UPPAbaby Alta v2 Review

UPPAbaby is an American-born family company with more than ten years of baby product experience under its belt. UPPAbaby finds inspiration in a typical family life and strives to create safe, easy-to-use gear. Its primary goal is improving product functionality without sacrificing style or usability. UPPAbaby makes infant car seats, award-winning strollers, convertible car seats, booster seats, and other accessories for parenthood.

Performance Comparison

Crash Test

We ran our crash tests slightly faster than the required federal guidelines outlined, and we used a more modern sled for our tests. Our goal was to identify the seats that could potentially offer an additional margin of protection over other seats by falling higher than the average test results.

The Alta v2 combined sensor data is some of the best in the group, with a final analysis score above the average. While it did not score as high as the top option, it is close and, for the price, is hard to beat.

This seat's HIC sensor results were fairly low (lower is better), with about half of the seats recording higher g-forces in our tests. The chest clip sensor data was better, with results better than 2/3rds of the competition.

Ease of Use

The Alta v2 earned one of the highest ease of use scores in the group.

The Alta v2 has a rigid LATCH connection system that deploys from the back with a pull release from the front.

The connectors are easy to use and snap in place without effort. There is no tightening or leveling required like in other car seat types.

The shoulder belt positioner on the Alta v2 is on the headrest and has a simple slide-in mechanism that then holds the belt in place. This can help younger passengers manage the buckle themselves so it doesn't need to be threaded each time it is used.

It also sports a lap belt positioner than is easy to use and ensure the belt stays where it needs to be and prevents slouching children from ending up with the belt across their belly.

The narrow width of the Alta v2 seat bottom leaves the seat belt buckle open and easy to use for passengers in the seat. The back of the booster is somewhat rounded, helping it stick out from the vehicle seatback and increasing buckle openness. The shoulder belt slides easily and doesn't get caught or require effort.

Our test passenger did remark she felt that the armrest got in the way and preferred seats without armrests for this reason. We were able to get our test water bottle into the cup holder, but it wasn't that stable and you will likely need something more narrow than the Thermos Foogo.

Weight and Size

If you plan to travel frequently or your child needs a booster for carpooling, weight and width can be important factors. If your booster will largely sit in one place and won't be carried very far for very long, this metric might feel less important.

The Alta v2 is somewhat heavy at 17.4 lbs in our tests. With at least one option weighing more than 26 lbs, it can feel rather light in comparison; however, given that some backless boosters weigh less than a pound, there is a big difference. Some of the competitors have the option to remove the back and use just the seat base for travel, but the UPPAbaby does not. You could supplement the Alta v2 with an inexpensive and small backless choice for occasional travel as well.

The Alta v2 is fairly narrow at 15.5 inches, and the back is rounded somewhat, so it takes up less space from side to side. If you need to fit more car seats or more people in a single row, the Alta v2 could be a potential contender that fits the bill.

Comfort

The Alta v2 has an above-average result for comfort. While it wasn't a wow contender during testing, it wasn't off-putting or hugely uncomfortable.

The padding is thin and super soft, with no support. We wish it was denser or more substantial, but we can accept the lack of padding for the price. Our model tester stated it felt like a rock with a blanket on it, and we can see why she would say that. However, in fairness, this is a design style favored by many boosters in this review. The fabric feels super soft, almost like a microfiber. It was the kid tester's favorite in the group.

The headrest has a wider space than most, and the padding is still thin, unlike some competitors who offer more padding and support in the head area.

The fabric is the same as the main body and feels good on the cheek. The headrest height is adjustable, but the side wings move up and down with it, which means any child with wide shoulders might outgrow the seat width width-wise before they do the height.

Quality

The Alta v2 has a higher-than-average quality score compared to other boosters. It is on par with how the original v1 Alta performed in the past.

The padding is on the soft side, which sounds good but fails to offer adequate support, resulting in a quick trip to the hard plastic underneath. The fabric is some of the softest in the bunch, but it seems like it would train easily, and kids are messy. The impact foam is EPP, which is our preference since it doesn't off-gas, and the shell feels clean and sturdy. The EPP foam is only in the headrest, which feels like a design flaw in our opinion.

Should You Buy the Alta v2?

If you are looking for a quality seat with better-than-average crash test analysis at a budget-friendly price, then the Alta v2 could be the right fit for your family. While it didn't score the absolute highest for crash testing, it is one of the top-ranked and the least expensive out of the top options. It is also top for ease of use. We think most parents will appreciate getting a high-quality seat that is easy to use, potentially safer, and won't break the bank.

What Other Booster Seat Should You Consider?

If you want the absolute best in crash test analysis, then the Nuna AACE should be on your shortlist. This compelling booster is comfortable, easy to use, and has a reasonable price that, while higher than average, justifies itself with better test performance. Alternatively, the Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 scored similarly to Alta v2 and has a very similar test result profile but can save you even more money. With lounge-type leg support and much lighter weight, the Chicco could be the winner that splits the difference and brings home the best deal for some.

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