Overview
UPPAbaby Mesa car seats have several comfort and safety features that can provide your baby extra protection during a crash.
They also have other special features, including GREENGUARD GOLD Certified fabrics free from fire retardants and toxic chemicals that can harm your little one.
UPPAbaby also uses color-coded guides to remove the guesswork and ensure that your car seat is properly installed, minimizing errors and maximizing safety.
Plus, they’re available in different colors and fabric styles, allowing you to coordinate your car seats with your vehicle, nursery, travel system (including strollers and bassinets), diaper bag, etc.
UPPAbaby currently offers two Mesa car seats:
What makes UPPAbaby Mesa car seats different from other brands’ car seats? Are they worth your money? What are their best features, and what should you expect from these products? Are there any UPPAbaby recalls you should know about?
Read on to learn more.
Is The UPPAbaby Mesa Infant Car Seat Worth It?
For many parents who prefer their children’s comfort and safety, UPPAbaby Mesa car seats are worth the money, even if they cost higher than most brands.
Who Buys UPPAbaby Mesa Car Seats?
Health-conscious families looking to stay away from harmful chemicals are usually UPPAbaby users. The brand has become one of the most popular stroller and car seat brands in the U.S. and for good reason.
These car seats are also preferred by parents looking for ease of use, including easy and guided installation.
Parents of preemies might also appreciate the plump infant inserts that allow babies as light as 4 lbs to safely use these car seats.
Let’s take a look at each car seat below.
UPPAbaby Mesa V2 Car Seat
Unique Features: What Makes It Special?
- Conversion Options: Rear-facing infant car seat with a four-position adjustable foot (guide for leveling during installation); directly converts into a travel system with some UPPAbaby strollers
- Hood Or Canopy: UPF 25+ (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) hideaway canopy
Other convenient features:
- Carry handle that has a stroller release button
- Easy installation (can be installed within seconds)
- Level indicators available on both sides
- Auto-retracting LATCH design
Safety Features
- Side impact protection
- Adjustable headrest reinforced with EPP (expanded polypropylene) foam for energy absorption
- Easy installation with the SMARTSecure System with red-to-green visual installation indicators (e.g., tension or tightness indicators to let you know if the LATCH connectors are properly installed)
- Built-in lock-off for a secure seatbelt installation
- European Routing* with three points of contact for a secure carrier-only installation (*the lap portion of the belt runs through the belt guides while the shoulder portion routes around the back of the car seat’s shell to secure it on the vehicle seat)
- No-rethread harness
- One-crotch buckle position for the five-point harness
- 4th rebound carry handle position for added safety in rebound and rear-impact collisions
- GREENGUARD GOLD Certified fabrics
- Meets the state and federal safety standards for flame retardancy without using toxic fire retardant chemicals that can come in contact with your child
Key Features
- Material: Non-toxic, GREENGUARD GOLD-Certified fabrics
- Available Seat Fabrics & Colors: SAFETECH fabrics available in charcoal black, grey mélange, and dusty pink
- Ease Of Installation: Can be assembled within seconds using the SMARTSecure System
- Travel Bag: Not included with purchase but available as an add-on accessory
Other Specifications
- Size Or Seat Dimensions: 17” W x 25.8” L x 23” H
- Weight: 9.9 lbs (car seat only) and 9 lbs (base weight)
- Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty for car seats bought after January 1, 2019 (requires online registration within three months of purchase and an authorized retailer’s valid receipt)
- Expiration: Check the expiration date printed on the car seat
How Long Can My Baby Be In UPPAbaby Mesa?
- Capacity: Babies 4-11 lbs (must be used with the infant insert) and up to one year old, 35 lbs, or up to 32 inches in height (whichever comes first)
Is It Easy To Clean The UPPAbaby Mesa?
The seat pads, buckle pads, shoulder pads, and infant inserts are easily washable on a gentle cycle. Spot-cleaning is recommended for the plastic parts and canopy.
Extra Features
- Includes a car seat base
- Includes a removable infant insert for optimal body positioning and fit
- Storage pockets for the harness buckles
Compatibility With Strollers & Travel Systems
- Direct attachment for UPPAbaby CRUZ and UPPAbaby VISTA V2 strollers
- UPPAbaby Ridge, an all-terrain jogger stroller (adapter required)
- UPPAbaby Minu, a compact stroller (adapter required)
What Do You Get In The Box?
- Car seat
- Base
- Infant insert
Available Accessories (Sold Separately Or As Add-Ons)
- Travel bag
- Cabana
- Rain shield
- Sunshade
- Extra Mesa base
Product Recall
- None
Is UPPAbaby Mesa Discontinued?
The older version (labeled simply as “UPPAbaby Mesa”) has been discontinued and replaced with “UPPAbaby Mesa V2.”
The UPPAbaby MESA V2 has more safety features than the old version. These include a larger headrest, a more robust infant inlay, a 20% bigger UPF canopy, a 4th rebound carry handle position, and European belt routing.
Cons
- It’s pricier than other stroller brands.
- Limited stroller compatibility (direct attachment for luxury UPPAbaby strollers but needs an adapter for the budget-friendly UPPAbaby strollers or other brands’ strollers)
UPPAbaby Mesa Max Infant Car Seat
Unique Features: What Makes It Special?
- Conversion Options: Rear-facing infant car seat with a four-position adjustable foot; directly converts into a travel system with some UPPAbaby strollers
- Hood Or Canopy: UPF 25+ hideaway canopy (43% larger than the Mesa V2)
Other convenient features:
- Carry handle with stroller release button
- Easy installation
- Level indicators on both sides
- Auto-retracting LATCH design
Is The UPPAbaby Mesa Max Comfortable?
- Larger and infinite adjustable headrest (improved side impact protection and a more customized fit for added comfort) than the Mesa V2
- Side ventilation for airflow
Safety Features
UPPAbaby Mesa Max has enhanced safety features not available with the Mesa V2, including the following:
- An anti-rebound+ panel (protection for rebound frontal or rear impact collisions)
- Base with more load leg (additional stability and energy absorption)
- More robust infant inlay
It also has all the safety features of the Mesa V2, such as:
- One-crotch buckle position for the five-point harness
- Side impact protection
- Adjustable headrest reinforced with EPP foam for energy absorption
- Easy installation with the SMARTSecure System using red-to-green visual installation indicators (lets you know if the LATCH connectors have been properly installed)
- Built-in lock-off for secured seat belt installation
- European Routing
- No-rethread harness
- One-crotch buckle position for the five-point harness
- 4th rebound carry handle position for added safety in rebound and rear-impact collisions
- GREENGUARD GOLD Certified fabrics
- Meets the state and federal safety standards for flame retardancy using fire retardant-free foam
Key Features
- Material: Non-toxic, GREENGUARD GOLD-Certified fabrics (options available for car seats with Merino wool)
- Available Seat Fabrics & Colors: DUALTECH uses foam and dual knit fabric (charcoal black, navy mélange, or white and grey marl), and PURETECH uses hypoallergenic, temperature-regulating, and moisture-wicking Merino wool fabric (blue mélange or charcoal mélange)
- Ease Of Installation: Can be installed in seconds using the SMARTSecure System
- Travel Bag: Not included in the box but available as an add-on accessory
Other Specifications
- Size Or Seat Dimensions: 17” W x 25.8” L x 23” H
- Weight: 9.9 lbs (car seat only) and 12.6 lbs (base weight)
- Capacity: Babies 4-11 lbs (must be used with the infant insert) and up to one year old, 35 lbs, or up to 32 inches in height (whichever comes first)
- Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty for car seats bought from January 1, 2019, and onwards (must register online with an authorized retailer’s valid receipt within three months of purchase)
- Washable: Removable and washable seat pads, buckle pads, shoulder pads, and infant inserts on a gentle cycle; spot-cleaning for the canopy and plastic parts
- Expiration: Check the expiration date printed on the car seat
Compatibility With Strollers & Travel Systems
- Direct attachment for UPPAbaby VISTA V2 and UPPAbaby CRUZ strollers
- UPPAbaby Ridge (adapter required)
- UPPAbaby Minu (adapter required)
What Do You Get In The Box?
- Car seat
- Base
- Infant insert
Available Accessories (Sold Separately Or As Add-Ons)
- Travel bag
- Cabana
- Rain shield
- Sunshade
- Extra Mesa Max base
Product Recall
- None
Cons
- It’s more expensive than the already-pricey UPPAbaby MESA V2.
- Limited stroller compatibility.
FAQs
Why Is UPPAbaby So Popular?
UPPAbaby has a wide range of premium, high-quality baby gear and essentials, including full strollers (e.g., Cruz and Vista strollers) that easily convert into a travel system with the Mesa car seats, umbrella strollers, and playards.
The brand also offers different kinds of car seats ranging from rear-facing infant car seats (Mesa) to convertible car seats (Knox, available in different colors such as Bryce white and grey marl or Jordan charcoal mélange) to seat boosters (Alta, a narrow booster seat).
Some products, such as infant car seats, have GREENGUARD GOLD Certified fabrics (certified to have low chemical emissions).
All products are also free from fire retardants and toxic chemicals that can harm your baby.
Where Can You Get The UPPAbaby Mesa Car Seats?
Some places where you can buy these car seats:
- UPPAbaby’s official website
- Amazon
- Pottery Barn Kids
- Crate & Barrel
- Nordstrom
- eBay
- Bloomingdale’s
Can I Use Seat Pads With The UPPAbaby Mesa?
Yes. These are the seat pads or car seat protectors that have been approved and tested for Mesa use:
Is A Car Seat Base Required For The UPPAbaby Mesa?
No. You can still use the car seat even without the infant car seat base.
When Should I Remove The UPPAbaby Mesa Car Seat’s Infant Insert?
According to UPPAbaby, these criteria should be first met before you can remove the inserts: (1)
- Your child shouldn’t be slouching in the car seat.
- The headrest bottom is positioned at around 1 inch above your child’s shoulders.
- The crotch buckle must rest securely against your child (without any gaps, and they aren’t sitting on the buckle top).
- The harness position must be at or slightly below their shoulders.
- The chest clip must be at the armpit level.
- There must be room to tighten the harness properly.
Is The UPPAbaby Mesa FAA-Approved?
Yes. You can take both the Mesa V2 and Max car seats with you on a flight because they’re approved by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). However, you should leave the base behind because they aren’t included in the FAA approval.
How Easy Can I Remove The UPPAbaby Mesa From My Car?
You can press and lift a button at the back of the seat to release the car seat.
The carry handle also has a stroller release button.
What’s UPPAbaby’s Return Policy?
All returns must comply with the following requirements:
- Items can’t be exchanged, only refunded.
- Refunds are only issued using the original form of payment.
- Returns must be authorized by UPPAbaby first (unauthorized returns WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED).
- The product/s must be in new and unused condition (applies to all parts, accessories, original UPPAbaby branded packaging, and manuals).
- Returns should be at the UPPAbaby warehouse within 40 days from the order confirmation date.
- It can take 2-4 weeks for UPPAbaby to inspect the returned products and process your refund.
- If the returned product doesn’t meet the brand’s return requirements or match your original purchase, you might need to pay a restocking fee of up to 30%. The other option is for the brand to return the item back to you.
- Shipping charges aren’t refundable.
Alternatives To UPPAbaby Mesa
Doona Car Seat & Stroller
Doona Infant Car Seat & Latch Base
Nuna Pipa Infant Car Seat
Pipa™ + Pipa Series Base
UPPAbaby Mesa Vs. Other Car Seats
UPPAbaby Mesa V2 Vs. UPPAbaby Knox Vs. UPPAbaby Alta
These models primarily differ from each other because they’re designed for different stages in your baby’s life. You upgrade to the next products as your child outgrows the last model.
UPPAbaby Mesa V2 Car Seat
UPPAbaby Mesa V2 Special Features
- Rear-facing infant car seat (can be used from birth up to one year old)
- GREENGUARD Gold Certified fabrics
UPPAbaby Knox
UPPAbaby Knox Special Features
- Convertible child car seat (can be used for 1+ years old)
- The base is made of Koroyd material developed from aerospace safety research for more advanced impact protection
- Taller, adjustable active support headrest for added protection for your growing child
- Also available with hypoallergenic Merino wool fabrics
UPPAbaby Alta
UPPAbaby Alta Special Features
- Premium high back booster seat (can be used for 6-10 years old)
- Seven-position active support headrest
- Spacious design that accommodates growing children
UPPAbaby Mesa Max Vs. Nuna Revv Rotating Convertible Car Seat Vs. Cybex Gold Sirona S (360° Swivel Seat with SensorSafe)
UPPAbaby Mesa Max Infant Car Seat
UPPAbaby Mesa Max Special Features
- Rear-facing infant car seat (can be used from birth up to one year old)
- GREENGUARD Gold Certified fabrics
- Also available in hypoallergenic Merino wool fabrics
- Load leg
- Relatively more affordable than the Nuna Revv and Cybex Gold Sirona S
Nuna Revv Rotating Convertible Car Seat
Nuna Revv Rotating Convertible Car Seat Special Features
- Convertible seat that easily rotates into position (a total of 10 positions)
- Featherweight micro-knit fabrics
- Flexible capacity: Rear-facing (birth to 2+ years) and forward-facing (at least two years old or from 25 lbs to 40 lbs
- Aeroflex side impact protection system
- GREENGUARD Gold Certified fabrics
Cybex Gold Sirona S (360° Swivel Seat with SensorSafe)
Cybex Gold Sirona S (360° Swivel Seat with SensorSafe) Special Features
- Convertible car seat with 360° safety features
- SensorSafe (a Bluetooth-enabled, mobile app-linked chest clip that sends alerts if your child unbuckles the chest clip or the child is accidentally left behind in the car)
- Load leg
- Bigger capacity: From newborns (4 lbs) up to around four years old or 65 lbs
User Guide: How To Install UPPAbaby Mesa
Always check the user manual before installing your car seat.
Be sure to secure the base to the vehicle seat using the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) connectors if you want to use them with the base.
Use the European belt routing method to secure the car seat without a base.
Car Seat Recalls
Stay informed with the latest news about car seat recalls and other important safety announcements by signing up for regular Motherhood Community recall alerts so you never miss an important recall.
Some car seat recalls since 2021:
- Maxi Cosi recalls (2023)
- Safety 1st recalls (2023)
- Baby Trend stroller and car seat recalls (2022)
- UPPAbaby stroller and car seat recalls (2022)
- Maxi Cosi Pria 85 recall (2021)
Other comprehensive lists of product recalls by category:
- Stroller recalls (2020 to 2023)
- Recalled toys list (2020 to 2023)
- Baby formula recall (2001 to 2022)
- Baby food recall (2015 to 2022)
- Pacifier recall (2019 to 2022)
- Baby wipes recall (2014 to 2022)
It’s also good to follow federal websites such as the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) at nhtsa.gov or the CPSC (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) at cpsc.gov/Recalls for more information.
References
(1) https://uppababy.com/car-seats/infant/mesa-v2/
