UPPAbaby Cruz V3 vs Vista V3: The Winner May Surprise You!

If you’re comparing the UPPAbaby Cruz V3 vs. the Vista V3, you’re not alone. These are two of the most popular luxury full-size strollers on the market right now. I remember when I was pregnant with my first baby, the UPPAbaby Vista was all the rage! Everyone was agonizing over whether to get the Vista or the Mockingbird (which I actually have a comparison of, so be sure to check that out). Since then, the Vista has only grown in popularity.

And then there is the UPPAbaby Cruz! I remember when I first looked at the Cruz and noticed the weight difference was not that significant compared to the Vista. I was so confused about why parents would go with the Cruz over the Vista, considering the Vista is a single-to-double stroller with so many different configurations. But now I definitely understand, and I am really excited to walk you through both!

UPPAbaby Cruz V3 vs Vista V3 Quick Summary

• Two of the most popular luxury full-size strollers on the market
• Both are truly beautiful and  premium in quality
• Vista V3 ($999): A single-to-double modular stroller that can add a second seat, bassinet, infant car seat, and rider board for a second/ third child
• Cruz V3 ($899): A dedicated single stroller with infant compatibility right out of the box, plus rider board compatibility for a second child can be purchased separately
• Both are GreenGuard Gold certified, work with UPPAbaby car seats without adapters, and feature adjustable handlebars, magnetic buckles, large 30 lb baskets, and incredible canopies

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Prefer to watch? Check out my full comparison video on YouTube:

What Do the Cruz V3 and Vista V3 Have in Common?

Before we get into the differences, let’s cover what makes these two strollers such close contenders. They share a lot of the same UPPAbaby DNA, and honestly, you are getting premium quality with either one!

Shared Features:

• Both are GreenGuard Gold certified
• Both work with UPPAbaby car seats right out of the box with no additional adapters
• Adjustable handlebars
• Easy one-tap, flip-flop-friendly brakes
• Large baskets that hold up to 30 lbs each (there is a small size difference, but it is barely noticeable)
• Canopy adjustments that give your child more space as they grow
• Magnetic buckles and adjustable calf supports
• The exact same fold mechanism (though the size is slightly different)
• Piggyback rider board compatible (the handlebar extends on each so your child fits right behind you without affecting your push, which is a huge selling point)
• Incredible canopies with peekaboo windows
• 3-year warranty with UPPAbaby’s great customer service

Both strollers hold up to 50 lbs in the seat, and both include a bug net and rain cover. I live in a very dry climate, so we do not have much need for a rain cover, but I like that it is included at this premium price point.

How Much Do the Cruz V3 and Vista V3 Cost?

The UPPAbaby Vista V3 retails for $999. For that, you get the stroller with an all-weather seat, a storage bag for the seat (for when you are using the bassinet), plus the bug net and rain cover.

The Cruz V3 retails for $899 and also includes a bug net and rain cover, but instead of the storage bag, you get an infant insert, which I think is well worth the trade-off. This makes it infant compatible without any extra purchases.

Why Choose the UPPAbaby Cruz V3?

The Cruz is UPPAbaby’s dedicated full-size single stroller, and it works beautifully for one child plus a second older child on the rider board. That makes it ideal for families with bigger age gaps. I love this stroller, and I might even make a case for why you may want to choose it over the Vista, even though the Vista offers the option to convert to a double.

Infant Compatible Right Out of the Box

The infant compatibility is one of the biggest reasons I end up recommending the Cruz V3 over the Vista for many families. The Cruz V3 seat is infant compatible right out of the box, which means you can use it from birth without any additional accessories. I love it when strollers come this way because it just makes it so easy, and you are always going to have the option for a really nice recline.

The seat has an infant insert and a newborn nest mode that you can take out as your baby grows. They also added a drape that attaches to the bumper bar for extra sun coverage, which is really nice. There is nothing worse than having a baby in a full flat recline and the sun, depending on where it is on your walks, shining right on them. I love that UPPAbaby thought of this and included it.

My one downside with the drape is that there is not a super secure way of keeping it stored when you do not need it. It just rolls up with one little snap, and I noticed, especially when pushing it with my 3.5-year-old, that it can sag down a little. I wish there were a couple more snaps to really keep it secured.

Seat Position

The Cruz V3 seat now sits higher and closer to the parent. That was one of my biggest downsides on the V2, and I am so glad they fixed it! The seat is also more upright in the most upright position compared to even the Vista, which is a nice touch for when your baby gets a little older.

No Bucket Seat

Unlike the Vista, the Cruz does not have a bucket seat, which I actually really like. This means you get a better recline when you have an older child and do not need the infant inserts anymore. Both strollers can hold up to 50 pounds, but the Cruz seat design gives you more flexibility as your child grows.

One-Hand Calf Support Adjustment

The Cruz features a one-hand adjustment on the calf support, which is really convenient for quick changes on the go.

More Compact Frame

The Cruz frame is a little narrower and more compact than the Vista, making it easier to navigate tight spaces while still delivering a great push. This also means it folds more compactly.

Which Pushes Better: Cruz V3 or Vista V3?

The Cruz has slightly smaller wheels, which makes it easier to navigate and steer in tighter spaces. The Vista has larger tires, giving it a slightly better push over rougher surfaces. Despite the wheel size differences, both strollers handle mixed terrain really well.

If you go up to a cabin, need to navigate dirt roads or cobblestone, or are in a city, both strollers can navigate all of that really well. That said, if you live on a gravel road, I would go with the Ridge V2 if you want to stay in the UPPAbaby family, or look at other jogging strollers.

I found that my 3.5-year-old and my 1-year-old were very comfortable in both strollers. The canopy being able to come up and give your child more head clearance is a beautiful thing about UPPAbaby strollers, and I really feel like that they can grow with your child.

Both strollers have that lower footrest option. It is not the most practical on these modular strollers, but it is nice that they include it.

Why Choose the UPPAbaby Vista V3?

All-Weather Seats

The Vista V3 comes with all-weather seats, and I have gotten a lot of questions about why UPPAbaby did not include them on the Cruz. The Vista has a bucket seat with more depth to it than the Cruz. From an airflow standpoint, it is pretty much a wash. The one benefit is that the top cover is removable and easier to clean. UPPAbaby also sells separate seat liners for the Cruz if that is important to you. The all-weather seat is a nice feature, but it is not something that would make me buy the Vista over the Cruz.

Single-to-Double Capability

This is the big selling point for the Vista and the reason many parents choose it over the Cruz. The Vista can turn into a double stroller, which is especially appealing for parents who plan to have kids close in age.

Let me tell you, I certainly thought this was a huge benefit, as did all of my friends back in 2020 when single-to-double strollers were really exploding on the market. However, you may have noticed on TikTok and other social media that this has become a little controversial. The reason is that single-to-double strollers are either better as a double or a single, never both. You are always going to have trade-offs when you have a stroller trying to do a lot of things.

I wrote a blog on choosing between a tandem or a side-by-side stroller.

The biggest downside of the Vista’s double configuration: The second seat is smaller, holding up to only 40 lbs. This makes it not great for twins. Also, your older child will generally need to be on top, which helps the push of the stroller, but many parents want their smaller child closer to them. The V3 did improve adapter compatibility, so you no longer need to buy an extra set of adapters for the UPPAbaby car seat, which is really nice.

If you are specifically looking for a single-to-double stroller with two equally sized seats, other options may be better suited for twins or siblings close in age. The Cybex Gazelle, the Mockingbird 3.0, and even the MomCozy ChangeGo are all worth looking at.

Bassinet Position

In order to use the bassinet on the Vista, it has to be in the lower position. Right after we had our third baby, I was testing the Vista V2 and having my baby on the bottom, and not really being able to see her was so hard. That bassinet option is nice in theory, but I really wish it could go on top. If being able to see your newborn well during walks is important to you, keep this in mind.

Three Kids with the Piggyback

Something I like about the Vista V3 is that you can add the piggyback rider board and take three kids on it. As a mom of three, I have definitely put that to the test, and it is really nice to have that option.

How Do the Cruz V3 and Vista V3 Compare in Weight and Fold?

The weights are actually very similar, even though the size is different:

The Cruz seat actually weighs more, but that is because it has the infant compatibility and full flat recline built in. I think this is well worth the added weight.

The folds are almost identical. Both have two triggers on the side and fold right in half. One small difference is that the optimal handlebar positioning is different when you want them to stand when folded. The Cruz needs to be on the lowest handlebar setting, while the Vista needs to be on the highest setting. 

Something really nice about the Cruz is that the bumper bar folds down, making it even more compact. The Vista’s bumper bar does not fold in. To open both strollers, they each have a latch on the side that you push in, and then you simply pull the stroller up and open.

A mechanical engineer actually asked me about the pinch test on these strollers, and yes, your fingers can get pinched in the frame.

Specifications

Is the Vista V3 Actually More Expensive Than Buying Two Strollers?

Here is the part that I find really opens parents’ eyes. If you are buying the Vista primarily to use it as a double, understand that it gets expensive quickly. The Vista at $999 does not include the bassinet, so it is not newborn compatible out of the box. You will need to purchase either the bassinet or the snug seat to use it with a newborn, plus the second seat when your next child arrives. When you add all of that up, you are looking at just over $1,600 to fully use the Vista as a double.

Now, here is what is super interesting. You could buy the Cruz V3, which is usable from birth right out of the box, and then later buy the UPPAbaby Minu Duo (their side-by-side double stroller that pushes and steers beautifully as a double) for only about an $80 price difference from the Vista full double setup. With that approach, you get two strollers that each excel at what they are designed to do for around the same price, instead of one stroller trying to do everything imperfectly. You could even sell the Cruz at that point if you wanted to offset the cost.

The other thing to consider is that the Cruz is still compatible with two children using the rider board. Depending on your age gaps, the rider board may be all you need. My 4-year-old was definitely ready to not use a seat and just use the rider board so, for our family, that worked great.

Should You Buy the Cruz V3 or Vista V3?

Choose the Cruz V3 if you:

• Want a single stroller that is easy to use from birth, without buying extra accessories
• Are a first-time parent looking for a premium, full-size stroller
• Prefer a more compact, slightly narrower frame that is easier to navigate than some other full-sized strollers
• Have bigger age gaps and can use the rider board for your older child
• Want to save money upfront and have the flexibility to buy a dedicated double stroller later if needed

Choose the Vista V3 if you:

• Strongly plan to use it as a double stroller and have kids close in age
• Want the modular upgrade path and are okay with the second seat being smaller (up to 40 lbs)
• Value the all-weather seat and configuration flexibility
• Want the ability to add a piggyback and take three kids

Is the Vista a bad stroller, especially as a single? No. But when you start to factor in the price, the newborn accessory requirements, and the second-seat trade-offs, I tend to prefer the Cruz for most families.

There is no perfect stroller, and both of these are excellent options! But in general, during my stroller consultations and when I am talking to parents, I am almost always recommending the Cruz V3 over the Vista V3.

Frequently Asked Questions