UPPAbaby Cruz V3

Think of the Cruz as a Vista that stays a single: 3.2 inches narrower, a pound lighter, and rated from birth with its own lay-flat seat and insert. It costs the same $899.99 as the cheapest Vista, so the choice comes down to whether you will ever need a second seat.

Weight: 26.5 lb; maker's figure
Folded size: 17 x 22.5 x 32.5 in; a 7.19 cu ft box
Max child weight: 50 lb; in the seat

Best for: One child, and UPPAbaby's ride without the Vista's width

~$900list price at the last catalog update

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What it does well

UPPAbaby rates the lay-flat seat with its infant insert from birth, though owners split on whether it replaces a bassinet
22.5 inches wide, narrower than the Vista V3 by 3.2 inches
UPPAbaby infant seats attach without adapters
Four-position leg rest adjusts with one hand
3-year warranty, a year longer than Bugaboo gives
Owners report whole warehouse-club shops fitting in the basket, though a bar crosses the middle on current frames

What it gives up

No second-seat option; a sibling rides on the PiggyBack board at best
26.5 lb with the seat on, so the saving over the Vista V3 is barely noticeable
Only $100 less than the Vista V3, which grows to three riders

What owners say

The Cruz is the UPPAbaby families choose when they want the big-basket, smooth-riding experience without planning on a second seat. The basket gets the most praise, and the ride on rough city pavement is the other thing owners notice. Against the Vista, most who chose the Cruz are glad they did, though owners who have pushed both say the difference is hard to notice as a single.

Lifting it into a trunk is a chore for some owners and no trouble for others. The fold is two-handed and needs the seat facing forward. On the V3's near-flat seat, owners disagree: some took newborns home in it and returned the bassinet, while others point out it isn't truly flat or rated for unattended sleep and kept the bassinet.

One child, or two spaced at least two years apart with a ride-along board, is the family shape it fits. Families who drive everywhere or want a compact for the toddler years often end up with a second stroller and use the Cruz mainly for long walks. Most of these reports come from Cruz owners who do not say which generation they have; the V3 arrived in 2025, and only the near-flat seat reports above are specific to it.

What owners like

The basket is the standout: whole Costco or BJ's runs go underneath. On newer frames a bar crosses the middle, and an installed bassinet makes it hard to reach
Most owners find it rides smoothly over broken sidewalks, cobblestones, gravel and even snow, a clear step up from budget travel systems, though some say bigger bumps still need a slow approach and it is no trail stroller
With kids two or more years apart, a Cruz plus the ride-along board is the setup many families prefer to buying a double, although some toddlers refuse to stand on it

Common complaints

Car-based parents are split on the bulk: it fills most of an SUV trunk or all of a small sedan's for some, while others, short owners and sedan drivers among them, lift and stow it easily
Plenty of families shelve it once the baby is a toddler and switch to a compact for daily use, keeping the Cruz for zoo days and long walks; others are still pushing preschoolers in it
The fold takes two hands, and the seat only stays on when it faces forward, so a bassinet, car seat or parent-facing seat comes off first. Plenty of owners still call it quick and like that it stands up folded

Questions owners ask about the UPPAbaby Cruz V3

Cruz or Vista if a second child might come along?

Owners who chose the Cruz are mostly glad they did, unless their kids came close in age, and add a ride-along board for the older one. They find the Vista's double setup awkward. Owners who have used both push back that the weight difference is small as a single and that the Vista has better wheels and storage, and a few wished they had bought the Vista once baby two arrived.

Do I need the bassinet with the Cruz V3?

Owners disagree. Some V3 owners used the near-flat seat from the hospital and returned the bassinet; others say the seat isn't truly flat or sleep-rated and kept the bassinet for naps and warmth. Babies tend to outgrow the bassinet somewhere between about 6 weeks and 4 months, though some parents call it their best purchase as a portable sleep spot.

Is the Cruz V3 worth gate-checking, or do owners buy a travel stroller?

Owners are evenly split. Some gate-check it regularly, especially in UPPAbaby's travel bag, with no issues. Others found taking it apart at security a nightmare, especially flying solo, and bought a compact travel stroller.

Can you jog with the Cruz?

It isn't built for it. It rides well on rough pavement at walking pace, but parents who have run with one found it hard to steer at speed and say a jogger with air tyres is the better tool.