Nuna Pipa Review

The ZAAZ™ highchair was the first product launched by the Nuna company in 2007. Based in Amsterdam, this international company works to create thoughtful baby gear selling car seats, strollers, and other various products for little ones.

Performance Comparison

Crash Test

For crash test results, the Nuna fails to impress with results near the bottom of the bunch. All car seats on the market in the United States must meet or exceed the federal guidelines defined in FMVSS 213. We compare each product's crash test results to the FMVSS and the other products in the review to identify the options that potentially provide an additional margin of protection.

The test results for the Nuna are generally unimpressive as the chest sensor result is the absolute maximum allowed by the Federal standards with 60 Gs, where the best outcome is only 44 earned by the Cybex Aton 2 using the load leg during testing. See the comparison chart below.

The Nuna performs better when comparing the crash results for the dummy head sensor of HIC results (see chart above). The maximum allowed for this test is 1000, and a lower result is better. The Nuna head sensor recorded 431, while the Chicco Keyfit 30 sensor shows only 330. Still, 431 is far below the limit.

Ease of Install - LATCH

Installation with the LATCH system is where the NUNA shines. With rigid LATCH anchors that push onto the U anchors in the vehicle, it is one of the easiest seats to install using LATCH.

The LATCH anchors are rigid and stick out from the base (above left). They move up and down for easier installation in the vehicle, and they can connect one at a time or in unison with a color-changing feature, so you know when they latch correctly. There is a side button (above right) to release the anchors from the car. They are easy to use and don't require any tightening.

The ridged anchors are a little bit difficult to attach when the car has hidden U anchors. If you can't see the anchor points in your vehicle, you might struggle. The Nuna comes with LATCH guides, a small plastic pocket that slides between the vehicle seat cushions to help you find the anchor point. Many of the Clek options also include rigid LATCH connectors.

The base has a flip-out foot that can help stabilize the seat or achieve the best angle for installation. The foot is easy to flip out but hard to use once you install the seat. Tilting the seat up after connecting it to the vehicle provides a little extra space to flip the foot out. Once the foot is out, the seat can rotate to the proper position.

Ease of Install - Belt

Installation using a vehicle belt was the worst method for the Nuna with average results. The Nuna doesn't have color-coding for the belt install with base, but it does have a belt lock-off that makes securing the seat easier than products without a lock-off. Threading the belt is relatively easy while using the lock-off is more complicated.

Overall, the seat isn't terrible to install with this method and is relatively stable. It also has a level indicator on the base, a traditional liquid and bubble indicator that works well.

Ease of Install - Without the Base

The Nuna is easy enough to install without the base.

This seat uses the European belt path (above left), and the thread points are color-coded. The shoulder strap wraps around the backside of the carrier (above right) to help pull it snuggly against the vehicle seatback. The lap portion of the belt travels across the lower part of the carrier. Threading the belt is relatively easy compared to the competition, and we didn't have trouble getting it in place or with folding belts.

If you don't have a shoulder belt in the desired location in the car, you can also install it using only the lap belt if your car manual allows for the placement of the seat in that location.

Ease of Use

The Nuna struggled with ease of use with a below-average performance for the group.

Harness

The Nuna has a stiff buckle worse than some competing products. The button is hard to depress, and some testers needed two thumbs to get it to release, and the crotch padding gets in the way of using it. Also, the chest/retainer clip is challenging to operate. The button on the clip is a little stiff, and the harder we squeezed the other side of the clip, the harder it became. Buckling is more manageable, and the two sides mate up without issue.

Tightening and loosening the harness on the Pipa is about average. The strap located at the foot of the carrier works relatively well with a little stiffness, and the smaller shoulder pads on the harness don't get in the way of a proper fit. An easy to access button above the padding on the carrier's foot will loosen the harness. The button is easy to use, and the harness moves smoothly.

Shoulder height adjustment is accomplished by rethreading straps that attach to a T splitter on the backside of the seat. We prefer the non-rethread type of adjustment, both for ease of use and adjustability. The shoulder straps have large loops that make getting them on and off the splitter easier, but they cause trouble when threading them through the layers of padding and slots in the back of the seats. The seat has three height options and three crotch positions. We think a minimum of 4 height options is best to ensure the best fit for most babies.

Handle

The handle on the Nuna works well and operates by depressing the buttons on each side of the handle at the pivot joint. The handle has four positions, and any are acceptable when driving. The downside is the handle catches on the canopy no matter what position you choose. If both the canopy and handle are up for carrying, it can be annoying to have the canopy rubbing on the sides and potentially rubbing fingers.

Carrier and Base Connection

Installing the carrier on the base can be a little temperamental, and it doesn't fall into place like some of the competition. We didn't experience thinking it was in place when it wasn't. Unlike most seats, this seat has the handle on the back of the base. It is easy to use, but we didn't like it, and it made releasing and lifting the carrier awkward and more challenging to do than the traditional style of release.

LATCH Anchors and Manual Storage

Because this seat has a rigid latch that folds back into the base when not in use, there is no way the LATCH anchors can impede or prevent the carrier from properly attaching to the base.

Comfort/Quality

The Nuna earns top results for comfort and quality. It has nice padding and a firm head and body cushion with thicker than average padding that feels softer than most. The fabric covering the seat is soft. The shell is average for quality, and it neither impresses nor disappoints. It feels solid and durable, but it isn't anything to write home about. The overall fit and finish of the seat are good. The fabric fits the seat well, and the cover on the canopy is nice. The Pipa offers the same level of quality across the board, including a handle that works well.

The canopy on the Nuna is a medium-sized sunshade (above left) with an easy-to-use peek-a-boo window (above middle) that gives you a look-see into the baby's world. The window is a unique feature, as most products fail to offer one. Nuna also offers a pull-out cover that extracts from the canopy area and attaches to the carrier's foot with magnets for almost 100% coverage (above right). The cover is vented for airflow but is not a good weather shield.

Weight

Weighing in at 9.78 lbs, the Nuna is no light lifter. Though the group has heavier options, this seat still feels like a beast. It is a large seat with girth and weight, and it isn't the easiest to carry with a baby on board.

The takeaway is that while weight is important, it isn't everything. We suggest you use the carrier weight to decide between 2-3 seats you deem worthy of consideration.

Stroller Compatiblity

The Nuna works best with the Nuna MIXX2. It can also pair with the following high-ranking strollers by purchasing compatible adapters.

• UPPAbaby Minu — The Minu is a lightweight travel stroller from UPPAbaby. This stroller folds in thirds and can stow in some overhead airplane bins. While it likely doesn't have the chops to double as a full-size stroller, it could be an option for a car seat carrier if you plan to travel with your baby frequently in the future.
• Thule Urban Glide 2-- The Urban Glide 2 is arguably the jogging stroller to covet a the moment. The Nuna is compatible with the purchase of the Maxi-Cosi car seat adapters. If you want on a Nuna seat and you want a one-and-done solution where size and weight aren't a factor, then this could be the stroller for you.
• UPPAbaby Cruz v2 — This full-size stroller won awards in multiple reviews and is a quality product with useful features like a giant storage bin with 25 lb storage capacity.
• UPPAbaby Vista v2-- The Vista is a full-size stroller that can grow with your family and could be a good choice for those who plan to have more children close in age. This stroller works with two seats and a running board to accommodate up to 3 children at one time.

Should You Buy the Pipa?

While the Pipa has some intriguing qualities and uses high-end materials, it only scored an average overall score in our tests. It didn't really offer a standout feature or function to justify the price or the other sacrifices you'll need to make with this seat. With one of the lowest crash test analysis scores in the group, we think there are better options to be had.

What Other Infant Car Seat Should You Consider?

If quality and crash tests are important to you, we think the Cybex Aton 2 will be a good fit. It has a higher crash test score than much of the competition and nice padding for comfort. However, it isn't compatible with many strollers and could limit your choice if that is important to you. Alternatively, the high-ranking Chicco Keyfit 35 is an attractively-priced option with better crash test results and one of the highest ease of installation scores for LATCH. The Keyfit seats are also compatible with a large variety of strollers with an adapter, including the impressive Chicco Keyfit Caddy.

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