Nuna Pipa RX Review

Nuna launched its company with the ZAAZ™ high chair in 2007. Their primary goal is bringing little ones to the table. The Amsterdam-based company believes parenthood can be “practical and beautiful with clever, design-thoughtful” solutions for babies. Nuna is a global brand with a heavy focus on car seats and strollers.

Performance Comparison

Crash Testing

The Pipa RX came out swinging in our crash testing with the best sensor data we've seen in an infant car seat using our slightly faster and firmer sled seat than the federal requirements. With low sensor reading (lower is better), this Nuna is one to consider if your goal is the best crash test analysis score.

Every seat in the review should have passed the federal standard and be considered safe. We run our tests hotter, hoping to find the seats that stand out from the pack and offer a potential margin of protection over the average seat. The Nuna's results indicate it does offer a potential margin of safety over the standard fare. The HIC sensor results are the lowest in the group AND the chest clip is as well. There is no doubt it stands out above the rest.

Ease of Installation LATCH

The Pipa RX is one of the easiest seats to install using the LATCH connectors. It earned one of the highest scores in the group.

The rigid LATCH connectors on the Nuna help make installation a breeze. It comes with LATCH guides to help access the car anchor points more easily, and there is a color indicator when the connection has been made.

Once connected, you gently push the base into the vehicle seat to retract the connectors in one of four positions (read the manual for guidance). When installed correctly, the stability leg also has a color change indicator, and the base has an easy-to-use recline/angle adjustment button.

Nuna includes a handy checklist in their manual to ensure your installation is correct and complete. Removing the LATCH connectors is also easy with the push of a button. The handy rotation to store them also makes moving and carrying the base simple.

Recline Adjustment

The Nuna has a unique side-operated recline adjustment. This adjustment is a push button that allows the carrier to shift in one of four positions. Positions 1 and 2 are for babies from 4-20 lbs and up to 32 inches, while positions 3 and 4 are for bigger babies from 21-32 lbs and 32 inches.

We love that the button is easy to access and use, unlike those where the lever is under the carrier and squashed between the seat and the vehicle seat back.

The Nuna has a “stability leg” and an anti-rebound bar. While it is hard to say how much these helped the crash test score or the ease of installation, they do seem to help create a more stable-feeling base installation.

Nuna warns that the leg should not be used to correct the installation angle; only the recline adjustment should be used to adjust the angle.

Ease of Installation - Belt

The Nuna earned one of the highest scores for installation with the vehicle belt. There really is no installation method where the Nuna doesn't stand out. The Pipa RX allows for belt installation using the shoulder and lap portion of the belt, the lap portion only, and a vehicle belt with a lap strap and no shoulder strap.

Installation using the base and the vehicle belt includes a center lock-off that is easy to use even if it could use more length for increased leverage. The belt path is clear, and we had no trouble threading the strap. Unlike other bases, the pathway is open and doesn't include going through holes.

There is really little to do here beyond using the vehicle belt much like you would to strap in a human.

It goes across the end of the base in front of the anti-rebound bar and over the open lock-off. Once installed, the base feels stable, and there is minimal wiggle compared to the competition.

Ease of Installation - w/o the Base

The Nuna should be on your shortlist if you need to regularly install your infant carrier without the base due to travel or urban living. This seat earned one of the best scores for this metric.

The Nuna uses the European belt path, which includes the shoulder strap around the back of the carrier.

The belt path is color-coded, easy to use, and includes a blue colored clip on the back.

Once the seat is locked in place, it feels secure. It is one of the best in the group and almost as stable as it is with the base installed. A blue line on the side of the carrier is the guide for finding the correct installation angle.

Ease of Use

The Nuna continues to excel in every metric, with one of the highest scores for ease of use.

With the exception of a rethread harness system, the Nuna is very easy to use.

Buckle

The Nuna buckle is a standard issue buckle with a square button that is easy enough for smaller fingers or longer nails. It does not take excessive pressure to operate. The crotch pad is shaped around the button, making it easier to operate than those that cover the button. The chest clip is somewhat unique and noticeably harder to use than others. The button on the clip is small and could be problematic for bigger fingers. It requires two hands to operate smoothly. The sides of the seat have buckle tongue/prong holders to keep the parts out of the way when you put your baby in the seat.

Harness Tightening/Loosening

The Nuna has the standard tightening strap at the foot of the carrier. It is combined with a non-hidden release button, and both are easy to operate with almost no friction when tightening or releasing. It is nice to have a visible button that isn't hindered by a small fabric slot or a pinching, hidden button.

Harness Adjustment

The harness height adjustment is a rethread style. Unfortunately, this requires the baby to be out of the seat and the seat out of the car. So, while the Nuna has an easier-to-change rethread system with larger slots for the straps, it is still a level of effort we didn't expect for a seat in this price range. It feels like a misstep to create a seat with so much going for it to then add a process that could go undone as parents continue to put it off until next time. Because a properly fitting harness is important for safety, we prefer harness adjustments that can be done quickly, with the baby in the seat, as soon as you realize an adjustment is required. This carrier has 3 shoulder-height positions and 2 crotch strap locations. There are fewer height options than for other seats.

Carrier to Base Connection

Connecting the carrier to the Nuna base is a little trickier than most and requires some extra care and finessing. It isn't difficult; it just isn't as simple as some competitors. We did not experience any false connections, and a quick tug on the handle ensures it is properly in place. The Pipa has a release handle on the back of the carrier that both unhooks it from the base and helps lift it off the base when used in conjunction with the carry handle.

Handle

When you simultaneously press the release buttons on both sides, the handle rotates on a pivot.

It has three possible positions, all of which are acceptable while driving, as long as the handle is not in contact with any part of the vehicle. The handle moves smoothly and doesn't interfere with the canopy's movement or the ability to hold it with the canopy open.

Canopy

The Pipa's canopy is easy to use and looks clean, open, or closed. It has some useful resistance when opening that helps create a taut look, and the extension (Nuna calls a drape) stays hidden when not in use, unlike other competitors, where the extension struggles to stay contained.

LATCH and Manual Storage

The Nuna's rigid LATCH connectors have a unique design. They rotate out from their stored position on the side of the base. A button releases them, and then they rotate 180 degrees in the opposite direction. They can also be pushed inwards to snug the base to the vehicle seat when installed. The user manual tucks under the load leg storage location on the very bottom of the base. This is not a great location because you cannot get to the manual or manual storage location after you install the base. So, if you use the manual during installation, you have to uninstall the base to put the manual back.

Comfort/Quality

If your main focus is quality or comfort, the Nuna brings impressive materials and design to the table and earned one of the best results in this competition

Fabric and Padding

The fabric is soft and manages to feel very skin-friendly without the almost slippery feel we found in some competitors. It has ample padding in the right places that is supportive without compressing too much. It has shoulder pads and a crotch buckle pad cover.

Handle and Canopy

The Pipa RX has one of the largest canopies. We love the full coverage of the seating area, the magnetic peek-a-boo window, and the front roll-out extension that is secured with magnets in the front. It isn't a bug cover, just extended coverage for sun, wind, and possibly light rain.

The handle is a lightweight, thin metal, and the center has a thicker leather-wrapped grip. The leather grip makes it easier to hold and more comfortable to rest on your forearm.

Shell

The Nuna shell is one of the nicest and clutter-free options in this lineup. It's smooth, easy to keep clean, and doesn't include excessive stickers.

Weight/Size

The Nuna carrier is one of the lightest in the group and definitely the lightweight seat with the highest scoring. This seat carrier weighs 8.5 lbs. Only a couple of competitors are lighter.

While there are a couple of seats that are a pound or two lighter, the Nuna brings together a lighter weight and a higher performance. The carrier weight might be important in your purchase consideration if you plan to carry it frequently with your baby on board.

Should You Buy the Pipa RX?

If you have the budget for the Pipa, we can't think of a better option in this bunch. With the highest crash test analysis results, this easy-to-install infant car seat excels in every test we throw at it. It is lightweight, easy to use, and has features like rigid LATCH, load leg, and anti-rebound components. However, if your budget doesn't allow for the Nuna (one of the group's most expensive), it might be time to look elsewhere.

What Other Infant Car Seat Should You Consider?

The Britax Willow S has one of this lineup's higher crash test analysis scores. This seat can save you a couple of hundred dollars over the Nuna and is still easy to install and use. If you want a seat compatible with various award-winning strollers, the Chicco Keyfit 35 is a great choice and one of the easiest in the group to use. The Clek Liing is also a potential contender with good crash test analysis and the easiest rigid LATCH installation in the bunch.

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