The UPPAbaby Cruz V2, Reviewed by a Mom of an Infant

In a nutshell:
Our product tester awarded the UPPAbaby Cruz V2 an average score of 4.3 out of 5, based on its premium style and quality, ease of assembly and, most notably, its ability operate smoothly across multiple uneven terrains.

A stroller is a significant investment for any new parent. You want to choose one that will serve you well over the years—and the UPPAbaby Cruz V2 delivers on that front. Sturdy and stylish, this full-size stroller tackles any terrain with ease. If you’re looking for a high-quality stroller that baby can ride in through the toddler years, the UPPAbaby Cruz V2 is a solid choice.

Don’t take our word for it, though: The mom of a 2-month-old tested it out for us and gave us the inside scoop on how it worked for her and her little one. Keep reading for her honest review, plus technical specs, pros and cons from The Bump community, and where to buy the UPPAbaby Cruz V2.

Overview of the UPPAbaby Cruz V2 Features

How We Tested the UPPAbaby Cruz V2

Here’s what we did to give you a better idea of how the UPPAbaby Cruz V2 works for real-life parents:

• We asked Ivy D., mom of a 2-month-old, to put the stroller together and test it out in a number of different settings over varying terrain, and evaluate it in a number of categories.
• We asked Ivy to rate the Cruz V2 for each of these categories on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best. Combined with our own editorial team’s extensive research, her ratings informed the comprehensive product review that you’ll find below.
• We surveyed over 300 members of The Bump community to see which strollers worked for them, and which features they found most important.
• To see how this stroller worked for a variety of families, we conducted exhaustive market research, scouring forums and message boards and reading user reviews.

Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read about how The Bump develops and reviews all articles, including product reviews.

UPPAbaby Cruz V2 Review

After using the UPPAbaby Cruz V2 with her 2-month-old, Ivy rated the stroller according to the following categories: ease of pushing and steering, folding and unfolding, ease of use, features, style and design and value for money. Read on for her honest thoughts in each category.

Ease of pushing and steering

Ivy was effusive in her praise of the Cruz V2’s pushing and steering capability. “This stroller is incredibly easy to push and steer no matter what terrain you’re on,” she said. “I’ve pushed it on uneven sidewalks and streets, grass, narrow paths, up and down curbs and in crowded areas. It handles each one so well.” On a trip to the park, she filled the large storage basket up completely and maneuvered over bumpy ground, grass, and a smooth path. “The basket made no impact whatsoever on how easy it is to push and steer, which is saying something because it’s a large basket.” (She’s not wrong: The Cruz V2’s basket holds up to a whopping 30 lbs.)

She raved about the smooth ride, and said that rolling over rough terrain actually put her little one to sleep! “It’s clear the suspension is high quality because of how easy it was to push along the bumpy hard ground. It rocked baby to sleep instead of jostling him around! He never minds uneven or rough terrain because although he’s jiggling in there, it’s smoothed out by the suspension.”

When other strollers, people and dogs crossed their path, she reported no trouble navigating. "It makes no difference if we have to go into the grass or scoot to the side—the stroller handles it smoothly and effortlessly. Turns like a dream, with minimal effort needed even for sharp turns.”

The stroller’s weight was a slight downside. “It’s a big, heavy stroller, which is what we expected given its durability and suspension. It’s not something that bothers us, and isn’t over-the-top heavy by any means. It still easily goes up and down curbs with a little lift. Our house has stairs, so to bring the stroller down we have to grip either side—but it’s super easy to grasp and hold onto. I can still lift it by myself fairly easily, even to put it in the trunk or take it out, and I wouldn’t consider myself a particularly strong person.”

Rating: 5 out of 5

Folding and unfolding

“The stroller is very easy to fold and unfold, once you learn which buttons do what you need them to,” Ivy reported. “The instructions are easy to follow, but I found it easier to watch a quick video from UPPAbaby showing how to do it. Never needed to watch it again!”

“Closing it is a two-handed job for sure,” she continued, “since you need to lift two levers on both sides of the handle. It’s possible to open it using just one hand, but much easier using two. One thing I didn’t like is that when it’s folded, the handle you push goes on (or very near) the ground. When we went on a picnic, it ended up in the dirt. It’s a nice leather handle, so I didn’t love that it got dirty so easily.”

Rating: 4 out of 5

Ease of use

Ivy found the Cruz V2 “incredibly user-friendly and intuitive” to put together and use. “I assembled it completely by myself, the hardest part being just taking it out of the big box. The instructions were perfectly clear, and I assembled it in just a few minutes. All you have to do is put on the wheels and you’re good to go—couldn’t be easier or quicker! I barely needed any instructions, although I did use them just to be sure I put the right wheel in the right slot.”

She said the stroller brake was extremely easy to use, requiring “barely any pressure” to engage or disengage. “I’ve used previous strollers where you really have to put some weight into locking, so I really liked how simple this was to use,” she said.

“It might take a few uses to get the hang of what each button does, but I found that also to be fairly intuitive, as most of the buttons are near the area they are meant to adjust,” Ivy said. “The only ones that take a second are the latches to fold it, which are on the handle. No adapters are needed for the bassinet—it clicks on in one go without having to mess around with aligning it. Just place it on and it clicks immediately.” And in the event that baby makes a mess, Ivy told us “the material is super easy to wipe clean.”

Rating: 5 out of 5

Features

The Cruz V2 includes a large storage basket and a canopy, and Ivy used it with the optional bassinet (which is sold separately). “The basket is absolutely huge and fits so much, including an over-packed diaper bag from a new mom who thinks she needs too much stuff,” Ivy laughed. “We often have the diaper bag in it with plenty of room for more stuff, like the food we got from the farmers market. It’s great!”

Also great? The canopy. “It covers half of the bassinet, with an extender that covers another 25 percent or so. Great coverage in the sun, but with a little side panel on the extender for baby to peek out of, or for us to peek in on him.”
The bassinet got mixed reviews from Ivy: “Our baby is super comfortable in the bassinet, and has fallen asleep on every single walk we’ve taken him on, which is a ton! That said, I didn’t love that the bassinet had to be on the stroller or a stand for the sides to fully stand up. If you take the bassinet off and place it on the ground, the sides collapse. I wish you could use it on its own. It’s supposed to be a safe sleep place, but I felt like the sides were a little bunchy, not tight, so I was nervous to let him sleep without supervision in case he rolled over to the side.”

She also wishes the stroller had a few more of the creature comforts one might expect with a high-end stroller. “I think it’s somewhat ridiculous that a stroller this expensive doesn’t come with a snack tray automatically, or a cup holder for whoever is pushing it. I wish that it had those.”

Rating: 3 out of 5

Style and design

“The stroller is very chic and stylish,” Ivy said. “I really liked that the frame isn’t plastic, because it looks really sturdy and high quality. The black color wouldn’t have been my first choice, but it comes with plenty of other color options depending on what you like. The material feels heavy in a good way, like it would be impossible to rip—while still being easy to wipe clean.”

Rating: 5 out of 5

Value for money

While she acknowledged that the Cruz V2 is an expensive stroller, Ivy felt it was (mostly) worth the price tag. “It is so high quality, you can tell the moment you take it out of the box. The frame is super sturdy; it’s clear this will last you for years without showing much wear and tear,” she said. “The bassinet has flaws, like not being able to be used without a frame, or the side fabric being bunchy, but my baby did love to ride in it during our walks.”

Her biggest gripe was with the aforementioned lack of cup holder and snack tray for parents—but that wasn’t enough to dissuade her from recommending it. "I think a stroller this expensive should come automatically with a snack tray, and a cup holder for whoever is pushing it. That said, I do think it is worth the money overall. I know we will get years out of this stroller! We have used it daily for three months now and it still looks unused.”

Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary

Overall, Ivy says she would “absolutely recommend” the UPPAbaby Cruz V2 stroller. “The quality is hard to beat! It can handle every single terrain we’ve tried (flat roads, uneven sidewalks, grass, gravel, dirt) and easily maneuvers up and down curbs or narrow paths. Every button and the brakes require minimal effort to push or engage, and it’s never gotten stuck or been a hassle to adjust anything. It’s obvious from the moment you take it out of the box that this stroller will last you for years, through the intense wear and tear kids will put it through.”
Average rating: 4.3 out of 5

More Thoughts from The Bump Community

On top of Ivy’s review, we also received feedback from other members of The Bump community about the UPPAbaby Cruz V2. Like our independent product tester, they all have firsthand experience with the product. They shared what they loved about the Cruz, as well as what they didn’t love as much. Here’s what they said:

Pros:

Cons:

*Note: Some names have been changed due to privacy requests

About the writer: A former commerce editor for Woman’s World and First for Women, Elizabeth has tested, reviewed and written about products ranging from e-bikes and adjustable beds to swimsuits and skincare products. She has two college-aged daughters and has steered multiple strollers over the years.

Plus, more from The Bump:

The Doona Car Seat & Stroller, Reviewed by Two Moms

UPPAbaby Cruz vs. Vista, Reviewed by Real Parents

The Best Strollers for Every Need, Tested and Loved by Parents