Nuna AACE Review

Established in 2007, Nuna is an Amsterdam-based company that began with a high chair. Nuna believes being a parent should be “practical and beautiful with clever, design-thoughtful” products for babies. They now sell products internationally, including options for strollers, car seats, and more.

Performance Comparison

Crash Test

The Nuna earned the highest crash test analysis score thanks to some of the lowest sensor data from crash tests that we've ever seen in booster seat tests.

All of the boosters in our review have passed federal guidelines in order to be sold in the US, and therefore, they should be considered safe. We ran crash tests on sleds that better mimic modern car seats and go a bit faster than the federal guidelines require. Our goal in doing this is to identify seats that surpass the average test results.

The Nuna is definitely a standout seat in this way. As a result, we believe it has the potential to offer an additional margin of protection over those with more average sensor data and crash test analysis results.

The AACE has a side impact protection pop-out feature. How this impacts how the seat responds during an actual crash is not something we can remark on, but we do like considerations for safety, and theoretically, it could absorb forces from an impact under the right circumstances.

Ease of Use

The Nuna earned an impressive score for ease of use. While it isn't the high score, it is high enough to ensure a smooth operating seat we think is easier to use than most.

The Nuna has rigid LATCH connectors that press onto the car anchors with ease. They are stored folded under and slide on easily without much effort or pressure. We love a booster that attaches to the car so it isn't moving around loose in the vehicle when not in use. It comes with LATCH guides, but we don't think they are necessary in most cars.

The Nuna's headrest is easy to extend to the height of your choice. The lever is easy to squeeze, and the headrest moves up and down smoothly.

The headrest includes the shoulder belt positioner, which we had to raise to thread the belt and then lower for shorter passengers.

It also includes a lip on the back for carrying that helps make it easier to hold and carry when switching cars.

Buckling the seatbelt is easy for the passenger, but it isn't as easy as some competitors. We had to ensure the seat was pushed over to the opposite side to have a clear shot.

The larger armrests also add an obstacle, but this wouldn't stop us from choosing or recommending the seat; given the better crash test results, it feels like a small price to pay.

The cup holder isn't the best on the Nuna. It has a minimalist design with not much going on, but it is too narrow for our test kids' water bottles. You can purchase additional cup holders from Nuna, but in our experience, most kids get by without a cup holder just fine.

Weight and Size

The Nuna is a beast, in good and bad ways. It weighed 15.9 lbs in our tests, which put it on the higher end of the scale. While the average is somewhat high, it was skewed by one competitor that weighed more than 25 lbs.

It is also skewed by an inflatable booster that weighs under a pound. While heavier, it can be converted to a backless booster for travel or carpooling, which would make it lighter for occasional use when needed.

The Nuna measures 16 inches on the seat at its widest point. This is fairly narrow for the group, with smaller options largely being inflatable backless boosters.

Comfort

The Nuna performed well in our tests for comfort, with one of the highest comfort results in the group.

The padding is lighter than some other Nuna brand car seats we've tested, but it is still better than most other boosters.

Our child tester felt like there wasn't enough padding, but the design is common in this kind of seat, and while it is not the thickest in the group, it is thicker than some competitors.

The seat has two different fabrics, both of which feel soft. They appear to strike a good balance between durability and comfort.

The side panel fabric is softer and somewhat silky, which is probably a choice made because it will see less direct and constant contact.

The headrest is substantial and offers soft fabric and thick padding in all the right places for passenger comfort and napping. Our tester child liked it more than most competitors.

Quality

The AACE is a high-quality option that performed well in our quality tests. It earned one of the highest scores in the group and even performed better than some options that cost more, which is always a cool thing.

The Nuna has firm and supportive padding throughout. The fabric and padding both feel durable and look well-made with no stray threads or poor stitching. The shell feels sturdy and includes substantial EPS foam in the side and head area.

Should You Buy the Nuna AACE?

Yes. Without question, if your budget will allow it, we think you can't go wrong with the Nuna. This booster offers one of the best crash test analysis results in the booster lineup. It is easy to use, has a LATCH connection to keep it in place, and is of higher quality than many competitors. This option has a reasonable price tag compared to many and compared to convertible car seats we've tested. Given the potential years of use, we think it is a good use of your dollar if you can afford it. The Nuna is not ideal for those who need a travel or carpool option, and it might be too far of a budget stretch for those who need to make every dollar count.

What Other Booster Seat Should You Consider?