UPPAbaby Mesa Review

UPPAbaby is an American company with more than a decade of combined experience in juvenile products. UPPAbaby is inspired by everyday family life to create gear that is easy to use, safe, light, and fun. UPPAbaby's goal is to improve products without losing convenience, usability, or style. The company offers a few different car seats and a variety of strollers, including full-size, lightweight, and double options.

Performance Comparison

The UPPAbaby Mesa is a nice looking, stylish car seat that is easy to install without the base making it a potential option for parents on the go in public transportation.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Crash Test

We analyzed crash test data from two sources: our crash tests commissioned at the same national testing facility used by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and data from tests conducted by NHTSA at the same facility.

The tests are designed to measure the G forces of impact on the chest and head region of the crash dummy. We wanted to learn the relative differences between car seats and identify those products that go beyond the Federal guidelines to offer an added margin of protection.

This chart shows the comparison between the head G force results for the UPPAbaby Mesa vs the Chicco Keyfit 30, the best crash test head sensor results

Credit: BabyGearLab, MGA Research

The chart shows the head force sensor data of the Mesa (in black) and the seat with the best head force (HIC) results, the Chicco Keyfit 30 (in green). The UPPAbaby performed well in the head impact scores, with slightly better results than average and well below the Federal safety requirements. It earned results similar to the Britax Endeavours.

This chart shows the comparison between the head G force results for the UPPAbaby Mesa vs the Cybex Aton 2, the best crash test chest sensor results

Credit: BabyGearLab, MGA Research

The UPPAbaby earned what we consider to be a basic score for chest crash test results. The results are in the chart above with the Mesa (black) compared to the Cybex Aton 2 (green), which has the best results from the chest force (g) sensors. Earning a basic score indicates it exceeds the Federal guidelines but does not appear to offer an additional margin of safety.

The head rest assembly on the Mesa has additional padding and has side impact protection (SIP) properties according to UPPAbaby. However, we caution parents from putting too much emphasis on SIP as the industry has not yet defined what this means and there are no approved testing methods to determine its efficacy.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

UPPAbaby makes the claim of side impact protection (SIP) and padding in the head area of the seat. They claim that this SIP feature has been tested. Still, we were unable to obtain disclosure of actual crash test results from UPPAbaby that would quantify what level of additional protection, if any, their SIP provides. In answer to our request for crash test information, UPPAbaby's representative told us, "we don't provide this information you will find that no other manufacturer will do the same." In fact, we did find other manufacturers were more forthcoming and transparent with their test findings than UPPAbaby, and we let the company know their assertion in this regard was incorrect. Given that we don't have any crash test data for their claimed SIP feature, we cannot remark on whether or not it improves the safety of the seat. We also can't confirm what they mean when they say SIP, as most manufacturers use a different definition of this phrase, and there is no industry standard definition for this claim. However, we like extra safety effort and feel that UPPAbaby is at least attempting to build a better seat.

Installing the Mesa with the LATCH anchors is very easy and it earned a second place score in the metric for LATCH installation.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Install - LATCH

Installing the UPPAbaby using LATCH is a breeze. Some seats offered a unique LATCH feature that makes installation relatively foolproof, including the Mesa.

The Mesa has self-ratcheting LATCH connectors that tuck into the base when not in use. They release with a touch of a button and pull out one at a time or simultaneously.

The Mesa LATCH anchor is the easy push in and a button press to remove style we prefer.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

We found that one at a time is easier to attach to the anchors on the vehicle. The connectors are the type we prefer that have a hard shell buckle with push-button release. There is an audible click when the anchors connect.

The self-ratcheting LATCh anchors on the Mesa help make it almost foolproof to install with additional help from angle adjustment at the touch of a button.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Once the base is attached, adding pressure causes the straps to ratchet and tighten on their own. A visual indicator turns green when the seat is tight and secure. We caution that the indicator is a little finicky and would occasionally register green but move to red after a bumpy ride, so consider it helpful but not definitive.

The Mesa has an easy to read level guide on the side of the carrier where the handle pivots. This color coded level takes the guesswork out of infant car seat installation.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

The base has an adjustable foot and level indicator to assist in obtaining a level installation. The indicator has a window with green for good and red for bad, which adds to the ease of install and makes it harder to get wrong.

Installing the Mesa with the vehicle belt on the base is also easy with a great belt lock that works well without frustration.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Install - Belt

The Mesa has a belt lock-off that is easy to use and a color-coded American belt path. Overall the seat is relatively easy to install with this method and is comparable to the Chicco KeyFit 35.

The Mesa has an easy to open and close belt lock-off for installation using the vehicle belt as opposed to LATCH installation.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Threading the vehicle belt only takes a moment, but it is more complicated if the shoulder strap is involved because it requires two layers in the lock-off. We did have a problem with the "button" on the vehicle belt getting in the way of the lock-off so it wouldn't or couldn't close, and we had to cinch down tight on the belt to get the indicator light to turn green.

Installing the Mesa without the base is quick with color-coded guides located on the sides that make it a good option for parents on the go in the city who don't want the additional weight of the base to carry.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Install - Without the Base

Installing the Mesa without the base is very straightforward, making it a good choice for parents that frequent public transportation. This test is crucial if you expect to take your infant in taxi cabs or services like Uber, where you will need to quickly and safely secure the seat without the base.

The photos above show the American belt path of the current Mesa (above left) vs. the European belt path of the 2014 Mesa (above right). We think the European method feels more secure and are sorry they eliminated this feature on the newer seats.

The new Mesa uses the American belt path, which has the advantage of being easier to accomplish, a key feature for a new parent in a rush to secure the baby in the back of a taxi. The color-coded pathway helps parents remember where to thread the belt and how it should be connected. The vehicle belt extends across the lower portion of the carrier and threads in the clips located on the side. The Mesa feels stable when properly installed, something not true of all competition.

Ease of Use

The Mesa earned one of the highest scores for ease of use.

While the Mesa buckle is stiff, it is easy to use and can be pressed with only one hand.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Harness

The buckle on the Mesa is stiff but not hard to operate like some competitors, and it probably needs to be this stiff to meet safety guidelines. The chest clip is one of the easiest to connect and disconnect. The button is easy to depress, and the sides slide apart without sticking. The sides mate up easily and slide together smoothly with little force.

The Mesa harness tightening strap and release button are both located at the foot of the carrier and are easy to use.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Loosening and tightening the harness are both about average and feel similar to the Chicco KeyFit 30. It is somewhat easier to loosen, but both are manageable. The tightening strap and the release button at the carrier's foot with the button on top of the padding, making it easy to access.

The Mesa head assembly moves up and down to adjust the shoulder height of the harness. Pulling the tab unlocks the assembly so you can move it to the desired position.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

The Mesa harness shoulder height is easy to adjust without the need to rethread straps, and only the Peg Perego Nido and Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 were easier. The release strap is at the head of the seat, and the height assembly moves smoothly up or down. The system has five height positions and is adjusted from the front with the baby in the carrier. The buckle has two positions to help ensure the best fit for babies of any size.

The sides of the seat have stow pockets for the latch plates of the buckle. You can pull the plates over to the side and tuck them in to hold the harness open, so you can place the baby in the seat without moving them to get to the straps. While a thoughtful addition, we aren't sure parents will bother using it. It feels like a time-waster, not a real benefit.

The Mesa carry handle adjusts on a pivot point by pressing the side buttons in simultaneously before rotating to the desired position.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Handle

The handle is comfortable and works as it should. It rubs a little on the canopy when both are up, but it isn't as bad as some of the competition, like the Nido. The handle moves by depressing levers on both sides and pivoting to the desired position. It has three positions, and all are acceptable for driving.

When you are ready to release the Mesa carrier from the base, you pull the release handle on the back and lift it up with the assistance of the carry handle.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Carrier and Base Attachment

The Mesa carrier is easy to attach to the base and falls into place without jostling it around to find just the right footing. It offers no visual indicator to tell you if it's on correctly, but we tested it multiple times and never had a problem attaching it properly. A release handle located on the carrier's back disengages the carrier/base connection and allows you to lift the carrier up and off the base.

LATCH Anchor and Manual Storage

The Mesa earned the top score for LATCH storage with retractable anchors that tuck into pockets and release with the press of a button. There is no way the anchors can obstruct attaching the carrier onto the base. The user manual slides into a pocket under the base.

The Mesa with Henry fabric earned a higher score for comfort and quality than the previous version of the Mesa thanks to the softer, chemical free fabric.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Comfort/Quality

The Mesa offers comfort and quality on par with other impressive UPPAbaby products. The Mesa is a quality car seat made with nice materials. Not only does everything on this seat feel durable and solid, but it is brought together in a sleek fit and finish. With all of the options side-by-side, the Mesa is a lovely stand-out. The seat offers thicker padding and nicer fabric than previous models that had abrasive materials in the seating area. The wool fabric feels durable and doesn't contain fire retardants as it is naturally fire-resistant. This design makes it a potential choice for parents concerned about added chemicals near the baby's skin.

The Mesa canopy is nice looking, stays taut, and doesn't interfere with the carry handle.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

The canopy is medium-sized with a hard storage flap that keeps it out of the way when not in use. We like the slick look of the seat without the canopy and think it is a nice touch for keeping unused accessories out of the way.

The new Mesa is slightly heavier than its predecessor which makes it harder to carry for longer periods of time.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Weight

This seat is relatively heavy with a carrier weight of 10.36 lbs, which is higher than the average, and we wish it were closer to 9. While we believe weight should never be a number one deciding factor, we think it should hold some "weight" (pun intended) in decision making. We hope UPPAbaby will work on trimming down the weight of this seat in the future so it is easier to carry. Even one more pound could make it more of a contender.

The Vista works well with its native car seat the UPPAbaby Mesa. The Mesa attaches directly to the frame so there are no additional adapters to lose.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Stroller Compatibility

Choosing the Mesa makes choosing a stroller almost a no-brainer. In our review of the best full-size strollers, both UPPAbaby choices won awards and proved to be user-friendly options that work best with the Mesa. The UPPAbaby Cruz v2, and the UPPAbaby Vista v2 with a frame that can work with two car seats, or multiple combinations of the toddler seat, car seats, and a third child ride on. The UPPAbaby Minu is also a potential option that is lightweight, suitable for travel, and earned a top score in our Umbrella Stroller Review.

Should You Buy the UPPAbaby Mesa?

The Mesa is a great seat that missed winning an award by a hair. If you are considering getting an UPPAbaby Stroller or already have one, purchasing this car seat is a no-brainer. With seamless compatibility between products, a complete UPPAbaby travel system is intuitive to use and easy on the eyes. While it is a bit pricey, it is not the most expensive product we tested, and we think any parent who uses this seat will be happy with their purchase.

What Other Infant Car Seats Should You Consider?

If the UPPAbaby Mesa is on your radar, but you aren't sure if it's the right choice for you, we recommend looking at the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35. Although it does not have the same ease of stroller compatibility, it is in a similar price range and performs slightly better in most metrics than the Mesa. If the price tag is throwing you off, the Chicco KeyFit 30 has a similar overall score, with better crash test results for a price that is more manageable for families on a budget.

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