Nuna RAVA vs. Nuna EXEC vs. Nuna LUMN | Car Seat Comparison
When it comes to car seats, Nuna is known for combining top-tier safety, premium materials, and sleek, user-friendly design. But with several standout models to choose from, deciding which one best suits your child and lifestyle can be a challenge.
In this guide, we’ll compare three of Nuna’s most popular car seats: the RAVA (convertible), the EXEC (all-in-one), and the all-new LUMN (harness-to-booster). While these seats share standout features like an all-steel frame, simple installation, no-rethread harnesses, multiple recline positions, and dual cupholders, they vary in functionality, price, and long-term use.
Whether you're focused on extended rear-facing, need a seat that adapts from birth to booster years, or want a final-stage option for a forward facing child, this comparison will help you find the best fit for your family's needs.
About Nuna
NunaBuilding on its reputation for safety and innovation, Nuna has now entered the Combination Seat category with the LUMN, its first harness-to-booster seat. While new to this space, Nuna brings the same sleek design, premium materials, and user-friendly features that have made its infant, convertible, and all-in-one seats so popular. With standout models like the lightweight PIPA series, the rotating REVV, the easy-to-install RAVA, and the luxurious EXEC, Nuna continues to evolve—now offering a seamless solution for families transitioning to the next stage of car seat use.
Types of Car Seats: Convertible, All-in-One, Harness to Booster
Car seats can be confusing! For the purpose of this comparison we will just be looking at these three: convertible, all-in-one, and combination or harness to booster car seats.
- Convertible car seats (like the Nuna RAVA) are car seats that generally fit babies (many do fit newborns) thru kindergarteners. The most important distinction is they can be installed rear facing or forward facing depending on your child's age and stats.
- All-in-one car seats (like the Nuna EXEC) are designed to grow with your child through every stage—infant, convertible, and booster. These seats transition from rear-facing to forward-facing and, once the harness is no longer needed, convert into a booster using the vehicle’s seat belt.
- Harness-to-booster car seats (like the Nuna LUMN) are forward-facing only and designed for children ages 3 and up, providing support until they no longer need a booster, typically around age 10. Initially, the seat is used with the built-in harness, then transitions to booster mode with the vehicle’s seat belt once the harness limits are exceeded. One key advantage of these seats is that they often allow children to remain harnessed longer than a traditional convertible car seat.
Nuna RAVA
Nuna’s original convertible car seat, the RAVA, offers almost everything most parents are looking for—and at a lower price compared to the EXEC or LUMN.
With a steel-reinforced frame, energy-absorbing foam, and side-impact protection pods, the RAVA prioritizes security while offering a seamless installation process with its easy to use True Tension doors. It accommodates children from 5 to 65 pounds, allowing for extended rear-facing use up to 50 pounds for added safety. Thoughtful details like a no-rethread harness, 10-position recline, dual cupholders, and breathable, flame-retardant-free fabrics ensure a comfortable ride as your child grows. A pop-out footrest provides an extra two inches of legroom, helping your child stay comfortable until reaching the seat’s limits of 65 pounds or 49 inches in height.
Nuna EXEC
Nuna's all-in-one car seat, the EXEC, shares many of the same features and easy installation as the RAVA but stands out with one key difference—it transitions into a booster seat when your child outgrows the harness. With the harness easily tucking away, the EXEC seamlessly converts into a belt-positioning booster, offering extended use and versatility.
Designed to grow with your child, the EXEC supports a booster weight limit of 120 pounds, making it a reliable option from their first car ride to their last. While car seat laws vary by state, most children are safest in a booster until they reach 57 inches tall and can properly fit in a vehicle seat without one.
What sets the EXEC apart are thoughtful details like an extendable leg rest that doubles as an anti-rebound panel for enhanced safety and an included slipcover to protect the seat from dirty shoes.
Nuna LUMN
Nuna's newest seat, the LUMN, is a harness-to-booster seat that looks most like the EXEC, featuring the same extendable leg rest for added comfort. However, the key difference is that the LUMN is designed exclusively for forward-facing use. As a combination seat, it first secures a child with a harness and later transitions to a belt-positioning booster—easily storing the harness when no longer needed.
Built with the premium safety features Nuna is known for, the LUMN boasts an all-steel frame, a reinforced belt path, and the Aeroflex™ side-impact protection system made of energy-absorbing EPP foam. Installation is seamless with the True Tension door, ensuring a secure fit, while its flame-retardant-free materials provide peace of mind. Like the EXEC, the LUMN includes leatherette accents for a sleek, high-end look that complements modern vehicle interiors.
With a harness capacity of 65 pounds or 49 inches—and a higher top harness slot than both the RAVA and EXEC—the LUMN allows extended harness use. In booster mode, it supports children up to 110 pounds and 57 inches, making it a long-lasting and stylish choice for growing families.
Car Seat Road Map
Most families begin their car seat journey with an infant seat that’s compatible with their stroller. Once your baby outgrows it, it’s time to move on to the next stage—a car seat that rear-faces, since young children aren’t yet safe to forward face. Many parents choose a convertible car seat like the Nuna RAVA at this point, and for good reason: it allows for extended rear-facing up to 50 pounds, which is significantly safer for young children. The goal is to keep your child rear-facing until they reach the height or weight limit of the seat.
Others may choose to skip the infant seat altogether and start with an all-in-one option like the Nuna EXEC. This can be a great choice if you don’t plan to use the car seat on a stroller or travel much in the first year (traveling with an infant seat is much easier). The EXEC offers all the same features as the RAVA, with the added benefit of transitioning into a booster seat later on.
Fast forward a few years—your child is now around 3, and you’re expecting another baby. If you want to pass down your RAVA or EXEC to the new baby, your older child will need a new seat. But are they ready for a booster? No, definitely not. While many boosters allow usage from age 4, most kids under 5 (and even many 5 to 6 year-olds) aren’t mature enough to sit properly throughout an entire ride without slouching, leaning, or unbuckling. Booster readiness is about behavior and maturity, not just size. In the end, when in a booster seat it is up to the child to keep themselves safe so you do want them to be a bit older.
This is where the Nuna LUMN shines. It’s a forward-facing harness-to-booster seat designed to bridge that gap—offering a higher harness height so your child can stay safely harnessed longer (as long as they are under 49" tall). It’s a perfect follow-up to the RAVA or EXEC, especially when passing one down to a younger sibling. Plus, after several years of toddler use, many parents welcome a fresh new seat like the LUMN!
Whether you're planning ahead or juggling multiple kids, this transition makes sense both from a safety and financial standpoint—letting each seat serve its purpose through the different stages of your family’s journey.
Full List of Features: Nuna RAVA, Nuna EXEC, and Nuna LUMN
Nuna RAVA Features:
- Bamboo/polyester blend fabrics are free of flame retardant chemicals and are also temperature-regulating, hypoallergenic and antibacterial
- Advanced safety features including an all-steel frame, reinforced belt path, energy-absorbing foam and side impact protection pods
- 2 additional inches of leg room allows for longer rear-facing use and extra support for forward-facing riders
- 10-position recline for the most relaxing ride
- 10-position head support can be height-adjusted with one hand
- Ventilation panels within the shell to help child stay cool
- Washable knit fabric
- Meets standards for Greenguard Gold certification, meaning it has been certified not to contribute VOC hazardous chemicals into the air your child breathes
- No re-thread, 5-point harness works with one hand
- No re-thread, 2-point crotch strap grows with your child
- Dual cup holders that fold away when not in use
- Colored belt path indicators help reduce user errors
- Infant head and body inserts can be removed as baby grows
- Aircraft-certified for travel
Nuna EXEC Features:
- All-in-one car seat converts from rearing to forward facing, and later to booster mode
- Adjustable anti-rebound panel and leg rest combination provides extended rear facing comfort and gives additional leg room forward facing
- Bubble-free installation - recline angle guides clearly confirm the perfect riding angle
- No rethread five-point harness easily stores inside the seat for booster mode.
- Fits three across in most midsize vehicles
- Aeroflex side impact protection system
- From fabric to foam and beyond, each element is smartly sourced to be both flame resistant and contain no added fire retardant chemicals
- Ventilation panels within the shell and breathable (and washable) knit fabric create a comfy climate for even the longest of trips
- Greenguard Gold certified
- All steel frame and reinforced belt path for superior protection
- Infant head and body inserts are removable to grow with baby
- Dual flip-open cupholders
- Magnetic harness keepers
- Spring touch shoulder belt guides aid belt routing in booster mode
- Adjustable leg rest
- Aircraft certified
Nuna LUMN Features
- 5-point no-rethread harness stows away when converting to booster
- 9 recline options in both harness and booster modes when tethered
- Bubble-free recline guides confirm the perfect riding angle
- 10-position height-adjustable headrest to accommodate growth
- Machine-washable fabrics and inserts– seat pad removes separately for added convenience
- Slim design fits 3 across in most mid-sized vehicles
- Dual flip-open cupholders
- Designed for longevity with up to a 10-year life span
- Ergonomic armrests are padded for extra comfort
- All-weather micro knit fabric provides all-season comfort
- Leatherette-wrapped calf support for comfort that grows with them
- Airline approved and FAA-certified for use in harness mode
- From fabric to foam and beyond, each element is smartly sourced to be both flame resistant and contain no added fire retardant chemicals
- Greenguard Gold certified
Comparing Safety Features: Nuna RAVA, Nuna EXEC, and Nuna LUMN
The Nuna RAVA, EXEC, and LUMN all offer advanced safety features designed to protect your child. With their rigorous engineering and thoughtful design, these seats go above and beyond standard safety requirements, giving parents peace of mind that their child is secure when properly seated in a correctly installed Nuna car seat. Let's take a look at these features!
All three seats include an all-steel frame, reinforced belt path, energy absorbing foam, flam-retardant-free materials, and GREENGUARD Gold Certification for low chemical emissions. All three seats include an easy, effortless install thanks to a True Tension™ door, which creates a secure, no-fuss installation using the vehicle’s seat belt. This door works to lock the belt tightly into place, eliminating common installation errors and ensuring peace of mind for parents.
One difference is seen with how the seats address side impact protection. The Nuna RAVA features SIP (side impact protection) pods on either side of the seat that can be moved out to take force away from the seat in the event of a side impact. While the Nuna EXEC and Nuna LUMN feature both Aeroflex™ side impact protection system made of energy-absorbing EPP foam and SIP pods for enhanced safety.
Another feature that is different with these seats is the Nuna EXEC has an anti-rebound panel (the leg rest doubles as this when rear facing) when in rear-facing mode, which helps stabilize the seat and reduce movement in the event of a crash. This added feature enhances safety by minimizing the force of impact and limiting rebound motion after a collision, keeping your child more secure.
Comparing Specs and Dimensions: Nuna RAVA, Nuna EXEC, and Nuna LUMN
All three Nuna seats are very similar in overall weight and size. The RAVA is slimmer front to back when installed rear-facing compared to the EXEC if driver or passenger room is a concern for you. The EXEC and LUMN are more narrow and would be better choices for achieving three across. The LUMN has a higher harness slot point than either the RAVA or EXEC, which may make this the better seat if you have a taller child you want to keep harnessed longer, especially one with a taller torso.
**Remember, the harness slot height matters just as much as overall height and weight in terms of when a seat is outgrown. When rear-facing the harness needs to come from even with shoulders or below shoulders; when forward facing the harness needs to come from even with shoulders or above. If your child is forward facing and the harness starts to come from below the shoulders, the seat is outgrown.**
Weight:
Dimensions:
Rear-Facing: 25" L x 18.5" W x 29.5" H
Forward-Facing: 22.5" L x 18.5" W x 29.5" H
Booster mode: 21" L x 18.5" W x 33" H
- Nuna LUMN: 23.5–26.25"L x 18.25"W x 25.5–32.5"H
Recommended Use:
Rear-Facing: 5–50 lbs; under 49" tall; recommended for children under 2 years old
Forward-Facing: 30–65 lbs; under 49" tall; recommended for children at least 2 years old and up
Rear-Facing: 5–50 lbs; under 49" tall; recommended for children under 2 years old
Forward-Facing: 25–65 lbs; under 49" tall; recommended for children at least 2 years old and up
Booster mode: 40–120 lbs; between 38" to 57" tall; mature enough to sit properly the entire ride
Harness mode: 30–65 lbs; between 34" to 49" tall
Booster mode: 40–110 lbs; between 43" to 63" tall; mature enough to sit properly the entire ride
Harness Height:
Head Support Positions:
Recline Positions:
-
Nuna RAVA: 10 positions (5 rear facing, 5 forward facing)
- Nuna EXEC: 8 positions (4 rear facing, 4 forward facing)
- Nuna LUMN: 9 positions
Crotch Strap Positions:
Warranty:
- Nuna RAVA: Two years from original purchase date
- Nuna EXEC: Two years from original purchase date
-
Nuna LUMN: Two years from original purchase date
Expiration:
- Nuna RAVA: 10 years from manufacture date
- Nuna EXEC: 10 years from manufacture date
- Nuna LUMN: 10 years from manufacture date
Which is the best Nuna car seat? Nuna RAVA, Nuna EXEC, or Nuna LUMN:
The best Nuna car seat for your family depends on your child’s age, weight, height, and how long you plan to use each seat. If you have a child under two, the LUMN wouldn’t be the right choice, as it’s a forward-facing-only seat. However, if you have a five-year-old who no longer needs rear-facing, the LUMN is the most practical and cost-effective option.
These three seats can also work together to carry your child through all the car seat stages. A great progression could be starting with an infant car seat, transitioning to the RAVA for extended rear-facing and forward-facing harness use, and then moving to the LUMN for harnessed and booster use until your child is ready for a seatbelt. Alternatively, the EXEC is designed to be used from birth through age 10, making it the most long-term option. However, one drawback of an all-in-one seat is that it will experience more wear and tear over the years—especially since kids can be quite messy!
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your needs. The RAVA excels as a dedicated convertible seat, the EXEC offers all-in-one versatility, and the LUMN provides an excellent final-stage solution for older kids transitioning out of a harness.
Why should you trust Bambi Baby?
At Bambi Baby, our decades-long commitment to quality and customer satisfaction has established us as a trusted authority in the baby products' industry. With over 40 years of experience, we have developed a deep understanding of what parents require when choosing the perfect stroller. Our expert team is dedicated to guiding you through this important decision with personalized recommendations, ensuring that the stroller you pick perfectly matches your lifestyle and needs.
Still have questions?
Bambi Baby experts are ready to connect! If you have any more questions regarding the Nuna RAVA, Nuna EXEC, or Nuna LUMN you can reach us at cs@bambibaby.com or chat with us on our website. We would love to hear from you!
We would also love to see you in store! Feel free to visit any of our store locations in New York, New Jersey, or Miami if you prefer personalized assistance from one of our experts. We're here to ensure you find the perfect gear for your baby with confidence and ease.