7 Best UPPAbaby Car Seats Actually Worth the Money (2024)

There is nothing worse than hearing my children cry because they hate being strapped into their car seats.

I want them to be safe in the car without sacrificing their comfort.

Uppababy car seats offer absolute security while ensuring they are comfortable and happy.

The best Uppababy car seat is one you can install easily, is super comfortable for your LO, and works for your family’s lifestyle.

Our Favorites

Best Uppababy Car Seat

1. UPPAbaby Mesa Max Infant Car Seat

The Max in the UPPAbaby Mesa Max car seat stands for maximum comfort and safety. Car seats are often heavy and clunky, but UPPAbaby models are lightweight and easy for moms to carry. 

One improvement from the previous version is this model offers 43% more canopy coverage to offer privacy and protect your baby from the sun.

UPPAbaby seats are also designed so parents can use them without the base. This feature makes it more convenient for parents who share baby driving duty without purchasing a second base. 

A baby can only use the Mesa Max for approximately the first year of life. However, the seats have a 7-year use window, so you can reuse the seat if you have a second or third baby within that time.

What We Liked

• Best Uppababy infant car seat
• Approved for use on airplanes
• The seat fabric is removable and washable
• Anti-rebound panel for added safety in rebound and rear impact collisions
• Red to green tightness indicator, so you know when the harness is securely fastened.

What Can Be Improved

• The Mesa Max cannot be used with prior Mesa bases
• Currently requires adaptors to work with UPPAbaby Vista V2 and UPPAbaby Cruz strollers.

Type: Rear-Facing
Base: SMARTSecure System
Seat Weight: 9.9 lbs.
Dimensions: 20.8” L x 14.5” W x 9.8–12.8” H
Expiration Date: 7 years from the manufacturing date
Child Height: Up to 32 inches
Child Weight: 4-35 lbs

2. UPPAbaby Knox Convertible Car Seat

If you’re looking for a car seat that will fit your child for several years, the UPPAbaby Knox convertible seat is an excellent choice. 

The seat has an adjustable headrest and a two-piece inlay; both features provide flexibility as your child grows to achieve the perfect fit.

An upgrade from the past is the new version has a broader base offering more stability. Additional upgrades include a recline indicator to ensure the seat is installed safely and a multi-directional tether. 

However, this seat is unsuitable for newborns because the minimum weight is 15 lbs. But, parents can choose several UPPAbaby infant seats for the first year!

What We Liked

• Best Uppababy convertible car seat
• Removable cup holder included
• No-rethread harness allows for easy adjustments
• Side impact pods for extra protection in the event of a crash
• Merino wool option is naturally fire resistant

What Can Be Improved

• The seat is heavy, over 30 lbs, so not a great option for parents who need to transfer seats often.
• Very few color options are available.
• The seat can be challenging to install correctly.

Type: Rear-Facing & Forward-Facing
Base: SMARTSecure System
Seat Weight: 32.5 lbs
Dimensions: 23.8” L x 18.8” W x 27.4–32.5” H
Safety Rating: The test showed in rear-facing mode, the safety tether reduced injuries by 45%
Expiration Date: 10 years from the manufacturing date
Child Height: Up to 69 inches
Child Weight: Rear-facing 15-45 lbs, Forward-facing 25-75 lbs

3. UPPAbaby Alta Booster Seat

The ALTA is the best UPPAbaby booster seat yet! Its seven-point adjustable system grows with your child providing maximum safety and comfort. 

In addition, the latest model includes a lap belt positioner, an improvement from the prior version. The positioner ensures your car’s safety belt is placed correctly across your child’s lap.

The UPPAbaby Alta booster seat performs incredibly well on crash tests and has specialized foam to protect your child’s head in the event of a crash. 

The Alta seat is on the heavier side, so not optimal for carpools and frequent transfers. However, its narrow design makes it FFA-approved for airline travel.

What We Liked

• Best Uppababy toddler car seat
• Lock in security, which most booster seats don’t offer
• Cup holder for big kids!
• Removable and washable fabric that quickly wicks away spills
• Dual armrests to provide comfort

What Can Be Improved

• Heavy for a booster seat
• It does not have a backless option

Type: Forward-Facing
Base: SECUREFit belt routing system
Seat Weight: 22 lbs.
Dimensions: 20″ L x 25.5-33″ H x 21.8″ W
Safety Rating: Scored a 7/10 from BabyGear lab for crash test
Expiration Date: 10 years from the manufacturing date
Child Height: 38-57 inches
Child Weight: 40-100 lbs

4. UPPAbaby Mesa Infant Car Seat

The Mesa infant seat is an ideal UPPAbaby newborn car seat because it is small enough for premies and newborns of all sizes!

The UPPAbaby Mesa car seat is designed for children younger than one year and is rear facing. The seat is lightweight and a cinch to install. 

This UPPAbaby baby car seat comes with an SPF 25 canopy to protect your baby’s delicate skin on car rides or when attached to the stroller. 

The Mesa infant seat makes life easy for moms because it works with the Vista or Cruz stroller frame for a quick transfer from the car. 

The Mesa car seat has not changed much in recent years. However, one upgrade since the earlier versions is that they now offer a model in Bryce White Marl.

What We Liked

• Autotrtracting connectors make installation easy.
• Red to green indicator lets parents know the seat is installed correctly
• Entirely designed and manufactured in the U.S.
• It works as a UPPAbaby car seat and stroller combo without adapters
• Crash tested as one of the safest Uppababy car seats.

What Can Be Improved

• It doesn’t have the stabilizing leg that Mesa Max has.
• It is pricey compared to other infant car seats.

Type: Rear-Facing
Base: SMARTSecure System
Seat Weight: 9.9 lbs.
Dimensions: 26.5″ W x 17″ D x 23 H
Safety Rating: Scored a 5.5 from Baby Gear in Crash Tests
Expiration Date: 7 years from the manufacturing date
Child Height: Up to 32 inches
Child Weight: 4-35 lbs

Also, check out the best Peg Perego car seats that are super comfy and provide maximum security for your LO.

5. UPPAbaby Mesa V2 Infant Car Seat

The Mesa V2 infant car seat has many of the same safety and comfort features as the original.

One change since the last edition is with the V2 version, and all materials used are flame-retardant free and Greenguard Gold certified.

Like the original, it is also a UPPAababy stroller car seat combo, making the car to stroller transfer easy and quick. 

Mesa V2 is one of the best Uppababy baby car seats because of its ample safety features. It includes an adjustable headrest with side impact protection and a larger SPF canopy than the original. 

V2 has fewer color options than the original, but the upgrade in safety features is a good trade-off!

What We Liked

• SPF canopy extends past the handle for fuller coverage.
• One crotch buckle position for an easier fit
• The infant insert accommodates babies up to 11 pounds.
• Additional side impact protection
• Four handlebar positions

What Can Be Improved

• Only one price point option 
• The fewest color and fabric options
• No load leg

Type: Rear-Facing
Base: SMARTSecure System
Seat Weight: 9.9 lbs.
Dimensions: 17″W x 25.8″L x 23″H
Safety Rating: Consumer Reports recommend; a score of 72
Expiration Date: 7 years from the manufacturing date
Child Height: Up to 32 inches
Child Weight: 4-35 lbs

6. UPPAbaby Mesa Max + UPPAbaby Vista Travel System

The UPPAbaby brand is synonymous with safety and style and the UPPAbaby Vista Travel System is the ideal companion to your UPPAbaby car seat. 

The Vista Travel System has twelve different configurations, so no matter what stage your kids are at, they’ll be a seating and strolling option that works for you!

The Vista Travel System is compatible with the Mesa car seat without adapters making the transfer from car to stroller simple. Plus, with one-handed folding, parents can keep a hand on their baby or toddler when packing up.

Some new features compared to the previous version include a no-thread 5-point harness, extendable canopy, and enhanced all-wheel suspension. 

A downside for some parents is the size of the Vista stroller. Because it offers so many seating configurations, it is larger than some competitors. Its size could make it challenging for parents who live in apartments or have smaller cars.

What We Liked

• Room for up to three children.
• Maneuvers easily, even on bumpy terrain.
• Lockable front wheels
• Bassinet safe enough for nighttime sleep when traveling
• Stands upright when folded to save space.

What Can Be Improved

• Its larger size makes it heavy; it weighs about 27 lbs
• Somewhat expensive and may not be worth the money if you only plan on having one child

7. UPPAbaby Mesa Max + UPPAbaby Cruz Travel System

The UPPAbaby Cruz Travel System is the ideal companion to your Mesa or Mesa Max car seat. Both the Mesa and Mesa Max connect to the Cruze travel system without using adapters. 

The Cruz is easy to set up and lighter in weight than the Vista. It also has suspension to make strolling smoother and less bumpy for your little one.

Another perk of the Cruz is its ability to hold up to 30 lbs in the storage basket. This is great for moms out on the go all do or who are running several errands. 

The maneuverability of the Cruz isn’t as smooth as the Vista or other strollers in its class, but according to reviews, as long as you’re on a reasonably smooth surface, it shouldn’t be an issue.

What We Liked

• Larger toddler seat extends the life of the stroller
• Front-wheel locks
• Large tires make the stroller easier to move over tougher terrain
• Includes an all-weather and bug shield protector
• SPF 50+ canopy

What Can Be Improved

• Maneuverability, particularly on bumpy surfaces
• Heavy, weighs 25 pounds

Types of UPPAbaby Car Seats

UPPAbaby manufactures infant car seats, convertible car seats, and booster seats. The Mesa is the top-rated UPPAbaby car seat among the set and the most purchased among the brand. 

UPPAbaby Infant Car Seats

The Mesa and soon-to-be-released Mesa Max (Fall 2022) are incredibly high-tech baby car seats. They offer an extensive array of safety features, with the Mesa Max being the first Mesa infant seat to offer a stabilizing leg. 

UPPAbaby safety ratings are high across the board and the Mesa scores above average in crash tests. Currently no crash test data for the Mesa Max. However, considering UPPAbaby car seat safety ratings are already above average, the added safety features will likely improve test results. 

UPPAbaby Convertible Car Seats

The UPPAbaby car seat line includes the Knox convertible car seat designed for children up to 75 lbs. Depending on your child’s height and age, they may never need to transition to a booster. 

The Knox seat is meant to be rear-facing for babies and toddlers 15-45 pounds and front-facing starting at 25 lbs up to 75 lbs. 

The Knox comes standard with a no-rethread harness that allows for easy adjustments and side impact pods, and there is a merino wool option that is naturally fire resistant.

UPPAbaby Booster Car Seats

UPPAbaby sells the Alta booster seat to round out its car seat line. Booster seats are intended for older children who still need a safety seat in the car but are too big for traditional car seats. 

The Alta is rated the best Uppababy safety seat with a crash test score of 7 from Baby Gear, taking the 3rd spot for Booster Seats for 2022.

It has a padded, adjustable headrest, LATCH connectors to secure the seat and a recline option. 

The UPPAbaby Brand

UPPAbaby is an American brand of baby gear started by parents looking to offer savvy and safe baby strollers and car seats. Co-owner Bob spent years designing products for Ford, Reebok, The First Years, and Safety First before starting this company with his wife, Lauren.

All UPPAbaby products meet the stringent requirements of the Consumer Safety Product Commission (CSPC) and Juvenile Product Manufacturing Association (JPMA). 

They created the UPPAbaby Giveback Program and partnered with non-profits to provide strollers and car seats to families in need. 

UPPAbaby strollers are designed at their headquarters in Massachusetts and manufactured in China. The Mesa car seat is the first of the line to be both designed and manufactured in the U.S.