Our team of editors and parents have tested more than 30 strollers to date this year in our Verywell Testing Lab and in the real world. In our most recent test, we evaluated both the Mockingbird and the Uppababy Vista V2 strollers on assembly, design, maneuverability, and value and quickly found a clear winner. We paid special attention to how difficult or finicky their different features were. Our testers observed small details (like whether the five-point harness is easy to put together and release) as well as larger details (like how smoothly the strollers were to steer over different surfaces and terrains) with the same level of scrutiny.
The Main Takeaways
Mockingbird vs Uppababy Vista V2 Results
Winner: Uppababy Vista V2 Parents and testers in our lab were unanimous in choosing the Uppababy Vista V2 over the Mockingbird. While the Uppababy Vista V2 is a bigger financial investment, our testers thought it was sturdy, well-designed, and “built to last” in ways that the Mockingbird isn’t. Since the initial publication of this article, our real-world tester has reported that the front wheel fell off her Mockingbird stroller after a month of use, and the brand announced a voluntary recall on certain lot numbers of their single-to-double stroller, further confirming that the Uppababy Vista V2 is our clear winner. Keep reading for our in-depth comparison of the Mockingbird versus the Uppababy Vista V2. Who It’s For: The Uppababy Vista V2 is in a class of its own, when it comes to convertible strollers. It’s not cheap, but it comes with lots of accessories (a bassinet, a bassinet storage bag, a rain shield, and two bug shields) and provides a smooth and solid ride. It’s the kind of stroller that has resale value and maintains its quality when passed down to family members or friends. Who It’s For: Though it doesn’t come with as many accessories as the Uppababy Vista V2, the Mockingbird stroller could have been a great pick for growing families on a budget. Unfortunately, due to a recall from the brand and new insights from our real-world tester, we no longer recommend this product. Both strollers were intuitive to assemble, but our testers were able to assemble the Uppababy Vista V2 more quickly and easily. With the Uppababy Vista V2, you only need to snap on the wheels and then place the rumble seat onto the frame. The Mockingbird required more effort to put together—you need to attach some connectors and adapters—and it took our testers a bit longer to assemble.
Design
Winner: Uppababy Vista V2 Without a doubt, our testers felt that the Uppababy Vista V2 has a better design than the Mockingbird. The Uppababy Vista V2 felt strong and solid throughout every portion of our testing, while the Mockingbird didn’t feel as sturdy with two seats. The Uppababy Vista V2 also comes with more accessories and had more bells and whistles. The Mockingbird, on the other hand, has some design flaws and potential safety risks. Our testers appreciated the Uppababy Vista V2’s handlebar, calling it “thick and comfortable.” And taller caregivers will find the telescoping feature on the handlebar a nice and seamless addition. The Mockingbird’s handlebar has an interesting feature that allows you to adjust the angle, but this may not be helpful for taller caregivers with a large gait. Both the Uppababy Vista V2 and the Mockingbird have spacious baskets for storage, whether you have a big diaper bag with lots of bottles and accessories or just need room to store things while you run errands. The Uppababy’s basket can hold up to 30 pounds, while the Mockingbird’s capacity is 25 pounds. Due to the design of its frame, the Uppababy Vista V2 has a structural bar across the middle of the storage basket. Depending on the size and shape of the items you store in the basket, our testers said this could be annoying. The Uppababy Vista V2 comes with several handy accessories: a bassinet (but you’ll need to buy a second one if you need to accommodate two newborns at the same time), a toddler seat, a rain shield for the toddler seat, bug shields for both the toddler seat and the bassinet, and a bassinet storage bag. The Mockingbird has fewer extras, but given the significantly lower price point, that’s not terribly surprising. The Mockingbird just comes with the stroller frame and the toddler seat. Both strollers have extendable canopies with UPF50+ protection. The canopies on both strollers also have a zippered mesh window for airflow and a fold-over peekaboo window. And whether you have more than two kids or an older kid who doesn’t always want to ride seated, both strollers have a riding board accessory (available for purchase separately) that can accommodate a third child. If you want to get the most amount of time possible out of your stroller, you’ll want to note that the Mockingbird’s weight capacity goes from 50 pounds for one child down to 45 pounds per child when configured as a double stroller. The Uppababy Vista V2, on the other hand, can handle two children up to 50 pounds each. Since initial publication, the Uppababy Vista V2 has even more of an edge. After a month of real-world testing, our tester found that the front wheel “completely broke off” the Mockingbird, adding, “I can attach it back, but the second I hit a bump, it falls right off. I am very disappointed with the quality of the stroller.” Additionally, the brand has since issued a voluntary recall on certain single-to-double strollers due to a crack in the frame that can pose safety risks to children. To see if your stroller is affected, Mockingbird recommends checking the stroller’s lot number.
Maneuverability
Winner: The Uppababy Vista V2 provides an overall smoother ride. We “drove” these strollers on several surfaces—including carpet, turf, gravel, and more—and hauled them up and down a small flight of steps to see how they handled on different terrains. The Uppababy Vista V2 was solid, sturdy, and smooth. There was only one issue that our tester noted: when going backward up some small steps, “the front wheels locked out when they turned out.” Other than that hiccup, which can take a second to correct itself, the all-wheel suspension was able to glide through our obstacle course with ease. The Mockingbird felt relatively lightweight to maneuver through our course. Our lab tester actually thought it felt a little too lightweight—almost to the point where she felt it would tip over. She also found this stroller a bit stiff: throughout the course, she needed to put a little bit of her weight into the stroller in order to get it to go in the direction she wanted it to. One home tester echoed these observations about the Mockingbird in her review. “I didn’t feel like the wheels or frame could handle bumps with the weight of two kids and it felt like we were going to tip over anytime we had to turn, hit a bump, or the sidewalk was uneven,” she said. “I felt like it was too unstable with both my 2-year-old and infant in the stroller at once.” Another real-world tester agreed, noting, “We have many bumpy sidewalks in our neighborhood the and stroller really struggled to get over uneven pavement.” We will add more details about each stroller’s maneuverability as we continue to test them.
Value
Winner: Uppababy Vista V2 Yes, the Uppababy Vista V2 is a more expensive stroller, but with that price tag comes quality and value. Plus, the extra accessories are thoughtfully designed. Many of the parents on our staff have used this stroller for years (and before the V2, many of our editors used the first-generation Uppababy Vista), and even passed it down to friends and family members. If you can afford this stroller (or afford to splurge on it) and plan to use it regularly for several years, then it’s worth the investment. The Mockingbird has a similar design for significantly less money, but there are some notable drawbacks. Despite being a similar size and weight as the Uppababy Vista V2, our testers thought it felt far less sturdy and it wasn’t as easy to navigate around sharp corners or over bumpy terrains—including uneven sidewalks. “Everything feels slightly cheap,” our real-world tester noted. It comes with fewer accessories and isn’t compatible with an infant car seat unless you purchase a separate car seat adapter. Furthermore, due to the brand’s recall and our real-world tester’s issue with a wheel falling off, we no longer recommend this stroller.
Is the Uppababy Vista V2 worth the price?
When shopping for a single-to-double convertible stroller, you can expect to pay anywhere from about $300 to well over $1,000. When it comes to the Uppababy Vista V2, we think the price tag is worth it. Most of the best strollers in this category that we recommend are between $600 and $1,100. When determining the right stroller for your family, you should consider how long you need it to last, how often you’ll use it, and which features and accessories mean the most to you.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Ashleigh Morley is the commerce director for Verywell Family at Dotdash Meredith. She has more than ten years’ experience writing and editing lifestyle content and product recommendations. The mother of two young sons, she uses strollers daily and has helped test strollers (along with a variety of other products) in our Verywell Testing Lab. Her family’s full-size stroller is the Uppababy Cruz, but she’s also partial to the lightweight Nuna TRVL for family trips.
