REASONS TO BUY
Stylish
Color-coded brakes
Easy to use
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavier
Large and long
Poor storage access
UPPAbaby G-Luxe Review
Harder to push, spendy option that falls short of impressive performance
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: The Best Umbrella Strollers
The Skinny
The UPPAbaby G-Luxe is a more traditional top-ranked umbrella stroller. It is a step above the old G-Luxe with a nicer wheel design and stylish good looks. Unfortunately, pushing on anything other than flat surfaces is still challenging, and the storage bin is virtually inaccessible. While we like the ample canopy and the carry strap, this heavier stroller is the largest when folded, and the long length makes it hard to stow in smaller spaces. With no actual standout features setting it apart from the competition or justifying the price, it is hard to recommend the G-Luxe unless you are an UPPAbaby superfan. We feel there are many other top-ranked options in our strollers review to choose from that will keep you and your baby happier on a day out.
Editor's Note: The UPPAbaby G-Luxe review was updated on December 16th, 2021, to include further comparisons between products and additional buying advice.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
UPPAbaby G-Luxe | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  | | |||
| Price | $200 List $179.99 at Amazon | $179 List | $180 List | $80 List $79.99 at Amazon | $100 List $82.71 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Stylish, color-coded brakes, easy to use | Reasonable price, good quality, comfy napping, smaller fold | Easy to carry, lightweight, stands on its own | Inexpensive, easy to use | Inexpensive, hands only fold |
| Cons | Heavier, large and long, poor storage access | Brake hurts the top of uncovered feet, harder to push and turn off-road | Hard to push and turn, not for napping, convoluted fold | Poor quality, harder to maneuver | Poor sun protection, wobbly wheels |
| Bottom Line | Harder to push, spendy option that falls short of impressive performance | A high-scoring, reasonably priced option with nice features suitable for comfortable napping but harder to turn off-road | Upright seat with no adjust-ability that can be harder to push on uneven terrain | The cheapest option with disappointing functionality | Difficult to navigate stroller that is lightweight and budget friendly, but lower quality |
| Rating Categories | UPPAbaby G-Luxe | Zoe Traveler | UPPAbaby G-Lite | Kolcraft Cloud Plus | Summer Infant 3D lite |
| Weight/Folded Size (35%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (30%) | |||||
| Maneuverability (25%) | |||||
| Quality (10%) | |||||
| Specs | UPPAbaby G-Luxe | Zoe Traveler | UPPAbaby G-Lite | Kolcraft Cloud Plus | Summer Infant 3D lite |
| Weight | 16.3 lbs | 12 lbs | 11.8 lbs | 12.6 lbs | 13.1 lbs |
| Folded Dimensions | 14"W x 15.3"H x 42"L | 17.5"W x 23"H x 13"L | 13.3"W x 10.8"H x 42.5"L | 18.6"W x 11.7"H x 34.7"L | 13.9"W x 10"H x 42.6"L |
| Folded Volume | 8,996 cu in | 5,233 cu in | 6,105 cu in | 7,551 cu in | 5,921 cu in |
| Capacity Limits | Minimum: 3 months Maximum: 55 lbs/45" |
Minimum: 3 months Maximum: 45 lbs |
Minimum: 6 months Maximum: 55 lbs/45" |
Minimum: Not Listed Maximum: 50 lbs/44" |
Minimum: 6 months Maximum: 50 lbs |
| Included Car Seat Compatibility | None | None | None | None | None |
| Click-in Car Seat Adapters | None | None | None | None | None |
| Strap-in Car Seat Adapters | None | None | None | None | None |
| One-handed Fold | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Locking Fold | Auto | Auto | Auto | Manual | Auto |
| Self-standing Fold | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Carry Strap | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Handlebar Height - Min/Max | 42.5" | 40.5" | 42.3" | 38.9" | 43" |
| Sandal-friendly Brake | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Included Accessories | None | None | None | None | None |
| Setup Time | 2-5 Min | 2-5 Min | 2-5 Min | 5-10 Min | 5-10 Min |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
The UPPAbaby company was started by an American family over ten years ago and is now a well-known producer of some of the best strollers out there. The company is inspired by daily life with family, and they try to create improved products that don't sacrifice features, convenience, or style.
Performance Comparison
The G-Luxe doesn't fold very small and the longer profile can make it hard to store on public transportation or in smaller trunks.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Weight and Folded Size
The G-Luxe weighs 16.3 lbs. Compared to the 12 lb Zoe Traveler, this is quite heavy for a lightweight option, and it earned disappointing results for weight and folded size. It measures 8,996 cubic inches when folded, making it one of the largest products in the group. These measurements make it potentially frustrating when used for travel or commuting, and the lengthy package can be hard to stow.
The G-Luxe has a carry strap but this doesn't do much to make the weight and size more manageable.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The G-Luxe is easy to use thanks to simple features with straightforward designs.
Fold and Unfold
The G-Luxe has a traditional umbrella fold that requires two hands to execute. The frame release is awkward, and the button can be hard to push if you start pulling on the release handle before pushing it. It has an automatic lock and self-stands.
The G-Luxe has color-coded brakes that are foot friendly.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Brakes
Like other UPPAbaby products, this stroller has color-coded single action brakes that are easy to set and release with a press-to-set design you can execute with your barefoot.
Access to the G-Luxe storage bin is limited from the top back with no access once you fold the seat down.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Storage
The medium storage bin is challenging to access, thanks to the folding mechanism that crisscrosses the back of the frame. Access becomes more difficult with the seatback reclined as the opening becomes non-existent, but smaller items can be stored in the canopy pocket for easier access. It also has an open, removable cup holder on the side of the frame.
The canopy is sharper and better looking than the previous G-Luxe canopy.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Sunshade
The canopy is a lovely design that suits the frame. It is bigger than most of the competition and comparable to the sunshade on the UPPAbaby G-Lite, but not as good as the Minu. It has a flimsy pull-out visor for additional coverage but no peekaboo window. However, we recommend always lathering on some sun protection, no matter how large the canopy is.
The G-Luxe buckle is one of the easiest to use with harness adjustments that are a breeze.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Harness
The 5-point harness is one of the easiest in the group to fit. Making shoulder height adjustments using the rethread is a breeze, and it is super easy to adjust the length of the straps up and down for size. Despite this ease of adjustment, we still think the shortest length is likely too long for smaller babies.
Seat
This stroller has minimal recline with an easy-to-use squeezable adjustment (above left) you can operate with one hand. The leg rest is adjustable with under-seat levers (above right), but it is somewhat wonky like the old G-Luxe. The footrest feels more durable than its predecessor, but it is still thin plastic, and only time will tell, and it is too new to say at this time.
Car Seat Compatibility
The G-Luxe is not compatible with any infant car seats and should not be used with any baby who cannot sit unsupported with adequate head and neck control. Most umbrella strollers are missing the design and features necessary for infants who lack head and neck control.
Ease of Setup
The initial setup for the G-Luxe took between 2-5 minutes and came with instructions that were just average, but assembly is so simple that it does not need much explaining.
The new G-Luxe has single front wheels which should make it easier to push and turn, but somehow fail to do so.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Maneuverability
Despite changing from dual front wheels to single, the G-Luxe is challenging to maneuver. This stroller is easy enough to push on flat surfaces, but it isn't on par with top-performing products like the BabyZen Yoyo2. Moving over grass and gravel is challenging even with the single front wheels, and you don't want to go far pushing this stroller.
The G-Luxe is nicer quality and looks sharper than its predecessor, but it isn't nice enough to merit the price.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
The G-Luxe is of higher quality than the average stroller in this review. It has a sharp and finished look the old one never mastered. The fabric is soft and smooth, and the seat is well-padded. The frame is sturdy with few fasteners and little flex. It has foam-filled plastic wheels and covered handles that move inwards when pushing like traditional umbrella strollers. This handle style offers minimal adjustability, making long trips less comfortable for the pusher.
Should You Buy the UPPAbaby G-Luxe?
The G-Luxe is UPPAbaby's middle-of-the-line lightweight option. In true UPPAbaby fashion, the quality is top-notch, but we were not impressed with its features and performance for the price. Many strollers fold smaller, weigh less, and are easier to push and turn, and we feel the more traditional design of the G-Luxe is somewhat outdated when compared to newer options like the Inglesina Quid or BabyZen Yoyo2.
What Other Umbrella Strollers Should You Consider?
If you are looking for a quality product in a similar price range, we recommend looking at the Mountain Buggy Nano. While it did not score as high for quality, it is still above average in the metric, and we like the way it folds better and find that it is easier to carry and transport when not in use. If you love the UPPAbaby brand, the G-Lite is the most affordable in the trio of lightweight options and scored better overall.
Manufacturer Video
—
Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz
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