Uppababy Cruz or Vista?

[Flummery100]

I'm trying to decide on whether to get an Uppababy Cruz or Vista for my first baby and need some help! These are definitely my top two choices for prams, but trying to decide whether to go for the larger Vista, with arguably some better features, over the smaller Cruz (with the bassinet), which has most of the same features but is a bit narrower and lighter, is proving tricky. I think the Cruz is the current Which? Best Buy but the Vista is second, with not much between them.

I live in London and imagine I'll be taking the pram both in the car and on public transport. My baby girl is due at the end of May.

Has anyone else made the decision between these two prams, and if so, which did you go for and are you happy with your choice? Equally would be great to hear from those who have a Cruz or Vista and what you think the pros and cons have been.

Thanks in advance :-)

[Flummery100]

Bump. Anyone?

[scissy]

I went for the vista over the Cruz as it seemed a bit more 'all terrain' and sturdier. it fits on glos buses just fine, however I understand that London transport is a whole different ball game! if I was in London I'd probably have gone for the Cruz.

[Flummery100]

Thanks Scissy. Are you happy with the Vista? Do you find it bulky/heavy to push around or get onto buses (even though it fits ok)? Do you find it easy to fold/unfold?

I agree that the Vista seems a bit higher quality in general and looks like it would handle different surfaces better than the Cruz, I'm really just trying to work out whether the slightly smaller width and weight of the Cruz would outweigh all the benefits of the Vista.

I think I would probably use the trains more than buses, and reckon the width of the Vista is much less of an issue on trains than on buses. But am wondering whether the couple of extra pounds of weight and few extra inches on the width would make it much more of a pain to heft the Vista into a car, manouvere around shops etc. Is so hard to decide!

[Ihateparties]

It might depend in part what you personally will get most irritated with. The Vista will fit most places imho. Personally I find width the most irritating factor and how well something pushes over rough urban surfaces. Just out of interest on what basis did you arrive at these two uppababys as final choice? I would definitely look for the features I most wanted (or wanted to avoid) first and foremost so would end up with a shortlist of more similar to eachother pushchairs than these two. I think you will have reasons, just without know what they are it's harder to gauge what will be more suitable.

[scissy]

I'm really happy with the vista but I've never had to take it on a train, but we only have intercity style ones round here so I think either would have trouble tbh. the fold is easy once you know how but you can't fold it in 1 piece with the carrycot attached if that's important, but the same applies to the Cruz.

I don't drive so don't put it in the car that often, but it will fit in the boot of our jazz easily if I take one of the back wheels off.

[scissy]

just realised you asked about bulk. I don't find it bulky, the way it's engineered means it doesn't feel heavy to push at all, it can feel a bit heavy when putting in the boot but no more than any other travel systems

[CruCru]

I have a Vista and get buses in London often. It is fab.

[Flummery100]

CruCru - that's good to read about your experience with the Vista in London, thanks.

Scissy - thanks for extra info. I do have sense that if you buy a travel system, they're all going to be rather hefty to get into a car boot and a few lbs more or less probably won't make too much difference.

Ihateparties - I ended up with these two as my final choices mostly from 'testing' loads in the shops, plus was influenced by the Which reports and also advice from shop staff and friends. I know they are a bit different and I'm sure I'd be happy with either, it's just that having not used a pram before, I don't know what I value the most - all I know is that I am most drawn by far to these two! Have you had one of these Uppababys?

[Ihateparties]

No...No use am I!

I have a Brio Smile which is a Vista frame basically with a couple of small differences, 4 air tyres and a different seat. It's 6cm narrower than a Vista.

Purely on the basis of looking at them side by side in the shop I find the Vista too large and wide and the Cruz too hard in the suspension/ride. Of the two I would go for smaller because I know what would annoy me more in day to day use.

Have you got a gut feeling, a favourite?

[Cordial]

Marking place as also making this decision.

I am coming down on side of vista because I live in a bit of London with lots of parks etc and I thought the suspension on the cruz might rule out off road!

[Flummery100]

I started off liking Cruz best because it felt smaller all round but have to say that I'm now thinking that the Vista may be the slightly better buy. It has a fair few features that are better than the Cruz, pricewise it's really not that different, and as Cordial says, it's likely to cope with different surfaces better than the Cruz.

As the Cruz is so new it's hard finding people who have had it. And that's the other thing that made me think possibly switching to Vista is the fact that it's been around longer so any issues probably would have been sorted out by now.

[glorious]

I have a vista which I really like. It goes on a London double decker no problem though not sure about singles. trains and tube also fine and today I bumped it up and down three flights of stairs no trouble (though without the baby!). But it is really a pushchair to choose if you walk a lot because I wouldn't argue it was ideal for any of those things.

A friend has a cruz and I'd say it pushes fine but the ride is much harder. But it has other advantages like the size.

[yakisoba]

Just bumped a previous thread in which I talked about my love of my Cruz! It seemed less bulky when I was comparing it to the Vista and we are happy with our choice! Yes, the ride is firm, but improving the more I use it. Massive basket is fab, but I guess that's the same with the Vista. Not seen anyone else with a Cruz yet either!

[Flummery100]

Thanks glorious and yakisoba - interesting to read your views (and previous bumped thread).

Yakisoba, how do you think the Cruz handles surfaces other than smooth pavements/shop floors? Do you find it heavy to lift into a car boot? How do you find the fold? Questions questions!

[yakisoba]

It is a firm ride, there is sprung suspension which takes the shock out of the biggest bumps. Uneven pavements and cobbles do give DS a bumpy ride, although he seems oblivious. It is not difficult to fold, nor is it heavy to lift.

[Tiggywunkle]

Absolutely no question for me. I have had both and the Vista is far better from a push / suspension point of view. The Cruz seat is very easy to drop on and off, and I prefer the basket. However I had a Cruz for some months, but every time I used it, the suspension was simply too hard. I loved the concept and size but finally admitted defeat and sold it.

[Flummery100]

Thanks both.

Tiggywunkle - did you feel Vista had other things going for it over the Cruz, apart from suspension? E.g was the bassinet any better, did it feel like it was any stronger in build quality, the brake pedal mechanism? Did the Cruz feel much smaller/narrower and/or lighter than the Vista?

[Ihateparties]

You keep coming back to small, narrow and light Flummery it is purely my frivolous opinion that however good the Vista is (and it is good) that the size of it is going to hack you off over time...

IMO the Cruz feels a lot narrower, lighter I cannot comment on, smaller was my impression but I don't know how that is born out by actual measurements.

[Flummery100]

I think I keep mentioning those things just because, in my opinion, they seem to be the only things that the Cruz has that are better than the Vista when compared side by side.

I actually reckon I'm leaning towards getting the Vista after all the positive comments about it!

I think that I will be walking a lot with the pram over the summer and going to parks/over bumpy surfaces etc, so would appreciate the extra suspension/smoother ride from the Vista. And considering the comments that people have made about the Vista not stopping them doing anything, and bearing in mind that alltravel systems are heavy, I think that the Vista is probably the better choice for me. Plus can always get a cheap, lightweight buggy to use on buses a little bit down the line if the Vista does prove difficult.

Also trying to tell myself that there is probably never the perfect pram and that I?m probably overthinking things as it is!!

[LynetteScavo]

I keep seeing this thread title, and thinking it's in the baby names topic.

For what it's worth, I don't like the names Vista or Cruz.

As you were.

[glorious]

Just to add I tried the vista on an empty single decker today (obliging off duty driver) and it did just fit but there is no chance it would with people in the seats. So it'd be the back doors if the driver would let you.
But like you say it's not possible to make the perfect choice so if walking is more important the vista may still be best.

[Loupee]

I have the vista, and would recommend it to anyone. The cruz was just released over here when I ordered the vista, so wasn't able to compare them side by side.
I have been so impressed with the vista, copes well on any surface, is fine on public transport (in Scotland tho!) and is always so light to push. My DS is now 8 months and I definitely won't be changing to a lightweight stroller any time soon!

[IJustWoreMyTrenchcoat]

Flummery I was going to start a thread on this just as soon as I had actually tried the Vista out!

The Vista has such great features, and I am worried once I buy the Cruz add on the bassinet and possibly car seat adapters I am shelling out the same price for less of a pram if that makes sense. Yet, yet the Cruz is smaller, and may last longer in that I won't be tempted to buy an umbrella fold stroller 6 months down the line if I go for a more compact system from the start.

[Flummery100]

That's good to know about the single bus experience, thanks Glorious. And also useful to read about your views of the Vista, Loupee.

Trenchcoat - I think I'm pretty much decided on Vista now and the fact that the prices between the two of them when you add bassinet and car seat adapters are so similar, pushes me even more towards Vista. I'm sure Cruz is also a great choice and it's splitting hairs choosing between them really. But have to make a decision and think I now have, so thanks everyone for your help! Now just have to choose the colour...