UPPAbaby Mesa v2 Review

UPPAbaby is an American company with more than a decade of juvenile product experience. They consider real family life when creating products that are easy to use, safe, and fun. Their goals are innovative products that keep convenience and usability while remaining stylish. The company offers car seats and some of our favorite strollers.

Performance Comparison

Crash Testing

The crash test analysis score for the V2 is not as impressive as the other UPPAbaby infant car seat we tested. While it is considered safe by the federal guidelines, it scored below average for the group in our “hotter” run test, which puts a little more stress on the seats than the guideline requires.

In this metric, we are looking for those seats that perform better than the average seat with the lowest possible forces indicated on their head and chest sensors in the crash test dummies. The HIC or head sensor result was significantly higher than the competition and one of the highest in the group (lower is better). The chest clip sensor results were also higher than the average. The overall crash test analysis results were below the average and lower than the other UPPAbaby infant seat. If you are looking for a potential additional margin of protection over the average seat, this is likely not the seat for you.

Ease of Installation LATCH

LATCH installation for the Mesa V2 is the second-best installation method for this seat, and it managed a slightly above-average result compared to the other seats we tested. This seat has push-style LATCH connectors on a retractable, flexible strap, a dial level indicator, and an anti-rebound handle position but no load leg or traditional anti-rebound bar.

The LATCH connectors are easy to use and push right on the anchor points. The retractable strap works well and makes tightening a breeze with few issues, and it is hard to twist the straps accidentally. The lock-off is the real problem as it is more challenging to use than others because it is smaller.

We had to use a towel in both test cars to get the right angle as the indicator had a small tolerance window that didn't seem to like the contours of the vehicle seat or the tight installation. The indicator is also harder to see than we'd like, and we worry some parents will get too frustrated to bother. Pressing on either side of the base helps finalize the tightening and creates a secure installation that barely budges when tugged on. The lack of load leg means there is less to hassle with.

Releasing is straightforward, with a pull tab to release the LATCH connectors. Once they detach, you help them retract into their storage cubbies.

Recline Adjustment

The seat has a tight window of the acceptable angle it will allow, and there aren't many subtle variations in the four levels offered by the recline adjustment. We often fell outside the range, with the adjustment doing little more than putting us outside the range in the other direction. Adjustment is a grey button on the foot of the base that you press and then help the “foot” lower or raise into one of the four positions.

Ease of Installation - Belt

Installing the Mesa V2 with the vehicle belt is the easiest installation method for this seat, which is kind of a bummer since LATCH is supposed to be foolproof and the easiest method. The Mesa V2 has a color-coded belt pathway and a built-in lock-off but no tensioner. While we love a good tensioner, some seats have a sufficient lock-off, and tightening isn't a problem. Its overall performance in this metric is better than the average for the seats we tested.

The LATCH system makes everything on this model a little crowded but still manageable. The slots are thin, but we had no problem threading the belt. The belt lock-off was smaller than most, and keeping the lap belt in place without bunching took significant effort. Pressing the lock-off down was more difficult for this reason.

Tightening was somewhat easier with this seat, and the angle of pull helped avoid some of the tipping we see on other models. It does have a green indicator color change when you get the base tight enough, which is a nice reassurance if you are paranoid about installation. It wasn't a lot of effort, and it feels fairly snug in both test cars but better in the small SUV.

Ease of Installation - w/o the Base

Installing the Mesa V2 without the base is the hardest method for this option, but it still managed a slightly above-average score for the group. While it could be easier, it isn't prohibitively tricky and could be used occasionally on public transportation or when traveling. It utilizes the European belt pathway that pulls the carrier in snuggly with the shoulder belt around the back of the shell, and it has color-coded indicators and a line decal on the shell for leveling.

The slots for the belt are nice and open, and they have color indicators even if the whole slot is not colored. You have to guide the shoulder belt around the back and into the clip, and the smaller carrier size helps with the belt placement from outside the car.

Tightening is where we had some trouble as the carrier feels like it wants to slip out, and if the back path were in a slightly different location, it would probably help. It isn't the most stable in the group, but it passes the wiggle test with no problem. It was much more stable in the SUV test car, like many competitors, and we speculate this is because of the increase in padding and contouring of that car's padding. Once you get it all tightened down, you must remember to lower the handle into the anti-rebound position against the back of the vehicle seat.

Ease of Use

This UPPAbaby is one of the easier-to-use seats in the group for daily functions. While it isn't the best, it is far above average, and we think most parents will appreciate the little things that UPPAbaby offers that we didn't see in the competition or weren't done well elsewhere.

Buckle

The buckle has a square flush button. It took slightly more force than most to press it enough to release the prongs. While it wasn't annoying like some, it is more of a thumb workout and could be problematic for those with hand strength or thumb issues. The inside of the metal prongs where the straps go has some metal friction to prevent the prongs from sliding down, which is helpful once your little one is in the seat. There are storage slots in the fabric you can also use to prevent this, but you might not need them since the prongs are less free-floating than most.

The chest clip includes a visual guide for placement, which we think is a nice reminder since social media pictures indicate most parents don't know where the clip goes. The release button is small, and you might need to use the tip of your thumb or finger to engage it. It was easy to push down, and the sides of the clip spread apart easily.

Harness Tightening/Loosening

Tightening and loosening work smoothly, but we wish there was a little more webbing on the strap so that getting the baby's hands in and out was more comfortable. We almost pulled all the webbing out during testing to get the straps on our model. The release button is far from the edge and somewhat more difficult to press, and we had to move little legs out of the way to use it.

Harness Adjustment

The harness height adjustment on the Mesa v2 is easy peasy and non-rethread style. The entire headrest assembly slides up and down smoothly and can be done from the front of the carrier and with your baby in the seat.

We love this style of adjustment because you can make the changes as soon as you recognize a need. This could potentially impact overall safety since a properly fitted harness is required to protect babies from potential injuries.

Carrier to Base Connection

We didn't have trouble putting the carrier on the base, and there wasn't a way to accidentally do it wrong that we could find. The base is relatively flat without much to guide it into place, so you might need to shift it around a little to hear the click. Removing utilizes a release handle on the back of the carrier. The handle/lever is on the back of the carrier, fairly low on the shell. It is easy to grasp and disengage. The foot of the carrier doesn't get hung up on anything, and it is easy enough to lift with the regular handle and the release lever.

Handle

The handle on this seat is a pleasure to use, and this was not something we can say about all of them. It moves smoothly after pressing the joint release buttons and doesn't interfere with the canopy movement or placement. There is an anti-rebound position when pulled toward the foot of the carrier that feels like a nice addition.

Canopy

The canopy movement is smooth and has two possible positions. It moves as one unit and doesn't feel rickety or require each side to be moved independently like some competitors. It is a big difference. This is one of the few that does not brush the handle, and it moves on its own track. The half-circle track dedicated to the canopy is a great design and likely why it functions so well.

LATCH and Manual Storage

A slot on the bottom of the Mesa base keeps it away from messes but means you have to uninstall the seat to access it, which feels like a mistake and a hassle to new parents with quick questions. The LATCH connectors retract into cubbies. The strap retracts independently, but you must help guide the connectors. It works really well and has a nice design. The connectors have an orange pull tab for quick retrieval.

Comfort/Quality

The Mesa V2 performs well for comfort and quality, scoring above the average for the group. However, if your goal is the best comfort and quality, the bigger brother to the V2 is your better bet with one of the highest scores in the metric.

Fabric and Padding

The fabric on this seat is all around nice and soft. Unlike some competitors with rougher material around the head and on the infant insert, this one is good overall, making it a standout in the group. This seat has a lot of padding, including a pretty thick insert that helps boost smaller babies. It feels like memory foam and is more impressive than much of the competition. It also sports relatively nice pads on the shoulder and crotch strap buckle.

Handle and Canopy

The canopy and the handle don't really collide on this seat, which is nice. There is ample room with the handle up, and the canopy is open to put your arm or hand under the handle. It is a rectangle-shaped grip with soft edges; it is basically average. The canopy is larger than average, but the fabric is thin and only filters light instead of blocking it. It has two positions and works well.

Shell

The Mesa V2 outer shell is pretty smooth, easy to wipe clean, and does not have sharp edges or places for grime to hide.

Weight/Size

The Mesa V2 scores just about average for the weight of the carrier, with a measured weight of 10.5 lbs. This weight is neither prohibitively heavy for carrying nor ultra-light. Depending on how often you think you'll be lugging your loved one on board, it might be a metric worthy of some consideration. There are some higher-scoring seats overall that have lower carrier weights.

Should You Buy the UPPAbaby Mesa v2

We love UPPAbaby, but the Mesa V2 is not our favorite product in their lineup. While we understand the desire to pair a UPPAbaby stroller and seat, this is not our favorite Mesa nor our favorite seat. No matter what you might be looking for, we think our lineup offers better options with more impressive overall performance.

What Other Infant Car Seats Should You Consider?

If you want a UPPAbaby seat, we prefer the UPPAbaby Mesa Max. This seat has a load leg and similar styling, but it performed better in key metrics and overall, earning an award for comfort and quality. If your goal is the best all-around seat, then the Clek Liing is our favorite seat of choice, with better crash test analysis results than the competition and impressive performance across the board. If you want a good seat that can pair with your UPPAbaby stroller (with an adapter), the highly compatible Chicco Keyfit 35 is a nice seat that performs well and pairs with several award-winning strollers UPPAbaby and otherwise. We think you'll prefer these options over the V2.

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