The UPPAbaby Vista V3, Tested and Reviewed by a Mom of Two

In a nutshell:

The UPPAbaby Vista V3 stroller is a quality option for growing families. Its sleek design, massive storage and multiple configuration options won me over. I was bummed about the limited positions of the bassinet in double mode, but I still gave it a 9 out of 10 rating due to its amazing features.

Let’s not sugarcoat it. Making stroller decisions is just as important (and time consuming) as car shopping. As a mom of two, I can personally attest to that statement. It takes so much digging and research to figure out if a stroller is the one for you. With UPPAbaby’s newly launched Vista V3 stroller—a fully updated version of the popular V2—I did the legwork for you, testing this new stroller with my two children.

Overview of the UPPAbaby Vista V3 Stroller Features

How We Tested the UPPAbaby Vista V3 Stroller

To find out how the UPPAbaby Vista V3 stroller performed in a real family setting, we took the following steps:

• I, along with my 3-year-old and 2-month-old, took the stroller for multiple test-drives. I used the UPPAbaby Vista V3 stroller combined with the Bassinet V3 and PiggyBack board to test it across different situations.
• I then rated the stroller across multiple categories—including ease of use, pushing and steering, folding and unfolding, features, toddler seat and stroller board, design, value and overall experience—on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the worst possible score and 10 being the best. Then we combined my ratings with extensive research by our in-house editorial team to share this in-depth product review.
• I tested the UPPAbaby Vista V3 stroller and accessories in different modes—including single with the toddler seat, double, single with the bassinet and single bassinet with the PiggyBack board attached—on various ground types and in different weather.

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UPPAbaby Vista V3 Stroller Review

Ease of pushing and steering

I can’t emphasize this enough: The Vista V3 stroller is really easy to push and steer around. The dual-spring suspension system, paired with its quality never flat tires and amazing turning radius makes this entire stroller feel like it’s gliding. My car guy husband was particularly surprised about the suspension system—he geeked out over it! And I loved the handlebar, which doesn’t have that typical cheap foam gripping many strollers come with. Instead, it’s made from high-quality material that feels like it won’t easily rip, scratch or tear apart.

Pushing and steering isn’t much different in double mode either; at first, I was a little nervous about taking it into our downtown boutiques in double mode, but it was perfectly fine. The fact that it rolls so smoothly and turns effortlessly on a dime made it really easy to maneuver in these small shops. It really does still feel light, even though it’s holding two kids. I really put this stroller through its paces too, after some rough Michigan snowfall, I was able to see how it held up to a real Midwest winter. We took a walk downtown with slush and snow everywhere, and it still rolled great.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Folding and unfolding

It’s not super obvious how to fold the V3 at first, but once you find the latches and get the hang of it, folding and unfolding is a piece of cake. You don’t have to push really hard or fiddle with any complicated buttons or anything. It folds down so smoothly on its own and doesn’t get jammed—even with the toddler seat attached! And unfolding? Couldn’t be easier. You just lightly push on a clip with one finger to unlock it from its folded position, then lift up the handle and it pops right into position and locks.

What I’m really surprised about was that the stroller folded up smaller than I expected. It sort of sandwiched itself into one compact lump that fits nicely in the back of my Jeep Wrangler. Even with some extra room around it—which is saying something, because Wranglers don’t have much room to begin with. To store it, I’ll probably keep it in my trunk so I have it ready to use at all times. And if I need to use my entire trunk for a big grocery pick up or something, I can easily keep the stroller in the garage, either completely open or folded down.

One thing I will say is that the frame was a little too heavy for me to really fold or unfold this stroller one handed, and I did get a little confused at one point when the stroller wouldn’t fold down flat. It turns out you need to have the toddler seat facing outward (not toward you) for it to fold down correctly. The stroller frame is a little too heavy for me to do that. Not a huge negative for me though, everything else is so easy that I really didn’t mind. It’s also worth noting that if you have the baby bassinet attachment on this stroller, you need to pop that off before folding it down. Which is not complicated at all—the bassinet just lifts off once you unlock it, a process that takes less than two seconds.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Ease of use

Setting up the stroller was pretty simple. I didn’t need to look at any instructions while putting it together in single mode. It took about 20 minutes from unboxing to fully set up. Everything snapped right into place easily. Then for double mode, it took an extra 20 minutes to figure out and set up. That’s when I had to peek at instructions and watch a YouTube tutorial. Turns out, when you use the stroller in double mode with a bassinet, you need to attach the bassinet to the lower, bottom position. It can’t be on top, right next to you, or it won’t fit. I can see that being something to consider for parents who like to keep their younger babies closer and easily accessible.

Putting the adapters on for double mode took a little more effort, too, since the instructions included are only pictures with no words. But once you get the adapters situated, converting this stroller from a single to a double is so effortless. Everything clicks right into place, so nice and easy. It’s really shocking how simple it is to take off and put on the bassinet and stroller seats. Even just moving the seats so they’re facing different directions, it’s all so simple. If my toddler decided she wanted to face me on today’s walk, I just press down two buttons, and the seat unlatches. I pick it up, turn it and click it back down into place.

Now, onto my favorite part of the toddler seat: its magnetic buckle. This feature is new with one of the improvements UPPAbaby made between the V2 and the V3, and it makes stroller life so much easier. The buckle sort of just finds itself and locks right into place every time. And if you need to adjust the straps for sizing, it’s as simple as sliding them up and down based on height—no messy threading and re-threading.

Meanwhile, the stroller’s brake system is great too, there’s just one button. Tapping it once with your foot alternates it between lock and unlock. There are also front brakes if you need extra stability. I can see myself using these if I parked on an incline. All in all, there are tons of little buttons on this stroller to unlock things and move them, you just need to get used to knowing where they are.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Stroller features

The Vista V3 has so many useful features for parents. A big one is the included basket underneath the stroller. It’s massive and can hold up to 30 whole pounds! I put the diaper bag under there, two water bottles and some bags from our shopping trip, and I still had room to add other items if needed. The cup holder in the basket is a nice feature, too. It held my full Stanley cup without tipping over the entire (really snowy) walk. Plus, the recline feature on the toddler seat is really neat. My daughter loved sitting the exact way she wanted to. Not to mention the feet recliner—it’s all so luxurious.

The pull-over hoods are an amazing touch on both the toddler seat and the bassinet. Both can extend so far, almost entirely covering each of my kids if needed. Plus, there are vents and linings you can open up or close on both seats, too. We tested this stroller out in 32-degree weather, and it was nice to know my kids were kept cozy. And if it were hot out? I’d open the vents and take out the extra warm lining. This really is an all-weather stroller.

The one thing I will note is that the V3 didn’t include an upper snack tray or phone holder, which would have been a nice addition. For that reason, everything had to be stored below in the basket.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Bassinet

The V3’s new bassinet is surprisingly roomy. There’s definitely extra room in there for my baby to grow, and he seemed really comfortable in there. He fell asleep immediately when I laid him down. And when he woke up mid-walk, he looked so interested in where he was. He just kept staring inside the bassinet, looking around, completely happy.

The great part about this bassinet is that you can totally remove the entire thing from the stroller with one hand. There is one button on the handle that you hold down and lift up. It’s so easy—I can’t express enough how simple it is to remove and re-attach this bassinet.

There’s a nice breathable mattress on the bottom, and it even expands up the sides. This same material sort of encloses your baby and creates a cozy space. This really helped keep him warm when the snow was blowing all around. If it were hot outside, I would just open up the bassinet vents and push the hood all the way down.

A really cool thing about this bassinet is that it’s rated for overnight sleeping. It sets down completely flat and sturdy. This is a huge bonus because if we go on a vacation or need to sleep somewhere other than our home, we can just use this bassinet for our baby to sleep in overnight instead of hauling our bedside bassinet with us. And even better, it can also fold down flat when you’re storing it away, which I recommend because it’s a big bassinet and takes up some room!

Rating: 10 out of 10

Toddler seat and stroller board

My 3-year-old really liked her toddler seat and stroller board. Looking at the seat specifically, the recline was her favorite part. She felt special knowing she could personalize the back and foot recline exactly how she wanted—something all toddlers love (if you know, you know!). She could choose between fully reclining back, sitting upright or somewhere in the middle.

The stroller board—or PiggyBack Ride-Along Board as UPPAbaby calls it—is really cool. If your toddler is more independent and doesn’t want to be strapped in a seat, they can just hop on this board. Unlike other toddler ride-along options on the market, this one doesn’t add to the width of the stroller or stick out annoyingly on the side. It honestly doesn’t even add to the length, either. This board just snaps on the frame of the stroller right in the space in front of where you walk. And even though it’s in front of you, it’s spaced out enough so you won’t trip over it, either.

The board itself is sturdy and solid, with a nice grip on it so your toddler can’t slide off. Be warned though. Because it’s such great quality, it’s a bit heavy when it’s not attached and you’re hauling it around. The great news is, you can still fold up the stroller with the stroller board still attached.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Style and design

The UPPAbaby Vista V3 is really sleek. You can purchase the stroller in a handful of different styles, and they have some really cute options, even down to the different metal frame colors and handlebar design. And I really like that the fabric on the stroller is water-repellent. It was really neat seeing the snow just wick away when it landed on the stroller.

To me, the size of this stroller is just right. It’s not obnoxiously huge like other double strollers can be. I love that you can convert it from a single to a double in a few clicks, and that it folds down compactly. There are so many combinations you can use this stroller in, too: single seat facing forward, single seat facing you, just the bassinet, double mode with the toddler facing you, double mode with the toddler facing forward and even more with Vista’s other attachments. You can tell so much thought was put into the design of this stroller.

Although again, I will note it’s a bummer your baby in the bassinet needs to be in the bottom position in double mode, furthest away from you. That’s really the only way the bassinet will fit on the stroller with two seats attached.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Value for money

This stroller is so luxurious—like, it’s really great quality. All the accessories and seats just click right in nicely. It was made with so much thought for the parents and kids in mind. And it definitely made my life with two littles easier when going out and about. But—and this is a hard but—this is an expensive stroller. If you have the extra money to spend over $900 (and more if you need an additional seat), then yes, I’d recommend the Vista V3.

Really though, for the price point, the stroller did meet my expectations on what it provided. Yeah, you probably could find a cheaper stroller that has many of these same features. But I don’t think it would match up to the quality. If I were wanting this stroller, I would put this item on my baby registry and hope someone would buy it for me (pretty please, Aunt Kathy!). But if you’re going to purchase it yourself, they do offer some monthly repayment options too, so that’s definitely appreciated!

Rating: 8 out of 10

Summary

Coming from a mom of two with a growing family, I recommend the UPPAbaby Vista V3 to parents if they have the extra money to splurge on it. It’s top-tier quality, and I can see it lasting forever. It’s great that you just need to buy one stroller, and with the right accessories, it can eventually turn into a full on buggy that totes around three kids.

The only things that makes me hesitate about the Vista V3 are the high price point and the fact that the bassinet can’t be in the top position in double mode. That’s really all that stuck out to me. But other than that, this stroller is amazing in so many ways. It has parents top of mind, and you can really see that in its entire design.

Average rating: 9 out of 10

About the writer:
Dani Wolfe is a senior marketer and women’s health writer who is newly postpartum with her second child. After first becoming a mom in 2021, she craved advocacy in this space and strives to help other women feel supported through her work. She has a bachelor’s degree in science and a certification in holistic nutrition. Dani lives on Lake Michigan with her husband, 3-year-old daughter and new baby boy.