UPPAbaby Vista V2 review: a high-performing travel system that will grow with your family

How we tested the UPPAbaby Vista V2

• Two months of using the UPPAbaby Vista V2 multiple times a week

• Used while on country walks and while visiting the local village, town and parks

• Tested with a 14-month-old toddler

We recently moved from a town to a village, so I was looking forward to testing out a buggy with larger wheels for muddy paths and country walks. I tested the UPPAbaby Vista V2 on weekend morning walks into the village, along muddy pavements, and across a nearby field, as well as for running errands in town - through supermarket aisles and in and out of shops. 

My four-year-old is always by my side, either on his balance bike or on foot, so I often ended up jogging with the buggy to keep up with him. I tested Vista V2 out as a single pushchair, but it’s suitable (with additional adapters and add-ons) for use with two or three children.

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UPPAbaby Vista V2: what’s in the box?

• Chassis

• Seat

• Bassinet 

• Bumper bar

• Four wheels

• Two rain covers

• Two mosquito nets

• Storage bag

• Instruction booklet

How easy is the UPPAbaby Vista V2 to assemble?

Overall, the UPPAbaby Vista V2 is easy to assemble. It took me 45 minutes in total to put it together, although I struggled to figure out how to fit the wheels. As the instructions are photo only, I found them hard to interpret, so I referred to a YouTube video instead for further guidance. Through this, I soon realised that the centre of the wheels need to be pushed in to release the lock and fit them onto the chassis. 

The Vista V2 can easily be set up by one person, and doesn’t require any tools. The process is essentially a click-in step-by-step assembly.

You can turn the V2 into a double buggy by attaching the Rumble Seat and lower adapters (sold separately). If you’re looking for extra space between seats, you should consider buying upper adapters to elevate the toddler seat.

UPPAbaby Vista V2: how does it look?

Out of the box, my first impression of the UPPAbaby Vista V2 was sheer delight. It looked like the Rolls Royce of buggies compared to my 10-year-old iCandy Peach 3, with a sturdy aluminium frame, a genuine leather handlebar and bumper bar covers, as well as a luxurious seat fabric. 

My first thought as I set it up in my living room was that the height would appeal to my husband who is 6’4”. He has previously expressed concern (particularly with our Ickle Bubba Aries travel stroller) that prams are never designed with his height in mind. With the handlebar extended, he found the UPPAbaby Vista V2 much more comfortable to push than other buggies we’ve used. 

I also immediately eyed up the large storage basket underneath. With a four-year-old and a 14-month-old, having enough storage space is key, especially when out and about with essentials for both of them.

The UPPAbaby Vista V2 looks big, there’s no doubt about it, and it’s larger than most lightweight buggies. The frame is fairly wide and the rear wheels are sizeable, but this didn’t prevent me from wheeling through slim shop aisles or café doors.

I tested the black version of the Vista V2, which is made from hard wearing fabric. Looks-wise, this colourway isn't particularly eye-catching, but is smart and chic nonetheless. There are nine different colours to choose from if you prefer something a little more vibrant.

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Is the UPPAbaby Vista V2 safe and sturdy?

When I first put my 14-month-old into the toddler seat, he looked small in the straps. However, there's a clever fitting on the harness which means you can adjust the length without having to rethread the straps manually. 

This is something I found incredibly useful, especially when the weather changes dramatically from one day to the next. One day my toddler would be wearing a thick pramsuit, while he’d only need a jumper the next. With other travel systems I’ve used, such as the iCandy Peach 3, I’ve had to faff around with the straps to make them shorter or longer, but the Vista V2 makes it a breeze to strap my wriggly toddler in, especially in a rush.

The five-point harness is secure at all times and successfully prevented my toddler from wriggling out, despite his best efforts. Even on bumpier paths, he remained comfy as the straps are well padded. Despite being a five-point harness, the shoulder and the waist strap are one component, so there are less parts to clip together as you strap your child in.

I like the brake’s handy colour indicator, which allowed me to easily tell if the brake was on or off - greens means off and red means on. Our driveway is on a very steep incline so the brake was thoroughly put to the test each time I took the Vista V2 out of the garage or car boot - it never once moved an inch. Occasionally, the brake didn’t release the first time so I had to roll the buggy back a small amount to get it going, but this wasn’t enough to cause any concern.

In terms of stability, I was able to hang my changing bag off the handlebar with no toppling, whether my toddler was in or out of his seat, reassuring me of the Vista’s sturdy frame.

How comfortable is the UPPAbaby Vista V2?

I was pleasantly surprised by the adjustable handlebar, which on first assembly seemed high. In reality, it was perfect for me at 5’6'' and also suited my husband, who is 6’4”. My mum, who is 5’1”, used the shorter of the two heights whenever she was babysitting. The black leather handlebar feels luxurious and comfortable to push.

The initial outing in the Vista V2 was my one-year-old’s first experience facing forwards in a pushchair - the buggy seat allows for both parent- and world-facing depending on your child's age - and he loved every minute of it. It took a while for me to figure out how the recline works (I had to look on YouTube), but it’s simple to do once you know how - there’s a button behind the seat that controls the recline and there are five different angles to choose from. 

We didn’t do many long walks where he’d need to sleep in the buggy, but on the one occasion we did happen to be out at nap time, the recline and the deep, extendable SPF50+ three-panel sunshade that offered exceptional coverage ensured he fell asleep easily. One really useful feature of the UPPAbaby Vista V2 is the adjustable sun hood height. This means that it’s very easy to interchange siblings of different ages with minimal adjustment. The sunshade also offers extra airflow through the large mesh window. 

If you have a newborn, the Vista V2 can be used with the accompanying carrycot from birth. This is included in the box and no adapters are needed. While I wasn’t able to fully test the carrycot as my toddler is now too big for it, it was easy to assemble. It pops up from its flat packed state and easily clips into the sides of the buggy’s frame. 

There is a comfy handle across the top making the carrycot easy to carry separately should you need to, and the breathable mattress and inner padding is soft for newborns (it can be also used overnight according to the manufacturer). It also features a pop-out sun shade to provide ample protection during the sunnier months. The carrycot needs to be removed from the buggy before folding as it’s too large to fold down with the frame, however this is simple to do.  

The Vista V2 functions as a travel system, so you can attach a compatible baby car seat from brands such as Nuna, Cybex, Maxi-Cosi and Chicco, although you’ll need to buy a separate car seat adapter to do this.

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What’s the UPPAbaby Vista V2 like to use day to day?

Day to day, the UPPAbaby Vista V2 is a dream to steer and I was able to move effortlessly along bumpy surfaces, muddy grass, and up and down pavements thanks to the four-wheel suspension and puncture-resistant tyres. The swivel front wheels can be locked with the press of a button, which is ideal if you’re venturing onto seriously bumpy terrain and need more control. 

While the pushchair is wide and the wheels are chunky, I got through all doors without hassle. However, in one small shop I walked into, I realised I couldn’t go around the various displays, so quickly backed out the way I came in. The Vista V2 is fairly lightweight and well balanced so if you need to lift or tilt the buggy, you can do this easily.

The included bumper unclips easily and swivels well out of the way, which made it much easier to put my toddler into the seat than on other buggies I’ve used.

I don’t have good access to public transport so I wasn’t able to test the Vista V2 on buses or trains, however its size makes it less well-suited to travel than more compact buggies like the Ickle Bubba Aries.

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What's the storage basket like?

The dual-access storage basket is one of my favourite features and fits up to 13.6kg inside. This was perfect for my changing backpack, coats, parcels for posting and snacks. There’s also a smaller inside pocket in the base which I used for any rubbish including tissues and baby wipes.

Friends of mine who have used the UPPAbaby Vista V2 say they could fit a small toddler inside the storage basket. While I didn’t try this myself, I can definitely believe it, and we regularly stored his balance bike underneath the buggy whenever he got tired of using it.

UPPAbaby Vista V2: how easy is it to fold?

The Vista V2 can be folded seamlessly once you get the hang of it, although you’ll need two hands to fold and unfold. To fold, simply activate the brake, ensure the seat is forward-facing and extend the handlebar to the highest position. You then need to release the triggers and fold the frame until the locking latch clicks into place. The frame unfolds easily once you unclip a small lever on the side, and it’s reassuring to hear the click on each side once the seat is correctly in place.

The only real downside to the fold is the lack of a carry handle or strap, which makes it more challenging to carry the folded pushchair to the car, in and out of the boot, and up and down stairs. That said, a big plus is being able to fold the V2 with the seat attached and it will stand neatly on its own once folded.   

We have a BMW 5 Series Touring (estate) so the Vista V2 fits into the boot easily when laid flat, with enough space for the weekly shop, a backpack or two and everyone’s coats piled on top. If you have a smaller car, you should check that the pram fits before you buy.

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Are there any added extras?

Yes. The UPPAbaby Vista V2 comes with extras including a rain cover, mosquito net and bumper bar. These were all easy to use and I like that the rain cover for the main seat has a small ventilation window, which I used regularly for passing snacks to my toddler when on the go.

Additional accessories you can buy include: Rumble Seat V2 (to convert pushchair to a double buggy), Ride-Along PiggyBack Board, travel bag, changing backpack, Carry-All Parent Organiser, snack tray and cup holder.

Is the UPPAbaby Vista V2 easy to clean?

Yes! The fabric on the black version I tested is easy to clean with a damp cloth or a baby wipe, even with mud smeared on it from wellies and off-road paths, and snacks squashed into the seat lining.

The wear and tear on this buggy was non-existent despite two months of good use, which proves just how well-made this piece of kit is.

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Is the UPPAbaby Vista V2 good value for money?

While this buggy sits in the higher price range of £850+, it’s more than worth it. So many elements of this buggy feel really well thought through and carefully designed, and I found it intuitive to use. It’s a work horse and a good investment in my opinion, particularly if you plan on using it for multiple children.

About the author

Sarah Murray-Muncila is a brand marketing manager originally from Barbados. Here at Mumsnet, she works on commercial partnerships for brands that our community loves. Having recently come back to work after her second maternity leave, Sarah's balancing life with a four- and one-year-old and is keen to find products that make parenting the two together as easy as possible.