REASONS TO BUY
Color-coded brakes
Easy-to-use recline
Plush materials
REASONS TO AVOID
Challenging in the grass
Poor leg and footrest support
No peek-a-boo window
Longer fold
UPPAbaby G-Luxe Review
Above average stroller that offers better quality and features for the price
Credit: Matt Lighthart
By Wendy Schmitz ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ June 9, 2024
RELATED: The Best Travel Strollers
Our Verdict
The UPPAbaby G-Luxe is an umbrella-style travel stroller. This stroller folds like a traditional umbrella stroller, has a 10 lbs storage capacity, and has a shoulder carrying strap. The seat reclines far enough for napping, and the canopy covers more than the average lightweight option. However, the G-Luxe is harder to push, and the dual handle and four rear wheels design make it a workout in the grass. It has one of the largest folds in the group and is above average for its weight. Overall, it isn't a terrible option, and the quality is good, but it isn't small or lightweight, which makes it a disappointment in a category where size matters. We suspect parents won't hate the G-Luxe, but we think the lineup has better choices, depending on your goals.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The UPPAbaby company was started by an American family over ten years ago and is now a well-known producer of some of the best strollers out there.
While not as big as a full-size stroller, the umbrella fold of the G-Luxe creates a long package that might not fit everywhere.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Transporting and Storing
The G-Luxe did not perform well in transporting and storing, which is a bummer given how important that is for a stroller of this type.
G-Luxe is not the heaviest in its group but has an above-average weight. The typical weight for travel strollers in our review is around 14 lbs; in our tests, it weighed 16.1 lbs. This places it near the higher end of the spectrum, with few strollers weighing more.
The G-Luxe weighed 16.1 lbs in our tests.
Credit: Sentry Kelly
The umbrella-style mechanism's elongated fold creates a long and sort of bulky folded stroller that will need a longer space to stow away in—something that might be in short supply on planes or other tight spaces.
The G-Luxe length could make it hard to fit in smaller spaces.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The folded G-Luxe measured 20.5"W x 11.7"H x 41"L in our tests, which is 9,834 in^3. This stroller has one of the largest folded sizes in the group, surpassing even the full-size option we decided to include. While it self-stands and has a shoulder carry strap, we don't think it's as easy to keep out of the way, and the awkward shape makes it all the more challenging.
The G-Luxe has a rethread strap design that is easy enough to use, and we appreciate the adjustability.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Ease of Use
The G-Luxe is not difficult to use, but many of the features and functionality are not as easy to use as those of some competitors.
The G-Luxe is a two-hand fold that results in both a collapse inward and a fold-over final product that self-stands.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Fold and Unfold
The G-Luxe folds in on itself in a traditional umbrella stroller fold. It requires two hands to complete, and while not difficult, it does have more steps than most.
Unlocking the open stroller requires pulling two finger loops on the handles simultaneously. There is a safety lock mechanism to press, and then the stroller is pushed forward and into itself to fold. It has an auto-lock on the side. To unfold, you release the lock and press down on the foot pad in the back to push it open and lock it in place.
Storage
The G-Luxe has an under-seat storage bin, a pocket on the back of the canopy, and a cup holder. The bin is small and has a maximum weight allowance of 10 lbs. Accessibility is mostly in the back, and the reclining seat can impede it.
The cup holder on the G-Luxe is large enough for the water bottle we use for testing.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Quick-access items like a wallet or smartphone are better placed in the canopy pocket. It is not a zippered pocket, but it does have a flap cover. The cup holder is wide enough for our test bottle, and it was able to sit on the bottom, unlike some competitors, where the bottle was too wide to reach the bottom.
The G-Luxe crotch strap is very long, but the buckle is easy to use.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Harness
The G-Luxe harness has a rethread shoulder strap design. It isn't hard to do, and we appreciate the extra adjustability. The buckle is a 5-point harness with three components that snap together easily.
We like the color-coded dual brake pedals that ensure a foot-friendly experience.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Brakes
The G-Luxe are single-action brakes with one pedal to set and one pedal to release. The pedals are color-coded, making it easy to choose one or see the stroller status at a glance. The two-pedal design makes them foot and sandal-friendly. They require 15-20 lbs of pressure to use.
The only assembly required on the G-Luxe is the rear wheels and cup holder.
Credit: Sentry Kelly
Ease of Setup
The G-Luxe took us less than five minutes to unbox and assemble. It is super easy and requires minimal parts to be added, including the front wheels, sunshade, and cup holder. No tools are required.
Car Seat Compatiblity
The G-Luxe is not compatible with any infant car seat carriers.
The Double back wheels on the G-Luxe aren't big fans of uneven terrain and we wish all brands would stop using them.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Maneuverability
The G-Luxe performed poorly in our maneuverability tests, with a lower-than-average result. It isn't the worst, but it could be frustrating to use over time.
The Wheels on the G-Luxe are pretty substantial and one of the hardest in the group.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The stroller handles well on flat surfaces where it is unencumbered by bumps or terrain changes and thresholds. The frame remains rigid, feeling that the two handles don't create much torsion since there isn't much friction on the ground.
The rear wheel design with two wheels on each leg creates a problem when you head off-road, and the stroller really struggles in grass and on uneven terrain. The umbrella frame design and two handles instead of a single bar create a flexing when trying to turn on grass that makes it feel more of a chore than competitors. Thresholds and curbs require some forethought, but they aren't prohibitive if you plan ahead and tip the stroller slightly to help it over any hurdles.
The umbrella design of the G-Luxe is convoluted with many fasteners, hinges, snag points, etc.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Quality
The G-Luxe is of higher quality and earned an above-average result for quality in our comparison tests.
We tested the pressure required to press the G-Luxe brake pedals.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The fabric is soft, durable, and fits the frame well. The frame is relatively sturdy with a little horizontal flex due to the umbrella folding design with multiple hinges.
The wheels are 5.8 inches in diameter and are 81 HA in hardness testing. The solid wheels help it in the maneuverability department and make it less likely to dent or become deformed. Unfortunately, it has dual wheels on each leg in the back, which aren't our favorite, but at least the front wheels are singles.
The G-Luxe seat recline, leg rest, and canopy create a place suitable for napping and general comfort.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Kid's Comfort
The G-Luxe performs fairly well for kid comfort, with a score that is average for the group. The features are neither a standout nor a disappointment.
The G-Luxe leg rest has two possible positions, straight down and straight out.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Seat
The seat has an adjustable leg rest and a reclining seat back that is deep enough to encourage napping. The recline is super easy to use with one hand but only has two positions. The leg rest is padded but only has two possible positions: down or straight out.
The G-Luxe sunshade with the visor popped out is fairly large, but it doesn't come down as far as others.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Sunshade
The G-Luxe sunshade is medium in size compared to the competition and a bit floppy when fully open. It has a UPF of 50+ and a pop-out visor for more coverage. It covers the over-the-knees of the passenger but does come down as far as some of the competition.
The G-Luxe is an interesting umbrella-style product, but it didn't manage to outperform the top-ranked competition.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Should You Buy the UPPAbaby G-Luxe?
Maybe? If you are looking for a high-quality traditional umbrella stroller, then the G-Luxe might be it. This option has a nice carry shoulder strap, a comfy seating area with a large canopy, and an easy-to-use design. However, the elongated fold makes it harder to fit in some spaces, and it isn't as small as those that fold in thirds, making it one that could be difficult to stow on public transportation. It also has dual wheels and dual handles that make maneuverability more of a challenge. Overall, we like the G-Luxe, but we think there are better options that have features and functions that make life easier than the G-Luxe.
What Other Travel Strollers Should You Consider?
A better UPPAbaby option is the UPPAbaby Minu v3. If you love everything UPPAbaby, the Minu ranks higher overall and can be used from birth, either with the bassinet-style configuration or select UPPAbaby infant car seats. It folds small enough to be practical for travel, offers a high-capacity storage bin, and could serve as your main stroller for adventures if you don't require off-roading. We also appreciate the Joolz Aer+, another high-performing stroller. It's lighter than the G-Luxe, features a compact fold, and has a narrow frame for easy maneuvering through tight city streets. Also, the Zoe Traveler is a solid option if your budget is tight. It's easy to use, small, comfortable, and has an impressive canopy.
Manufacturer Video
Side-by-Side Comparison
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