REASONS TO BUY
Excellent design
Intuitive to use
Nice harness
Impressive storage
REASONS TO AVOID
Spendy
Larger folded size
UPPAbaby Cruz v2 Review
A high-quality option with useful features and an impressive design with an eye for detail, but it is larger when folded
The UPPAbaby Cruz v2 is a good example of a full-size stroller suitable for everyday activities.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
RELATED: The Best Full-Size Strollers of 2024
Our Verdict
The UPPAbaby Cruz v2 is one of our best full-size strollers. It is a straightforward stroller with a flat fold and a comfortable seat. It features giant, easy-to-use storage with a 30lb capacity, a huge canopy that covers more than most of the competitors, and it self-stands to keep it out of the way on public transportation or in a cafe. While the Cruz is not an off-roading master, and you can't jog with it, it is an exceptional stroller for those who stick to flat surfaces and the occasional play park. This high-quality option should last through several kids or be suitable for reselling when you're done strolling. There is much to love about the Cruz v2 and nothing to dissuade us from recommending it to a friend.
Editor's Note: The Cruz v2 is a high-ranking option in our new update to the full-size stroller review completed in March 2024.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
UPPAbaby Cruz v2 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Full-Size Stroller | Best Double Duty Jogger |  Lower Price Impressive Full-Size Stroller | Budget Full-Size For Growing Families | Best Tightest Budget Stroller |
| Price | $700 List $699.99 at Amazon | $650 List Check Price at Amazon | $650 List $519.96 at Amazon | $350 List $170.01 at Amazon | $173 List |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A quality choice that uses thoughtful design to create an easy-to-use option, but it has a higher price and a larger fold | This jogger is a dual-purpose choice with better storage and easy maneuverability over most surfaces | While it performs well on flat surfaces, this high-quality option struggles off-road if those are your goals | A budget-friendly expandable stroller with good storage but limited other features and a heavier weight | Budget-friendly jogger with off-road capabilities, but the quality is on par with the price |
| Rating Categories | UPPAbaby Cruz v2 | Thule Urban Glide 2 | Cybex Balios S Lux | Evenflo Pivot Xpand | Baby Trend Expediti... |
| Ease of Use (40%) | |||||
| Maneuverability (25%) | |||||
| Transport/Storing (15%) | |||||
| Quality (10%) | |||||
| Kid's Comfort (10%) | |||||
| Specs | UPPAbaby Cruz v2 | Thule Urban Glide 2 | Cybex Balios S Lux | Evenflo Pivot Xpand | Baby Trend Expediti... |
| Capacity Limits | Minimum: 3 months Maximum: 50 lbs |
Minimum: 6 months Maximum: 49 lbs/ 44 in |
Minimum: Birth Maximum: 55 lbs |
Minimum: Birth Maximum: 55 lbs/43" |
Minimum: 6 months Maximum: 50 lbs/42 in |
| Measured Weight | 25 lbs | 26 lbs | 25 lbs | 30 lbs | 28 lbs |
| Measured Folded Dimensions | 22.9"W x 16.5"H x 33"L | 27.2"W x 15.5"H x 36.5"L | 24"W x 16"H x 31"L | 26.7"W x 19.23"H x 32.7"L | 24.5"W x 16"H x 36.5"L |
| Folded Volume | 12,469 cu in | 15,388 cu in | 11,904 cu in | 16,790 cu in | 14,308 cu in |
| Handlebar Height Min/Max | 40"/43" | 30"/46" | 39.5"/43" | 33"/44.7" | 41.5" |
| Mfr. Max Allowable Total Storage Weight | 30 lbs | 14 lbs | 24 lbs | 11 lbs | 11 lbs |
| Car Seat Compatibility | Chicco KeyFit 35, KeyFit 30, KeyFit 30 Zip, KeyFit 30 Zip Air, Fit2, Fit2 LE, Fit2 Air Cybex Aton, Aton 2, Aton Q, Aton M Clek Liing Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30, Mico NXT, Mico AP, Mico Max Plus Nuna PIPA, PIPA lite, PIPA lite lx, PIPA lite r, PIPA rx, PIPA lite rx, PIPA urbn UPPAbaby Mesa |
BOB Unity Britax Affinity Unity, B-Safe, B-Safe 35, B-Safe 35 Elite, Chaperone, Unity, Unity ISOFIX Compatible Chicco KeyFit, KeyFit 30, KeyFit Plus Combi Shuttle 33 Evenflo Discovery 5 Graco SafeSeat, SnugRide, SnugRide Click Connect, SnugRide Click Connect 30, SnugRide Click Connect 35, SnugRide Click Connect LX 35, SnugRide Click Connect 40 Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix, Citi, Pebble Nuna Pipa Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30, Primo Viaggio 4-35 Safety 1st Comfy Carry Elite, onBoard, onBoard Air Safe-n-Sound Unity, Unity Neos UPPAbaby Mesa |
Cybex (All) Maxi Cosi Mico 30, Maxi Cosi Mico Max, Maxi Cosi Coral XP Nuna Pipa lite |
Chicco KeyFit/KeyFit 30 Evenflo SafeMax, LiteMax Graco all with SnugRide, SnugLock 30/35 Peg-Perego Primo Viaggio 4/35 |
Baby Trend (All) |
| Wheel Type | Foam Filled Plastic | Pneumatic | Foam Filled Plastic | Foam Filled Plastic | Pneumatic |
| Brake Type | Single | Single | Single | Single | Double |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
UPPAbaby is an American company with a decade-plus worth of stroller savvy under their belts. They find inspiration in everyday life and work to design baby products that make life easier and fun, such as a variety of stroller styles, including some of the best travel strollers and top-ranked double strollers.
Performance Comparison
The Cruz excels at just about everything from folding and pushing to stowing and more.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Ease of Use
The Cruz v2 earned one of the highest scores in the group with features that are easy to operate and work as they should.
The Cruz v2 is a two-hand fold with an auto-lock feature and it can self-stand.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Fold and Unfold
The Cruz v2 is a two hand fold with the traditional dual finger releases on the side of the frame. The function is easy, but you do need to adjust the leg rest on the seat and the handlebar to the shortest length if you want it to self-stand.
Storage
The under-seat storage bin is huge and has great access.
The Cruz v2 storage bin has a bar in the middle that impacts the size of bag you can fit inside.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
It has a bar across the middle, but we still fit in our large diaper bag, holding 30 lbs of supplies. A small pocket is in the back right corner for something like a sippy cup.
The Cruz V2 harness has smooth webbing and a simple buckle.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Harness
Shoulder harness height adjustment slides up and down with infinite possibilities.
The Cruz has padded shoulder straps, and the adjustments are easy.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The shoulder straps have padding for comfort, and the shoulder and waist straps are attached and inserted into the buckle together. The buckle is stiff, but at least a child won't be able to use it alone.
We love design that makes products easier to use like the color-coded brake pedals on the Cruz v2.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Brakes
The Cruz v2 are single-action brakes with color-coded pedals for setting and releasing. The pedals are easy to press and foot-friendly, and we love the simple addition of color coding for quick application. It is so simple but so useful.
Car Seat Compatibility
The Cruz is an excellent option for pairing a stroller with an infant car seat. It comes ready to combine with UPPAbaby seats, but they sell adapters for seats from Chicco, Cybex, Clek, Maxi-Cosi, and Nuna.
The Cruz v2 assembly includes a lot of unpacking and snapping wheels and the seat on the frame.
Credit: Graham Faulknor
Ease of Setup
The Cruz v2 is one of the easiest options to set up, with assembly time between 5-10 minutes, most of it being unpacking. The protective packaging is on another level, and it is an indicator of the quality you can expect. You only need to snap on the wheels, seat, and belly bar. No tools are required.
The Cruz v2 had no trouble moving from one surface to another or navigating quick, tight turns.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Maneuverability
There is something so nice about pushing a stroller and feeling like it can tackle almost anything.
The Cruz v2 performed well in our tests for maneuverability both on flat surfaces and rougher terrain.
The Cruz v2 is nimble on flat surfaces and turns through doorways without getting hung up on anything. It isn't so long you'll struggle with doors, and it moves easily enough for one hand if needed.
The front wheels on the Cruz can lock in place for easier pushing on uneven terrain, and it has color-coding so you can tell at a glance that they are locked.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Cruz v2 performs well off-road, too, which is somewhat of a surprise as most of the strollers this style struggle at least a little bit. The larger rear wheels helped it move through longer grass like a hot knife through butter. We were still able to push and turn with one hand.
While the 4-wheeled strollers aren't as good at curb popping as the 3-wheel options, the Cruz v2 manages to move up and onto new surfaces when need be without a problem.
The Cruz v2 is easy to fold and stow with a compact size and locations that make lifting easy.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Transporting and Storing
The Cruz didn't score as well for transporting and storing as most would like, but it still reached an above-average score here.
The Cruz weighs 25 lbs in a group where the average is 26.4 lbs. This weight makes it neither heavy nor light. It feels like an acceptable weight for the style and amenities it has.
The folded size is 12,469 cubic inches, which is small for the group, even if you take out the always bigger joggers. Only a few of the full-size competitors are smaller when folded.
The Cruz v2 had no problem fitting in the back of our compact SUV test vehicle.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The other thing to consider with the Cruz is it folds fairly flat, making it one that can fit in places bulkier strollers cannot. The specific dimensions are 22.9"W x 16.5"H x 33"L, which is almost exactly what UPPAbaby claims, and we love a manufacturer telling the truth.
Quality
UPPAbaby uses quality materials and useful design choices to create a higher-quality stroller that earned one of the highest scores for quality in this group.
The fabric on the Cruz v2 is very good. It has a smooth canvas feel that is both skin-friendly and durable. It is not super soft but feels comfortable and easy to clean. The harness is smooth, has quality webbing that is nice to the touch, and has soft shoulder pads. The sling-style seat has some foam padding, and the handlebar is wrapped in leatherette.
The Cruz has larger foam-filled tires. While plastic can deform and dent, these seem to be low maintenance and better than most. The tires are wide, which helps them move over most surfaces. The front wheels are locking for uneven surfaces.
The frame is high-quality with little flex and a nice design with good lines. The overall fit and finish are excellent.
The Cruz toddler seat reclines easily with a lever on the back of the seat.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Kid's Comfort
The Cruz v2 earned a good score for the features that impact kid comfort. It earned one of the highest results in the group for this metric.
The Cruz v2 leg rest is adjustable with an infinite number of possibilities.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The sling-style seat is lightly padded and has an adjustable leg rest. The leg rest has a frame that helps keep dangling legs onboard.
The legrest on the Cruz v2 can be adjusted using dual press-in-release buttons and rotating the bottom portion of the seat frame.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The seat is deep, and the design has enough adjustability for customized comfort.
We measure the angle of recline for each seat. The Cruz seat back reclines to almost 50 degrees and is almost vertical when upright.
The adjustment lever is easy to use and requires only one hand in both directions. The full recline looks perfect for sleeping babies.
The canopy on the Cruz v2 is large with an SPF 50+ rating. It has two mesh peek-a-boo windows with a flap cover. The canopy has a zip-open panel and pop-out visor for more coverage. The canopy rotates back with the seat decreasing coverage when in full recline mode.
The Cruz v2 is one of our favorite full-size options in the review.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Should You Buy the UPPAbaby Cruz v2?
The Cruz v2 is one of our favorite full-size strollers, and it has so many useful features and a thoughtful design that it is hard to imagine anyone not loving it. It easily won our Editor's Choice award in this category and we think the easy fold, ample storage bin, and adjustability make it a winner for most. It is definitely one we recommend to friends with one child to push.
What Other Full-Size Strollers Should You Consider?
If you have more than one child to push or plan to grow your family, the Curz can't hold more than one, and the UPPAbaby Vista v2 could be the better choice. It can accept two car seats, two bassinets, or 2 toddler seats and can fit up to three little ones with an optional running board. It has a similar look and feel to the Cruz v2 but is better if you have more seating needs. If the Curz is out of your price range but you want something similar in style, the Cybex Balios S Lux can save you a couple of hundred dollars without sacrificing too much. Anyone who has never seen or pushed the Cruz would likely be equally happy with the Cybex, and it is one to consider if you like the Cruz.
Manufacturer Video
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Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz
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