Help Me Decide: Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 or UPPAbaby CRUZ V2
We’re putting two of the most popular strollers head to head.
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Ever find yourself stuck between two products and you just can’t make up your mind? Baby registry decision fatigue is real—so Babylist’s Help Me Decide! series is here to help.
Choosing the best stroller for your family is probably one of the toughest decisions you’ll make when building your baby registry. There are so many options and countless features, price points and other factors to consider.
The Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 and the UPPAbaby Cruz V2 are two of the most popular choices around. These streamlined, full-size strollers are both extremely versatile, durable and will take you from the first days of your baby’s life well into the big kid years. But which one should you choose?
THE SHOWDOWN
Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 Stroller
A fold that can’t be beat and a price to go along with it—those are two of the most-talked-about features of the City Mini GT2 from Baby Jogger, one of the best all-around strollers on the market. This agile, versatile stroller checks so many must-have boxes and boasts features like a signature fold that’s truly one-handed (unlike other strollers that make a similar claim), a robust suspension system with the ability to tackle all types of terrain, compatibility with both an infant car seat or a bassinet so you can use it from day one and a competitive price point. The City Mini is a durable, high-quality stroller that’s an excellent choice for any family.
UPPAbaby CRUZ V2 Stroller
If you’re in the market for a full-size stroller with a streamlined design and tons of features, UPPAbaby’s Cruz is an ideal pick. The standouts of this popular stroller include a reversible seat, allowing your baby to ride facing you or facing forward, a hefty suspension system for great maneuverability and a huge storage basket that holds everything you might need—and more—for a day out. Like the City Mini, the Cruz is travel system-ready with the addition of an infant car seat and also works with a bassinet. There are even several high-end features like a leather handlebar and independent shocks to absorb any extra bumps you may encounter on your outdoor adventures.
THE LOWDOWN
What’s the same?
- Size and weight. Although there are a few slight differences, the basic stats on the City Mini and the Cruz are pretty similar. Folded and unfolded, the strollers clock in at roughly the same size and weight, give or take a few inches and pounds. And while neither can be considered compact strollers, they’re both fairly streamlined considering their functionality. They’re also easy (enough) to lift, load and unload out of a vehicle and store when not in use.
- Weight limit. You’ll get roughly the same lifespan out of both of these popular strollers, as they each have a maximum weight limit of 65 pounds. (And odds are your little one will outgrow their stroller in height long before they reach the weight maximum.)
- Newborn friendly. Lots of new parents aren’t aware that not all strollers can be used with a newborn. If your stroller isn’t compatible with an infant car seat or doesn’t recline completely flat and have the proper head, neck and body support, you’ll need to wait until your little one is about six months old—right about the time they start to sit up on their own—before using it. This isn’t the case with either the City Mini or the Cruz, though. Both can be used right from day one in a few different configurations. The City Mini and the Cruz are compatible with some of the best infant car seat brands with the addition of adapters. Both brands also make a bassinet attachment (sold separately) that easily pops on and off the strollers’ frames. If you don’t love either of those options, the City Mini reclines near-flat and the Cruz reclines completely flat, making both seats infant-friendly.
- Durability. The City Mini and the Cruz are well-made, high-quality strollers. Baby Jogger and UPPAbaby are trusted brands that parents love—and for lots of good reasons. Both of these strollers will hold their own against the wear and tear that comes with years of use.
What’s different?
- Price. One of the first things you’ll notice when comparing the City Mini and the Cruz is the price. The Cruz is significantly more expensive than the City Mini. Is the Cruz worth the extra cash? It depends on what you’re looking for in a stroller and the features that mean the most to you. (More on that below.)
- Fold. You can’t talk about the City Mini without mentioning how truly awesome the fold on this stroller is. (Nor should you, because it really is that good.) Just lift the strap on the seat and the stroller folds itself—that’s it. And although we wouldn’t classify the fold on UPPAbaby’s Cruz as difficult, it’s definitely not this easy. And it takes two hands, not one.
- Seating. Another major difference between these two popular strollers is the seating configuration. The seat on the City Mini is forward-facing. It’s built right into the stroller’s frame, so there’s no ability to turn it around. The Cruz, however, has a modular seat. That means it lifts right out of the frame with the simple press of a button and lets your baby ride either forward- or parent-facing.
- High-end features. You’d expect some higher-end features with a stroller that’s priced like the Cruz, right? The good thing is it delivers. The Cruz has a modular seat, an adjustable footrest, a telescoping leather handlebar, all-wheel suspension with a patented two-stage system and independent shocks, an extendable canopy (that’s also height-adjustable), a one-handed full recline and more. Yes, you’ll pay more for these features, but they’re thoughtfully designed and really useful, so at least the extra cash you’re spending will pay off. Just keep in mind: while you don’t get quite the same features on the City Mini, the ones you do get are pretty amazing, especially considering the stroller’s price. Things like all-wheel suspension, an easy fold and great maneuverability aren’t things you’ll find in most strollers that are priced similarly to the City Mini, and that’s definitely something worth noting.
- Storage basket. This is one feature worth its own mention. The storage basket on the Cruz is huge. It’s wide and deep, easy to access and holds up to 30 pounds of stuff. The basket on the City Mini, while also easy to access, is a lot smaller, and only holds 10 pounds of weight.
- Car seat compatibility. Both the City Mini and the Cruz are compatible with many brands of infant car seats, but you’ll have more options with the City Mini than you will with the Cruz. Including their own brands of infant car seats, the City Mini is compatible with nine infant car seat brands, while the Cruz accepts five.
THE VERDICT
Still can’t decide which of these popular strollers best fits your lifestyle? Here are a few things to consider as you think through your choice.
Baby Jogger’s City Mini GT2 may be the right choice if:
- You want a great stroller, but you don’t want to spend a ton. The City Mini is by far the best stroller you’ll find at its price point. At several hundred dollars less than the UPPAbaby Cruz, it offers obvious cost savings. And while you are sacrificing some higher-end features, like a modular seat, leather accents and a larger storage basket, the City Mini is an excellent stroller, especially considering the features you are getting for the price.
- You’ll be folding and unfolding your stroller on the regular. Getting in and out of the car a lot? Breaking down your stroller every day to carry it up a flight or two of stairs or store it out of the way? The quick, easy fold on the City Mini is one of its biggest assets and a huge pro if you’ll be folding your stroller a lot. Pro tip: we love the City Mini for suburban families who are in and out of the car a lot. It’s the perfect stroller to pop in (and out of) your trunk and be on your way.
- You want to build your own travel system. Yes, both the City Mini and the Cruz accept several brands of infant car seats if you want to turn your stroller into a travel system—but the City Mini accepts more brands and will give you more optionality than the Cruz. It’s definitely not a dealbreaker either way, but it is something to consider.
The UPPAbaby Cruz V2 may be the right choice if:
- You want a modular seat. Lots of parents choose a stroller based on its seating configuration, and the Cruz’s forward- or rear-facing modular seat gives you more options than the forward-only seat on the City Mini. Most families start off with the seat parent-facing and then turn their baby to face forward as they get older and want to see the world as they stroll.
- You’re looking for a stroller with higher-end features. If you don’t mind paying a bit more, you’ll find lots of thoughtful (and useful) high-end features on UPPAbaby’s Cruz stroller. Our favorites include the full recline and adjustable footrest, the cushy suspension system, the XL canopy and the telescoping leather handlebar.
- You haul around a lot of stuff. Live somewhere where your stroller is your car and you’re always on foot to the grocery store or park? Like to always be prepared with a giant diaper bag and all the things? You’ll need somewhere to put it all, and the storage basket on the Cruz is the perfect spot. With its 30-pound capacity and deep, wide storage, it’s one of the best stroller baskets around.
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