UPPAbaby Infant Car Seats vs. Nuna PIPA Series | Infant Car Seat Comparison

When choosing an infant car seat, safety always comes first—and that’s where UPPAbaby and Nuna truly shine. Both brands have built a reputation for going beyond the basics, adding thoughtful safety innovations that give parents extra confidence on every ride.

Of course, there’s more to love than safety alone. These two leaders also focus on comfort, convenience, and effortless stroller compatibility. In this comparison, we’ll break down what sets UPPAbaby and Nuna apart—from everyday usability to standout features—so you can find the car seat that best fits your family’s routine and lifestyle.

UPPAbaby Infant Car Seats

UPPAbaby currently offers two infant car seat models: the Mesa V3 and the Aria V2. Both share UPPAbaby’s signature focus on safety, ease of use, and everyday convenience.

Both models feature UPPAbaby’s SmartSecure system, which uses a simple red-to-green indicator to confirm correct installation, along with a no-rethread harness that adjusts easily as your baby grows. Each base also includes an anti-rebound panel for added safety, while the Aria V2 adds an extra layer of stability with a load leg—a first for UPPAbaby car seats.

The Mesa V3 includes a full-coverage UPF 50+ canopy with a magnetic mesh peek-a-boo window and magnetic buckle holders that make loading and unloading your child easier. It also connects directly to the UPPAbaby Vista and Cruz strollers without adapters for a seamless travel system.

Meanwhile, the Aria V2 delivers many of the same premium features in a lighter, more travel-friendly design. Its extra-large canopy, lightweight build, and easy SmartSecure installation make it perfect for parents who want trusted safety and convenience in a compact package.

Nuna Infant Car Seats 

Nuna’s infant car seat collection includes four models—the PIPA Urbn, PIPA RX, PIPA Aire, and PIPA Aire RX—each designed with Nuna’s signature blend of modern style, premium materials, and advanced safety features. While they share the same high standards, each model brings something unique to the table. The PIPA Urbn, for example, is tailor-made for city life, featuring built-in steel rigid latch connectors that allow for quick, base-free installation — perfect for taxis or rideshare families on the go.

Safety and simplicity are at the heart of every Nuna design. All models, except for the Urbn, use the RELX base, which adds security with a steel-reinforced load leg and anti-rebound panel to minimize movement in a crash. Every detail, from installation mechanisms to fabric choices, is crafted for ease of use and peace of mind. And when it comes to versatility, Nuna car seats are top-tier: they pair seamlessly with Nuna strollers and many other popular brands using Maxi-Cosi–style adapters, giving parents the freedom to create the travel system that fits their lifestyle best.

What Brand Puts Safety First: UPPAbaby or Nuna?

Every car seat sold in the U.S. must meet the same federal safety standards, but brands like Nuna and UPPAbaby go a step further. Both prioritize not just meeting requirements, but exceeding them, with extra features that boost crash protection and make installation simpler and more secure.

An infant car seat system includes two main components: the carrier and the base - and it’s the base where much of the safety innovation happens. All Nuna PIPA models (except the baseless PIPA Urbn) use the RELX base, while UPPAbaby offers distinct bases for the Mesa V3 and Aria V2. Nuna’s RELX and UPPAbaby’s Aria bases both include a steel stability leg, anti-rebound panel, and intuitive SmartSecure installation systems designed to reduce misuse. The Mesa base also features an anti-rebound panel but omits the load leg, offering a slightly simpler design that still delivers strong protection.

Let's take a closer look at the specific safety features: 

What is a stability leg (also called a load leg)?

A stability leg is a steel bar that attaches to the car seat base and extends down to the floor of the vehicle. Its purpose is to reduce movement in the event of a crash by preventing the seat from rotating upward. By keeping the seat stable, the load leg helps support the baby’s spine evenly along the seat back and enhances overall protection during a collision.

What is an anti-rebound panel?

During a crash, a car seat moves toward the point of impact and then bounces back in the opposite direction. An anti-rebound panel helps control this backward motion by stabilizing the seat and reducing movement after the initial impact.

All Nuna PIPA models and the UPPAbaby Aria V2 offer dual anti-rebound protection with both a stability leg and an anti-rebound plate. The UPPAbaby Mesa V3 also includes an anti-rebound plate but does not have a load leg.

What is rigid LATCH?

Rigid LATCH is a safety feature that provides a direct steel-to-steel connection between the car seat base (or the car seat itself like in the PIPA Urbn) and the vehicle frame, creating an exceptionally secure installation. This design helps reduce side-to-side movement and increases stability in the event of a crash. The car seat base (or PIPA Urbn) latches onto the vehicle's ISOFIX latches found on the back of the seat. 

The Nuna RELX base includes rigid LATCH, giving it an edge over UPPAbaby’s Aria and Mesa bases, which use flexible LATCH connectors instead.

Which brand is easier to install: UPPAbaby or Nuna?

Both UPPAbaby and Nuna make installation as simple and stress-free as possible. Each brand’s base features built-in indicators that show when the seat is securely in place, giving parents confidence with every install.

The UPPAbaby Aria and Mesa bases both use the SMARTSecure system with a red-to-green indicator for easy confirmation. The Aria base includes dual LATCH connectors, a four-position adjustable foot, and a stability leg for added safety, while the Mesa base offers a similar setup without the load leg.

Nuna’s RELX base is equally user-friendly, featuring rigid LATCH connectors that attach directly to the vehicle’s anchors in one motion. Color-coded guides and multiple recline positions make it easy to achieve the correct angle and ensure a tight, secure fit.

Can you install UPPAbaby and Nuna car seats without the base?

Yes, both UPPAbaby and Nuna infant car seats can be installed safely without a base using the European belt path. This 3-point seat belt system secures the carrier directly to the vehicle, making it a great choice for families who travel often, live in the city, or regularly use taxis, rideshares, or airplanes.

All UPPAbaby and Nuna infant car seats are FAA-approved for air travel, so you can safely use them on flights without bringing the base.

The Nuna PIPA Urbn stands out in this category: it’s the only model with built-in rigid LATCH connectors on the carrier itself, offering the speed of base-free installation along with the flexibility of European belt routing. It’s one of the most convenient and travel-ready options available today.

For vehicles without LATCH anchors, all Nuna and UPPAbaby car seats can also be installed safely using a seat belt.

Are UPPAbaby and Nuna car seats free of chemical flame retardants?

Yes! Both UPPAbaby and Nuna infant car seats are made with materials that are naturally flame-resistant, so no additional chemical flame retardants are needed. As premium baby gear brands, they prioritize both safety and sustainability.

Additionally, all UPPAbaby and Nuna infant car seats are GREENGUARD Gold Certified, meeting strict standards for chemical emissions and indoor air quality to help keep your baby’s environment healthier.

Which infant car seat is lighter: UPPAbaby or Nuna?

Nuna has long been known for producing some of the lightest infant car seats on the market. UPPAbaby's Aria V2 now takes the lead, weighing 6 pounds. For comparison, the Nuna PIPA Aire RX weighs 6.2 pounds and the PIPA Aire weighs 6 pounds—both measurements without the infant insert or canopy. 

Which infant car seat lasts longer: UPPAbaby or Nuna?

Infant car seats are generally designed for use from birth until around one year, but how long your baby can stay in a seat depends on three limits: weight, overall height, and torso/head height (your child’s head should remain at least one inch below the top of the seat). Use should stop once any of these limits is reached.

In practice, almost all babies outgrow their car seat based on height or torso/head height rather than weight (with the exception of the PIPA Urbn). Within each brand, the Nuna PIPA RX and the UPPAbaby Mesa V3 offer the highest limits, giving your baby a little extra room to grow. Overall, UPPAbaby and Nuna seats are very similar in terms of longevity, so neither brand has a major edge.

Nuna Infant Car Seats

• PIPA RX: 32 lbs / 32" – highest limits, lasts longest
• PIPA Aire RX: 30 lbs / 30" – standard limits, very comparable
• PIPA Aire: 30 lbs / 30" – same as Aire RX
• PIPA Urbn: 22 lbs / 29" – lower limits, may not last a full year (this seat will get outgrown equally between weight and height unlike the others getting outgrown by height way before weight, so watch limits closely) 

UPPAbaby Infant Car Seats

• Mesa V3: 32 lbs / 32" – highest limits, grows with your baby
• Aria V2: 30 lbs / 30" – standard limits, very similar to Nuna Aire models

Stroller Compatibility 

Nuna and UPPAbaby are not only top names in infant car seats but also makers of some of the most popular strollers on the market. Both brands offer full stroller lines, making it easy for parents to create travel systems that fit their lifestyle.

UPPAbaby car seats connect directly to the Cruz and Vista strollers, allowing for quick setup without adapters. For other UPPAbaby strollers, like the Ridge or Minu, adapters are required and sold separately, which can add extra cost. Compatibility with strollers from other brands is limited, as only a few manufacturers offer suitable adapters.

Nuna car seats also integrate directly with Nuna strollers and include adapters for other models. They even work with the TRVL series without any adapters. Beyond that, Nuna seats are designed to fit any stroller that uses Maxi-Cosi–style adapters, including UPPAbaby strollers, offering greater versatility for parents who want to mix and match strollers and car seats across brands.

This broader range of stroller compatibility gives Nuna the edge for parents who value flexibility and want the option to mix and match car seats and strollers across brands.

Features: Comfort, Convenience, and Safety

Both Nuna and UPPAbaby infant car seats are designed with comfort, convenience, and safety in mind. They come with extendable canopies that provide generous coverage and breathable mesh to keep baby cool, with some models including extra canopy features for added protection and privacy.

UPPAbaby’s current models, the Mesa V3 and Aria V2, feature a no-rethread harness, allowing quick and easy height adjustments as your baby grows. Nuna car seats require re-threading to adjust the harness; however, this is an infrequent task—typically only twice over the life of the seat—and is straightforward, so it doesn’t impact daily use.

The brands also differ in their approach to design details. The Aria V2 has built-in pockets to hold the harness during baby loading, while the Mesa V3 and all Nuna models use magnetic buckle holders, offering a sleek and effortless way to manage the harness. These thoughtful touches highlight each brand’s unique style while maintaining a safe, user-friendly experience for parents.

Which infant car seat brand is the best?

Both Nuna and UPPAbaby make excellent infant car seats, so there’s no wrong choice. It really comes down to what features matter most for your family.

If you’re leaning toward UPPAbaby, their car seats are a natural fit for Cruz and Vista strollers, offering seamless integration and quick setup. They’re also lightweight and designed for everyday convenience, making them ideal for parents on the go. Just keep in mind that compatibility with other stroller brands is more limited, which could be a factor if you plan to mix-and-match.

Nuna car seats, by contrast, focus on advanced safety features, including rigid LATCH and sturdy base designs. They also offer flexible stroller compatibility across multiple brands, giving parents more freedom when pairing with different strollers. Extra touches like magnetic buckle holders and the Sky Drape canopy add convenience and a hint of luxury.

At the end of the day, both brands deliver safe, high-quality, and thoughtfully designed car seats. Your decision will depend on which features—stroller compatibility, lightweight design, or luxury extras—best match your family’s needs and lifestyle.

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 gear. Our expert team is dedicated to guiding you through this important decision with personalized recommendations, ensuring that the gear 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 UPPAbaby or Nuna PIPA infant car seats 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.