benefit if you already have a car seat or want to choose your stroller and car seat separately.

UPPAbaby is known for its sturdy strollers, and that is definitely true of the Cruz. This stroller is a machine. It has a really nice push, and I have been happy with it for both city outings and the more car-to-city routine my family has.

The Cruz has a smaller frame than the Vista, which makes it easier to navigate and steer. The Vista’s larger wheels give it a slight advantage on uneven ground, but the Cruz still handles it well. We have used it on a variety of terrain, including gravel.

I would still separate occasional rough patches from living on a gravel road or dealing with a lot of snow. For that, I would look at a more terrain-focused stroller, such as a jogger. A good everyday push does not make the Cruz the same thing as an all-terrain stroller.

The basket is spacious. There is a bar through it that some parents dislike, but I actually think it can help keep your items organized. I also love the Cruz with its rider board: extending the handlebar gives an older child room underneath while still leaving me space to push.